WAALIMU NA WAHADHIRI WANALO JUKUMU KUBWA KUENDELEZA ELIMU AFRIKA

Kufuatana na kampuni maarufu ya huduma za uhasibu, Ernst na Young, yenye makao makuu London, kuanzia mwaka 2,000 hadi 2015,  Afrika iko katika maendeleo makubwa  kiuchumi. Ingawa sisi wenyewe tunajihisi hali mbaya, ulimwengu mzima unalitegemea bara  kwa mali asili na hali ya hewa.

Na hayakuanza leo. Baada ya mkutano maarufu wa Berlin ,  1884- chini ya uenyekiti wa Mfalme Otto Von Bismarck- wakoloni walikuja, wakaondoka.  Watawala wenyeji wakaendeleza uzi ule ule wa kikoloni: kupora; wakishirikiana na wakubwa; wakihadaa kwa maneno maneno na bunduki. Dunia nzima inatushangaa vipi, sisi matajiri wa mali ghafi, bado tunategemea misaada; vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe, magaidi wanaua hadi wanafunzi na watoto : Nigeria. Wanawake wanabakwa, Kongo, Sudan na Jamhuri ya Afrika ya Kati.  Kwa maskini asiye na mali au nguvu za kisiasa, elimu tu ndiyo ubwabwa uliosalia.  

Asili mia ndogo sana wanafikia shahada ya mwanzo  (Bachelors) au  Diploma; na  kidogo zaidi kuendelea shahada ya kati (Masters), uzamili.

Kama Francis Magomeni(jina la bandia) aliyekuja kusoma shahada ya uzamili (uchumi), London, karibuni.

“Nataka niwe kama akina Profesa Lipumba, Profesa Palagamba Kabudi,  Profesa Muhongo. Si lazima niwe Waziri, lakini niwe fresh.  Nchi yetu yahitaji wataalamu.  Wakenya, Uganda, Burundi wanachukua kazi zote, kwa vile sisi hatujasoma.”

Hayati Nyerere. Mwanaelimu na mwalimu maarufu kuzidi wote katika historia ya Tanzania.

Picha ya Wikipedia....

A THING OR TWO ABOUT KENYAN ACTRESS LUPITA NYONG'O

 Lupita Nyong'o being interviewed by ABC presenter Jimmy Kimmel in January 2014...

One of the biggest talks across London and the Uzunguni world this past week has been the film “12 Years a Slave” by black British director, Steve McQueen. Among its award winning cast is an actress from neighbouring Kenya who is brightening the northern hemisphere like a full, sparkling moon.  She has not only been praised for her brilliant acting abilities, but her character, looks and taste of clothing.  The Western media is in love with her so much- that every other day something about her is been published. She is a breath of fresh air bubbling positive African news in the rich world. Just watch one of the numerous television interviews she did with Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC, on You Tube, for example to see what I mean. When Hollywood star Leonard DiCaprio, stopped to kiss her on her cheek, photographers could not stop snapping. Yes. She is a star and an East African at that. But, hold on. Who is she? What …is she called? To start with her name is a mouthful.

Lupita  Nyong’o.

Lupita is easy, but Nyong’o- for non East Africans- is like teaching them to say “ng’ombe” (cow), ng’ang’ania (cling) or “ng’ambo” (other side)…how do you pronounce that? 

WHAT IS ETON COLLEGE DOING IN TANZANIA?

I never imagined meeting someone from Eton College.  

It is a place you only hear on the news and movies. They include famous writer, Ian Fleming– creator of James Bond- who died aged 57 in 1964. James Bond is as part of British mist, fog, horses and rain, as is the Queen, Beatles, Spice Girls, Fish and Chips and of course Eton.  The said establishment has on its hit list, 19 Prime Ministers – past and present.

Famous  journalist and author George Orwell  who wrote such masterpieces as Animal Farm and 1984, studied at Eton. Pic from Telegraph Site...

These are the chosen few, upper class, royalty. Cost to enter Eton is in the region of £30,000 per year; more than three times the cost of an average University annual fee, which majority students find hard to foot; and if you heard of the 2010 student- fees riots, you can imagine the colour of money, smell of cash.  Currently many foreign students are looking elsewhere in Asia and Latin America or just local universities to study.

Yup. Eton is something else.

 A boys’ only boarding school; it was founded by King Henry V1 in 1440- a very long time ago, indeed. The school has been referred to as the chief nurse of England’s statesmen, and a saying goes: “the British Empire was built on the playing fields of Eton.”

LONDON GIVES POST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO SHAABAN ROBERT

Shaaban Robert's grand-daughter, Amina Wazir, collects award for her genius grand-dad from  Mr Frederick Sumaye. On the right, seated is His Excellency High Commissioner of Tanzania, Hon. Peter Kallaghe.   

 Pic by Jestina George

The writer Shaaban Robert, who died aged 53, in June 1962 was a very  “popular read” during the 1960s and early 1970s. Somewhere along the line, he was almost forgotten. Early 1990s, the newly launched Mkuki na Nyota revived this eminent Kiswahili genius, and thanks to the hard work of its founder Walter Bgoya,   many of Shaaban Robert’s masterpieces are readily available in bookshops across East Africa today.  For those unfamiliar with the author, I would recommend “Maisha Yangu Na Baada ya Miaka Hamsini” (My Life After 50).  The book sums most of the Tanga born thinker’s qualities:  essays, personal recollections, poetry, thoughts on life, racism in Tanganyika of the 1930s and 1940s, TANU and Nyerere, duty to society, role of writers, etc.

Kusadikika, his most famous novel which is said to have partially inspired late President Nyerere's Ujamaa  policies.

STRONG WINDS, DESPERATION AND CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS

It is Monday, winds are so strong across the British Isles that we have been advised not to travel unless very unnecessary.

 I am quickly rushing across shops ready for Christmas, two days away. As I speed around, violent gales are blowing umbrellas off people’s hands. I watch an elderly woman battling with the gadget- a classic argument with nature.

Umbrella says: “Let me protect her. I cost her money, you know. I am expensive.”

Wind replies: “You can’t. I am strong. I am the universe.”

Umbrella protests: “Have you nothing else to do? Why don’t you go to the distant valleys where you belong? What are you doing in our cities?”

Wind blasts harder; making noises, offering a cruel and distasteful expression.

The hand of the woman tries desperately to hold on to the plastic handle of the umbrella. The upper part of the rain shield cannot resist the power of the brutal teeth of air and tearing gusts.

Woman fails to walk with such challenging gusts. She lets go. Umbrella falls off her hands, wind dashes off victorious, looking for another victim.

FROM DR DAVID LIVINGSTONE TO MWALIMU NYERERE AND MANDELA

 The passing of Nelson Mandela has made us reflect on forgiveness and humanity.  African history has been on my mind- a way of finding where we were and whither our road goes.  It is 200 years since Dr David Livingstone – the famous British explorer was born in 1813.

Dr David Livingstone with one of his various African porters, shown here from The Philosophy of Science Portal Blog.

 Before the Afro centric approach was introduced into our education system, white explorers were perceived as heroes.  Actually when I was in primary school (during the 1960s) the Euro centric approach used books called new and old lands. From Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Vasco Da Gama, Mungo Park to Dr David Livingstone, these determined chaps supposedly came to explore our dark world and open up global geography.  Mount Kilimanjaro was “discovered” by Johannes Rebman (and Krapf), in the 1840s. Disbelief of the German’s findings lingered; they called him myopic, for twelve years.  I can imagine it is like some of today’s older generation who are not so keen with the internet.  Geography was dark.

AN HOUR WITH SWAHILI LEGENDARY WRITER AND BROADCASTER- ABDILATIF ABDALLA...

 I spent over 60 minutes with Kenyan writer, Swahili promoter and lecturer, now retired; grandfather of twelve grand-children, Mr Abdilatif Abdalla. We walked along Camden Town in northern- west London, had tea; and hardly a moment passed without laughter. Abdilatif is one of those gifted humans that find fun and amusement and meaning in very simple things.

At 67 years his mind is sharp and his senses possess charisma which the Oxford English dictionary defines as: magnetism, appeal, allure, presence, strength of character. A hundred years ago, famous American novelist, Jack London wrote: “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”

 

Two ouststanding Swahili pundits : Award winning journalist Ahmed Rajab (left ,seated) with Abdilatif Abdalla...pic by Mohammed Said.