Last Thursday, President Kikwete, the president of Tanzania, visited the college. Having been out of town, we arrive back on campus to find the place decked out in yellow, blue, green and black. Red carpet was lined up for the president, a stage erected for his speech and students wandered about with little plastic flags stamped with the college emblem.
Once again, I was able to take photos for the college as I had for graduation and the safari. But this time I would have to fight for elbow space along with a dozen or so other photographers, cameramen and journalists. In Tanzania, to take pictures of the president requires a press badge. So I queued up with the others to exchange my driver’s license as collateral for a large press badge on a bright yellow lanyard. Feeling official, I wandered off to take pictures of preparation until the president showed.
As can be expected with diplomats, the president arrived late. The dispersed students that had waited patiently in the morning under a warm sun came rushing back along with the rest of the population as sirens announcing the president’s arrival could be heard.
Cameras rolled and shutters snapped as the president emerged from a black SUV. He greeted everyone with a smile and a wave and shook some hands before disappearing into the main office building for the first part of his college tour. 
The president was escorted by a number of police, ‘secret service’ and other security guards. Though there were more security personnel than might be expected, there was still less than what you would find in the states. Beforehand, bomb-sniffing dogs investigated the premises and guards diffused across campus. With the arrival of the president came men wearing short-sleeve suits and ear bud radio communication devices looped over their left ears. These men hovered around the president, keeping photographers, excited children and other patrons an arm’s length away.
Students and faculty gave short presentations on various aspects of the college as the president listened with interest. In the background, the brass band could be heard playing an odd mix of polka, classical, and Christmas music as they entertained a patient crowd waiting for the president to make his speech. 
After the president had listened to the student speeches and planted a tree for the college, he gave a speech of his own which was well received. As the sun sunk behind the western trees, the president sat for a few pictures before hopping back into his awaiting car which parted the enthusiastically waving crowd.
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