This morning we drove up to the village, to see Mr. Idiris, his family and the other villagers. We were a little nervous, because for Esther it was the first time after a year, for me the first time ever. But since I’d seen all the video material and the clips over and over again, I recognized all of them the first instant I saw them. It was like stepping through the screen into the real world. We were greeted with the greatest hospitality, and all were very glad to see Esther again.
After having greeted Mr Idiris and Amina and a few others, we were invited into Mr. Idiris’s home. There he first showed me the stick I made for him a year ago, and that Esther presented to him on my behalf. He told us that he had been using it ever since, and that is what it looked like - properly used.
More villagers came to greet us, and after we handed out the presents we brought for everybody we finally started the DVD of Nomadic MILK, for a room full of men and Binta, one of the participating women, and some 40 children in front of the entrance.
They all liked seeing the result of the work Esther did on her former visits, and afterwords we had a long discussion on farming, milk production, education and the purpose of working on a art project like this.
We invited the people from the village for the screening in Abuja on Tuesday, the day after tomorrow (or “nexttomorrow”, as people say here), and after the warmest farewells we left again. To be honest, I have never before experienced a warmer welcome than here.
All the children gather outside..
….but after a while the grown-ups decide it is easier to let them in.
And we continue watching in peace!