HOW IS COLOMBIAN WRITER, GABRIEL MARQUEZ RELEVANT TO US IN EAST AFRICA?

Gabriel Marquez busy at his desk.  AP photo from First Post....

Over forty years ago when I was at Ilboru Secondary School, teachers encouraged education in various ways. Take Mr Hopland from Norway. During my form two year he offered weekly prizes if you read many books. I recall getting my share of glory. It has since helped me in pursuit of knowledge. Or the beloved literature Zimbabwean lady, Mama Victoria Chitepo. She used to sit in front of our form three class, shouting sternly:

“Boys! I want you all to look at my face! Boys! Come on!”

It was slightly intimidating to keep a steady stare. Think. We averaged 16 and 17 years and uneasy about females.  The age of broken innocence- when you begin viewing women other than respectful mothers, aunties, sisters and grandmothers.

But Mama Chitepo  (pictured in the middle) had a peculiar manner of teaching. She was also foreign.  Around that time, Ilboru Secondary School- late 1960s to early 1970s... was a “palace” of international teachers. We had Scandinavians, Americans, British, West, East and South Africans, not to mention Tanzanians. Years of serious, serious education.

TIMES ARE HARD BUT TOO MUCH BOOZE WON'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE...

I was in a late, late night bus heading home after a gig; tired but, satisfied that we had played our music well. Gratified that we had got paid too. These days being given wages promptly after any job can be a hassle. Money is a “tough ride.”

Dude,  I was slightly annoyed by unusual noises coming from the upper deck of the bus, but not too surprised though, as this is a normal scenario when you take a  London bus in the wee hours of the morning, to paraphrase the Scottish expression.

 Drama, melodrama and verbal theater.

WE SHOULD ALL SPEAK OUT AGAINST FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION !!!

For decades now some of us have been disgusted by the cruel tradition of chopping off private parts of young girls, technically known as female genital mutilation (FGM). In mid 1980s when well known names began raising their voices against FGM, African American writer, Alice Walker, stood out. The award winning Ms Walker eventually published “Possessing the Secret Joy” a novel (below) describing “a fictional African nation where female genital mutilation is practised.”

These protests however, have no effect without government and law enforcing institutions.

Known as “ukeketaji” in Tanzania, the illegal practise has been condemned by high authorities since the times of  Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and his widow, Mama Maria Nyerere.

MWANAMKE WA LONDON ALIYEOANA NA MBWA ANATUKUMBUSHA NINI?

Amanda Rodgers akimbusu mbwa aliyefunga naye ndoa. Picha ya Medavia

                  

Majuma mawili yaliyopita habari za mwanamke wa London aliyeoana na mbwa wake aitwaye Sheba zilitangazwa  na gazeti la Metro. Metro hutolewa bure,  kila siku, kwa wasafiri miji mbalimbali ya Uingereza. Baadaye Bi. Amanda Rodgers alipohojiwa na  ITV mjini London alidai : “Nafahamu ndoa yangu na Sheba haitambuliki kisheria. Lakini ilikuwa njia nzuri ya kuonyesha ninavyomthamini Sheba. Sheba amekuwa nami miaka mingi, hunichekesha na kunifariji ninaposononeka.  Sikuweza kumpata mwenzi mwingine wa maisha kama huyu.”

Huyo ni Mbwa  anayeongelewa, babu eh.

Mwenzenu alishachoka, aisee.