Friday, August 1, 2008

Kasiki in a Slum

At night, I attend my first Kasiki—a Ugandan pre-wedding party. It’s for the groom who is a friend of a friend, but now he is my friend, too. There are 30 of us, men and women–everyone is buzzed and laughing. There is multi-pitched shrieking, thigh slapping, and dancing; conversation is a blend of Luganda and English.

We are celebrating in the parking lot of a neighborhood slum.

“Johldan, you are welcome here, seestah!”


I offer the Ugandan handshake, a hug, and three kisses. I can’t stop smiling.

“Mzungu, dance with us!” they insist.

For three hours straight, into the early morning, we rock out to local Ugandan music and Alicia Keys. For a few moments, I'm sure we are the happiest people in the whole world.

1 comment:

M* D* Legacy said...

Jordan, how do you compare the Ugandan Slum Kasiki Dance with the 'mordern' Club scene. By club scene I mean experience of Angenoir Discotheque, Silk Club, Royale and Oxygen, then Sway and many more! You wil;l get served.. trust me. How do you compare it to the American way of doing things perhaps the Jewish focal point.
Best Regards,

Donnn