Mthunzi Boys visit scotland

Sunday, July 27

The unusual has happened - Mthunzi Centre is very quiet and one wonders where the boys are. We go to search for them, and find them busy preparing for their journey to Scotland. They are not in their usual rehearsal places. They are in the bush, away from any onlookers, rehearsing a number of Gaelic songs, some acrobatic performances and cultural dances.

The boys have waited for this day with great anticipation. In fact, they started counting down as soon as they were informed about the trip nearly three months ago. Today all their laundry is done, their bags are packed and as the clock ticks, it is likely that the boys are not going to sleep.

Monday, July 28

The long awaited day is here. Everyone is seated in the bus to the airport while the other boys remaining behind have all come out to see us off.

When we departed, the boys sang all the way from Mthunzi to the Lusaka International Airport, which is about 30 kilometres away. We checked in at the airport, and the boys’ excitement was evident as they chatted and laughed with one other. At 11:05, we took off aboard a Kenya Airways flight to Kenya via Malawi. The boys were so calm that we could not tell who amongst them was flying for the first time. They all had fun walking up and about to chat with friends on other seats.

At 16:45, we landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, and proceeded to the transit lounge to await our flight to Scotland through London, which was scheduled for 23:45. The boys found many ways to entertain themselves and the seven hours went so quickly. Soon, our flight was announced.

The security measures in place at the airport were baffling. We had to take off our shoes and our belts, and some of our boys with big-sized trousers had to gird them with their hands after removing the belts. They laughed about this as we waited for takeoff. Another thing they enjoyed was the food, which was not our usual “heavy, lasting” Zambian food, but bits and pieces they jestingly referred to as “baby food.”

During our flight to London, the boys got busy either watching in-flight movies or listening to music. A good number of them did not even sleep, at most just dozing off momentarily.

Tuesday, July 29
We are at Heathrow Airport, London. The boys make their way together, laughing and joking as they approach immigration. More security checks and the usual taking off of shoes, but nothing mattered as our sights were set on Glasgow, Scotland. We just made fun of all this hassle and moved on.

Our flight from Nairobi had arrived late, making us late for our final flight to Scotland. Luckily for us, a delay in packing the bags on the aircraft created time for us to catch the plane, and soon we were on our way to Glasgow. We unfortunately lost some of our luggage, including our drums and kit, but the joy of meeting Marian, Mark, Ann-Marie and Theresa, who came to meet us at the airport, outweighed the loss.

Our journey from Glasgow to Argyll started on a low note as we enjoyed the green country view. Moments later, the boys were singing and drumming (Marian had brought one of the drums they had left behind when they visited Scotland two years ago).

We were welcomed at the St. Margaret’s Parish with traditional Scottish pipe music by a piper dressed in a kilt. The parish priest was there with some parishioners to welcome us. It was so beautiful, and the piper put up a combined performance with the Mthunzi Cultural Group.

In Zambia, when it starts to get dark, it means it is getting late. But here in Scotland, we had a meal in broad day light and suddenly people were bidding each other “Good Night.” It did not get dark till around 22:30.

Wednesday, July 30/31

What differentiates between morning, afternoon and evening? I woke up in the morning and it looked like a Zambian evening!

July 31 was nice and cool though with some light rains. We had a braai (barbecue), but due to the rains, we had to hold it inside the youth centre in Argyll. Well, braai is braai whether indoors or outdoors, and this one was great. Our host families drove us to the youth centre, where we had a fun filled morning as our lovely “aunties” and “uncles” grilled the meat and prepared other foods. Soon it was meal time. I remember a saying which goes, “Europeans, Australians and Americans are given watches while Africans are given time.” We were enjoying ourselves so much that we did not realize it was mealtime. And the food was scrumptious!

Having eaten, the boys went to the football field for practice. It was nice to see them walk onto the field looking smartly dressed, only to start sliding and falling time and again as they played in the rain while enjoying their new muddy look.

Eventually, we returned to our host homes when our watches indicated that it was getting late - although it still looked as bright as day.

Friday, August 1

We were taken three or four centuries back in time when we visited the Auchindrain Museum. It was beautiful to relate some of the traditional practices to our own Zambian experience. Notably, the traditional chicken run looked almost exactly like our Zambian one, as did the traditional houses, which were thatch-roofed with a fireplace at the centre. Farming practices also appeared similar in a way, although differentiated by adaptation to climatic differences and other factors.

We had three birthdays to celebrate: Fr. William’s, Annie-Marie’s and Chiselwa’s. We also held a meeting of the Mthunzi cultural group to prepare for upcoming performances, and found time to attend mass, which differed from the usual Zambian mass as we sang only three songs (entry, Lords’ prayer and exit).

Sunday, August 3

At 05:30hrs the morning was already bright. The day was pleasant with just a little bit of rain. The Mthunzi boys sung at a Mass attended mostly by elderly people (though the church was full), then had lunch with their host families.

Later in the evening, we assembled for an ecumenical service conducted by ministers and representatives from different churches, including the Methodist Church and the Church of Scotland. A Methodist minister read from the writings of the Prophet Isaiah, and Fr. William, who was one of our host Catholic Priests, preached with great warmth. The Mthunzi boys sung and danced so beautifully that the congregation stayed put until the boys had left - on their way to a well deserved supper.

Monday, August 4

Since it was a free day with no pre-arranged group activities, the boys where taken to different places by their host families. Some went fishing, and were very excited to catch some really big fish - big especially compared to the tiny kapenta we are accustomed to eating in Zambia. Others went swimming, and we visited the canal at Lochgilphead, walking from the source all the way down until we were somewhere close to its end. It was a beautiful, sunny day.

Tuesday, August 5

We went for music practice with the Gaelic choir and pipers in preparation for our upcoming concert. The boys learnt some Gaelic songs and taught the Scots a few Zambian songs. Then, the two groups tried to fuse the Zambian way of drumming with the Scottish pipes to create “Zamscot music”. Ever heard of this? Watch out for their soon to be published CD!

Wednesday, August 6

Another day was spent creating a different sound – this time called “Scotzam music”. The Mthunzi boys spent hours with the Lochgilphead Center rock band. The Lochgilphead Center organizes various activities that help local youths develop their talents. Unfortunately, only seven of the twenty or so youngsters we were expecting actually turned up. This however did not hinder the practice session; the band members played rock tracks for the boys, who in turn performed our great Zambian music. The final result was the Mthunzi boys rapping and drumming to the words of a poem written by a Scottish author.

To crown the day, we all went swimming before beginning to prepare for our eight hour journey to the Island of Barra, which was scheduled for the following day.

7 August

We left very early in the morning at about seven from Lochgilphead to Oban which is about an hour’s journey. On the way the boys talked excitedly about sailing, being Zambia a landlocked country it was to be the first time for all of them. When we got to the boat, you could see the surprise on their faces because of the big size of the ferry and the number of cars it carried, to mention nothing about the people. We quickly embarked and ran around to familiarize ourselves with it and, behold, there were two Italian friends, Carlotta and Stefania, who had visited us last year in Mthunzi, and that added to the excitement.

When the boat got going, some of them struck the famous Titanic pose. Then the boys had an opportunity to go to the operations room and spoke to the captain, who showed them how to “drive the ferry”. Some of the boys could not stand looking at the waves from the operation room as they felt dizzy. It was, however, a wonderful journey, eight hour long, but seemed like an hour’s due to fun and laughter the boys shared.

At Barra, we were met by John-Joe whom we had met in June when he came to Zambia and later the host families came up for the boys whom they took with them to their homes. Talk about love, care and support. People really care about us: we are getting on very well as if we have known each other and have been living together for some years. In the evening we had a welcome meal which was Italian: Lasagne and many other things that the boys were too full to eat any more until the ice cream came by. Space was found. Then they sang and danced.

8 August

The good weather continued so we had a tour of Barra Island, and what a beautiful place it is! Margaret explained us the history of Barra, then we visited a the fish farm where we saw prawns and the boys enjoyed helping in packing the fish. Some of them were considering this as a career!

Other exciting things came along: the solar power, geo-thermo and then the wind driven generators. It is all about rural development. Food for thought for our context back home and the boys picked up areas they would eventually explore in life. Some of them wondered as we went to the police station what was the purpose. When they were shown around and even allowed to get on the patrol vehicle, speak through the microphone and switch on the alarm, then the realized how positive and useful the work of police person is. Did we get any of them thinking of a career of that kind? One thing for sure, it made them view the police force in a different way from how they are used to in Zambia: here policemen are friendly peace makers and keepers.

We then went to the Kisimul castle which was built in the 11th century, but it is still standing strong. Later, we went to the beach and the boys were playing in the Atlantic Ocean: they swam, played football and played in the sand. Then we had dinner at the beach hotel. Then followed the ceilidh: party. It attracted many people and various traditional performances. It was really a cultural exchange in which we learnt many things as well as they also learnt a lot from us. In the hall, as the boys did their dances, everybody was smiling. The Mthunzi boys too had their faces all lit up by smiles and I couldn’t stop myself from been part of this energizing and up lifting experience. When the next band played a local track, our boys were taken up in the Canadian barn dance which they responded to like they have been practicing with their partners for a long time. It was so powerful and colorful that at the end people talked about how transforming and up lifting the ceilidh had been. Well, it was getting late, so we had to go to bed.

9 August

Barra weather, as the local told us: rain and rain for the all day and so we had to reschedule our activities. The planned for eleven aside football match turned into five aside (indoor) which the Zambian boys won. We then went to the airport talked to the fire people and those at the control tower. Finally we went to church and later had a B.B.Q where the boys with the locals, danced to each other’s traditional music.

11 August

The host families drove the boys to the harbor where we were to get on the boat. It was a sad moment; people wanted to stay longer for Barra was wonderful. But we had to go. Thus we said our good byes and proceeded to the boat, not a few crying. The boat started moving as we waved at each other and this went on till we could not see them physically though we carried the people of Barra with us as the boys started talking about how impressed they were with Barra.

It was rough leaving Barra not just emotionally but also the ocean and so some of the boys got sick. Thanks to Marian who had the medicine to help them cope with rough seas. When we arrived at Oban the bus driver came to meet us and drove us to Lochgilphead.

The host families were waiting for us and as we alighted, we were received with hugs.

12 August

We had a free morning just to rest. We convened at 18:00 hours for practice with the Gaelic junior choir with whom we were performing in an hour's time. At 19:00 hours, we were driven to the community centre where the performance was taking place. All the tickets for the concert were sold and the Zamscots performed their joint activities starting with the combination of the Scottish pipes with the Zambian drums. Then they sang a Gaelic song after which the boys took over the show and amazed the audience with Zambian traditional dances. This was followed by a Zamscot poem (joint poem featuring the boys and Scottish girls). Later every one in the audience was holding his breath mouth in surprise when our boys put on their acrobatic performances.

It was a wonderful show that ended at about ten, with people reluctant to leave the hall. Were they hoping for more performances? Well we have to go and rest. Some of them are working tomorrow. And we are also tired. we need to rest. Good night.

13 August

Tarbert is a fishing town. We visited it and learnt about how they fish shell fish, prawns, salmons and crabs. Due to global warming, there has been an increase in prawn fishing which in the past was fished only in summer when water is warm. Two of our group members tested uncooked shell fish and they said it was tasty. Not all were courageous enough to try.

The boys were given fishing rods and they started fishing. Either the place has no fish or the fish are too clever because the boys did not catch anything. We thus left for lunch at the shell beach. The boys had a basket ball and football to entertain themselves with. However, the basketball was thirsty and so ended up in the ocean. The boys looked at each other to see who had the courage to retrieve the basket ball. After a while, Peter dived into ocean and got the ball amidst applause from his friends.

14 August

We went off to Ormsary farm and fish farm. At the farm, there is a community centre which has an indoor basket ball court/ football pitch and that got the boys in to playing a game. Am sure they were warming up for the fish and the farm visit. We soon left for the fish farm there was a presentation on fish farming from selective fertilization to the time the fish matures and it switches between fresh water and ocean water.

Later we visited the massive farm which has cattle and sheep. The farm worker called the cattle and they came. Amazing. He reminded me the story about the, 'good shepherd.' Farming made easy, we were told about the dogs (well not just told but we saw them) which shepherd the sheep. On our way back, we saw the seals. Then we were given a treat, soup and sandwiches, biscuits and scones.

15 August

The boys had a quiet day comprising of a walk along the canal and then came the sup rise that the girls from the Junior Gaelic choir had prepared for them. They had a games and music to play and dance to.

16 August

We had a lovely Scottish weather, a wet day which we enjoy for as long as we are not performing outdoors. This time we were traveling, so we do not mind this kind of weather. We left Lochgilphead for Troon. The boys who were there two years ago spoke about Troon to those going there for the very first time.

We reached Troon and the host families where waiting with some of their children. We then had a meal, after which some of the boys went out the beach while others went to see the local football team compete with another. Later we all gathered, rehearsed for Mass and then off to our homes to refresh.

At seven we gathered at the church hall were the concert was to start in the next thirty minutes. Soon, the hall was full and the boys were in action with audiences laughing and clapping their hands happy at what they were watching and hearing.

The boys then switched from cultural dances to acrobatics and some of the people in the audience covered their faces out of fear that one of the boys would fall. But, as they slowly opened their fingers to steal a glance at the boys, they were surprised to see them one top of the other two boys smiling and sending flying kisses to those in the audience.

17 August

Had Mass, and the youths of Troon together with the boys from Mthunzi sang and did the intercession prayers. Then we had lunch and we were on our way back to Lochgilphead. It was not easy leaving, the lovely people of Troon would had wanted us to stay.

18 August

We had a meeting between Mthunzi boys and staff with Includem staff and children. The sharing went very well that we learnt from each other. The young people shared their past experiences which they laughed about realizing that they are now different people and have moved from that life style. Broken families and peer pressure were among the contributing factors to the young people's exposure to drugs, crime, street life, you name it.

Every one brought in their lunch which we had as we mixed to share and chat. Then there was entertainment and later parted company. The boys from Mthunzi went to practice football and later went to their homes.

19 August

We visited of the construction campus at Argyl college and the boys asked many questions, and went for acrobatics practice. We were then told t gather at St. Margaret church at three, but given no reason. Only Marian knew about the surprise awaiting us. And what a surprise! While people were wondering about the reason for the meeting, at three thirty Marian drove in with Fr. Kizito, who had decided to spend the last week of our stay in Scotland with us.

Later, under a light drizzle, we went to play football against Red Star club but Mthunzi allowed the host to win by a goal, two goals to one. Maybe it was the result of the surprise.

20 August

We are now used to the fact that every direction we are driven to, there is water everywhere. This was even more true during our today journey to Campbeltown. After a considerable drive, we came to the beach and there were a good number of seals enjoying the sun. The boys went over to see them as we do not have seals in Zambia.

After lunch we visited a owls sanctuary. Now, in Zambia owls are associated with witchcraft, thus people do not allow owls in their surrounding as that will be considered bad luck or the owner of the house would be looked at as a witch. None the less, we went to the owl garden and then a few owls were let out for fly display. Somebody fed them as he explained to us were t ent owls he differ came from and calling them by their name would fly to were he was. There was a particular owl called Kenya. It is a kind of owl found in Africa. After it displayed its way of life, it flew back in to the cage at the worker's command and the cage closed behind it with the inscription, 'do not disturb.' It was funny to learn about owls.

We had free time to stroll about till evening time when we went to the Catholic Church Hall and there many people waiting for us. The meal was set and after eating, our boys showed did their performance, successful as usual.

21 August

The journey was not as long as the one yesterday. The boys told stories on the way and soon we were at Oban school. The boys were given the responsibility to teach the pupils from music and drama classes. Whatever they were to teach was to be presented in the afternoon to the wider audience. So, the boys came up with song and dance drama which they taught the pupils. They in return learnt a song.

At two in the afternoon pupils and their teachers came over to the hall the performance that the boys had taught the pupils. It was colorful and vibrant. Though the audience wanted more, we did not have enough time to answer all their requests, because we had used the time we were given.

22 August

The buses are known to be on time but not today. We were supposed to leave Lochgilphead at 08:30 but the bus did not come for the next hour (until 09:30). I am sure these are loud bells ringing that we are tired or are we? We left for Tarbert school and since we are rational beings, a few changes were made and that was all sorted out making the program to go on as usual. The boys performed and the pupils were fascinated. Then they mixed to exchange views and later made off for Lochgilphead school.

We came back around 18:00hours and found the Lochgilphead school hall prepared for the concert. Soon people started getting in and in no time, it was full. A moment of silence was observed to pay our respect for our late President. Then the Zambia national anthem was sang and that led to the cultural trip to Zambia.

The boys danced the Zambian traditional dances, and the drummers this evening were extraordinary. I looked from behind the curtain and saw maybe an audience of three hundred people ecstatic about our presentation. There were few Zambians from Edinburgh who were in the audience enjoying the show and singing the lines that they new.. The Gaelic junior Choir did their wonderful songs in a melodious way and a lovely gifted piper, Laura, piped while the boys accompanied with their drums and the out come was the real Zamscot music.

23 August

The morning started very early as usual but the unusual was to be done at Lochgilphead Front Green. This is a green park next to the ocean. The boys started playing and people gathered. Today they were not just boys, but they were wearing the hat of acrobats. They started by somersaults and the people cheered. Then they did some complicated things to the amusement of the on lookers who kept saying, 'that's wonderful, unbelievable, I can't believe it, they are brilliant etc.' Some are still looking. Well the show is over. Sorry that you did not come to see, it is not easy to describe the performances but the pictures may bring you close to what happened.

Looking at how busy the boys have been, I thought they would be tired. When asked to play football, they agreed. They were to realize how tired they were when they got on the pitch. Men are men and they put up a good performance but could not match that of the Ardrishaig football team, who won three goals to one.

In the evening, was a send-off B.B.Q. Well we have been here for almost a month. Despite the rains that had started, our B.B.Q still went on with the dances and eating.

24 August, Sunday

We will be leaving for Zambia tomorrow. All the boys were brought for Mass by their host families. They sang and danced in Church, then boys spent the rest of the day with their host families relaxing,  packing and saying thank yous and good byes.

Monday, August 25 - Leaving Scotland

We were set to leave to 10:30 hours. Everybody was brought by their host families on time. Then came a group of Gaelic junior choir members and some parishioners. Given the number of people around, it was very easy to load the luggage with their help once the bus came. The difficulty came in having everybody on the bus. Scotland was nice and our boys were loved – it was clear from the way people were crying as they bid us farewell (including our boys). It was even worse when the bus took off and we waved our goodbyes.

We had a quiet two-and-half hour journey to the airport at Glasgow, from where we flew to London then onwards to Nairobi, Kenya.

 A father is father. The eight hour flight to Kenya was tiring and. Most of our boys slept, except for one who fell sick. Every time I woke up to check on the boys, I found a father moving around and making sure they were fine.

Tuesday August 26 - Anita’s Home, Nairobi

We had our breakfast at 04:30 and landed in Nairobi (Kenya) at 06:00 hours. As soon as we checked out at the airport, we were to driven to Anita’s Home where we had a big celebration - it was the Koinonia Children's Day as well as Fr. Kizito's birthday.

Children from different Koinonia projects, including our boys from Zambia, who represented Mthunzi Center, shared and showed their talents depicting various cultural activities and acrobatics, bringing about a rich and entertaining day. It was also an opportunity for the Koinonia workers and children to mingle and share ideas. On this day, we all experienced the happiness and laughter that Koinonia and Amani and many other friends have brought into the life of so many African children.

Later on, we had dinner and spent a night at Kivuli Centre. The night however, did not come that early because the boys shared stories and experiences pertaining to their background, country and project.

Wednesday August 27 – Back to Zambia

As I was enjoying my sleep, I heard noise only to realize that it was the boys packing our bags on the bus. The time was 04:30hours. Breakfast was prepared and at 05:00 we hit the road to the airport. After a little delay, our flight was off for Lusaka via Malawi. The members we had left behind at the Mthunzi Center were waiting and happy to welcome us.