The Party held for Kenyan kids yesterday by the newly launched “Making a Difference (MAD)” was a big success. About 20 kids participated. The Program began at 14.00 and ended at 20.00 when the adults took over. When Ma adalti got on stage to begin their orders on the counter, all kids had strategically been mobilized home to take it easy after a rather busy afternoon.
Man Zoro will probably go down as “an expert” in keeping the kids engaged. He had a well planned-out scheme and what the kids had to do was to follow the Program as their parents/minders watched with glee.
It all began with “Face painting” to change the general outlook of the kids. The “Artists”, led by Irene of Tensta, did a wonderful job. It was like the artists had just emerged from training because the decorations were not only unique but also appeared like there was some expert hand behind them.
The climax of the Program came during the “indoor games”, “talent show” and “DJ & Dance competition”. The kids were split into two group, boys and girls, then made to compete by holding an egg patched on a spoon with the spoon clasped delicately between the lips. It was extremely funny, watching the kids trying to rescue the egg from falling by using their hands as a “safety net”.
Some kids actually conned their way to victory using their hands to prevent the egg from dropping on the floor although the organizers looked the other way because they needed a winner especially in a situation where both competitors could not balance the egg without using their hands.
The son of a well known Kenyan in Stockholm emerged as the “winner” after he faked his way through the competition, much to the excitement of the crowd! It was very funny and some observers could not stop giggling with their hands on their mouths as kids used all tricks in the book to try and win the competition.
The winner earned a big applause from the crowd regardless of whether or not it had been faked. Interestingly, the male kids tended to cheer the male competitors while the female kids egged their gender-mates, urging them to rush and win.
A keen observer could easily discern the sexism that was clearly in display among the kids albeit in an unconscious and harmless way. For researchers, the event could throw some light as to whether support based on gender differences was an in-born phenomena or the product of brain-washing and systematic indoctrination.
The competitors who were balancing eggs on a spoon were then made to walk to and fro for a distance of about 3-4 meters and whoever did the round in the quickest time won. Interestingly, the boys appeared to dominate as winners raising questions as to whether Kenyan “kid boys” were more superior in the act of “complicated balancing” that was key to winning the event.
Then, there was the “Rap competition” that featured kids of both sexes. All in all, David, the great son of Serah Nielsen, appeared to have been the “star of the match” during the dancing competition. The boy was really good. He provoked the audience into repeated and spontaneous applauds as he went through the Michael Jacksson motions with the expertise of a professional.
It you have a child who missed the event because you were doubtful, you were damn wrong. For a start, the turn-out was “respectable” although critics were quick to point out that majority of the 20 or so kids who participated in the function were spewed into the world by the organizers themselves.
Whatever the critics say, the event should pave the way for the future when it comes to organized children’s activities in Stockholm. Kudos to man Zoro, Sandy, Carthy, Carolne, Winnie, her sister Irene, DJ Kajoe and all the “MAD team” that made the event a huge success. KSB hopes that this is the beginning and that there will be more of the Kids events in the near future. We also hope that there will be a revision of the name which sounds unpalatable with children’s activities. We give the event an 80% success rate. In the end, “All is well that ends well”.
Okoth Osewe
KSB NOTE:
Because of technical reasons, we are unable to publish pics from the “Mad Party”. The pictures will be made available as soon as possible.
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