Practicing the old ways of our people amidst unrelenting modernity

Three times this year I have been involved in family events with a traditional twist. And in all three, it has been evident that the people who remember what needs to be done at what point and by whom are becoming fewer, and even the knowledge they hold is scanty in the unrelenting face of modernity.

In the first event, early in the year, the family of a niece's fiancé was visiting her father's upcountry home to see where she came from and to "be known". As the hosts, we were there early to make sure everything was in place. A few minutes before the guests arrived, the women on our side of the family gathered for a briefing by two not quite elderly aunts. They told us what to do and assured that they would lead from the front, which was a relief because we would otherwise have been quite lost. Even then, I noticed that they consulted each other frequently.
When the guests arrived, "knocking on the gate" with traditional song and dance, we went to welcome them with our own song and dance. It was a bit comforting to see that both sides were not quite sure about what needed to be done. Parts of the songs were mumbled because the words were either forgotten or unknown. Those of us who were more unsure than others huddled together in the middle of the group and tried to dance vigorously to make up for the gaps in the songs.