Right now I am sitting outside on the veranda of the rectory. It is around 10 pm in Padibe on a Tuesday evening, which is usually pretty quiet, but many of the groups who will perform tomorrow have arrived and the air is filled with the sounds of many different styles of drums, flutes, whistles as they continue to celebrate and practice for the first ever big event tomorrow. They all know that the Paramount Chief, the King of all the Acoli clans will be at the Cultural Gala to witness their prowess. It is one of the proudest moments in their lives in the past 35 years.
I was so busy directing I did not get many photos of rehearsal today when we put in three of the traditional dances, but here is a shot from the Wang-oo scene.
The ancient Acoli ritual of passing on the tradition – Wang-oo
Wang-oo is one of the most highly significant traditions that have been mostly lost because of the long war. It is a time when the clan members gather around the fire and the elders settle disputes, pass on wisdom, teach the younger adults traditions and rituals, etc.
One of the rituals in the drama is one used for cleansing and healing of fear and trauma from some experience. The actors are making the final prop in this shot.
What used to be a common ritual for cleansing and healing most people have never seen.
In the ritual a girl who was abducted and now returned and a boy who was beaten by a bandit, need the cleansing. The clan gathers around with the elder in the middle holding a calabash bowl and a branch from a particular tree used for anointing. There is some water in the calabash bowl and all the members spit into it and the branch is put into the water and brushed on the girl and boy while certain prayers are said. Wait until you see the video! It should be posted a few posts from now.
This young man is playing one of the traditional music instruments used in the drama.
The actors putting the final touches on an animal hide used to sit on.
One of the props needed was an animal hide that is used for sitting on along with papyrus mats. So, I buy to buy a hide from a butcher, have it dried and then final preparation was made by the actors. Not bad for $17.
A million wonderful, beautiful children!
Even though we are in a walled in environment, we still attract a crowd that wants to watch rehearsal. Actually it has been very helpful for me to see their reaction to what is said and done in the scenes since I cannot understand one word of the dialogue!
The next post may be about the major activity during the dry season – brick making.
Thxs Rod,4 showing this 2 de whole world.i av been one of de actor(the boy who hurt by the bandit “okello”)