Sedjedo

When the last minutes of 2014 were passing, I was dancing with a Swiss girl with blond hair and blue eyes. Temperature was around zero but we were sweating in our jackets. There were thousands of people moving their bodies close to one another, pretending to be dancing, most in their alcoholic stupor. I could see black eyed Italian brunettes moving their hips to the kind of African music that was on the air. I did not understand in which language the song was sung, but I could grasp just one word, "Sedjedo"   

Around 11.59 music ceased and the counting began. Everyone was warm hearted and screamed cinque, quatro, tre, due, uno.. "Buon Anno!!!" Its was 2015. My Swiss girl gave me three kisses on the cheeks. Left, right and again left. We drank few sips of beer and smashed the bottles on the ground, joining the group of youngsters who were doing so. Right when my bottle hit the ground, there came that word again to my mind. "Sedjedo" And when it was followed by one, two, three...... bottle smashes, that word changed to an echo between my ears.

After all the celebrations we spent some 30 minutes in a crowded tram to reach home. Another half an hour later she was sleeping on my chest and I began to wonder what may that mysterious word mean. We were living in the Italian financial capital, Milan. There was a big open air concert to celebrate the new year in the centre of the city, Duomo Square. And the band which played was of African origins with an amazing lead female vocalist. 

I was busy surfing the internet for next few minutes. Finally I came to know the lady who performed is called "Anjelique Kidjo". She's from a little west African country called "Benin". She sings in her native language, "fon." She has migrated to France in her early youth and has come a very long way to be an internationally recognised artist. And finally I found a video, titled "Sedjedo" in which Anjelique performs a song titled my mysterious word "Sedjedo" along with Ziggy Marley, son of Reggae king Bob Marley. Ultimately I learned what this "Sedjedo" really means. 

"Wisdom that comes with age." 

It was close to the first day break of the first day of 2015. I stared at my girl who was sleeping on my chest. I felt her breath touching my nerve edges. I started to wonder what wisdom I have gained with age.