Bebeyo

The following evening, David, Mrs Hume, Charles Darwin and Michael Faraday meet outside the House of Africa on Gilbert Street. Several people are standing outside chatting. Some are already inside.

Hello, Mr Darwin, Mr Faraday, says Mrs Hume. Shall we all go in?

Yes, says Darwin, leading the way.

A man at a desk just inside the door gives everyone a red stamp on the back of their hand.

Woop! says Mrs Hume. My own red stamp!

They all troop in.

Where's the bar? asks David, looking around.

There is no bar, says Darwin, only water.

Humph! says David, glumly. I hope the music's good.

Ziggi and his band are on stage doing a sound check. Something is wrong. There is too much feedback from the kora. They mess around for ages. Bmmmmmmm.

Finally they get it right. They disappear for quarter of an hour. They come back.

Hello! says Ziggi. My name is Ziggi. And this is my band, Heart of Africa.We are going to make you dance and clap and sing.

They begin to play. The African rhythms are infectious. People get up to dance. Ziggi plays a song called Bebeyo. He teaches everyone the words. Bebe-yo! O-bebe-yo-la! Bebe-yo! O-bebe-yo-la!

Come up, come up, says Ziggi. He points to Mrs Hume. She gets up at once and shimmies to the front.

What's your name? says Ziggi.

Mrs Hume, says Mrs Hume.

Give it up for Mrs Hume! says Ziggi. Everyone applauds.

The drums beat faster and faster. Mrs Hume is facing the other dancers who have cleared a space for her. Her back is to the stage. She shakes her arms and sways her hips suggestively.

David looks sideways at Darwin and Faraday. They are watching his mother dancing. David hopes against hope she will not turn and make an exhibition of her bottom.