Kibera

So I was in Nairobi a couple of days ago and for part of my very brief city tour I asked to see Kibera, the second largest ‘slum’ in Africa (only after Soweto).

I learned that this was where much of the violence took place during the Kenyan Crisis. They are rebuilding now, as a community, erecting new stalls in places where some were burnt down, repairing the church that was torched, and digging peace gardens in ditches that were full of the rubble.

I also learned something else. The people of Kibera were those that tore up the tracks, which stopped fuel from moving into Uganda. I was angry for a brief moment – transport during that time had been horrendous! But, then I learned why.

Museveni had sent in many Ugandan soldiers to help quell the violence and support the corrupt government. These soldiers had killed many people. Those in Kibera were just fighting back.

Suddenly the fuel doesn’t seem so expensive.

Going UP

Food prices in Uganda are climbing like crazy. Groceries in stores and the markets are getting more expensive. Children’s boarding school fees are going up – meaning fewer are attending school.

And Antonio’s Restaurant have increased the price of their breakfasts from sh 3,000 to sh 3,500.

Doesn’t sound like a lot – but that is a big, big deal.

We are definitely on the edge of a big crisis.

Not to point fingers, but I think we could maybe look at certain drug companies, who engineer genes in seeds that stop growing after one year (*cough* Monsanto *cough*) or economies that literally force the end of the ‘family farm.’

A call to the Western world, we need to stop with our wasteful habits and consume only out share or the rest of the world is going to face a very big problem.

Zanzibar

So approximately 24 hours after my mother told me the best vacation for me would be one with out my cell phone or internet access, we landed on Zanzibar.

About 8 hours after that, the power went out ... yes on the whole island.
Two days later (now) I have found a place that runs their internet cafe on generators - YAY! Internet!

Did I mention that all outgoing text messages and calls from an MTN phonecard (mine) are blocked on Zanzibar.

For two days my Mom got her wish and I was twitchy.
Feeling better now and more to come on the Spice Isle later.

On Safari

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my! Okay, well there were no tigers or bears on the Serengeti, but there were lions, and zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, elephants, a cheetah, and a leopard.

EBB to JRO via where?

Today I flew Air Uganda from Entebbe, Uganda, to Arusha, Tanzania – in the least direct way possible. As we were passing Mt. Kilimanjaro the stewardess announced we would be landing in Dar-es-Salaam.

I checked my ticket. It said JRO. JRO was Kilimanjaro right? Why was I flying over the airport to Dar?

I figured maybe she meant JRO and said Dar by accident. She didn’t. We were first flying to Dar, on the coast, then back to Kilimanjaro. It was the long way round. Apparently more cost effective for them, but someone should have mentioned it when I bought the tickets.

I think my heart is beating normally again now.

'Rock with Akon' Concert

On Friday night we ‘Rocked with Akon.’ The American-Senegalese singer was two weeks late, but he eventually arrived, and rocked he did.

After he managed to skip two of the cel-tel sponsored performances in Kampala, I didn’t have a lot of respect, but he forced me to gain it back and more. Not only did he perform for at least an hour and a half, he crowd surfed, battled random fans that made it to the stage (past some scary looking security), and he was talented.

At one point while crawling over fans hands during something he called Unity, he was pulled down, and disappeared. The spotlights were looking for him, the music stopped, and the security could be heard yelling.

That’s it – I thought when they found him again – show’s over. But he got right back on stage and kept performing, then went into the crowd and did it again.

The whole night was like that – the Nigerian brothers P-Square sent the crowds screaming and cheering for more, Ugandan Bobbi Wine asked for a minute of silence to remember 20 kids that died in a school fire two weeks ago, and Uganda’s Chameleon climbed the rigging.

As Chameleon swung from the rafters and danced high above the stage, I managed to get out “they’d never be allowed to do that in North America” between my cheering.

It was a night to remember

An Airport at Entebbe

I am still alive - sorry about the lack of posting. My mom has arrived for a visit and I am really enjoying the chance to catch up with her.

I'll let you know something I have learned through. When I first arrived in Kampala, shortly before CHOGM, I came in through a barn like building at the airport. I thought that was the airport.

I have since learned there is an actual airport with walkways, conveyor belts and real immigration windows. Apparently the renovations taking place for CHOGM had shut the main terminal down the day I arrived.

So there you go. There is an actual airport in Entebbe.

Enough Said

I know I talk about how corrupt the Kampala taxi drivers are, but I’m not sure if I have explained the condition of said taxis well enough.

Now I don’t have to. My favourite cartoonist Zapiro, from South Africa’s Mail and Guardian, has done it for me.