From: jim.speirs@canrem.com (Jim Speirs)
To: dannys@iis.ee.ethz.ch (Danny Schwendener)
Subject: The Great Grey Ghost Elephant
Summary: I'm sure you know the 'Ging Gang Gooly' song, but do you know
   the story behind it and the dance that comes with it?


Article #R153.
==============

The Great Grey Ghost Elephant
Dorothy Unterschutz
The Leader, June/July 1991


Looking for some summertime campfire fare? Heres a delightful
combination of action story, Scouting song, and jungle dancing
you'll want to try Scouter Dorothy Unterschutz, Edmonton, Alta.,
wanting a ghost story that wouldn't frighten Beavers before bed,
wrote the tale for a Beaver sleepover last year. Later, she tried
it at a campfire at Cub camp.  It was a smash hit.  Try it out on
your gang at camp this summer.


In deepest, darkest Africa, they tell story. Every year after the
rains, a great grey ghost elephant rose out of the mist, coming
off the Zambezi River at dawn to wander the land. If he came
across village, he would go around it or through it on his silent
grey feet.

If he went around, the village would have good crops and its
children would grow straight and healthy. But if he went through
a village, its crops would die from drought. Its people would go
hungry and the children would not grow.

The village of Wat-cha had been visited by the grey ghost
elephant three years in a row, and its king, Ging-ganga, was very
worried. His rival, the witch doctor Hey-la-shay, was also very
concerned. Together, they decided to do something about the
situation.

Now Ging-ganga was a very brave warrior, more than two metres
tall with the mane of a lion around his neck and a huge shield
and spear that he shook at his enemies as he yelled to make them
afraid before battle.

Hey-la-shay believed in his magic powers, and he and his
followers carried little bags of bones and magic powders, which
they would shake at their enemies. The bags made a sound like
this-- shallawally, shallawally, shallawally (say it softly and
shake an imaginary hag in the right hand).

One morning very early, when dawn was breaking, Ging-Ganga and
his warriors hid in one half of the village, while Hey-la-shay
and his followers hid in the other half (indicate the two sides
of the campfire circle). While they waited for the great grey
ghost elephant, Gingganga's men sang softly about their leader
(motion for half of the group to sing with you the second time):

Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli
Watcha Ging Gang Goo, Ging Gang Goo
(repeat)

>From the other part of the village came an answer from the
medicine men--a little louder than the warriors' call. (Lead the
other halt of the circle to sing the repeat here.)

Heyla, Heyla Shayla, Heyla Shayla, Heyla, Ho-o-o! (repeat)

Together, the warriors and the medicine men shook their spears
and medicine bags towards the river (motion the whole group to
chant softly and shake bags and spears with the right hand).

Shallawally, Shallawally, Shallawally, Shallawally!

And, from the river, mighty and powerful, came the grey ghost
elephant's reply (say it softly, waving the arm in front like an
elephant's trunk).

Oompah, Oompah, Oompah, Oompah!

The elephant was coming closer and closer! Then, the warriors
rose and sang louder to the beat of their drums (signal warriors
to stand, beat thighs, sing along, accenting the beat on
"Gooli").

Ging Gang Gooli (etc.--two times)

And the medicine men rose and sang louder (get the medicine men
up).

Heyla (etc.--two times)

Then, both groups yelled even louder:

Shallawally Shallawally (etc.)

And the great grey ghost elephant turned aside and went around
the village saying:

Oompah Oompah Oompah Oompah!

Joyfully, the villagers, warriors, and medicine men joined
together to celebrate their victory. Now they would have good
crops and their children would grow strong and healthy. In the
village square, they did the dance of Ging Gang Gooli!

Organize the group in two: have one group do the "Oompahs". The
other forms a circle. everyone turns to face the same way and
places hands on the shoulders of the person in front. Starting
the first beat on the left foot they sinK the song as they march
around the circle.

After the first run through of "Ging Gang Gooli" all turn place
hands on shoulders of the person who was behind and march in that
direction while singing it the second time.

On the "Heyla" line everyone turns joins hands moves into the
centre of the circle and back out again repeating the second
time.

On the "Shallawally" line dancers wave hands over head and turn
around.

On the "Oompah" line dancers swing right arm in front of them
like an elephant's trunk.

At the end of the dance, switch groups and sing again so that the
dancers get to do the Oompahs and the Oompahs have a chance to
dance.

Dorothy Unterschutz is a Scouter and trainer in Edmonton Region
Alta.