Jumamosi mchana, jioni na usiku (Saturday afternoon, evening and night)

After pumzika kidogo (a much needed Nanno!), Wendy, Mae and I squashed like sardines into a daladala and bumped our way into town into town. Relieved to tumble out of the hot box we wandered through the streets and into the Kanga store. Kangas are the African version of the sarong and are worn by almost every woman in Morogoro, Zanzibar and many of the women in Dar and throughout Africa. You buy them in 2 panels and mzungus will often buy one; keep one for themselves and give the other to a good friend They are similar to a framed picture in that they have a border around each piece, a matching pattern in the centre and a small printed message across the bottom of the kanga. The women tie them around their lower and/or upper bodies, often in creative ways, to hide their shoulders and their legs. They also use them to in which to carry their babies. The Katangi fabric is bought in longer lengths and can be tailored into beautiful dresses or skirts and blouses. With Wendy’s help I used my limited Kiswahili to purchase four lengths of Katangi at two different shops then we power walked all the way out to the tailor and again using my Kiswahili, I hope I asked for 2 dresses and 2 skirts and tops to be sewn and collected in one week! The tailor, Mr Ngosha (coincidently he is the same tailor Sandra had recommended I use but I hadn’t known how to find!) is a really nice guy and obliged us in sorting out our fumbled requests and explanations of designs!
We left feeling very proud of ourselves and consequently celebrated with the remaining volunteers at Dragonaires.....another fun night!
Walking from Amabilis to Dragonaires, we were passed by a wedding procession. It is the third one I have witnessed. A wedding is an occasion shared by the whole community. Everyone involved takes part in a procession which drives several times through town and many of the streets with their lights on and a band playing loudly in the back of the leading truck. Twice, just on dusk, these processions have passed us making a fitting ending to the day and a delightful entree for our own festivities!