The Queen is back

Been so busy the last few days, I’ve only just realised that I had completely forgotten to post anything up on Anita’s momentous return to her beloved Bansang… It’s an indication I guess, of just how hard “the Boss” works me while she’s here commanding her troops !

It was a bit of a stressful start to the day on Wednesday when we left Baju; we had been expecting to stay 2 nights but then a call from Wandifa, acting CEO, told us that the Health Minister with whom Anita was hoping to get an appointment was in the Upper River Region of The Gambia and we could get to see him on Thursday so we needed to cut and run a day earlier than expected. The problem was that I had told Sutay our driver that we wouldn’t need him until about 1pm and unknown to Anita the celebration I had been putting in place to welcome her was due for 5pm (a day earlier than arranged though!). By the time we picked up groceries and collected Sulayman that was going to make it somewhat tight getting up to Bansang in time… and Sutay had his phone turned off so I was unable to contact me to ask him to show earlier. Eventually, after a few abortive attempts I managed to speak to him and arranged an 11.30 pick up…. By 12.30 I was just about ready for a coronary when he breezed up. Shopping loaded, Sulayman collected, we headed off on our 4 ½ hour drive to the hospital.

The trip was thankfully uneventful , and I was so busy bringing Anita up to date on what had been happening at the hospital that for the first time ever I didn’t fall asleep for most of the journey. In fact we made such good time that Sutay, realising that we would be early, made a phone call, all in Mandinka so Anita would not understand what was being said, and then slowed down a little… well a lot actually, as Anita turned to me and said quietly “ we’re going very slowly, I wonder why?” to which I replied that the vehicle was probably overheating again and Sutay was letting it cool down! An explanation which was accepted without further comment.

As we arrived at Bansang, Anita became more restless and one could sense the anticipation at her long  awaited return. A few people could be seen outside the main gates, which is not unusual, but as we approached, a couple of them stopped the car and opened Anita’s door . As she stepped from the car, the full force of the welcoming party enveloped her, and with drums, whistles and shouts of joy  shepherded her over to the house where seats had been set out for us and an even larger throng assembled. An emotional Anita greeted friends built up over so very many years that she has been working for the people of Bansang.  What I hadn’t realised was that in all the years Anita has been coming to Bansang and all the welcomes she has arranged for other she had never before been the recipient of  one herself! Inspite of her  having arranged dozens of them for others including the various Scoots teams that I have brought across the Sahara. The dancing and drumming became ever more frenetic in the heat of the afternoon sun, with Anita overcoming her emotions to participate in many of the dances. The inevitable speeches and words of welcome really came from the hearts of the speakers as one by one they welcomed Anita back into her huge Bansang family.  

Wandifa then informed us that they had also prepared  food for us, so as the singers, dancers and drummers together with most of the assembled multitude head either home or back to work we, along with most of the hospital management team went into the house where a most welcome and plentiful feast of fresh salad, mainly from the hospital garden had been laid out. By the time the last of the guests had left it was quite late in the evening and time for a walk over to the hospital for a quick tour. Of course first stop was the Children’s ward with a tour of the building work and then as she always does time to visit and speak with the little patients. Yes, the queen of Bansang was back!