Fun Theme Parties
- Host a West African theme party. The countries of Mali, Ghana, Senegal, and others have culinary and artistic traditions and would make for a fun night. Dress and tablecloths could include Kente cloth or zebra-striped fabrics.
Prepare traditional foods that leave your guests drooling. Food suggestions might include groundnut soup and kenkey, which is fermented corn dough served with spicy fish sauce. West Africans frequently eat with their hands, so let this influence your choices. Coconut juice, not milk, from fresh coconuts can be opened with a machete in front of guests, and mixed with lime, sugar, ice and rum to make cocktails.
Pick music with the region in mind. Music and dancing play a huge role in West Africa. Music from the Mandinka peoples influenced the creation of rock, blues and jazz. Solo drumming that includes a djembe, a type of hand drum, would be an appropriate choice. Highlife music and its many branches is a Ghanian favorite. - Have a Mexican fiesta and embrace the culture of our southern neighbors. Dress can include sombreros, maracas and serapes. Decorations can include Mexican flags, either live or inflatable cactus plants, chili banners and piñatas.
Rest assured that most people will enjoy a little Mexican food. Fresh guacamole and chips are a great start. Meals might include a taco and burrito station or a baked chicken with mole sauce. For drinks, frozen margaritas and a Mexican beer menu will do.
Turn up the mariachi music to make the night complete. Seek out a compilation CD by Vicente Fernandez or Los Lobos' Del Este De Los Angeles. Alternatively, hire a mariachi band to come play your party. A band will lend an air of authenticity to the night. - Introduce your guests to the elephant-headed deity Ganesha at an Indian theme party. Decorate your house with posters of famous Hindu deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Remove the furniture and place all your pillows on the floor on top of blankets or rugs. Light candles and incense while you change into your sari before guests arrive.
Lay out big trays with various Indian appetizers like cheese naan, an oven-baked flat bread, Samosas or pani puri. Main dishes might include eggplant masala or chicken biryani with chutneys on the side. For a cool, refreshing drink make a mango lassi, a yogurt-based shake.
Play traditional music for guests' arrival and during the meal. Something by Alisha or Moksha Gaan will transport you and your guests. Also, India has a massive film industry, commonly known as Bollywood. Bollywood films playing in the backround, many of which are musicals, could be a source of entertainment and amusement.