Dunia Duara

@Dunia_Duara: Photo Exhibition on till September 15 2011 at Ujamaa Gallery

My photos exhibition is going to last a little longer than originally planned. All the way up till September 15.

Gallery is open every day (minus Sundays and holidays) from 10.30-6.30.

Do note the gallery has only put a small selection on display - you will find more here.

Karibu!

Malfred: Mrembo by @MaishaMusic

 

Some Sundays ago I took a big heap of photos of Malfred in Kariakoo for his coming album. I was really happy with the results and wish I owed it a bit more to my photographic skills and not to the fact that Malfred was fantastic to work with or the great light.

Others have made music videos for Malfred, and are still working on more before the release of the CD.

I know for a fact that this music video is done with less equipment than a lot of other Bongo-produced music videos. It isn't about equipment, but about creativity and making the most of what you have. Really well done video - check out Maisha Music here and Malfred's Facebook page here.

I'm Coming Home (Narudi Nyumbani) by #Nameless

 

I have been travelling a lot across Dar es Salaam on daladalas and with taxis the past two months - and this is what the radio plays.

Lyrics are admittedly in between a little bit tacky, loaded with heavy homesickness and patriotism.The video is full of heavy symbolism, surely evoking emotions and pride.

Can't explain it, but the song really speaks to me (in spite of my usual Scandinavian preference for less pathos).

It also - in my interpretation - speaks for the many people who live in the diaspora, the people who left their continent, the ones who miss Africa and who Africa needs back.

Eating out

 

#Tanzania: Loving loose ends

Had this been in Scandinavia this may had been an art installation in a museum.

Now this is Tanzania, and this is an electrical installation in process (in a museum).

Personally, I am all for the Tanzanian version.

I like the fact that there is still room for improvement, still space for making it happen, and still opportunity for going somewhere where creativity is needed to make those ends meet so that when pushing the switch light will shine (if umeme allows).

In Denmark somebody would already have sorted all the loose ends, leaving less opportunities and space for my imagination.

It is as simple as that - why I prefer Tanzania to Denmark:

I love loose ends.

I get this a lot....

Makes perfect sense.

I am waiting for when the who's documenting who and the presenting stereotypes about whom, will tip.

Koko Beach

 
I have been living in this country long enough to have been offered to 'come and make out' at night on Koko Beach. (As if I was 17 or crazy...so, evidently the question went on my list of compliments)

Koko Beach is a favorite place among many people in Dar es Salaam. Not just the young ones who find an escape on the beach (to make out).

It is certainly one of mine.

I know a lot of very nice people in Dar es Salaam...

Thank you to the ones coming for the launch of my first photo exhibition yesterday evening.

Thanks for the incredibly, nice things some of you said about my photos.

In particular I smiled when someone said that it is strange how I can catch the essence of Tanzania without being Tanzanian or growing up here.

Honoured to be trusted in this way.

An journalist interviewed me - analysing the photos - asking if I intended to present an alternative image of Africa in Europe. I messed up a long explanation, but have to admit that it is easier to see the logic long after and when photos are on the wall. In reality most of the photos just came up because of what fantastic colours, contrasts and compositions this country has, my restlessness and creative urge, and because photo is like theraphy for me. Something which can turn a bad day into good. Something which helps me connect and get to understand.

But I also realised yesterday that obviously I think in socio-political lines when it comes to photography. In the majority of the people of this country and their life conditions. Just because you are poor your life isn't necessarily bad, and you shouldn't necessarily be portrayed that way. But you also do deserve to be portrayed out of the ordinary NGO-setting, like for instance in a Dar es Salaam gallery.

In general the interest shown yesterday just made me very happy. After all some hard work came ahead of all of this, a bit of doubt and nervousness if it may be good enough.

Exhibition is still on till the end of this month (possibly longer). Check details here.

Do also note that the gallery sell a cheap postcard with photos from the exhibition:

Jairo in the news

When someone asks me what's going on in Tanzania, I shift between deep, long explanations, which most of the time make no sense because I try to compensate for the fact that I'm supposed to know, but can't figure it out - to the short, sarcastic but most often the most precise: 'nobody knows for sure', or ' go ask JK on Twitter (he may tweet you back a 'thank you!')

Tuesday August 23 The Citizen writes: 'Energy and Minerals Permanent Secretary David Jairo can walk tall today after he was cleared of corruption and misuse of public funds'.

The article left me with a long list of questions I wished the journalist would have asked now he had the opportunity.

This morning Jairo was all over the Tanzanian papers again put on display in my street in Mikocheni B. One of them, Tanzania Daima, on its frontpage goes: '...Jairo ajifananisha ya Yesu' (Jairo compares himself to Jesus), referring to that Jairo 'forgives people and doesn't want to retaliate'. Also, no questions raised, just summarising.

In some ways I believe it is good to leave space for citizens to ask questions,  but not if it adds on to the confusion. I'd also appreciate some qualified opinion and clarity. Hence, I turned to Twitter, where news and opinions fortunately travel fast in Tanzania:

@Mgossi reminded me that part of the reason I have such a hard time figuring out what's really going on, is that the debate differs in Kiswahili and English media:

A bit later the MP for Kigamboni, Faustine Ndugulile, tweeted:

...which was confirmed by Zitto Kabwe, MP for Kigoma North:

And this is even only a minor part of the whole Jairo case. What's next?

Search #jairo on Twitter here.

BP. More British than Petroleum...?

A landmark, cornering Old Bagamoyo Road and Garden Road.

Headline 'stolen' from @suspossing.