INAHITAJIKA TENA KAMPENI YA “MTU NI AFYA” KUHIMIZA VYOO VISAFI AFRIKA

Kuna mambo ambayo kila jamii duniani huyahisi muhimu kuliko mengine. Kwa Mzungu akipita akaona mbwa yuko radhi achutame kumpapasa na kumpa  maneno mema. Kwetu kusalimiana wanadamu muhimu kuliko hidaya kwa wanyama.

Basi la "Baharia" mjini Moshi. Picha na F Macha

Ndiyo fikra inayonizonga nikiwa safarini Arusha kwenda Dar es Salaam. Mabasi yetu Bongo ni ramani nzuri ya kuujua utamaduni na jiografia ya miaka 50 baada ya Uhuru toka kwa Mwingereza. Ukiwa visiwani utasikia Taarabu na Kaswida; hapa Arusha hadi Moshi dereva katuwekea muziki wa Injili. Kama ile Kaswida inayoghani swalaa mbalimbali za Adhana (alfajiri) ya majogoo na Isha (mwisho jioni); nazisikia sifa kwa Yesu Kristo zikiliiza kwa jazba.
<--more--!>

SELF DESTRUCTION AND THE CATACLYSMIC NATURE OF 2011

Psychology describes self destructive behaviour as a combination of self harm and abuse to oneself. When repeated over a period of time, it becomes a habit. And how do you avoid such behaviour? Writing a letter to his son in July 1969, while still in prison Nelson Mandela advised Makgatho:
“Never allow yourself to be discouraged by difficulties or setbacks, and never give up the battle even in the darkest hour.”

Nelson Mandela -photo from Jokero Blog

Whether he listened to his father or not, Makgatho died in 2005 aged 54. Unashamed, Mandela revealed publicly that his second son had died of HIV. Fighting the stigma that has mystified African society, Mzee Mandela declared on television: “Aids is no longer a disease, it is a human rights issue.”
 Mandela’s life has been a brave fight against snags, snags and more snags. He was in jail for 26 years, lost his marriage, two sons and most recently his great grand daughter, Zenani.
Why did he not booze, take drugs and kill himself, i.e.  Self destruct?
<--more--!>

TANZANIA’S 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS START ROCKING IN THE UK

 

It could have been bigger than this; maybe it should have started six, seven months ago; the buzz, I mean; but as they say, better late than ever. Things switched to high gears last Saturday when Kinondoni based Twanga Pepeta band rocked London’s Club 2000 Banqueting Suite. The venue is close to the famous Wembley Stadium; hard to locate, but easy for those who were keen to search the North West part of this city. Even if you had no car, taxis were hired, friends offered lifts and public transport is rarely a problem in London. Most important thing was that attendance during this inaugural night was passionate if not positive.

<--more--!> 

MACHALARI MGOMBANI MOSHI NA NYAMA CHOMA ZA ARUSHA

Dunia yetu ina kila aina za udongo.

Udongo wa Mpirani nje kidogo ya Moshi mjini unanikumbusha wa Kigoma ambapo rangi yake inakurubia wekundu. Mimea ya Mpirani ni migomba, mapera, machungwa, ndimu, maembe, kahawa na gari analoendesha dada yangu Juliana linakwenda taratibu, likikwepa mashimo shimo ya udongo huu.

“Unaona ule msikiti?” naulizwa. Nikiwa mdogo haikuwepo misikiti mashambani Moshi.  Kidesturi migombani kwa Wachagga hujazana makanisa.

“Wapo mangi wengi Waislamu siku hizi,” dereva anafafanua.

<--more--!> 

CHUCKING NAPPIES IN THE SEA AND PLASTIC FEEDING GOATS

  I am taking photos of a young goat at a busy Dar es Salaam road. The animal is standing on its hind legs her extended light brown body stretched like rubber. Such an agile creature.  Goats, deer and gazelles are athletic animals; and you know what? Delicious too.

No time throughout the history of Tanzania have I seen so much roasted goat meat in our bars and restaurants. The craving and availability of Nyama Choma is as versatile and as fascinating as the goat I am photographing.

 Might I be an angry vegetarian who loathes killing animals? Is my intent highlighting the athleticism of Tanzanian goats?

 Hardly.

This lithe, elastic and agile goat has interested me because she is feeding on a piece of plastic hanging on an electricity pole.

<--more--!>

SANDUKU YATIMA NA SAFARI YANGU DODOMA KUELEKEA ARUSHA

Nilipokua nikiulizia basi la mikanda  Dodoma mjini;  jamaa mmoja akanicheka:

“We siku yako ya kufa ikifika utakufa tu…”

Na mimi pia  nikacheka nikikumbuka manabii walioandika maneno ya Mungu. Ndani ya sura ya saba ya Biblia mlango wa Mtakatifu Matayo tunashauriwa :

“Ombeni nanyi mtapewa; tafuteni, nanyi mtaona; bisheni, nanyi mtafunguliwa; kwa maana kila aombaye hupokea ; naye atafutaye huona; naye abishaye atafunguliwa.”

Niko Dodoma.

Nnasubiri kukata tiketi ya basi nielekee zangu mikoa ya kaskazi.

Uvaaji mikanda ndani ya magari bado unapuuzwa sana kwetu Afrika na nchi zinazoendelea...

 Baada ya kuzoea kuyapanda mabasi ya Kizungu niko kwetu Bongo nikizozana na itikeli, itikadi na desturi kidogo tofauti ambazo ingawa nilizaliwa na kukua nazo naziona kiasi fulani ngeni, za kutisha. Watanzania wenzangu wanakubali tu lile linalotokea na litokee. Mstari huo umezoeleka  kana kwamba Mtanzania anadhani maisha yake hayana faida tena; liwalo na liwe. Ni kama keshakata tamaa; ari ya mapigano inaanza kumnyauka; hana moyo.

<--more--!>

HOTEL MNARANI AND HOW INVESTORS CAN HELP TRANSFORM TANZANIA

Nungwi has in recent times been infamous for the boat that capsized and killed hundreds. However, Nungwi is also re known for very welcoming and friendly people where thousands of tourists and visitors flock to enjoy the beautiful seaside and Zanzibar’s elegant coastline.

“Everyone here was affected by MV Spicer’s tragedy,” Mr. Nassor Maharouky, director of Hotel Mnarani right at the heart of Nungwi tells me. Although born in Pemba, Nassor has made Nungwi his home as any true Zanzibari businessman would.  The 40 plus year old is one of those rare individuals whose passion for life usually transforms communities.

I first bumped into Mr. Maharouky (pictured top) in London a couple of years ago when he came to represent Tanzania at the annual trade fare in the UK city.  Held in November Excel international fare has had several Tanzanian tourist representations, lately.
<--more--!>