As tradition dictates, every year on the 1st January a dance competition of stately recognition for its category is held beneath the comforting shade of Guludo’s largest Mango tree. The category of traditional Mozambican groups singing and dancing may not be held in high reverence across every continent but we must count that down to pure ignorance. I can guarantee that anyone in their right mind would have been in awe of the variety of performances on show to welcome in 2011 with style.
It was with an air of un-certainty that I bundled our suffering guests (a tribute here to our barman Nascir’s incredible New Years Eve Sangria) into the back of our reliable landrover, and set off with Idris ‘Brucey’ Falume by my side. My un-certainty was instantly dispelled as we trundled in to a heaving school yard with half the village ready and waiting for the oncoming spectacle. We arrived as the guests of honour, as the lodge had generously provided the prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. We were therefore expected to judge the competition; a job 5 of our guests took to with gusto.
“First up,” announced Idris to the adulating crowd “is Guludo’s very own Dhamba Dance group” (a lodge favourite, and a hot tip to go all the way) to a deafening applause. Unsurprisingly they didn’t disappoint and were cheered off to encores from their adoring home crowd. We saw a host of different groups from far away villages; including a group of girls from Ruiea who danced in a rhythm that would have taken hours of practice to perfect. A group of old ladies who stood round in a closed circle making a more traditional chant/grunt to some dance moves that involved them all squatting on the floor and then heaving themselves back up again to sing the chorus. One all male group proved to be the most raunchy of the lot as they took the opportunity to gyrate themselves in front of the females of the village to the beat of some classy drumming (needless to say they languished in bottom place as the results came in, this could have been down to the fact that it was not that long after the judges had eaten their lunch).
One could hear finger nails being bitten as Idris read out the final deliberations of our esteemed judges. The crowd erupted as Idris happily announced that the Dhamba dance group would be walking away with the coveted 1st prize. At the end of the day, the crowd, the dancers and the judges alike went home happy and fulfilled. Idris played his role to perfection. Oh how Brucey would have been jealous!
So, if you're of a sensible disposition and like to plan your holidays well in advance, Guludo Beach Lodge for New Years 2012. You will not regret it!
