An Evening of Culture

No one knows how to party like the West Africans!!! Every now and then the crew of the Africa Mercy likes to tap into this uncanny knack of making every celebration an event to remember. Welcome to a crew/day worker BBQ and Community meeting on the dock, this time at the Port of Conakry, Guinea. The sound of happy munching and joyful laughter filled the air as we all mingled, enjoying the dozens of different cultures and countries represented. For one day in time we are together.

It was all about Guinea tonight-her languages, her dancing and her traditional dress. For weeks the day workers had practised to bring us an outstanding presentation of Guinea in an evening of culture.



Dinner first- flame grilled BBQ Chicken, crunchy salads, warm and fluffy potatoes in their jackets with sour cream-yum!

Me enjoying my dinner.

Me with Pierre-dental day worker. This guy makes me laugh!

Jess with an expression that really captures how she feels about the ship and Africa!

Andy

I just love this photo because it captures the pure joy of Africans that I cannot seem to put into words. It always amazes me that despite their challenges, their heartaches and their poverty, the people of West Africa can always find a reason to be joyful. Christian West Africans always give thanks to God no matter their circumstance and their worship is very pure; unadulterated. They express their emotions ten fold and they are quick to anger but just as fast to get over it. They are a verbal people and also can be very affectionate. My type of people!

Perhaps what makes every dockside event so special is when the patients join us, tentatively making their way down the gangway, their gowns flapping in the balmy evening air, bandages swathing their faces and bodies.

 

Some of the more colourful day workers! Anthonette, Clarena and Elizabeth in their gorgeous African dresses.

We were treated to a fashion extravaganza, as the many different cultures of Guinea displayed their traditional dress. The crowd really started to heat up, and the different tribes represented within our day workers cheered each other on. I heard it said recently that this was the first time that some of the day workers had worked amicably alongside other day workers from opposing tribes. While we have been in Guinea there has been much violence due to ethnic divide. So while this evening was a bit of fun and the imparting of culture and knowledge, it was also a milestone as the tribes melded peacefully together to the jubilation of all.

 

 

 

We also heard proverbs and greetings from each of the tribes. But the highlight was the dancing. Each tribal group performed a dance which they had been rehearsing for weeks. Above the Susu dance.

The Fula perform.

 

The most spectacular and athletic dancing came from the Kissi tribe. Wow-those guys are fit!

Thanks day workers for giving us a window into your different cultures and tribes. It was a amazing evening; one we will never forget!