Our day began with a boat trip from Victoria Island to Ikaare. We went by the Lagos port with many modern ships --
along with many sunken ones and rusted hulks in the water.
We passed primitive villages along the water,
and fishermen working their nets.
We arrived at the dock in Ikaare
and met with a greeting party.
We were first taken to an audience with the Oba (king) of Ikaareland.
He worked the room and shook everybody's hand.
I took a picture of his throne after most of the guests had cleared out of the room.
We then began a procession from his place to the village, he had a yellow umbrella held over him.
Every village needs a CD store.
And, of course, the resident goats. These were obviously newborn and were less than a foot tall. They were really cute.
and fishermen working their nets.
We arrived at the dock in Ikaare
and met with a greeting party.
We were first taken to an audience with the Oba (king) of Ikaareland.
He worked the room and shook everybody's hand.
I took a picture of his throne after most of the guests had cleared out of the room.
We then began a procession from his place to the village, he had a yellow umbrella held over him.
Some children looked out shyly at us, as these did,
And others came out to pose and wave and shout "oyibo".
And others came out to pose and wave and shout "oyibo".
Every village needs a CD store.
And, of course, the resident goats. These were obviously newborn and were less than a foot tall. They were really cute.
Chickens are also given free rein to wander.
This girl posed proudly for us as she got water from the village well.
This girl posed proudly for us as she got water from the village well.
There were also graves next to the houses, like the other villages we recently visited.
And a man sewing on the front porch.
And a man sewing on the front porch.
When we neared the school, the procession was joined by a local troupe singing and dancing.
As people were gathering they continued their performance.
As people were gathering they continued their performance.
I took notice of the senior school, which is not much to look at.
This is the back side of the senior school.
Right beside it is the new Junior School.
Soon the village people and students had gathered and the official program began.
There were welcomes and speeches and much gratitude expressed. One speaker mentioned how the whole village had prepared for this ceremony with a clean-up effort the likes of which he had never seen before. He said they were so grateful for their new school and so proud of it and wanted everything to look so nice for the dedication this day.
Some people laid paper money on the shoulders of these local dancers as they performed.
They ended their performance by bowing down in front of us and singing in English repeatedly "God bless you."
Then there was the presenting of gifts. I wish I had been faster with my camera and gotten pictures of the girls carrying these large gift baskets in on their heads.
Then it was time for the official ribbon cutting and viewing of the ceremonial plaque.
Some children watched attentively.
And others were just interested in getting their picture taken.
Then more pictures with some board members from the Ishahayi Beach School Foundation inside a new classroom.
This is the back side of the senior school.
Right beside it is the new Junior School.
Soon the village people and students had gathered and the official program began.
There were welcomes and speeches and much gratitude expressed. One speaker mentioned how the whole village had prepared for this ceremony with a clean-up effort the likes of which he had never seen before. He said they were so grateful for their new school and so proud of it and wanted everything to look so nice for the dedication this day.
I thought it was interesting as I sat directly behind the Oba during the ceremony. If there was something he needed, he would look behind him and point sharply to one of his assistants and they would scurry over and find out what he needed. The gathered audience was most attentive during his speech. But there were also a number of government officials, and the highest education officials there were Nigerian women. The school official who was serving as a kind of MC, commented that when he was young there was much talk about the importance of educating women and now he had these women as his superiors. He joked they had achieved that goal and know they should work on men's education and advancement -- beginning with himself!
The government education official commented a couple of times that they were like Oliver Twist ("please sir, I want some more") and reminded the foundation of more needs in the Lagos community and hoped for more efforts in the future. One of the teachers at the Senior School mentioned that the Bible said we should not covet, so he was trying not to, but he was hoping he could move his office over to the Junior School.
There was more singing and dancing -- the singing was in the Yoruba language, but we were informed that they were expressing their thanks to us.
Some people laid paper money on the shoulders of these local dancers as they performed.
They ended their performance by bowing down in front of us and singing in English repeatedly "God bless you."
Then there was the presenting of gifts. I wish I had been faster with my camera and gotten pictures of the girls carrying these large gift baskets in on their heads.
Then it was time for the official ribbon cutting and viewing of the ceremonial plaque.
Some children watched attentively.
And others were just interested in getting their picture taken.
Then more pictures with some board members from the Ishahayi Beach School Foundation inside a new classroom.
And outside with the Oba (notice his staff and flywhisk, symbols of his authority which he holds) and the school principals and government education officials.
Time for celebration -- the children gathered around coolers of drinks that the foundation members brought for them.
Time for celebration -- the children gathered around coolers of drinks that the foundation members brought for them.
1 comment:
I arrived here by a link on the LDSMoms group. I love the idea of your blog, finding the positive in your challenging adventure. What a wonderful example! I also love your photos. I hope I have more time soon to continue looking at them.
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