By Mikez Michael
The remorseful face of a 22 year old university student confined to her hospital bed in Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital is enough to express the anguish and frustration she has been through in just a span of about two weeks.
If she would have wished to appear on TV or newspapers, probably she would have wanted to take her time to carefully apply makeup and wear the best clothes from her wardrobe.
Unfortunately, being the sole survivor of a tragic road accident that claimed a number of her friends, she has to talk to the media and a horde of visitors to her ward with a bruised and bandaged face in a sorrowful tone.
Meanwhile a number of parents have been left puzzled whether a white party is like a birthday party or a wedding party. This has resulted from the fact that the young and vibrant Kenyans lost their lives as they sped to a white party in a remote part of Kisii; remote because such kind of parties have been mostly taking place in major towns away from the knowledge of ordinary village folk in the rural areas like Magena.
All the girls who perished in the accident at Etora were dominantly dressed in white. ORIGIN OF WHITE PARTIES White parties are parties at which is the norm for party goers to dress in all or almost all white.
Such parties have taken place in major cities across the globe notably in Miami, New York City, Chicago, Illinois, California, Florida among others. In Miami the White Party is an annual fundraiser party for HIV/AIDS research and the all-white clothing theme was chosen by Frank Wager because he said, “white stands for purity.
White is elegant, non-political, non-combative and makes people look just plain beautiful.” The New York City White Party was first held at the legendry private gay disco ‘Flamingo’ on Broadway and Houston on President’s Day Weekend and the white theme was derived from the snow often to be found that time of the year.
The Magena White Party might be equated to one hosted by Chicago business owner Chuck Renslow in August 1974 to celebrate his birthday and thank his patrons. WHITE PARTIES POPULAR AT UNIVERSITIES White Parties have become very popular at Kenyan Universities and colleges and the recent trend is to take them even closer home where students host them in their backyards away from the congestion in the cities.
What is perhaps more striking about these parties is the free spirit that wanders across the party goers. Booze and sex flow with abandon. You do not need to know the person dancing with you and after all even the deafening music blaring from the normally hired sound systems conspires against any form of introduction.
Parents and guardians have been funding the parties without their knowledge in the form of academic trips and other expenses. In fact, it is alleged that one parent had been asked for money for the upkeep of his child a few minutes before the tragic accident. By the end of the parties the white clothes are brown or torn as a result of popping champagne for those who are lucky to afford it or even Tusker and Napoleon Brandy which are readily available at such events.
Small fights here and there are a common sight especially in the advanced hours of the night when the youngsters are inebriated from the strong drinks consumed. They will fight over anything including who has more money than the other or even over girls they each want to take after the party.
It is not uncommon to have one or two rushed to hospital for stitches in the forehead as a result of stopping a flying bottle. At the end of the party one is physically broken as a result of dancing the whole night. Some do not even have a single shilling in their pockets so are left stranded and have to start borrowing money for fare back to school.
Some will be heard swearing not to taste alcohol again. The cycle continues because after a few days back in school, the same people are seriously searching for the next White Party to attend. Though not all parties result in tragedy there is need for due caution especially when travelling as well as when consuming free beer at the party.
There are parents and siblings who would be devastated with news of your demise or injury. They want you to party and be happy. It is good to party but must it be conducted as if it is the end of the world?
Leave a Reply