At 5:55AM, I was awake, completely refreshed, and ready for action. For breakfast, I cooked some left-over white rice in a small pot with milk, honey, cinnamon, walnuts, and raisins (thanks for the care package Janers!). Over breakfast and tea, I read the Count of Monte Cristo. I WILL finished that book. Adilla came to prepare herself an egg sandwich. She needed the energy, as later in the morning was her big debut.
She and about 10 other students have been preparing for a play. And we're not talking some light-hearted comedy... The play depicts how detrimental the Muslim practice of early marriage** can be to the lives of young girls.
**Background Information: Here in Ghana about a quarter of the population is Muslim. According to Muslim tradition, a man may take more than one wife. As men age, they look outside of their demographic for wives, sometimes taking girls 20, 30 or even 40 years younger than themselves. The girls are pulled out of school (even primary school) to marry and perform the duties of a wife. Gross right? Well my students think so too, because this morning they went to 2 neighboring Muslim communities to put on this play in protest of early marriage.
Although I was sad I wouldn't get to see my little Adi acting, I was proud of her for confronting such a major social issue!
I finished breakfast and dawned a rather snappy outfit of tan Born sandals, bootcut chinos, a purple sleeveless top, and a festive aqua, lime, and purple bead necklace. In my brain, I was adding the finishing touches to the senior chemistry lab for next week. I headed to school.
Upon arrival, I was surprised to discover that there were only about 6 students present. I was confused, but went to the staff common room to work on class notes. A few minutes later, Mr.Yawkuu, the assistant head master, poked his head in and asked why I hadn't gone along to watch "the drama." I replied that I had class to teach. He explained that most of the students not in "the drama" had also excused themselves to either sleep in or tag along to watch the play. He went on to say that on their way to their second show they would pass through Menji, and I could join if I like.
I spent a little more time in the staff common room writing the procedure for next week's "Limiting and Excess Reagents" lab. Then I packed up, walked down to the Bui junction in the center of town, and plopped on a wooden bench to call David. A few minutes later, I heard drumming in the distance. Although drumming is not an uncommon sound in Ghana, the drumming seemed to be getting closer. As I listened, to the beat of the drums was added singing voices and the groan of a diesel engine. Up pulls the familiar yellow bus with black block lettering, "Menji Agric Senior School." But instead of sitting vacant and weary in school lot with grasses growing up around the tires, the bus was now undulating with life. Packed with about 30 students, the government teacher (Abu), the headmistress, and 4 drums, the school bus had become a party bus! I hopped aboard, and was greeted with cheers and hand shakes.
The rhythms of the drums and songs shook the bus to its frame.
When we reached Namasa, the headmistress, Abu, and I alighted. We were to first greet the chief. We walked up a large house, and after Abu spoke with a few women, we entered. The compound was even larger than it appeared from the outside. The expansive mango tree in the center of the courtyard offered shade to 4 women (ages 25 to 60) who were busily washing linens and pots. I guessed these women were the chief's wives. We walked to an open but covered area on the right side of the compound. There were a dozen or so wooden chairs decorated with shiny gold and silver metal embellishments.
There was also a small cot on which a old man was resting. Perhaps 80 years old, he wore light blue linen trousers and a white cotton t-shirt. Both articles of clothing were quite loose as he was quite thin. His large sunken, but friendly eyes were opaque with cataracts. A tall muscular boy of 18 or so with high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes brought us tan plastic chairs. We arranged ourselves in semi-circle around the old chief's cot. The linguist arrived shortly (no one speaks directly to the chief but rather through another person, his "linguist"). The chief spoken in a light, crackly voice that reminded of stepping in a pile of raked leaves. As custom demands, he asked of our mission. The linguist relayed the message. Abu told the linguist that we were teachers from the neighboring village and had brought our students to Namasa to put on a play. The chief nodded. After a few more words were exchanged, we took our leave.
We then went to a smaller house across town to greet the Imam, the leader of the mosque for the community. After removing our shoes, we ducked under a blue curtain which covered the doorway. The Imam was small thin man of about 70 years. He was seated cross-legged on a raffia mat on the floor. The room was dark and smelled very pleasantly of musty incense. We sat on the brown floral couches to the side. Abu greeted the man and began telling him of our mission. Soon, a little boy with no shirt, a distended stomach, and bright yellow sweatpants came running in. After giving us a quick glance he sat down next to the Imam, who smiled and put his arm around the little boy. The little boy spent the remaining few minutes staring and smiling at me. His big round eyes were shiney and dark. He was missing his left front incisor. After exchanging a few more words, we bade adieu to the Imam.
We went to the center of town where the students were organizing for the play to begin. I took a seat in a plastic chair in the shade. The play went... GREAT! There was over 100 people in attendance, and their reaction seemed very positive. I don't want to tell you too much about it, because I filmed it and will post it here soon! I was so proud of the kidzos for not only realizing, but actually doing something about a major social issue.
Oh and also, the lady by the maternity clinic from whom I regularly buy stuff gave me the deal of the century later that evening. 11 oranges, 17 bananas, and a ziploc full of dry roasted peanuts... All this food... ¢2.50GH! Which is equivalent in America to $1.66.
Yay for 11/11/11!
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