Bullet

On Tuesday night, Maveja and I along with her two aunts, her sister, and approx. 5 others went to see Bullet in the town Ojtinene – about 20 minutes’ drive away. Bullet is a popular Herero performing group (singing and dancing). We took Maveja’s dad’s bakkie, and I was the driver, since no one else ot of the 10 people going knew how to drive. Driving in the village is a bit like driving in really deep snow. The sand is very loose and there are tire tracks cut deep into the sand. It began raining as we headed out that evening and we had to drive around Ojiteke picking up people, which meant turning back around and going out the way we came, as there is only one way in or out for most of the small outcropppings of homes. On the turn around at our last pick-up stop, I could see that the sand was just too deep to accommodate our turn around, but with no other way, we attempted it. And got stuck. After sveral minutes of trying to coax the bakkie out, people piled out of the back to help by pushing us back while I threw it in reverse, then pushin us front while I made the turn. Finally we were back on track and headed into the town. We stopped in at the hall where Bullet was going to be performing to see when it would start and how much it would cost. It was slated to begin at 8:00 and cost was N $15.00, which equals about $2.00 USD. Since we had time to kill, we drove to a nearby lodge. It was very simple, with a few little bangalows and a small restaraut area, surounded by bush. Maveja’s family laughed and said to me, “Welcome to a black people’s lodge”. We stopped in to have a cooldrink and sit to pass the time, but no there was only one man there as caretaker and the person who could sell was not around, so we just got a quick “tour” of the grounds and stopped to take a picture together. The caretaker showed us the three little bungalows on the property and explained that the price per night is N $130, which includes breakfast. (that’s about $18.00 USD, by the way). We took a picture together, but its on Maveja’s camera, so I will try to add it later after she comes home.

Going to see Bullet was sort if like a concert, sort of like a dance concert, sort of like a party, and sort of like going to a club. There were a couple hundred people there, gathered in a small hall in Otjinene - the nearest town to Otjiteke. People were sitting on chairs they brought from home, on beer cases, the foor, or standing along the wall or dancing. The music was both played live on keyboard and synthesizer with live lyrics sung thru mics, and also at times played from recording from a laptop and pumped through huge mains. Bullet consisted of 2 keyboard/synth players, a DJ playing the recorded stuff and hyping up the crowd, and about 3 singer/dancers who alternated, who sang, or danced to the recorded music, and sometimes sang while dancing. the concert tself was slated to start at 8pm, but true to African form started around 9. It lasted for HOURS! We left around 1am and it was still going strong. Who knows when it actually ended. Maveja says that sometimes they go on all night. I of course was the only white person and gots lots of looks. It was a lot of fun and very entertaining. I don't know what the style of dancing is called, but I like to call it, "I-just-got-electrocuted-and-I-really-have-to-pee,-but-who-cares-because-this-looks-really-cool". I have some video, but with my connection I can't really upload it, so I will have to settle for a still photo, which doesn't do it justice, but here is Bullet: