I have never been a big sister before. My brother and I had a blast growing up (except for maybe the ‘lost’ years when we were mostly trying to make each other miserable), but I had always wondered what it would be like to have a younger sibling. So much that I asked my mom once for a younger sister but she respectfully declined my offer to dress her really well.
So who thought I would get this chance unless some sort of Father of the Bride Part Two situation happened? Well here in my family in Senegal I have an abundance of older siblings and younger siblings, many who have children of their own. My favorite is having a little brother, Sambaly.
I often get put in the teenager category because I am not married and do not have four children already, so people do not really know what to do with me and sometimes just deal with it by pretending I am 15 years old. Sometimes Sambaly acts this way too, but maybe he acts more like I am 18 and he is 15. He sometimes makes me crazy, like when he comes into my room when I am trying to work or nap and he is trying to talk about girls or to borrow my cellphone or ipod. Sometimes I welcome these interactions and find it hilarious when he tells me what some of his friends say about sex and relationships.
Anyways, Sambaly is also a rapper and part of a group called Group Jamm, which means Peace in Wolof/Pulaar. They have been performing in a series of concerts for the school vacation which include dance contests and rapping contests. I helped Sambaly and his friend Balla, rap names Biggy Yo and Big Dre, write a rap about malaria for the final.
Now, I have never felt the true big sister vibe until last night. The show started after eleven pm, hours after I am usually in bed when in village. I arrived and got total VIP treatment, did not have to pay and got a chair at the judges table, no big deal. But I could not judge because I was so partial. After sitting through some 10 year olds dancing better than I will ever dream, group Jamm performed. Not only was I so proud that they did a song about malaria (with accurate information), and wore the NetWorks shirts I gave them (Great malaria prevention PR opp), but I was just so proud of them for working so hard and putting themselves out there. I took videos and photos like a stage mom at a children’s beauty contest and had that little proud feeling in my heart.
After the show, they were not happy because their song got cut off short by the DJ, but I just gushed about how great and creative they are and how they can come on our radio show anytime (maybe regretting that offer later). This evening I had five 15 year old boys in my room to check out the videos and photos. Then, best of all, my brother gave me a rap name, baby girl. I am in the group officially. I could not be more excited to be a big sister.
