Saturday, 28 September 2019

Rwanda Stories

Good morning from Rwanda
The Land of a Thousand Hills

Arrived last night after what seemed like an extra long flight - with a baby crying pretty much the entire flight. On-board food was good, and all in all , we had a good flight over.
Navigated the airport which is well organised - secure, and actually a pretty nice experience all round. Surprised those at the counter who were convinced I was Rwandese, so could not understand my inability to speak the local language

Jumped in a taxi and headed straight to the hotel. They were both expecting and not expecting me - negotiated a better room, with some flexibility, dropped my cases, and headed outside, where a local band were performing on stage, mostly locals here, but my mission was food. I was hungry, and about to faint ( I exaggerate) half an hour post my order, I called guy. Our conversation was an interesting one in the end I just burned out - where's my food?!!

He seemed to find it funny when I said it only takes 10mins to cook chips

'No' - he told me, 'they have to do it... properly...'

..and sure enough they did - the food looked and tasted beautiful.

I ate, paid in dollars, then headed up

Somehow I managed to sleep with my balcony doors opened, and wondered why I had a chill

Running water,(cold) flushing toilet, and a nicely made bed. This is a locally owned hotel, run by local people, who I get the impression rarely tend to overseas guests, but to give them credit , have really tried to give me all that I need to accommodate me

Today is the last Saturday of the month...Umuganda, where the community cleans and undertakes voluntary work. No cars are allowed on roads until after 11am - and my trip around the city is pushed back to tomorrow.

It's cool

This is Africa

This is Rwanda










Sunday, 8 September 2019

Yantumye - King James

Weekend WOW Factor - The Evolution of Mindful Revolution ft Tiwa Savage - 49-99

.. and what a summer it has been...

as I write, we are now in the 37th day of Sowore's detention.

aressted by the DSS in Nigeria after calling for a revolutionary protest across Nigeria...
Revolution Now/Days of rage, will undeniably be remembered as a definitive moment in Sowore's status as a true activist, a leader, undetererable and one to be respected.





The response of the majority of the Nigerian people can be described as lackluster, highlighting also the middle classes as a major problem in the country.
The 'I'm all right jack' attitude of those getting by, and the 'I'm better off than my neighbour' approach by the poor will remain the downfall of many, and a real barrier to change.



One thing is for sure, Sowore can never be referred to as inconsequential again, as in the weeks that followed, the word revolution spread across the nations media and could be found flowing freely from the mouths of the ruling classes with subjective ease. 'Revolution of the mind', being a favoured term



**

Nigerian Senator Elisha Abbo, was caught on camera beating a female shop assistant in a porn shop, (despite the presence of male security guards) and kept his job...




the apology was lame.... and funny as heck
'no matter what you did to me'...


whaaat?!


**

Burna boy raised his profile as a true giant in the music scene





Poor black South Africans are increasing their attacks on those they view as foreigners... not Chinese, British, or any nationality predominantly, other than African - black African to be exact
Imagine that...
What say you Malema? - we need you to speak sense on this matter....

and if all that wasn't enough, as we approach Autumn, the King of the anti colonial struggle, and former revolutionary leader Robert Mugabe, breathed his last breath, in Singapore.
'allow me let me shed a tear'




What can I say...

I doubt we will ever see the likes of such a complex man ever again
we live in very different times now...



How is Zimbabwe doing now?.. after the coup that removed the don?
how is Gambia now?, after the removal of Jammeh
some say better - okay, but regardless...I can now understand the reason for the lovely Adama's ever increasing stomach...



$41.000 on food shopping a month?
ha ha... too funny
leave him let him eat - he with the beautiful eyes requires more food...

..'yes...that be right my darling..'



Much more has occurred in my time away, and I must resist some of these stories in the weeks to come

It's my birthday month, and as I approach a new year, I'm busy preparing for my trip

God bless you Sowore
God bless you Mugabe

Tell dem Tiwa......



blessings and light x

Monday, 1 July 2019

Weekend WOW Factor: Women Fighting For Thier Rights in Nigeria

* some anyway....

Well done to the men who joined the women to protest against rape in Nigeria
Any country that denies women their dignity and basic human rights cannot develop under such a system.
Lecturers who manipulate female students for sex, or threaten to withhold grades, husbands who cheat on their wives with impunity,
men ( anywhere in the world) who believe it's okay to beat their wives, these things are not of god, and have no place in any culture that wishes the best for its people

Whist the current allegations to hit the headlines concerns a pastor...lets consider the uncles and fathers who abuse their daughter, nieces, and sisters

For too long the women have remained silent, or have simply been silenced
In some cases they have been complicit in their own subjugation

Are Nigerian women finally waking up?

Good for them

There is hope for Nigeria, when the women rise up, and take their rightful place...
..not at the heal of any man, but beside, as partners, as leaders, in whatever role they choose to play, be it wife, mother educator, activist, homemaker

Women have dignity. men should not deny women their human rights with abuse or manipulation
Women have perhaps laid half of a a bed they can no longer tolerate sleeping in.
With silence they have condoned poor behaviour.
but perhaps now, they have arrived at a tipping point.

I hope that after this story fades, young girls who are not famous, but live simply in villages across country, will not be forgotten



**



Loving the Arsenal shirt Phrankleen...