On Friday night our school had a Workers’ Day party for all the employees of Songea Girls Secondary School. I’ve been to wedding receptions, confirmation parties, and graduation ceremonies, but had not yet been to a work party. I didn’t know what expect, but I am starting to get wise…all Tanzanian parties are pretty much the same. They start late and end late. There is always the table up front for the honored guests. On the table is always a large assortment of drinks for the honored guests. Behind the table the wall is always decorated with colorful fabric. There is always an MC and a DJ, and the music is always too loud. Tanzanian parties always consist of a meal. Speeches are always given by the guests of honor, and gifts are always presented to the guests of honor. There is a toast where everyone forms a line to toast the guests of honor. Then the party ends with dancing.
My favorite part is the presenting of gifts. People dance to the head table to offer their gifts. Everyone made a line and we passed the gifts around to each other as we danced toward the head table. Then finally the gifts were presented to the guests of honor.
The other entertainment for the evening was when one of the teachers threw up all over himself during one of the speeches. I don’t think the speaker could see what was going on, but he probably knew something was going on with all the snickering in the back.
The night ended with a conga line headed by our Head Mistress!
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