After Africa

2010. In (Photographic) Review + Happy New Year

 

Christmas in Iceland

Exactly three years ago I wrote from Iceland here about Christmas. My nephew is now 8, and Bjøssi, his cat, is still very much alive.

 

According to folklore the Yuletide Cat eats children that don't receive new clothes in time for Christmas. Hence, the Icelanders will get new clothes and various fabulous accessories for Christmas, making i.e. my brother-in-law look casual, yet very funky.

 

Another tradition is the Christmas Boot, which has to be placed in the window. Nice children get gifts, not so nice children get potatoes.

 

Though far off everything, on an island in the Atlantic Ocean, just counted Christmas decorations on the tree from Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

 

Icelanders love light. Especially the electrical, colourful and kitschy stuff, which you can decorate your house with. No wonder, the sun is a distant memory at this time of year, and in northern Iceland we only have day light from around 10:30 to 15:30 where dusk sets in. Intersteringly, there is a huge section in the local supermarket where you can buy all sorts of light bulbs.

Another important element is the Christmas card. Here on display in my sister's kitchen window, facing the mountain, which was covered in snow during Christmas.  
 

Now, the snow has melted, leaving a landscape in all nuances from blue to gray. Here with at view of Skagafjörður facing Drangey, reminding us that from now on the days are getting longer.

 

Iceland. Christmas Preparations in Style

  

Christmas in Reykjavik 101

Tanzania and jazz...?

 

Few people connect Tanzania with jazz.

However, jazz is also part of Tanzania's musical history, and one of today's - probably (?) - best known CDs, is the one depicted above, which is a compilation of songs from the 1960ties. The CD can be bought on-line or in tourist shops in Zanzibar - or you can listen to one of the songs here.

And I still remember the first time I listened to it back in 2006 in Uganda, sitting in the backseat on road from Entebbe to Kampala. Afternoon turning into evening, while approaching the Kampala skyline. All impressions enhanced under a heavy influence of good company and Nile Special.

Now, the 1st Dar Jazz Event 2011 is taking off. The first in a series of annual events featuring several days of concerts, jam sessions, seminars & workshops in celebration of US International Jazz Appreciation Month, thereby promoting the spirit of creative collaboration between performing artists from the United States and Tanzania.

Check it out here:

Moonlight. And Minus Degrees

 
Silkeborg.

No bus will be allowed to leave the terminal when a female passenger is in the front seat in Uganda. Why?

Mick Farmer blogs here about a new part of the festive season road safety initiative in Uganda, and the answer to the headline question is: 

“They entice the drivers who in turn drive recklessly to impress them,” Mr Bazil Mugisha, the Commissioner Traffic. “Those who fail to comply will be arrested and their buses impounded,” said Mr Mugisha.

Link to the full article here.

I am fascinated with cases like these:

First, Mr. Mugisha's logic based on the absence of statistics, but an assumption probably based on personal experience - with women.

Then the fact that no journalist questions the absurdity of the new guidelines, or question the fact that reckless driving might not (always) be due to women, but in fact due to a long list of other factors like authorities making  absurd conclusions resulting in guidelines like these; corruption; bad driving skills; and exhausting work conditions.

Happy Independence Day, Tanzania

Tanzania is celebrating its 49th anniversary as an independent nation.

Hongera sana!

I finally got the day right (there was at least another one where I went to the office and down the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road wondering why there was no traffic.)

This is also the day where the former president Julius Nyerere will be quoted endlessly, like for instance in today's Citizen.

Out of lack of other presidents to quote?

Nyerere is also alive in the t-shirt design company Kina Klothing's Uhuru Street collection, evidently referring to the independence (uhuru) - and the values associated with it.

One has to imagine what Kikwete would look like depicted on a t-shirt in a similar design (in 49 years) - and what the collection would be labelled then?

Any ideas?

The Uhuru Torch (as depicted in the image above on one of the designs from Kina Klothing's t-shirts) is one of the National Symbols of Tanzania. On Kilimanjaro you find (I've read) a kerosene torch. The Uhuru torch symbolizes freedom and light, and it was first lit on top of Mount Kilimanjaro on December 9, 1961 by Alexander Nyirenda. Symbolically, to shine over Tanzania and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enemity and respect where there is hatred.

49 years later, Tanzanians update their Facebook status, tweet and blog on December 9 to about uhuru. Amongst others:

Kathleen Bomani

Lulu Kitulolo

Kiranga

The Mikocheni Report

A potential friend lost in translation (Nothing like Google Translate)

Danish needed to understand the odd points lost in translation: Hej min ven hvordan laver du i dag sammen med dit helbred? Jeg håber alt går godt med dig. Mit navn er Grace, skal du ikke blive overrasket til at modtage mit budskab til din postkasse, besluttede jeg at skrive til dig, fordi herlighed venskab ikke er imod den udstrakte hånd, ej heller den rare smil, eller glæden ved kammeratskab, er det den åndelige inspiration, der kommer til én, når han opdager, at en anden person tror på ham eller hende og er villig til at stole på, at finde en god ven er som at finde gode skat, Gode venner er som stjerner Man kan ikke altid se dem, men du ved, at de er der altid. Venlige skrive mig tilbage, så jeg kan give dig flere detaljer om mig og så godt sende dig mine billeder til åben samtale. tak Grace Hello my Friend how are you doing today together with your health? i hope everything is moving well with you. My name is Grace, please don't be surprise to receive my message to your mail box, i decided to write to you because the glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship, it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him or her and is willing to trust,  to find a good friend is like to find good  treasure, Good friends are like stars You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Kindly write me back so that i can give you more details about me and as well send you my pictures for open conversation. thanks Grace

 

Kudos to @AlfredMutua for keeping the madness coming

Kudos to @AlfredMutua for keeping the madness coming.

'Government commends Ivory Coast on its vibrant multi-party system where they now have two presidents'.