Sunday 29 May 2011

ADULTERY, THE INJUNCTION LAW AND HOW CITIZEN’S MEDIA IS CHANGING OUR WORLD...

 I have learnt some new interesting English words, recently.
 Normally I expand my vocabulary through novels, films, newspapers and people’s speech. First is injunction which according to the Oxford dictionary, means “an order saying that someone must or must not carry out a certain action.”
Injunction is synonymous with ruling, directive, command, instruction and mandate. In Kiswahili it is simply, “amri ya kisheria iliyoandikwa” and “amri ya kukataza.”
Then there is tweet and twit.  Tweeting is a chirp of a young bird; while twit indicates a silly person and an informal way of “teasing good-humouredly.”   
Three weeks ago a very pretty glamour model from Wales, called Imogen Thomas started appearing frequently in the press.  One paper said a famous, respected, married footballer had won a super injunction to prevent Imogen from exposing his affair with the model.

Imagen Thomas - pic from Bing..

The word, gagging order, was also used. Gagging is a piece of cloth put on someone’s mouth to stop them from speaking.
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Thursday 19 May 2011

30 YEARS AFTER BOB MARLEY DEATH : LESSONS OF A HARD-WORKER...

 Two weeks ago I argued in this column that individuals are shaped by their circumstances. That personalities (like recently killed Bin Laden) do not rise out of dust, religion or dollars but from real conditions. The gnawing problem of Palestine sits at the heart of an unresolved issue that has for over sixty years produced anger, frustration plus bloodshed in an unending Middle East crisis with its nemesis: global religious terrorism.
Yes, history is shaped by individuals and their surroundings.
And so we must look at the music of Bob Marley.
Bob Marley...

Exactly thirty years have passed since the charismatic songwriter died of cancer. He would have been 66 years old today and probably performing like fellow Jamaicans Jimmy Cliff, Toots and The Maytals and his former band mate, Bunny Wailer; all still musically active.
I remember May 11th 1981 very well.
The day was misty and slightly wet in Dar es Salaam....

Sunday 15 May 2011

A BOLD MP FROM STONE TOWN AND RAZA, ICONIC PAINTER IN LONDON

During last week’s Diaspora 3 conference in London two fascinating trivial things occurred. The bigger things have already been reported in various sections of the media. Speeches and pictures of Foreign Minister, Mr Bernard Membe expressing how the nation values the economic and technical contribution of overseas based Tanzanians; promises of government involvement in speeding the process of dual citizenship was amongst highlights of his applauded speech. The Foreign Minister was simply, spot on. I spoke to several Tanzanians during the conference. I spoke to those who support such events. They warmed up to the man. I spoke to a chap who had asked a question and was impressed by the answers he got. I spoke to a lady who distrusts political leaders.
“That Minister is excellent,” she said shaking her head. “It was like attending a University lecture. He defined things and elaborated stuff without sounding pompous.”
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Wednesday 11 May 2011

MTANDAO WA VIJANA TANZANIA : MAHOJIANO NA MICKEY “MIKIDADI” JONES MKAZI DENMARK NA LYDIA MKUDE ANAYESOMA, UGANDA...

Hali ngumu ya uchumi na maendeleo imezusha vijana wengi wasio na kazi; wanaranda randa ovyo barabarani, wakitega  na kusogoa vijiweni, wakijaribu hili na lile. Watoto yatima hawana wazazi kutokana na maafa ya maradhi ya Ukimwi na jamii yetu inazidi kukuuza wananchi wasiokuwa na matumaini. Yote haya yanaweza kumea hasira, kero na ghasia tupu.
Miezi michache Mickey Mikidadi Jones alikuwa likizo nyumbani. Hali ilimkuna sana.
Leo Mickey Mikidadi  Jones,  kaamua kujihusisha  na mtandao wa kuwaunganisha vijana  wa ughaibuni na kwetu Bongo kuboresha maisha yao. Mara nyingi nilipomhoji Mickey alimtupia maswali dada Lydia Mkude, ambaye ni mshauri mkuu wa MMVT ("Mtandao wa Maendeleo ya Vijana Tanzania").


Solomon Gaddi (mwenyekiti wa MMVT) akihutubia kikao. Kushoto kwake ni Haruna Mbeya (mwakilishi , Ughaibuni) na mwanzo kabisa Mshauri na mwakilishi wao wa kimataifa mtandaoni, Mickey Mikidadi Jones.   Picha ihsani ya MMVT.

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Friday 6 May 2011

THE MOTHER AND A SON WITH A NAME THAT SOUNDED LIKE OSAMA BIN LADEN’S...

When I watched Sky News announcing death of “head of the snake of terror” (as one presenter put it) during the early hours of Monday I remembered two sensitive stories ten years ago. It was after September Eleven and the whole world was still in shock; nearly 3,000 dead in New York including the 19 hijackers. Few moments after one of this (most publicised) event in history a man wearing a turban targeted by an angry mob in the USA was badly beaten up. Mistaken for a Taliban activist he was in fact, a Sikh. 
File:Sikh pilgrim at the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar, India.jpg


Since then various Sikhs have been assaulted randomly in various cities of the USA. While these attacks have more to do with ignorance and racism we all know it has a psychological connection to Al Qaeda and the man who was killed by US military forces early this week.
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