Pomp and Circumstance

Has anyone ever given you a goat as a present before? No, no one has given us a goat, but we did witness the Kenyan cultural practice of presenting an honored guest with a live animal.

On Wednesday we were privileged to attend the graduation ceremony for students at Appropriate Technology Project (ATP). Since Pastor Chuchu had been called to Nairobi on short notice, Megan went to represent him, and Tim accompanied her, interested to witness this cultural experience.

Kenyan Salvation Army Band leading
the graduation ceremony processional

We were asked to arrive at 9:00am. We got there at 9:15am. The ceremony actually started at 11:00am. By now, this kind of a beginning came as no surprise. What was unexpected was the processional that began the day’s festivities. Led by the Salvation Army Band, we trekked out of the compound, out to the road and then followed the graduates back to our seats to the melody of trumpets and tubas and with the beat of the snare drum. The guest of honor was a gentleman from Finland, who had served as school administrator for some years. He returned with his wife smiling from ear to ear about the progress and continuation of a program he was instrumental in beginning.

The goat about to be
presented to Arch Bishop Obare

What struck us most came from the contents of the ceremony. Contrasting an American school graduation, where parents rush to arrive early to find a parking spot and a seat, students execute a previously rehearsed line up and entrance, top students give speeches about carpe diem and believing in oneself, and faculty members distribute diplomas at record speed, all to make sure everyone can get on with their lives, the ceremony at ATP took about 5 hours. This was also the first graduation ceremony in 10 years. Although the school has been operating, a variety of reasons postponed any ceremony until now. Parents meandered in even after the festivities began at 11 and found a seat in the grass or under the shade of a tree. We were entertained by more tunes from the Salvation Army Band and Sister Nancy, a local Kenyan vocalist, hoping to break onto the Gospel music scene. We heard speeches from a student representative, the school principle, a representative from a local sugar factory, a member of the board of governors, another technical school principal, the guest of honor from Finland, and Arch Bishop Obare. Each speech was longer than the previous one. Their words focused not so much about seizing the day, but about asking other important people present at the graduation to provide assistance, more resources, and better facilities. In fact the only obvious graduate-centered activity was the reading of the graduates’ names. At this time, the students stood up if they were present. Following this, the focus shifted back to the important guests, and several gifts were exchanged. Many came generously from Finland, including very expensive and hard to get machine spare parts. The guests of honor from Finland were then given traditional African clothing, which they put on and walked through the audience shaking hands. The gift giving reached its culmination with the presentation of a goat to Arch Bishop Obare.

The day wouldn’t be complete without a huge feast of Kenyan food. Believe it or not, this all fit on one plate: cooked cabbage, boiled potatoes, ugali, white rice, fried fish, beef stew, fried chicken, cooked vegetables, fresh peppers and tomatoes, and chapatti. Thankfully a second small plate was given for fresh fruit salad of mangoes, watermelon, and guava.

So we left in the evening with our stomachs full of food and our minds full of thought about the unique day we had just experienced.