Proceedings were kicked off by the MC who invited Milla and close family to join him in a traditional opening dance. It was magnificent! The words, the tone, the ululating and most of all the rhythmic movement were just so Maasai. It just communicated sharing, support, understanding and, above all, community.
Then it was time for the pastors. One spoke while the other translated. There were a lot of bible quotes, a lot of shouting and fist waving. It didn’t seem to be much related to Milla and her current situation until the last few minutes where they talked about trusting in God. They all had a turn at whipping up the crowd into an evangelical frenzy. Not my cup of tea. But I enjoyed the hymns and dancing when they were done.
Next it was the politicians. We had the local MP, some county councillors and the women’s rep for Kajiado county. Sympathy for Milla was couched in strong political messages such as the importance of health care, women’s issues and gender equality.. They never miss an opportunity! Following this, there were some family members and friends who spoke. This seemed more appropriate and personal.
Then Milla herself stood up. She talked of her journey: the fear, the delay, the shock of the diagnosis. It was very poignant and made me realise just how lucky we are in the UK. News of cancer will always be devastating. But in the UK, you need not worry about how much a doctor or treatment will cost and whether you can afford it. Outcomes too are less successful here not least because it takes a long time to raise money before treatment can begin. It was very emotional and I felt huge empathy for her challenges.
At the end, Milla wiped her eyes and announced, “Time for our keynote speaker. I know you’ve all been waiting patiently.” We all clapped in anticipation. “I’d like to welcome Margaret to the microphone.” What???
Now I have often been put in the situation of having to give impromptu speeches, sermons and teacher training sessions in a range of African countries. But the keynote speech? In front of 400 people? I had exactly 20 steps (the distance between my seat and the microphone) to compose it.
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