KWANINI WASTANI WA MAUTI YA MTU MWEUSI ALIYESOMA NI MIAKA 55-65?

Mwandishi nikiwa na mtunzi mashuhuri hayati Gil Scott Heron (kushoto), baada ya onesho lake Jazz Cafe, London.  Scott- Heron alifariki akiwa na umri wa 63, mwaka 2011. Picha ya A. Macha , 1999.

Nilikuwa naongea na rafiki yangu mhadhiri; Dk Ikaweba Bunting, anafundisha  Marekani...

 Tulisononeka kifo cha mshairi maarufu wa mahadhi ya Jazz, marehemu Gil Scott Heron. Bw Scott Heron alikuwa na ujumbe mzito uliotetea maslahi ya wananchi weusi wa Marekani na kuzungumzia matatizo kadhaa ya jamii hiyo ukiwemo utumiaji dawa za kulevya. Alipiga piano na kuandika riwaya na mashairi matamu na makali sana. Ukitaka mfano mzuri hebu tafuta “Pieces of a Man” katika You Tube. Sikiliza sauti yake mshairi anayesemwa kuwa ni  baba wa watenzi wa Rapu na Ushairi wenye ujumbe. Fuatilia piano iliyotulia na mdundo  wa Blues na Jazz. Kama unahusudu lugha,  zingatia namna Kiingereza kinavyotumiwa kumchora na kumhakiki mhusika anayeimbwa.  Hayati Gil Scott Heron aliandika riwaya na kufundisha fasihi.  Anaomboleza maisha ya mtu huyu aliyeanza na bangi huishia  jehanam. Baadaye jamaa anateketea kabisa.

“I saw him go to pieces.

He was always such a good, good man.”

(Nilimtazama akivunjika vipande vipande

Alikuwa mtu mzuri sana...)

BACKWARDNESS, POVERTY, LAZINESS AND LACK OF READING...

Are you sentimental?
Are you one of those people who grieve about the good old days? This would be measured in terms of age. The older you are, the bitter and bigger the sentiment. What about if you are eighteen years old, or twenty five? Maybe eighty. Or approaching sixty like me? I am not one of those people who think past times were better - because life has always been the same; same old problems and joys, governments in crisis and doom mongers predicting end of life. So I won’t weep over history. It’s like shedding crocodile tears.

Sunset on waters of the west Tanzania. Pic by Revo Meza...

According to myths, the idiom, shedding crocodile tears, means the crafty, dangerous reptiles weep in order to trick their victims...  Idioms are the salt and sugar of any given language. I think the fantastic great past is nothing more than crocodile tears for what is going on in the present.  Having washed my hands, let us rock and rewind the clock for a few seconds and picture 1960s and 1970s Tanzania.

Reading was very fashionable.

As a teenager around 1967 to 1975 it was common for us to have a novel in the pocket and compete and show off what you have been reading. Back then we wiped off a lot of novels.

ADAM LUSEKELO-TRIBUTE TO A VERY SPECIAL TANZANIAN WRITER

When people  die we tend to focus on their good sides and forgive the horrible.  Adam Lusekelo made us laugh and think at the same time. He was one of the funniest, cleverest guys. No wonder when I heard his passing, instead of tears I reflected on his jolly character.

Last time I sat with Adam at Nyumba ya Sanaa (May 2009) with blogger Michuzi muffling down Ugali (while avoiding chocking himself with laughter); the humorous columnist kept blowing his nose starring disgustingly at his handkerchief.
"That is a lot of snort,” he said grinning; it was his way of mocking his disease.

Yes. Adam had diabetes for many years, he was thin and I could not believe how emaciated he had become.

(Adam "Njinja" Lusekelo, inside Nelson Mandela's famous cell at Robben Island)
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