We went to Swaziland over the weekend to visit some friends. The second night we were there we heard the neighbours singing along to the Gypsy Kings in Spanish. It was really strange because no one in southern Africa speaks Spanish. Portuguese, yes, but not Spanish. And yet they were doing a rousing rendition of the Gypsy Kings.
A few minutes later (and probably a few beers), they sang La Bamba. Ahh.... a karaoke machine. Now it makes sense. But even so, hearing La Bamba in Swaziland is just... unexpected. Dan and I got the giggles and couldn't stop laughing. When we finally did stop laughing we sang along.
Late that night, tucked away in our cosy rondavel being eaten alive by mosquitos, just as we were falling asleep, they started in on the Scooby Doo Theme Song. Talk about feeling culturally nonplussed! It was truly a bizarre feeling, listening to songs from your childhood being sung by a drunk Swazi!
But it makes a great memory, eh?
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