Independence Day of Statehood

In the entire history of the country of South Sudan, I have only ever missed one Independence Day Celebration in Mundri, not including the original day of Independence, but only the celebrations on the anniversary. I think that this qualifies me to tell how South Sudanese people in Mundri celebrate their Day of Statehood (an alternate translation of يوم الاستقلال, because it's always good to switch things up once in a while). Of course, you could also say that I’ve only ever celebrated 67% of all celebrations or that I have missed a full 30% of celebrations, but still, in my life as an American, I’m pretty sure my percentage is worse than that. So—behold ME!—an expert. Read and learn, my friends, from my superior knowledge.

Soldiers, school kids, flag=Independence

Here is a brief schedule of events:

1.     Military marches in with great fanfare, songs, and some dancing (Note: these guys sing GOOD, and I would be more patriotic if our military people did more singing and dancing, especially during their morning group-run.)

2.     School children march in with great fanfare, songs, and some dancing.

3.     Some more marching formations happen on the soccer field.

Mundri 2 Primary School girls shake it.

4.     Eventually everyone ends up sitting or standing under the mango trees while people go to the front to speechify.

5.     There is a speech announcing the coming speeches and song and dance numbers.

6.     The person doing the opening prayer is introduced.

7.     Person precedes prayer by small sermon (small means it only last half an hour).

8.     Prayer happens.

9.     National Anthem is sung. Many people do not know it. Hey—it’s a new country!

10.  Announcer comes back and announces next speech/event.

11.  Speech/event happens.

12.  Announcer

13.  Speech/event

14.  Annoucer

     This photo is a HUGE accomplishment
for me: Noha finally let me hold 
him without screaming
in terror at my horrifying whiteness--
An Independence Day Miracle!

15.  Speech/event

16.  Repeat steps 11-15 until you are just about to go home because-hey! home is right behind you anyway…and then convince yourself that you should stick it out because you are one of the only (or in fact the only) shiny white person there whose absence might possibly be noticed.

17.  Maintain a look of interest and concentration on your face as you gaze upon the passionate speecher, even if you are trying to plan out how you will go eat lunch with your friend AND make brownies in the coal oven to give to another friend AND make it to the dance party later).

18.  After an hour of words that you no longer have the brain willpower to pay attention to (which doesn’t matter since your face froze into a look of concentrated contemplation about 2 hours ago and will stay like that for another 45 minutes at least), concluding with “So I don’t really have much to say, so I’ll stop here,” everyone BREAKS FOR LUNCH!

19.  Go to lunch with friends.

20.  Free time until 4:00 when the DANCE PARTY STARTS

21.  From 4:00-sunset (approximately 7:30) groups form according to tribe/clan all over the soccer field where people dance their own style or jump from group to group dancing them all (I prefer to dance them all). The Moru group is the biggest (of course) and consequently the hardest to break into. Also, be aware: many drunk men and lots of knives and bows and arrows and stuff to watch out for. Favorite instruments: cow horn trumpets and cow hide drums.

Cow horns and drums, and the guy bending over is
playing the drums, but when he got kicked out
of the band for being drunk, he pulled that knife, attached
to him by the blue rope, and the police had to come to
escort him away from the area.

The sun got in my way for this shot, but also there
was so much dust being kicked up from the dancers
that you can't get a clear shot anyway.

My friends who invited me to lunch have a pet deer
that they found in the jungle and adopted.

In the back right-hand side you can see one of our
2 riot police that were there "just in case."
This is a lazy sneaky photo I took from my seat,
so it is bad, but the point is:
Mundri has riot police, ya'll!

So, the dance party is fun. It feels very “African,” which is a description that I hesitate to use because Africa is a continent made up of a surprising number of unique cultures and communities. I say surprising because I think it is to people who are still under the impression that Africa is a country. But in this case, having a dance party to celebrate Day of Statehood fits the stereotype of singing, dancing Africans. And the Moru people from all the clans and tribes know how to shake it. And one small white girl knows how to make a fool of herself without shame by joining in.

Here is where I uploaded a video 2x on the odds that at least one of them will work. It's still a long shot, but let's see what happens...

And now I must, I MUST say something else. There is no one in the world who knows how to really celebrate Independence Day like the Indonesian people. Yes, I’m sure it’s fun to cook out on the grill and eat til you’re sick, but really, that’s what Americans do at all of their holiday parties (I’m not saying I’m not OK with that, I’m just saying it’s not very creative). Indonesians plan their parties by neighborhood. Everyone gathers on the nearest badminton court or whatever open space you can find if you are on the most populated island in the world (i.e. Java, home to 100,000,000+ people, same size and shape as TN which is home to a mere 5,000,000 people—for reference). There one and all play ridiculous games designed to make everyone look like an idiot. The chubby lady who owns the local warung (small shop) wins the sack race. The RT (elected village leader) is the fastest at eating his krupuk off the string hanging from the clothesline with his hands tied behind his back. All the men and boys join in to climb the greasy bamboo pole to rip down the prices and throw them into the adoring crowd at the bottom. And of course, children run around eating too much candy and having the best time of their lives, which is the goal of children everywhere on every holiday. I’ve been in many countries and seen many Day of Statehood celebrations, but none of them have anything on Indonesia. I really think that Indonesians should travel around the world and do workshops on the proper way to celebrate Independence. It’s the least they can do for less advanced nations.

Dirgahayu Indonesia!

Below are a bunch of photos I got off the internet as examples of Indonesia's Awesome Celebrations because it has been a long time since I've been there for one.

The prizes are at the top!

Can only get there through team work.

And determination

And I have never been at a celebration that had a bike on the top,
so this must be a fancy neighborhood.

Eat krupuk off a string!

And now, more proof that Indonesia is the greatest country on the face of the earth with some original photos taken by people I actually know (my parents, 2 of my 5 blog readers):

We have fire engines that look like this!

And check out this cute foto of my dad
hanging out with friends by a cool tree.
Indonesia=Awesome
My Dad=Awesome

Wait, sorry, this just in… Indonesia and South Sudan are exactly the same:

Except Indonesia kind of enforces those helmet laws…

In conclusion, Everywhere is Awesome. I love Everywhere. Everywhere is my favorite.