22-Jan-2012 - Sunday
We spent Sunday that the Masae Girls Lutheran Secondary School. It was a special day, with the form six students graduating. In the Tanzanian school system, form six is the final year of secondary school. It can best be compared to the first year of college in the United States. Very few MGLSS students achieve this level of education. For example, this year there are forty or so incoming form one students, but only six form six graduates. Keep in mind that eighty percent of these girls come from pastoralist families with no running water or electricity. Most of these girls don’t ever see a computer, or a picture of one, until they walk into a computer class. They must pass that class to move from form on to form two. This is an enormous academic achievement for these girls, and should be celebrated.
The day began with a worship service that prominently featured the six graduates. The congregation sat in the Chapel (see the picture at the top of the blog for reference.) while the school choir began drumming and singing. The congregation waited, surrounded on three sides by thick stone walls, shaded by the great Maasai shied, yet with a surprising amount of air and light flowing through the gap between the two. The form six girls marched down the aisle in procession. They were ornately dressed in purple or brown robes, lavishly trimmed in white beads, glittering with galaxies of small metal disks, half the size of a dime, and twice as shinny. They wore crowns, collars, and bracelets of brilliant white beads. All the girl’s gowns fit this general description, but each was completely unique. The gowns are modeled on the Masai wedding gown. They entered to the sound of simple drums and complex harmonies singing praises to God. The girls sat together near the front on the left side. We, as honored guests sat near the front on the right. Form five girls joined us, and led us through the services. Hymns and prayers were in Swahili. Bible verses were read in both Swahili and English. During prayers, the graduates knelt at the altar while one of their mothers stood behind and prayed, with great emphasis. She prayed in Swahili, so I don’t know what the prayers were, but the clarity and passion transcended the language barrier.
After the service we joined the graduates and families for a simple lunch, followed by the graduation ceremony.
Graduation took place in the dining hall. Dignitaries, such as the a representative from the Arusha Lutheran Diocese, local politicians, and Diane Jacoby (our travel partner, and OBA director) sat on a head table at the dais. The graduates sat in a row facing the dignitaries. Special guest (us) sat on one wing, and close family members of the graduate sat on the opposite wing, facing each other, the graduates in the middle. Other family members and friends sat behind the graduates, with the younger students behind them. Family members dress covered a wide range from traditional, with red plaid robes, beads and sandals, to modern dress that would fit in for evening dinning at Village Square.
Prior to the graduation ceremony the graduates lead a procession through the front gate of the school, followed by guest, families, and students. The procession symbolized the opening of educational possibilities to the girls the disparate pastoral tribe, that had not been available prior to 1995.
The graduation Ceremony lasted three hours, and by Western Standards could have been a combination of a wedding reception and a graduation. An MC hosted the event (the MGLSS science teacher in real life) dressed in a lime green shirt, dancing and singing with boundless energy. Afro-pop music (maybe too loud) fed his energy even more. The first event was a the presentation of a cake, and an “auction” to have the cake cut. I use quotes, because all bids were kept, not just the winner. Proceeds went to the school. Following that, a similar “auction” was held to feed a piece of cake to each of the graduates. Again, funds raised went to the school. The headmaster of the school made an extra donation to feed a piece of cake to “Bibi” (grandmother) McAllister. Next came speeches and diploma presentations, so the tone shifted more to what we had expected for a graduation. Special class awards followed. The music came back on that the science teacher/MC when back to his expressive persona. Somewhere around twenty such awards were presented, some familiar, some that more or less made senses, and some that were inscrutable. Familiar awards included an award for academic achievement and leadership. Awards that made some sense included “cleanliness and stewardship, and "most self reliant". The inscrutable included “President”, "Prime Minister”, and “Senator”. Members of the mission team were presented with gifts in appreciation for all the OBA and ELCA congregations have done for MGLSS in general, and the graduates in particular. Shukas (traditional red plaid robes) were presented to the men, and kongas, (bright print wraps) to the women. The gifts were a typical Maasai expression of appreciation and generosity. So, members of Bethel, the gifts bestowed on Howard, Earlene, Jack, Jane, Arlene, and myself were accepted thankfully and graciously with all of you in mind.
So we thank you all. For support of the mission programs, and for support in love and prayer for us.
Blessings all.
-Bruce
