PARTY!!

South Sudanese people take parties very seriously which is why it's important to remember all the "formalities and procedures" that are involved with them.

Attending a party here doesn't mean going clubbing or crashing someone's house or compound: it's not that easy. A party here is a group of rules, a ritual which has to be followed.

Sadly we had two goodbye parties last week (Debbie and Camille you will be GREATLY missed) so I had the chance to polish some rules and remember how to party here!

First: THE SPEECH.

No party can begin without a speech and I mean a proper one where the head of the NGO/organisation/whatever formally addresses the public and the person that is being celebrated (lets call him John).

I'll give you the start: "Ladies and Gentleman we are all here today to say goodbye to John who has been working here for tot time and who has been doing this and that... Now I ask someone else to come and say a few words about John.... And now I wish to call another person to say another few words about John.. And now I want to call John to say a few words (he will be the last one to talk)..."....!!!

ok you got the point: the speeches go on FOREVER and this happens in a spiritual silence where no one can disturb or do anything or say anything or for example.... EAT!

yes because that part still has to come! ok yeah one thing at a time.

right so we have the 3 hour long speeches and after that what happens? 

Second: THE FOOD

so you're almost falling asleep during the 10th speech of the night, your stomach is making weird sounds, you're starving and finally the speech part is over. you can finally run to the table!!

oh, if only..

well in order to eat at these parties you have to wait for John to eat. in fact, John will be the one to "open the ceremony" of the food and be the first and only one to go to the table and get served. Once he is done all the others can go and do the same, not before. So the endless line starts forming: from the table to the farthest ends of the compound. Bottom line is: if you aren't anywhere close to John it'll take forever to get your food after he has taken his.

Third: THE DANCING

I won't make it long, the dancing works exactly like the food. John has to open the dances: he chooses a partner (CANNOT do it on his own) and start dancing on the dance floor. Just the two of them, for an awkward while, dancing whatever music the dj will play. It's kind of like the first dance of a married couple except that John and the partner are not married and will most probably have never danced together. So it's funny, and embarrassing.. but mostly funny! After a while some kind, generous soul will join them and little by little the dance floor will get crowded until it's just a mass of bodies jumping around.

So these are the three main steps to go through if you want to party like a rock star here! 

And no kidding these people are really serious about this party ritual...

So let me just say again good bye to the awesome Debbie and Camille and remember..

if you're invited to a party in South Sudan.. GET YOUR SPEECH READY!!!!!