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How Can They Know It’s Christmas Time? Funnily enough, exactly how everyone else does.
Kaolack, Senegal
Zara and I have had plenty of opportunity to feel embarrassed for the UK this morning (now yesterday morning; laziness and internet cuts have delayed this post) after watching the Band Aid 30 video. The original lyrics are sickly sweet and self-congratulatory, but even so were left stunned at the new version. Before I get into why, though, I'd like to acknowledge that Ebola is, of course, a terrible disease which has caused thousands of tragic deaths in West Africa. There are also millions of people struggling with extreme poverty, preventable diseases, famine, and drought across the continent and around the world. This is unacceptable and something we should be doing everything in our power to resolve. It is not, however, what defines Africa, and painting it as such in no way helps its development. Africa is a huge and diverse continent; I can only really talk about the small amount of Senegal in particular that I've experienced, but even that miniscule part of the continent has been enough to contradict almost every line in the song.
So, let's go through said lines:
But say a prayer - Pray for the other ones
By characterising people in Africa as "other", we dehumanise them. The Senegalese people I've met are in no way "other". They like lots of the same music, complain about their president not doing enough for the country, say that the youth are too lazy to get jobs, make fun of each other, go clubbing, love their families, get tired at school; I could continue this list for hours. There is no "us and them".
There's a world outside your window - And it's a world of dread and fear
West Africa is, indeed, right outside my window, but "dread and fear" are not words I'd use while describing it (unless we were talking about the noises of our neighbours' goats at 8am; they sound pretty terrified.) Senegal is a world of community, family, music, sharing, and sheep on motorbikes.
Where a kiss of love can kill you - And there's death in every tear
I'm yet to see someone drop dead from kissing their significant other. Yes, Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids, but people know this. If your loved one starts showing the symptoms of Ebola, you're hardly going to want to kiss them. What do they think is in the water here to put "death in every tear"?! I've seen a few tears (most of them crocodile tears from the kids thinking we're gullible enough to think they're emotionally scarred by not winning sweets), and zero deaths.
And the Christmas bells that ring there - are the clanging chimes of doom
Yeah, those damned doom bells wake me up every night. People here are much more optimistic than back home; they play down illnesses, have impressive and varied aspirations, and hardly ever complain.
Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you
What a terrifying prospect. Quite literally for some of the kids here; Zara made a grand total of 5 babies cry in a week just by coming near them. Come to think of it, it's totally justified, when you consider the UK's colonial history.
No peace and joy this Christmas in West Africa
Senegal is a country that values peace enormously; the way to say hello is "peace be with you", for Christ's sake. One of the members, Saliou, writes fantastic poems, a typical line of which goes "peace will be all about". There's also plenty of joy to go around. The Senegalese really know how to party. The kids don't even need music to show us their dance moves, adults throw fantastic shapes all night in the clubs (no need for alcohol, might I add), and communities gather for sabbas; street parties which involve running into the middle of a huge circle of people and jumping and moving your whole body (perfectly in time with the drums) faster than seems humanly possible.
The only hope they'll have is being alive
The members of the centre dream big and bold. I've met aspiring doctors, filmmakers, lawyers, footballers, rappers, gymnasts, and more. People hope to have a happy marriage, to have their favourite meal for dinner, to get the new Samsung Galaxy phone, to pass their bac and go to Uni.
Where to comfort is to fear
Not even entirely sure what they mean by this. People are scared to comfort each other for fear of getting Ebola? There is no comfort, and only fear? I think I've made the point by now that human emotional ranges and relationships function the same in Africa as they do in the rest of the world.
Where to touch is to be scared
Shaking hands/fist bumping is an integral part of greetings here; save the babies we made cry, this is never a fearful interaction for either party.
How can they know it's Christmas time at all?
It's a holiday. That is celebrated. They know by looking at the calendar.
- comments
Lucy Mac This is wonderful and I love you.
Shona Amazing Lizzi. You could not sum it up better
Lucy This is the best post about it I've seen, mix of humour and hard-hitting truth. Bob Geldof seems to think Africa is one country which is entirely worrying...hope you're having a great time and keep up the posts!
Chris Radford. (Dad) Very well expressed.