Showing posts with label East African culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label East African culture. Show all posts

Thursday, 13 February 2014

MORNING CHAT WITH A FABULOUS, FRAIL ENGLISH OLD LADY


A good day becomes evident in the morning...so the Swahili proverb goes.
It was ice cold but the sun was shining. That means much to folks living in the Northern Hemisphere.  I had rushed to the bakery to get fresh bread. Now hold on. In East Africa eating bread is not that preferred as Maandazi, Vitumbua or Sambusa.
Maandazi - pic from Taste of Tanzania

Bread is the queen of light meals and breakfast in places like London.
I had just purchased a fresh loaf- still hot and soft and smelt so tantalizing that I  needed all will power to stop, slit a chunk and well...eating while rushing is not healthy, they say. Speaking of health, I had to pop into a pharmacy to buy something. This needed further will power because there was a queue. Next pharmacy was a further ten minute walk. So I decided to join the line. Gave my order, paid, bingo; told to wait.
“How long is it going to take?”
The sales clerk gave me a certain disapproving stare.
“Only  joking, sorry.” I quickly said. The annoying and menacing queue spoke volumes. 

Monday, 20 June 2011

RAZA PAINTING EXHIBITION IN LONDON OPENS THIS WEEKEND

This Friday, London, will be experiencing a little of Tanzania.
It won’t be your usual conferences by respected executives, diplomats and political heavyweights. It won’t be a representation of athletes, cricket players, and football teams. Not a fashion show with entertainment via singers Lady Di, Ray C or Taarab music. Nothing of the sort. Not even contemporary Bongo Flava of Mr. Two, TID Zeze, Mr Nice, Diamond and traditional music from late Hukwe Zawose, Wananjenje, Twanga Pepeta or the late Remmy Ongala’s Bongo Beat. These are the sort of things we are used to. When such acts visit London Tanzanians normally flock in dozens to cheer and dust off homesick blues.
But painters? A painting exhibition?
I beg your pardon. This is news.
Raza Mohamed was born in August, 1946. He started sketching with charcoal in 1952.
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