Sir Nigel's Journey…

Lately I’ve been busy writing and blogging elsewhere – www.africaontheblog.com, www.afriqantimes.com and here www.africagoodnews.com. I almost feel like I’ve neglected my own blog somewhat. I haven’t been able to spend as much time as I would like to but I do have various thoughts I want to share. In truth I’ve also been working hard behind the scenes on the ‘social enterprise’ you’ll hear more of going forward. We have an industry trade fair to attend in London next month so we’re currently preparing for that at the moment. I’m experiencing long nights 7 days a week type of situation – which makes sense if one wants to get ahead in life.

Interestingly enough, I’ve actually been reading more blogs than ever as well. I just can’t get over the number of bloggers out there! Many write professionally or otherwise, whereas others like me have recently been mistaken for being journalists especially amongst my own social circle. TrueStory. I laughed when I read this on my Facebook page the other week. Unfortunately I’m just a Zimbabwean with a blog and a passion for writing in that social commentary kind of way. For example, I have a few thoughts on Madiba and why I’m not an ‘automatic’ fan. I want to know more about Oliver Tambo, Steve Biko & Winnie herself.

Lately I’ve been thinking about what it means to be African and how race comes into the equation – I have a story about this. At some stage I’ll share my thoughts on Obama and as expected my thoughts on the new Zimbabwe and Africa in general.  I read a great deal and have various thoughts on the books I read – why I agree or disagree with their perspective. So you see, I have lots to say in general but I have to find that balance. In time I will remedy the situation….’small steps’ as a friend of mine once reminded me.

Aluta continua….

‘So you want to do what Nige’?

‘Yes you heard me! I’m planning on going back home next year…’

‘But why Nige? Bob’s not dead yet and who knows what will happen with that Zim economy? Wait a minute Nige, are your papers in order’?

I chuckle and promptly respond.

‘I travel often don’t I? Of course my visa is fine silly.’

I had several of these kinds of conversations before my own friends started to really believe. All I wanted to do was simply go home. In my own head my beloved Zimbabwe had been waiting patiently for my return and it was now time to fulfil a promise I made when I left home initially. It’s not like anything was seriously wrong with my situation here. I had a good job, very nice apartment, travelled regularly and had a good close-knit group of friends. I know a big part of me just wanted to be closer to the family. Then of course my good friend and brother Shingi and I were working on a business which, when launched is based in Zimbabwe (more details of that as we journey over the next few months). So naturally my life took an interesting direction and I was now announcing this very decision to that good close-knit group of friends I mentioned earlier. Read more

I just remembered
A time when I am just black
Just one month this year

I wrote this haiku in 2007 at a poetry joint in Detroit. I actually won the competition that night. Even back then I knew that this concept of having one month to honour black people just didn’t sit well with me at all.

I am a black man throughout all the days of the year. Please don’t honour me for just 31 days of the year. Honour me every day and in every way. Please don’t clutch your handbag when you see me walking towards you or cross the street just to avoid me. It’s alright to make eye contact, nod or even acknowledge my presence. I’m probably headed to or back from work when we meet…matter of fact the other day I was off to a café with a good book in hand. Just so you know, I want absolutely nothing from you except a little respect all the days of the year.

Happy Black History Month to those who still believe that one month is all we deserve.

Aluta Continua….

Today Africa – The Good News published an article I wrote. I received the email just before lunch time. It truly was a very humbling experience. 

The article is published here

I learnt a great lesson last week – size doesn’t matter. Instead of jumping in and writing about Pastor Terry Jones  and his plan to burn the Koran, I decided to take a step back and simply watch from afar. I was curious I have to admit. I honestly didn’t think he could pull it off.  I figured some organisation like the FBI et al would sit down and have a ‘chat’ with Pastor Jones ‘one on one’. Alas, this didn’t seem to happen or maybe it did?

So in brief, Pastor Terry Jones in Gainesville Florida decided to call others to burn the Koran. When I first heard this story, I thought it was joke until the major mainstream media sources started running the story. I couldn’t believe that this pastor with a congregation of approximately 50 people was having such an effect on what was otherwise a rather quiet week leading up to 9/11 events in the US. See, size doesn’t matter - 50 people in his congregational versus the 1.4 billion Muslims worldwide. It just takes one of these individuals to remind us how fragile or sensitive this issue really is.

I’m saddened by many aspects of this story. How can anyone think that it’s perfectly normal to burn such an important book? What happened to religious and cultural tolerance? I am a Christian but even I know and can appreciate the significance of the Koran. What irks me most I suppose is the fact that this person isn’t just a Christian like me but a Pastor in a community. What does it say about the community he represents and those who appointed him I wonder?

When: Sunday 5th September 2010
What: A fun walk/run at The Mukuvisi Woodland, Glenara Ave, Hillside
Registration: 7-10am

Start your walk/run any time before 10am
You choose your distance: 3km, 5km, 8km walk OR an 8km, 16km cross-country run

Entrance fees: Adults $5, Children $3, Dogs (on leash) $1, Pensioners – no charge

Bacon & egg rolls, coffee etc on sale. Lots of fun for the whole family

The other day I discovered that Zimbabwe is currently sitting on USD1.7 billion worth of diamonds whilst we all wait for the Kimberly Process to be finalised. My day job involves crunching numbers so going by my rough calculations, that USD1.7 billion is approximately 30% of our IMF outstanding loan balance. However I’m not entirely sure the funds will be utilised in that manner once we get the necessary approval. This brings me to my next point or rather my ‘simple’ observation. I’ve read many articles and tweets on this blood diamond issue in recent weeks and I am now really intrigued by it all. Like some people out there, I watched the Blood Diamond movie and heard the Kanye West blood diamond song too. So needless to say I have an image in my head of the blood diamond type transactions. One running theme in all these recent articles has been this notion that these Zimbabwean diamonds are in fact ‘blood diamonds’. I don’t know much about diamond mining, the background or how to even identify blood diamonds from the rest. In fact I don’t know anyone in my social circle who works in this industry. When I really think about it, I have never heard of anyone refusing diamonds on the basis that they suspected them of actually being blood diamonds – not once! Never! Never heard of this before! I’m struggling to picture a young man proposing to his beloved girlfriend and beautiful she in this case pausing and then blurting out ‘Err honey, are you sure these aren’t blood diamonds’? I just can’t see that happening ever or maybe it’s just me….

As I watch the world cup games I cannot hide my African pride! I am sufficiently grinning for 3 people I tell you! In fact I’ve been beaming like this ever since the opening ceremony last Friday. Part of me, I have to admit, remembers all those doubters who thought all those stadia and the infrastructure wouldn’t be ready in time. Imagine they were actively planning for an Australian World Cup ‘just in case’? Tsk! We showed ‘em didn’t we?! You can tell this World Cup isn’t just a South African World Cup to me. This is an African World Cup as far as I am concerned and I’m sure there are some who concur with me.

This now brings me to my main point – There were discussions surrounding the use of the vuvuzela in general. The question was asked whether the infamous vuvuzela should be banned from the actual games. If FIFA president Sepp Blatter called me and asked what I thought, my simple answer would emphatically be NO! In Zimbabwe for example, we sing songs and dance at football/soccer games. We have accepted that the South African culture is different as is the Nigerian or the Ivorian. We abide by their cultural norms when visiting South Africa, Nigeria or the Ivory Coast. This I feel is commonly known as respect or as they say – ‘when in Rome…’ I feel that the rest of the football teams and the respective visitors should do the same; after all we would have to honour their traditions had the games been staged anywhere else. These are the kind of aspects that FIFA in my eyes, should have analysed and researched before awarding the games to South Africa that very day on the 15th May 2004. Questions like: -

• What does the typical football or soccer fan do in South Africa whilst watching games?
• Is their behaviour seen to comply with what FIFA deems as normal football behaviour?

I could list a number of questions but for the purposes of this entry, we’ll leave it there and I’m sure you understand the angle I’ve taken here. When the news initially broke out about this I wondered if common sense would in fact prevail. I was curious to see if FIFA would actually bow down to pressure and be seen as dictating the rules of engagement on African soil. A part of me wonders how much of the decision was made taking into account how this might look to the wider community given our history and so forth.

However my only concern is for what I regard as unnecessary use of the vuvuzela. By unnecessary I am referring to the 6am vuvuzela use when others are clearly trying to catch an extra 5 minutes of sleep before work. I cannot confirm this but I’m sure vuvuzelas have been taken everywhere from the braai at Tsano’s house, to the club and other such celebratory functions. Let us all remember that there is a time and place for the vuvuzela – let us at least agree on that. I kindly urge us all to be considerate and remember that there are others in the community who may not share our enthusiasm for the game or indeed the infamous vuvuzela, especially at 6am when others are clearly trying to catch an extra 5 minutes of sleep before work.