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.

MASHUJAA WAWILI WA MFANO WALIOFARIKI MWEZI NOVEMBA…

Tarehe 23 Novemba 1963 wakati namalizia malizia darasa la pili,  tuliambiwa tusiende shule. Jana yake, Rais John F Kennedy wa Marekani alipigwa risasi akiwa ziarani mjini Texas. Nakumbuka Watanganyika (tulivyoitwa miaka hiyo ) tulivyosikitika. Rais Kennedy alipendwa sana. Marekani iliisaidia Tanganyika kwa  misaada na wataalamu wa kujitolea – walioitwa “Peace Corps.” Urafiki huu ulidhihirishwa na mifuko ya sembe na vyakula yenye picha ya mkono wa Mzungu na Mwafrika vimeshikana kirafiki.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF3CHxwhObE

Mwalimu Nyerere alipokaribishwa  na Rais John Kennedy na kuhutubia Ikulu ya Marekani- mwaka 1963. Walikuwa marafiki wakubwa. Miezi michache baadaye Rais Kennedy aliuawa.

Baada ya miaka mitano mdogo wake marehem, Robert F Kennedy naye aliuliwa kwa risasi wakati akifanya kampeni za Urais. Wengi walitazamia angekuwa kiongozi bora kama kaka mtu.

Toka walipouawa ndugu hawa, sinema mbalimbali na mandishi yametolewa kuhusu kisa na sababu. Aliyezungumziwa na anayeendelea kuongelewa ni marehem John Kennedy- rais aliyependwa kuzidi wote katika historia ya Marekani.

MTINDO WA KISASA WA NYWELE UNAHARIBU AFYA ZA WANAWAKE WEUSI

Watu wa kabila la Chwi kule Ghana wanaozungumza lugha iitwayo Tshi wana methali kuhusu umuhimu wa kupendeza. Inashauri: “Ikiwa mwenda wazimu ataiba nguo zako na kukimbia nazo wakati wewe uko majini unaoga, itakuwa vyema utafute angalau kipande cha kitambaa ujifunge  wakati unamkimbiza maana usipofanya vile watazamaji watadhani na wewe umeheuka.”

Hakuna mwanaume ambaye hajawahi kupayukiwa kuwa asuburi wakati ndugu yake wa kike anajipodoa akijiremba. Na kati ya mapambo yote nywele zinaongoza foleni. Mwanaume waweza kutoka bila kuchana nywele, unaweza ukawa nusu kipara (kama mimi mwandishi) lakini hujali mradi u msafi utatoka zako mitaani. Kwa mwanamke kujisanifu nywele ni tendo muhimu sana. Ndiyo maana waandishi mbalimbali wa hadithi hawakosi maelezo ya ususi ndani ya riwaya zao.

WE SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT BEES...

Cultivating gardens,planting flowers and not using harmful pesticides is one way of ensuring bees survive... pic by F Macha

The earliest memory I have of bees is my mother yelling at me to lie flat on the ground in rural Kilimanjaro.  I must have been seven or eight. Swarms of bees would noisily zoom past like tornadoes. At that time I never associated bees and the sweet stuff they naturally produce.

The notion that bees are vicious insects that bite was as common to us villagers as were stray dogs and wild animals.

Ten years later (now a teenager) I was writing stories and poems and one was about the fierceness of bees.  I was, by then, aware that bees made honey and that honey was good for you. However, the idea that they were dangerous could maim even kill, dominated social values.