Reggae and Rainstorms

Dancing to Reggae in the rain is one of the coolest things a person can do.

Last week when Grace and I were on our way to buy a bag-dinner (food that is scooped into little plastic black trash bags for you to take away) from the night market we ran into our friend Sam and his girlfriend Marla. Sam is one of the most outgoing and ridiculous Oborunis I've met here. He is also one of the most enthusiastic organizers of outings. So, when half asked and half demanded I go to the free Reggae concert that night... I had myself a dilemma. I was tired, I was hungry and I had no idea what to expect of a Reggae concert in Accra. All I knew about the Reggae here is what I knew about Reggae night at Labadi beach - which is all sorts of sketchy.

But, who was I to argue with Sam?

Reluctantly Grace and I agreed we would join them for the concert. At ten to 8 that night Sam showed up at our door in a batman t-shirt asking if we were ready to go. We weren't of course, so we threw on jeans and light zip-ups and rushed out the door. Once we arrived I realized that it was the opposite of the sketched-out venue I expected. It was an organized, classy little event in a very nice complex. In fact, the seat behind us was reserved for Rita Marley... I don't know if she actually showed up since I don't know what she looks like, but there was a very classy black woman sitting in that seat later that evening...

I also learned that the artist we were going to see was a white German guy. I thought it was hilarious and was pumped for the show. We sat ourselves down in the center section right smack in the middle where we would have a fantastic view of the stage. Two Ghanaian artists opened for Jahcoustix (great name right...) and by the time he got on stage we were incredibly excited. His petite little self swaggered out onto stage in an indie outfit worthy of any trendy coffee shop with a big smile and impressive dreads and won me over immediately.

Then he opened his mouth and his band started up. He was fantastic.

Within 20 minutes he was encouraging the audience to leave their seats and come to the front to dance. Our group answered his call. Almost 45 minutes after our migration it began to rain. So, there we were getting soaked by the rain, swaying and jumping, depending on the tempo, to Reggae music. It was one of those "Man I love my life. I'm one lucky kid." moments.

The rain we experienced that night became a general theme for the week. And on Wednesday when I went to teach at the school the rain seemed to follow me. In the middle of my "lesson" with the kids the clouds opened up and a regular monsoon began. Word to the wise: don't try to teach in a one room school house with an aluminum roof in a rainstorm.

All the classes around me gave up and the kids were herded into a room with a TV to watch some sort of movie that the headmaster had set up. All the classes except my class...

You see, we were just getting ready to start our Creative Art part of class... the part where I draw shapes on the board and everyone raises their hands to tell me what they see with their imaginations. My class didn't want to go watch TV. MY class wanted to draw with Madame Alexis. Big win for this Branaman.

We drew for the next 30 minutes until the headmaster called me and the other teacher's a cab. My kids were still calling out for "one more shape! One more shape!" when I was walking out the door. I laughed and waved goodbye assuring them as they wrapped their little bodies around my legs that I would see them next week and we would draw some more.

The rain let up just in time for me to walk to Beacon House to see the kids there. I had another good day at the orphanage, and had the opportunity to help Romana, the director, with some organization this time around since there were way too many volunteers there that day playing with the kids. In the midst of my organizing I found some unopened frisbees and brought them outside to play. And by doing so, I signed myself up for almost an hour of frisbee lessons with the 10 year old boys who were all riled up from being on house arrest during the rain. After the frisbee lessons I played with baby Jeremiah and Veronica for a while before heading home for the evening.

The rain did all kinds of wonderful things for me last week and I found myself humming "God blessed the rains down in Africa..." wishing I had it on my ipod.