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| ©2008-2010 St. Nicholas Uganda Children's Fund |
He Love That Goat!
July 2006
It had been an exciting day in our home neighborhood
of Namungoona. It was the venue for a National
Festival of Song, Drama, and Dance organized by the
local Mother’s Union, the Ugandan version of a women’s
organization. The theme was "Together, Let Us Fight
Domestic Violence." Nine finalists emerged from
regional competitions that were held throughout the
country three weeks ago. In addition to our local entry,
eight teams representing six tribes began arriving the
day before. Vehicles large and small brought Acholis
from Gulu, Langis from Lira, Tesos from Kumi, Batoro
from Ngombe, Basoga from Nsinze, and Baganda from
Degeya, Vumba, and Kampala. As night fell, we
listened to the different groups camped around our
rooms practicing their songs and dances. It was a
marvelous cacophony of singing and drumming and this
added to the atmosphere of mounting anticipation.
The program was underway by 8:30 a.m. as each group
offered the first item in the competition--a choral song
based on the theme of the day. The other categories
included religious and folk songs, original compositions,
poetry, and drama. By nightfall we had one event
remaining: traditional dance. Dances from seven
different tribes were presented, including the ever-
popular Bagisu circumcision dance. The costuming,
choreography, and performances were outstanding. It
was dark by now, and the single floodlight created an
ambiance of light and shadows that called forth echoes
of an Africa long lost to modern civilization. Complex
and passionate drumbeats animated barefoot dancers
dressed in traditional costumes of colorful cloth, grass,
and animal skins. For the first time since our initial
arrival in Uganda four years ago, I felt like we were in a
National Geographic Special.
The dancing ended all too soon and we abruptly
returned to the 21st century. It was time for the
obligatory speeches while the adjudicators tallied up the
results. Shortly before the oratory began, the executive
secretary of the Mothers' Union approached Sharon
and asked if she would be agreeable to stand in as the
Guest of Honor. The local big shot, suffering from a
bout of flu, had retired early and there were no other
guests of sufficient stature to qualify for the role.
Before I knew what was going on, Sharon had been
placed in the seat recently vacated by the departed
Honorable. So now each presenter began his speech
by acknowledging the Guest of Honor (with a nod to her
husband) before moving on to his or her prepared
remarks.
As the last to speak, Sharon gave an excellent
impromptu talk commending the day as a good
July 2006
It had been an exciting day in our home neighborhood
of Namungoona. It was the venue for a National
Festival of Song, Drama, and Dance organized by the
local Mother’s Union, the Ugandan version of a women’s
organization. The theme was "Together, Let Us Fight
Domestic Violence." Nine finalists emerged from
regional competitions that were held throughout the
country three weeks ago. In addition to our local entry,
eight teams representing six tribes began arriving the
day before. Vehicles large and small brought Acholis
from Gulu, Langis from Lira, Tesos from Kumi, Batoro
from Ngombe, Basoga from Nsinze, and Baganda from
Degeya, Vumba, and Kampala. As night fell, we
listened to the different groups camped around our
rooms practicing their songs and dances. It was a
marvelous cacophony of singing and drumming and this
added to the atmosphere of mounting anticipation.
The program was underway by 8:30 a.m. as each group
offered the first item in the competition--a choral song
based on the theme of the day. The other categories
included religious and folk songs, original compositions,
poetry, and drama. By nightfall we had one event
remaining: traditional dance. Dances from seven
different tribes were presented, including the ever-
popular Bagisu circumcision dance. The costuming,
choreography, and performances were outstanding. It
was dark by now, and the single floodlight created an
ambiance of light and shadows that called forth echoes
of an Africa long lost to modern civilization. Complex
and passionate drumbeats animated barefoot dancers
dressed in traditional costumes of colorful cloth, grass,
and animal skins. For the first time since our initial
arrival in Uganda four years ago, I felt like we were in a
National Geographic Special.
The dancing ended all too soon and we abruptly
returned to the 21st century. It was time for the
obligatory speeches while the adjudicators tallied up the
results. Shortly before the oratory began, the executive
secretary of the Mothers' Union approached Sharon
and asked if she would be agreeable to stand in as the
Guest of Honor. The local big shot, suffering from a
bout of flu, had retired early and there were no other
guests of sufficient stature to qualify for the role.
Before I knew what was going on, Sharon had been
placed in the seat recently vacated by the departed
Honorable. So now each presenter began his speech
by acknowledging the Guest of Honor (with a nod to her
husband) before moving on to his or her prepared
remarks.
As the last to speak, Sharon gave an excellent
impromptu talk commending the day as a good
beginning toward ending the cycle of violence in homes
and families. She encouraged her audience to build on
this foundation by teaching our children and teens to
prepare for a marriage of mutual love and respect. She
also emphasized the unifying effect of this event,
bringing together people of diverse tribes and
languages to achieve a common goal.
It was time for the results and I didn't want anybody to
lose! But every contest has a victor and the final
positions were announced, beginning with ninth place.
When the winner was declared, the place exploded in
an outpouring of cheering, clapping, and general
pandemonium. The organizers of the event thoughtfully
had provided gifts and certificates for each participating
team, and these were individually presented by a series
of minor notables, including yours truly.
Second prize was a goat, which was mysteriously
absent. After considerable delay and no little agitation,
the goat was found in the possession of its keeper who,
in a mildly inebriated state, said, "It's my goat and I'm
not giving it up!" The chairperson wisely decided to
deal with that problem in the morning.
The Guest of Honor had the privilege of presenting not
only a really nice trophy, but also the first prize--a rather
scrawny-looking bull. The bovine was none too happy;
it was late and he was ready for bed. Fortunately a
sturdy young man grabbed the short end of the tether
while Sharon took her place literally at the end of her
rope, which she handed over to the winners as multiple
flashing cameras recorded the momentous event.
At least for this one day the participants and the
audience were able to forget the cares and struggles of
everyday life in Uganda. The informal celebration
continued long after the formalities were complete, while
Sharon and I made our way home amidst widespread
merriment.
and families. She encouraged her audience to build on
this foundation by teaching our children and teens to
prepare for a marriage of mutual love and respect. She
also emphasized the unifying effect of this event,
bringing together people of diverse tribes and
languages to achieve a common goal.
It was time for the results and I didn't want anybody to
lose! But every contest has a victor and the final
positions were announced, beginning with ninth place.
When the winner was declared, the place exploded in
an outpouring of cheering, clapping, and general
pandemonium. The organizers of the event thoughtfully
had provided gifts and certificates for each participating
team, and these were individually presented by a series
of minor notables, including yours truly.
Second prize was a goat, which was mysteriously
absent. After considerable delay and no little agitation,
the goat was found in the possession of its keeper who,
in a mildly inebriated state, said, "It's my goat and I'm
not giving it up!" The chairperson wisely decided to
deal with that problem in the morning.
The Guest of Honor had the privilege of presenting not
only a really nice trophy, but also the first prize--a rather
scrawny-looking bull. The bovine was none too happy;
it was late and he was ready for bed. Fortunately a
sturdy young man grabbed the short end of the tether
while Sharon took her place literally at the end of her
rope, which she handed over to the winners as multiple
flashing cameras recorded the momentous event.
At least for this one day the participants and the
audience were able to forget the cares and struggles of
everyday life in Uganda. The informal celebration
continued long after the formalities were complete, while
Sharon and I made our way home amidst widespread
merriment.
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