SAM KAUONA RECONCILIATION

On the 28th of February I made an arrangement to go to Dantani to film the Damako Genesis School or actually I was there last year but the students were out on Holidays so for the film to look better the students must be in the class. Therefore, Clytus the head of the school arranged the transport to pick me up in Arawa. When we arrived at the school there were a lot more people than I expected, the men were sitting in a small building and the women were busy preparing food.

 

I thought Mmh this is something special but to do what I was there for I took out my camera and told Clytus that I wanted to film the students and started filming. After I had taken enough footage I saw Josephine Kauona the wife of former BRA Commander and asked her what was happening? She told me that she and her husband where making reconciliation or some kind of ceremony to the BRAs and the people of that area to say thank you for looking after them during the war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                    Kare kara

It was an emotional one because after the peace was signed Sam and Josi had been far away from the BRAs and the people they had been so close to and who were like family members to them during the war. Most of the BRAs or bodyguards for Sam were young in those days but now they are in their 40s and 50s.

The ceremony started with speeches from Sam Kaouna, the chiefs, BRAs and the women than it ended up with Kare kara or eating betel nuts and finally sharing of food and pigs. Another life has begun, the BRAs and the people were happy that Sam and his wife came up with the idea of making this small ceremony and the BRAs and the people will have stories to tell their kids when they are getting old.