CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS

January 27, 2010

CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATIONS

Our African friends really know how to celebrate! Wednesday evening (January 26), Darlene and I were invited to a party house to celebrate the graduation of one of Darlene’s Nursing students. We were the only white folk in the room, and were given seats of honor. (The young lady, Mirielle and her family told us it was an honor that “her teacher” was present at the celebration.”

It was a very relaxed affair, and lasted for several hours (we actually left before it was completely ended). More than 100 family and friends sat in white plastic chairs (which are typically used for the seats of honor) facing toward a central area where Mirielle, her parents, big brother and an aunt were seated in couch-like chairs. Drinks were served (seated on the front row, we had a small “coffee table” in front of us): some of the guests had beer, but most chose water and or orange or lemon Fanta (we had the lemon Fanta which they call Citroen).

The program, following several songs and prayers by a group of young people, consisted of numerous speeches about and directed to Mirielle. In between speeches, drinks were refilled while background music played. And then, the music would stop and another speaker would be introduced. All of the speeches were in Kirundi: all contained some moments of humor, as well as serious comments. (The Barundi become quite good at such speech-making, which is a regular part of their culture. Following every meal at which we are guests, speeches are given expressing thanks for our presence.) While we do not understand Kirundi, one Mirielle’s aunts translated for us, giving us the general sense of what was being said.

Thursday afternoon, we participated as faculty in the graduation ceremonies for 25 Medical and Nursing students and 2 Computer Science graduates. It was a 3-hour outdoor service. The temperature was ca. 90 and we were robed in academic gowns! Many dignitaries were present; two choirs presented special music, and a drum and dance group performed several spectacular numbers.

Darlene, as director of the University School of Nursing presented the Nursing students to the Rector (President). I handed them some small gifts Darlene had prepared for each graduate. These six students (four young men, and two women) were the first graduates of the Nursing program at Hope Africa University, and the first Nurses in the history of the nation of Burundi to graduate with a B.A. degree in Nursing. So it was quite an historic occasion.

Afterwards, the University hosted a reception, which was followed by a number of family and friends’ receptions for the individual students. It was a big deal for us to be included as invitees and attendees. So the entire afternoon, beginning at 12 noon, was filled with celebrations! As I say, our African friends really know how to commemorate special occasions. (A wedding, we are told, involves an entire day of ceremony and celebration!)

I got quite a surprise during the graduation ceremonies. I was seated next to Darlene in a place of honor next to a Burundian bishop (wearing the purple cleric of a bishop). After a few minutes, before the program got started, he turned to me and—in perfect English—asked, “There was a Wayne McCown at Western Evangelical Seminary: Could that have been you?” “Of course,” I answered, and then he told me his name was “Pie” (pronounced pee). Then I recognized him, a as one of our students at the seminary in Portland, Oregon (now George Fox Evangelical Seminary) where I served as a professor and dean for 12 years! He then asked me, “Do you remember Paul?” “Yes,” I replied, “he came from Burundi with you, didn’t he?” It turns out that Pie is the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Burundi, and Paul is the Chancellor of Light University (the Anglican University here in Bujumbura.) During the ceremonies, Pie called Paul on his cell phone, and told him, “I bet you can’t guess who I sitting besides!” Pie reported to me that Paul was shocked to learn that I was at Hope Africa University, and wanted to see me again. So tomorrow, we three are planning a “rendevous”!