NOSA 2007 REFLECTIONS

Name: Andrew Odeke
Status: Former Namasagali College Student
Residence: Denmark

1. What were your expectations? (Meet? Exceeded? Disappointed?)
Expected a trip down memory lane with people I once held dear.
Expectations met and exceeded.
Pity that some were not able to make it – e.g. Ndaruzi, Stephen Mukasa, Hope, Miriam.

2. What was done right?
Welcome committee at the airport and luxury daily chauffeurs – Thanks to Nabs, The big one, Joze kiddu, Moses, Mangeni and Stephen. This really made us feel pampered and at home.
Venue: Marriott Cambridge – excellent facilities (slightly costly lodging though)
Registration desk: constantly present and courteous
Event T-shirts – excellent idea. Though the customised Panthers T-Shirts had the rest green with envy.
Wrist tags – good control measure. Desk location though was tricky at some locations, forcing Stephen and Pauli to do lots of extra legwork to get people through.
Creative dance – well rehearsed highlight. A solo (Stephen??) or Duet would have been nice too.
Lost comrades – very touching. Nice touch with the glow lights. Slide pp show should have been much slower though.

3. What should have been done differently?
Dee Jay Music selection (could have focused more on the hits from way back when).
Production video show – a medley of 5 minute highlights from each production.

4. What was your highlight?
Conference – the whole of it. Mass, Richards Poem, Ogubedento, creative dance, we are the world.

5. Reflections on Father?
Well preserved, more jovial and eager to include.

6. Where should the Next Reunion be?
Exotic locations come to mind, but reality is that a venue with lots of local helpers is always good. The Boston crew did very well. The helping hands from near and far showed that good coordination and good will can bring one quite far.
Boston
UK (if they can promise good weather. Needn't be London)

7.What would you like to see in the Next Reunion?
More faces from the 80’ies.

Below are my reflections from 11th July on the sagali80s discussion forum:
Ahhh Boston Boston Boston ……. The Boston crew- webare munonga -respect!… I am only now attempting to shake off the spell that you cast over us (Yes Mo…I can smell the coffee now- thanks for the wake up call).

Man was that the land of make believe or what? I recall stepping briefly out of the restaurant that first night when Lovely Gerry had her birthday…... and even the street air was peculiarly still, thick, warm, and crackling with positive vibes. It felt like a warm silky blanket over my shoulders, (coming from cold Denmark, one doubly appreciates such moments). I looked back over my shoulder to see the laughing faces of Mangeni, Mosha, Joyce, Janet, Margaret, Gerry, Nabs, Persis, Mo and Onweng gathering for a group photo and I knew that even, though it seemed improbable (for we were already happily giddy at this point), from here on, things would get even better. And boy oh boy did we climb from height to height.

Mighty Moses fed the Masses! By the way people, this was no easy feat. The man literally climbed up the mountain and plucked the Manna from above. I was there with him ……and got my shorts drenched in Binyebwa sauce for my efforts. Mo about the leftovers, last I remember, the expectant mom J’ was carefully planning to stash some away for a midnight snack – ask her. And the Katwanka in the box…. Ask Gerry, she denied all of us a drop saying “no one should touch this Katwanka on the street. The Powlice will shut us down”. Oh oh …. you were in the same room with her, didn’t the box come up intact? Acting all innocent hmm.

Conference was for real – it came complete with Richards poetry drawing a standing ovation, and Ogumpe showing he still had it when he jumped up in the middle of Croco’s interlude call and demanded that the show go on. Pauli you took it in your stride – Nice man. Incidentally Pauli, ……..check if the coast is clear now coz I think you got a fan here, the missus has been like “whose that handsome one?”

The Dancers were elegant. You did us proud girls. You had all of us inching forward to get a first row seat. Nabs remember you asked me for steps and I said just keep it sexy. Oooooooh thanks for listening girl. Mc Hammer yes we couldn’t touch that – still as agile as ever. We are the world rocked – thanks to the real Quincy.

By the way London crew, I missed the last teary farewell. I took five in Pittsburgh, and you girls were gone when I came out. Hope you had a nice trip …. Me, they had to drag me back onto that Airbus.

And to all those who have pumped up my ego with the compliments, I take a modest bow and say ….a keep them a coming. Appreciate the love. …....Mo, please don’t comment.

Quote from Andy Dave Mwase a Boston local at the Grand ball, “… rarely if ever, do we have such a quality crowd gathered in Boston”.

During vigour, the stand up comedian (the other Andrew) kept asking people “can you feel it? Can you feel it?” Yes Andrew d*mn we can still feel it.

group hug

Andrew