Saturday 19 November 2022

SAIDI KANDA – VOICE OF TANZANIAN AND EAST AFRICAN ORIGINAL MUSIC

 


There is a reason we promote lions that climb trees in Lake Manyara. There is a reason countries have their own beloved songs. There are many reasons why tourists pay lots of money to go see Kangaroos in Australia or Moshi to scale Mount Kilimanjaro. And it is justified why we should pause and pay attention to a Tanzanian band called Mvula Mandondo Tolekaa. If you don't know what it means, please !Keep on reading. 


SUALA LA UVAAJI MIKANDA KATIKA MAGARI LASISITIZWA ULAYA


Mara ya kwanza kuvaa mkanda katika gari ilikuwa nilipopewa lifti  na Mzungu mmoja miaka ya Sabini. Kipindi hicho tuliwaita weupe, walami. Sijui neno lilitokea wapi. Ila yupo jamaa aliyefasiri kuwa “mlami” ilitokana na “lami” yaani barabara safi, isiyo ya matope, makorongo, udongo au mchanga. Barabara iliyowekwa lami ikawa ya Kizungu zungu. Na enzi hizo, walami waliangaliwa kama watu walioendelea. Si tu kitabia pia kiteknolojia. Ukiwa na mlami, unaulizwa maswali. Kakupa nini? Kakupeleka wapi, mlami? Atakupeleka mtoni? Yaani, utofauti.


Thursday 5 May 2022

WHAT THE LEGENDARY ACTOR SIDNEY POITIER TAUGHT US

 


Born after 1990?

Well. The Bahamas born legendary actor, Sidney Poitier might not be familiar. He died last week aged 94. Poitier is among most significant black players of human history. We are speaking of Hollywood films, theatre and acting. Therefore anyone studying to be in that profession will surely stumble across Sidney Poitier's name.

Poitier as a Young Artist.  Pic Reelrundown


Sunday 20 September 2020

THE PARADOX OF BEING YOUNG TODAY

The other day I found myself surrounded by chums and colleagues and friends and strangers too. Thirty years ago this would not have caused me to write a column about the occasion. However in August 2020 we were ALL PUZZLED MALES.

Sunday 17 March 2019

MARADHI YA FIGO NA FAIDA ZA KUFUNGA KULA- 4



Maradhi ya figo yamezidi sana kwa watu weusi, seuze Watanzania.
 Majuma mawili yaliyopita tulimpoteza Mtanzania maarufu sana kwa ugonjwa huu. Ni muhimu kujadili kwanini figo linaendelea kuwa tatizo kubwa kwetu.
Makala tatu zilizopita zimeongelea ulaji wa Saladi, mazoezi na kufunga kama njia za kujali figo, ini, moyo, ubongo,nk. Tumeambiwa  matumizi HOLELA ya dawa za kuzuia maumivu  changia tatizo au pia fadhaa (“stress”) dhalilisha figo.
Wiki iliyopita tulikumbushana kuwa kufunga  si tu Ramadhani au Uislamu.Tulitazama faida zake ikiwepo kupunguza unene, maradhi, kuupumzisha mwili na uwezekano wa kuwa na maisha marefu.
Tulitazama aina ya kwanza ya ufungaji, yaani kunywa  maji ( kidogo kidogo kwa wastani wa saa 36-72).

KISWAHILI CHETU KINADIDIMIZWA NA KUPANDISHWA NA NANI?


Nilimhoji Mkenya mmoja kwa kipindi  cha Kwa Simu Toka London. Jina nitalihifadhi kwa sasa. 
“Nikiwa mdogo sikupenda kabisa kwetu Kenya tulivyolazimishwa kujifunza Kiingereza.  Tulichapwa...”
Nikasema ndiyo maana Kenya na  Waafrika wengine huzungumza Kiingereza  ( na lugha zingine za Kizungu ) kwa ufasaha sana.
“Lakini nilipofika hapa Uingereza nilishangaa au tuseme nikajifunza. Waingereza wanaipenda sana lugha yao.  Huongea tofauti na sisi tunavyoongea. Ukitaka uraia wa Uingereza lazima ujue Kiingereza sawasawa.  Wanakithamini Kiingereza. Majina, barabara, shule, serikali, muziki,magazeti, vitabu, kila kitu.  Hawatumii lugha nyingine. Hawakidunishi. Wala hawakichanganyi na lugha nyingine. Nikatafakari. Ndipo nikaanza kuifikiria Tanzania...”
Akadai miaka mingi amependa sana msimamo wa Watanzania.
  “Zipo nchi kumi na moja zinazungumza Kiswahili. Lakini chimbuko la Kiswahili ni Tanzania. Hata wengine tukijidai, hatuifikii Tanzania...”
Mara, mhojiwa akapaaza sauti.