Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from November, 2008

The Doctrine of Hand-outs and Photo Shoots

The Buckaroo started this entry differently so if this sounds like an entry written by a bi-polar blogger, well, that's life.... I had the rare privilege, yesterday of seeing two players on the "African field" (if I may call it that). The diplomat, and the missionary. The difference was a matter of just a sentence. And dare I say, an attitude. The diplomat was visiting a support program for underprivileged children and he came bearing gifts, he said, “Let these gifts go to the students that have done well academically.” There were few gifts, but they were practical (... and of course they bore the emblem of his embassy). Now, see, that was my language. Isn’t that how life is? For the children there are the important things in life, like education, that should be encouraged with incentives. The missionaries on the other hand had bags and bags of freebies: for example, sun glasses to be distributed to all them children. Now kids like such things indeed! It’s like ca

Fun at Kumbali Cultural Village

My only other visit to Kumbali was in the company of tourists and was very short but last night was super fun. I got the opportunity to rub shoulders with corporate Malawi and can I tell you, it's been years since I ate dinner served in cauldrons under the skies. The last time I did that I was 11, at Mafutseni ranch just outside of Manzini, Swaziland. I have treasured that memory for so long and last night was so fab I feel like deleting that memory. I won't. It's good to experience the simple things of our African life amidst good and educative conversation. It was an IT conference and I hopped on with friends in the IT world. Didn't know much so I kept munching while everyone talked about cantennas and open access, etc. What was in the cauldrons? ah, don't remind me...atcharred beef stew(I love Atchar, gots to get me some in Zomba, Atchar capital), stewed cabbage, beans, greens, steamed rice....aaaaahhh! you get the idea.

Farewell Mirriam Makeba

Sad news here in Africa today. Farewell Miriam Makeba November 10, 2008, 10:00 Tributes continue to pour in for the late singer Miriam Makeba. Makeba (76) died of a heart attack after taking ill near the southern Italian town of Caserta. Musicians Yvonne Chaka-Chaka and Sipho Hotstix Mabuse say they will miss Makeba dearly. Publicity manager Mark Lechat says: “She was a person who was larger than life. She meant so much to so many people. The space she filled is going be an empty one from now on. But as she always said that when one door closes another one opens and for that she was a woman of great stature who had an ability to take people on a journey of hope and resilience.” South African Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa says: "Miriam Makeba - South Africa's goodwill ambassador - died performing what she did best - an ability to communicate a positive message through the art of singing. "Throughout her life, Mama Makeba communicated a positive message to the

On Basketball, Love, and Grace

Disclaimer: to the makers of the movie Love & Basketball, you have no idea.... Love and Basketball Can a weekend ever have less drama? I read in the paper (not early enough) that there was going to be the biggest basketball tournament on November 1 (at Saint Andrews International School SAintS) in Blantyre. Now, am I so high and mighty to think that all things basketball have to be told to me in good time so I can make a grand entrance, ahem, no. The tournament was between the Southern Malawi all-stars (read Blantyre and Zomba) and Central Malawi all-stars (read Lilongwe). If you follow this blog you'll remember that there was once a Mr. Zomba Nice Guy and a Mr. Lilongwe Nice Guy (potential boyfriends). We have moved on from those days as there is now a Mr. Blantyre Nice Guy. Now I'm not a finicky woman but as Christian Carter and John Gray would agree, I need the scientific skills to spot and keep a "Keeper". Anywho, back to my drama. So Mr. Blantyre Nice Gu