Effervesence

Effervesence : to show high spirits or vitality

The results of the Guinee elections were announced last evening.  Raymond and I were sitting in our living room, attentively listening  to the radio, our  best source of local news. It was 8pm and the leader of the election committee proceeded to read the results from all 72 regions. This included the percentage of voter participation and then the results of candidate #1 Cellou Diallo and candidate #2 Alpha Conde.  The final results were read out after 1 hour of details….and the winner is Alpha Conde who won by 52% and Cellou Diallo just behind by 47%. 

The instant the results were announced on the radio, we heard screams of joy from down the street. We quickly jumped up and went to our balcony. Our balcony has been since the very first day  in Conakry, our window into Guinean life.  It has given us information minute by minute as to the political and cultural climate as well as the actual temperature.  People were running up and down the street, hugging, dancing and screaming. They were speaking in their dialect so we did not know exactly what they were saying but their body language was speaking loud and clear. Young boys had whistles and they were blowing as loud as they could as they skipped, arms linked unable to contain their joy.  Women and girls were dancing, twirling about totally free and unashamed. More boys came running with a publicity banner of Alpha Conde they had just torn off from up the street poles, ecstatic and bouncing with energy. It was an amazing sight to see ! We had our entertainment live, no need for television here.  Some men came out from nowhere banging on empty plastic water cans, imitating the rhythm of the African drums.  Then,  huge loudspeakers were placed on the side of the street and the music blared out. Women and girls immediately danced, moving their bodies freely  and  rhythmically. We stood in awe of this demonstration of boundless joy and effervesence.

As people continued their dynamic celebration, flashes of lightning were brightening up the dark navy colored sky. It was as if Nature was joining the celebrations, giving us an organic display of fireworks. Within 20 minutes, blinding rain poured down  and the monsoon-like wind blew violently shaking the palm trees and the mango trees. I admire that these trees never break under all this pressure and terrific storms. They seem to just let the wind and rain blow them around and they kind of « go with it », not trying to resist. Maybe I need to learn this,  let go of my worries and concerns and try not to resist…do like the palm trees….just flow with life ! Food for thought…..

The rain had a calming effect on the crowds as they dispersed, scurrying to shelter. A dozen young people kept dancing, oblivious to the pouring rain. A few others arrived with umbrellas but they were thrown aside as if these were useless objects. The jubilation of the moment mattered more than anything else.  There were some young children dancing and jumping alongside the adults, mesmerized by the magic-like event. Children seem to just be part of life here. I was concerned about the very small ones being crushed by the crowd, but nothing like this happened. I’ve noticed that children seem to be trained very young to watch out for danger, whether  it is a speeding car, a wobbly bike rider or a team of men pushing heavy carts overfilled with garbage. Small children intuitivly move away from danger. The adults seemed child-like themselves, naïve and bounding with joy, a joy that could not be contained. I wondered if my Guinean brothers were celebrating the actual candidate’s victory or if they were celebrating much more than this. I have a sense that they were celebrating much more than the results of this election. Since this was the first democratic election in 52 years, this means that 2 generations have lived under  strained and oppressing goverments. The Guineans have not experienced freedom and hope for many years.  This dance of victory was a celebration of freedom, freedom to choose their leader and freedom for a new life. This was also a dance of hope, a hope that their lives  will change for the better. I am witness to history unfolding before my eyes. How cool is that!