In the village, "an occasion" can happen for a variety of reasons - to celebrate a birth, a specific group's get-together, etc. But often it is for the purpose of raising funds. Here are some pictures from an occasion earlier this year....The occasion was to raise funds to finish the roof on the new community hall. We arrived more than 2 hours after the invitation starting time, and we were among the first there.
Right next to us, a large truck had become stuck the night before (bad roads even in June, before "serious rains" had started). Before the occasion got well under way, young men had come and dug/pushed the truck out.
We took a seat in the first area we came to, just to wait; this area had a "natural" cover of posts and palm fronds - left over from a "die" (funeral) in previous days. We soon learned that this area was designated seating for the village council, so we moved to the other side, where the "invited guests" were supposed to sit.
Meanwhile, the village "caller" walked by, ringing his bell and reminding people that the occasion was starting and that everyone should now come.
The sound man / D.J. had the music cranked up high, and soon someone came to test the microphone.
We knew things were REALLY starting when a parade of chiefs from neighboring villages came down the road and were seated in the VIP section.
By this time, K and L's friends had arrived, so our kids happily joined them across the street in a tree :).
And the program started - a prayer by a local pastor, immediately followed by the throwing of kola nuts by the village elders to determine if the ancestors were in favor of the occasion - good old syncretism, blatantly displayed. We excused ourselves early from the occasion as M had to travel, but we were sure to leave our donation :).
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