New Year's in Budalang'i

Kenyans generally celebrate the arrival of the new year in much the same way that Americans do. There is sports during the day, and a night out on the town with friends. The sports and the venues may vary, but at their core, celebrations are much the same.

The final match of the football tournament pitted my hometown team of Budalang'i against Mundere, another small village bordering Budalang'i. The guys wore English Premier League jerseys of their choice to distinguish teams. Yellow was Budalang'i. 

Beginning on December 30th, Budalang'i hosted a three-day football tournament involving local teams in the northern part of our district. The event culminated on New Year's Day with the final between Budalang'i and Mundere. During intermissions, women's dance groups sang and performed traditional music to keep the crowd entertained.

The event was sponsored by, 'kama kawaida' (as usual), local politicians within the ODM political party. They provided not only a trophy to the winning team, and some prize money to the top four, but also the tent and PA system rental. The tent, as is always the case in Kenya, is there primarily to provide seating for the guests of honor, generally the sponsors themselves and local political officials.

Local women's dance groups provided the half-time entertainment.

Can't fault these women for their enthusiasm!

An action shot from the second half of play.

Although all of the teams hailed from my sub-county of Bunyala, throughout which I am working, I am closest with the team from Budalang'i. Many of these people have become my closest friends, as we spend time most days chatting in town. So I was pleased when they won the match, 2-0.

My friend Goma (in the orange shorts) on his way to scoring his team's second goal.

My good friends Kadogo and Moses in front, with my host brother, and star of the Budalang'i team, Peter in yellow just behind.

Myself with the winning team.

After the prerequisite hour of political speeches, the big moment finally came. '... And first place goes to... Budalang'i!'

Members of the team and supporters celebrating with the hardware.

On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the young people of the community spent the night at one of the local bars, which hire DJs to spin the latest dance beats until daybreak. I went out on New Year's Day night and had a great time. High energy, great people... it was basically a night out in any city in America, the venue just being much more modest and the atmosphere more intimate.