Paraa throws wild New Year party
Jan 02, 2006
MUTE lamps and lights elegantly hung in ornamental trees illuminated the poolside of Paraa Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.
By Raphael Okello
MUTE lamps and lights elegantly hung in ornamental trees illuminated the poolside of Paraa Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.
Four hours to the New Year, families enjoyed dinner and barbecue in almost quiet deliberation at candlelit tables by the decorated poolside. However, there was every suggestion that the entire affair hinged on the New Year celebrations.
Throughout the evening, there were traditional music and dance interludes by Nebbi Cultural Troupe. The stimulating sounds of their traditional instruments cultivated serenity within the guests who, occasionally, were treated to blaring contemporary music.
The voices of the troupe carried the strength of the people of Nebbi. It was the strength in these voices and instruments that would lend its zeal to the guests 30 minutes before the New Year and hours after that.
Children from different visiting families (white and black) made friends with each other and ran up and about in circles, screaming at the top of their voices.
Thirty minutes to midnight, the master of ceremonies implored the guests to make their way to the dance floor where the DJ was delivering an overdose of local hip hop. They conceded. William Pike (MD and Chief Executive The New Vision Group), Gen. Aronda Nyakairima and Kamlesh Madhvani were all there with their families.
Pike joined his wife Cathy and together united to measure up to the upbeat tunes of Venga Boys’ Brazil.
Occasionally, Pike rested to catch his breath, leaving Cathy on her own.
Nyakairima and Madhvani shied away from the dance floor but their wives took to it with the children.
“Ten minutes to go!†the MC’s voice came through from the microphone. The party had reached fever pitch with the song Who Let the Dogs Out when the DJ stopped the music for the 10-second countdown to the year 2006.
Darkness enveloped the place as lights were switched off. A cheer flew up as the balloons sailed from the terraces onto the ground where ecstatic guests trampled over them.
There was honking from the troupe’s trumpets, screams, cheers and the sound of balloons bursting in the darkness mingled to form one recurrent New Year experience.
MUTE lamps and lights elegantly hung in ornamental trees illuminated the poolside of Paraa Safari Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park.
Four hours to the New Year, families enjoyed dinner and barbecue in almost quiet deliberation at candlelit tables by the decorated poolside. However, there was every suggestion that the entire affair hinged on the New Year celebrations.
Throughout the evening, there were traditional music and dance interludes by Nebbi Cultural Troupe. The stimulating sounds of their traditional instruments cultivated serenity within the guests who, occasionally, were treated to blaring contemporary music.
The voices of the troupe carried the strength of the people of Nebbi. It was the strength in these voices and instruments that would lend its zeal to the guests 30 minutes before the New Year and hours after that.
Children from different visiting families (white and black) made friends with each other and ran up and about in circles, screaming at the top of their voices.
Thirty minutes to midnight, the master of ceremonies implored the guests to make their way to the dance floor where the DJ was delivering an overdose of local hip hop. They conceded. William Pike (MD and Chief Executive The New Vision Group), Gen. Aronda Nyakairima and Kamlesh Madhvani were all there with their families.
Pike joined his wife Cathy and together united to measure up to the upbeat tunes of Venga Boys’ Brazil.
Occasionally, Pike rested to catch his breath, leaving Cathy on her own.
Nyakairima and Madhvani shied away from the dance floor but their wives took to it with the children.
“Ten minutes to go!†the MC’s voice came through from the microphone. The party had reached fever pitch with the song Who Let the Dogs Out when the DJ stopped the music for the 10-second countdown to the year 2006.
Darkness enveloped the place as lights were switched off. A cheer flew up as the balloons sailed from the terraces onto the ground where ecstatic guests trampled over them.
There was honking from the troupe’s trumpets, screams, cheers and the sound of balloons bursting in the darkness mingled to form one recurrent New Year experience.