Back to school

As well as the theological college there is a TCNN secondary school at the far side of the campus here.  It's mainly for boarders which is common in Nigeria but every day we see pupils passing the house in their smart purple and white uniforms making their leisurely way to school. We haven't had any previous contact with it so were quite surprised when Fraser was given an invitation to the end of year dinner and speech day.  Not knowing what to expect, he and I set off on Friday night, got lost on the way among the TCNN staff houses but eventually arrived in good time to be ushered into the headmistress's office to wait with the other special guests.
The invitation said the event started at 5pm.  At about 6pm we were taken across to the hall which was huge and beautifully decorated with the school's colours and guided onto the top table (actually there were quite a few top tables for 4-6 people up on the stage, we, thankfully, weren't at the very front).  I've been to quite a few speech days and formal meals but I've never been to one with armed guards at the door before.  Here the sight of men with machine guns is just an ordinary part of life.
By 6:30 about a third of the many tables in the main hall were occupied by parents and the graduating class had taken possession of the far side of the hall so the programme began.  After the opening prayer and welcome when all people on the top table were mentioned by name, the school choir in their purple skirts/trousers, white shirts and girls in straw hats performed.  They were the best choir singing non African songs that I've heard so far in Nigeria.  We then had speeches and an amazing hiphop dance by some older boys which involved an aerosol and matches.  Fraser and I were then particularly glad we were at the back as the flame shot out towards the table with the most important guests before being turned and, I hope not intentionally, coming extremely close to the decorations.  It was only the unreliability of Nigerian matches that prevented the display being repeated at the end of the dance.  The aerosol-wielder was reduced to unignited spraying as the troop left the hall.
British health and safety would have had nightmares for years - it was very refreshing - as all the graduates also had their own candles to light, one from the other, started by graduates from previous years who'd returned to pass on the light.  At various points in the evening the power went off which only added to the fun.
At about 8:30 the ceremonies were over, we'd toasted the graduating class with the fizzy grape juice on our tables, they had been prayed over and encouraged to stick close to Jesus and it was time for refreshments - fried rice, chicken portions and coleslaw.  Eating a chicken portion with a spoon is be challenging but here it's most acceptable to use fingers. 
We left soon afterwards.  Unfortunately we'd forgotten to bring a torch (basic requirement when out at night in places with few street lights) so instead of attempting to find our way back across the campus in the dark (the moon hadn't risen) we decided to walk along the road and go back in through the grand new gates at the college entrance.  I was glad only to step in one puddle on the way but it was great to be able to walk home.