Last Saturday I spent an hour at the park with my friend's eight year old son and made a wonderful connection with my inner child - I'm still high on account of all the endorphins released.
I walked alongside him, while tossing a football, as he rode his scooter the short distance from his house to the park. We had a kickabout initially and I took full advantage of the wind to whack the ball a fair distance, whooping with delight whenever I managed to kick the ball beyond him. We then moved onto the swings and I pushed him to a nice height before settling into the swing next to his and using my telescopic legs to build up a huge momentum. The volume of whoops increased as I swung higher and higher but then, fearing that I may go over the bar (I was swinging that high) the adult in me put a dampener on things and slowed the swing down. I let him return the favour on a stand-up see-saw (we used to sit on them back in the day). We then scrambled up the climbing frame and he demonstrated a neat move that involved him leaping off his scooter, mid-run, onto the climbing frame. Then it was back to the swings where I taught him how to build up the momentum for himself - he got upto a good height. He left me on the swings while he whizzed around the playground on his scooter then he abandoned the scooter to play basketball with two guys from his school. He was on the side with the extra man so I decided to combine "officiating" with riding the scooter (I will always multi-task when I can). The team of two failed to make their extra man count and when, at last, the team of one made a basket along with numerous basketball violations (double dribble, travelling etc), I decided to bring a halt to proceedings as our hour in the park drew to a close.
K, if I promise to tone it down, can we do it again next week?!
Tuesday 27 March 2007
Monday 26 March 2007
Mmm
Now this is one for the record books, India and Pakistan are out of the Cricket World Cup - I wonder what the odds on that happening were!! The murder of Bob Woolmer goes to show just how brazen the people behind match fixing are. If only Kenya had cloned Steve Tikolo - he posted a sparkling 76 runs until he was bowled out by Freddie Flintoff. Alas his efforts were not matched by the other members of the Kenya team and unlike four years ago, Kenya won't be participating in the Super 8. Australia beat South Africa, but both teams had already qualified for the next stages. Congrats to Bangladesh and Ireland for upsetting the proverbial apple cart. I am going to go for a West Indies vs South Africa final, with the former prevailing on a tidal wave of home support and Brian Charles Lara riding off into the Caribbean sunset on the back of a World Cup triumph on home soil.
Tiger Woods has certainly dealt with whatever it was that was distracting him last week as his win yesterday shows. It's hard to see who will stop him from winning another green jacket at Augusta. For the manner in which he wins, he's by far and away the best athlete on the planet in my eyes.
Didn't realise the Miami tournament runs for 2 weeks, but that hasn't changed my predictions ie El Pirata (on account of his clothes and swashbuckling style of play) aka The Spanish Matador to win the men's title and V to win the women's.
Pourquoi?! ¿¡Por qué!? Perché?! Why?! How is it possible to turn so called world class players such as Rio Ferdinand, Owen Hargreaves, Shrek, StevieMe into a motley crew, inhibited by fear. I am not going to pull any punches, because England were abysmal against Israel - they played as a collection of disparate individuals. Frank Lampard should be dropped, and not just because of his delusions of grandeur, and replaced by Joey Barton. Why is that StevieMe who brought Liverpool back from the brink against AC Milan on that memorable night in Istanbul is unable to produce similar barnstorming performances in an England shirt? There's something criminal about the tactics England employ that stifles a talent like StevieMe. Makelele makes Frank Lampard look good - there's no other explanation. Shrek plays with a fearlessness alongside Twinkle Toes when he's playing for his club, but now at the ripe old age of 21, he too has succumbed to the malaise that afflicts so called world class players when they don an England shirt. Second choice Steve MUST GO because he does not know how to harness the vast array of talent at his disposal and why, oh why does he persist in picking the donkey that is Phil Neville?! As for deploying Aaron Lennon on the left, qu'elle horreur!! He dispenses with David Beckham who scored 3 of England's 6 goals in last year's world cup and made 2 others and then people wonder why England have failed to score in their last 5 matches, matches Beckham didn't play. Second choice Steve is not man enough to recall Beckham, notwithstanding the fact that he's currently injured and I think it wouldn't be such a bad thing if England failed to qualify for next year's European championships coz Second choice Steve would be sacked - that qualifies as short-term pain for long term gain in my book.
Agent provocateur supplied the corner from which Kanu scored to give a Nigeria a win and get Berti Vogts reign off to a winning start. Nigeria have a point to prove after failing to qualify for last year's World Cup and then seeing themselves usurped by Ivory Coast as Africa's premier footballing nation. I expect Berti Vogts to coach with teutonic efficiency and hopefully without any interference from the NFA. How Togo can axe their goal scoring machine because he rightly questions why the players have not received their World Cup bonuses is beyond me. The Togo fans who have issued death threats against him are mindless and if he does follow through on on his promise to quit, Togo will be the losers.
Iran has shown that she's not above sabre-rattling herself and it looks as if it will be down to the women to sort out Zimbabwe.
Till next week.
Tiger Woods has certainly dealt with whatever it was that was distracting him last week as his win yesterday shows. It's hard to see who will stop him from winning another green jacket at Augusta. For the manner in which he wins, he's by far and away the best athlete on the planet in my eyes.
Didn't realise the Miami tournament runs for 2 weeks, but that hasn't changed my predictions ie El Pirata (on account of his clothes and swashbuckling style of play) aka The Spanish Matador to win the men's title and V to win the women's.
Pourquoi?! ¿¡Por qué!? Perché?! Why?! How is it possible to turn so called world class players such as Rio Ferdinand, Owen Hargreaves, Shrek, StevieMe into a motley crew, inhibited by fear. I am not going to pull any punches, because England were abysmal against Israel - they played as a collection of disparate individuals. Frank Lampard should be dropped, and not just because of his delusions of grandeur, and replaced by Joey Barton. Why is that StevieMe who brought Liverpool back from the brink against AC Milan on that memorable night in Istanbul is unable to produce similar barnstorming performances in an England shirt? There's something criminal about the tactics England employ that stifles a talent like StevieMe. Makelele makes Frank Lampard look good - there's no other explanation. Shrek plays with a fearlessness alongside Twinkle Toes when he's playing for his club, but now at the ripe old age of 21, he too has succumbed to the malaise that afflicts so called world class players when they don an England shirt. Second choice Steve MUST GO because he does not know how to harness the vast array of talent at his disposal and why, oh why does he persist in picking the donkey that is Phil Neville?! As for deploying Aaron Lennon on the left, qu'elle horreur!! He dispenses with David Beckham who scored 3 of England's 6 goals in last year's world cup and made 2 others and then people wonder why England have failed to score in their last 5 matches, matches Beckham didn't play. Second choice Steve is not man enough to recall Beckham, notwithstanding the fact that he's currently injured and I think it wouldn't be such a bad thing if England failed to qualify for next year's European championships coz Second choice Steve would be sacked - that qualifies as short-term pain for long term gain in my book.
Agent provocateur supplied the corner from which Kanu scored to give a Nigeria a win and get Berti Vogts reign off to a winning start. Nigeria have a point to prove after failing to qualify for last year's World Cup and then seeing themselves usurped by Ivory Coast as Africa's premier footballing nation. I expect Berti Vogts to coach with teutonic efficiency and hopefully without any interference from the NFA. How Togo can axe their goal scoring machine because he rightly questions why the players have not received their World Cup bonuses is beyond me. The Togo fans who have issued death threats against him are mindless and if he does follow through on on his promise to quit, Togo will be the losers.
Iran has shown that she's not above sabre-rattling herself and it looks as if it will be down to the women to sort out Zimbabwe.
Till next week.
Saturday 24 March 2007
Why everyone should participate in sport
"Sport is a metaphor for life" is a well known maxim even though I would contend that it's slightly apocryphal.
Participating in team sports teaches us the following:
Participating in team sports teaches us the following:
- you are only as good as your weakest link, unless of course you are Diego Armando Maradona
- you succeed together, you fail together
- there can only be one winner
- the team must be greater than the sum of its parts (witness the USA's failure at last years World Basketball Championship despite the presence of King James and Melo and England's abysmal showing in last year's World Cup despite having David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves)
- weather has a part to play (reference the Duckworth-Lewis rule in one day cricket)
- your success can hinge on someone else's failure eg high jump
- mental strength is paramount (reference V's Wimbledon success in 2005 and Jana Novotna's Wimbledon meltdown in 1993)
- everything for the most part, depends on the individual
- there can only be one winner
Friday 23 March 2007
Double Standards
69 to 17 in any sport would be considered a rout,
but those numbers represent respectively the UN resolutions Israel & Iraq flout*.
What's more, Israel's been flouting UN resolution 242 for 30 years,
so Iraq's 12 year violation of UN resolution 1441 still needs room to breathe.
Apparently it's OK for Israel to have WMD's because it's a democracy,
but then Dubya would have us believe in his government's legitimacy.
The only difference between the US & Zimbabwe's election is that in the former no one died,
however in both, the opposition's right to vote was denied.
So pray tell me, how is one to grade a dictatorship,
because evidently there's some kind of sliding scale that is used in real politik?!
After all, according to the west Kim Jong-il is a dictator,
but maybe the fact he's showing off his nuclear armoury is a factor,
in why the US won't be invading North Korea anytime soon
and more pertinently there isn't any oil in the land of the blue moon.
Some would have us believe this war is morally right,
to save ordinary Iraqi's from their terrible plight,
but what about ordinary Zimbabwe's in the throes of a Mugabe induced famine?
You've got to be joking, African lives don't matter in the grand scheme of things!
*Written in the run up to the illegal invasion of Iraq in early 2003
but those numbers represent respectively the UN resolutions Israel & Iraq flout*.
What's more, Israel's been flouting UN resolution 242 for 30 years,
so Iraq's 12 year violation of UN resolution 1441 still needs room to breathe.
Apparently it's OK for Israel to have WMD's because it's a democracy,
but then Dubya would have us believe in his government's legitimacy.
The only difference between the US & Zimbabwe's election is that in the former no one died,
however in both, the opposition's right to vote was denied.
So pray tell me, how is one to grade a dictatorship,
because evidently there's some kind of sliding scale that is used in real politik?!
After all, according to the west Kim Jong-il is a dictator,
but maybe the fact he's showing off his nuclear armoury is a factor,
in why the US won't be invading North Korea anytime soon
and more pertinently there isn't any oil in the land of the blue moon.
Some would have us believe this war is morally right,
to save ordinary Iraqi's from their terrible plight,
but what about ordinary Zimbabwe's in the throes of a Mugabe induced famine?
You've got to be joking, African lives don't matter in the grand scheme of things!
*Written in the run up to the illegal invasion of Iraq in early 2003
Il Duomo
I first caught sight of her as I ascended the metro steps
and immediately marvelled at the work of her architect.
And his esteem grew in my estimation as I approached her,
until up close and personal, I was completely bowled over.
My first visit was fleeting
as the onset of darkness curtailed our meeting.
So in the morning I awoke to renew our acquaintance,
to revel in her grandeur and unquantifiable magnificence.
Initially I contented myself with capturing her beauty from the outside,
taking pictures from the front, the back and the sides.
And when at last I entered her hallowed portals,
I had to pose the question, was she built by mere mortals?
I was overwhelmed, I couldn't believe a stone edifice could move me so much
and as anyone who knows me can vouch, I'm not a soft touch.
I lit a candle for my mother at a shrine to the Virgin Mary
it seemed the appropriate thing to do, not something out of the ordinary.
They were areas I didn't access because a service was taking place,
but I accepted this with considerably good grace.
My trip to Milan was fleeting, just under two days,
but her beauty and architecture will stay with me always.
and immediately marvelled at the work of her architect.
And his esteem grew in my estimation as I approached her,
until up close and personal, I was completely bowled over.
My first visit was fleeting
as the onset of darkness curtailed our meeting.
So in the morning I awoke to renew our acquaintance,
to revel in her grandeur and unquantifiable magnificence.
Initially I contented myself with capturing her beauty from the outside,
taking pictures from the front, the back and the sides.
And when at last I entered her hallowed portals,
I had to pose the question, was she built by mere mortals?
I was overwhelmed, I couldn't believe a stone edifice could move me so much
and as anyone who knows me can vouch, I'm not a soft touch.
I lit a candle for my mother at a shrine to the Virgin Mary
it seemed the appropriate thing to do, not something out of the ordinary.
They were areas I didn't access because a service was taking place,
but I accepted this with considerably good grace.
My trip to Milan was fleeting, just under two days,
but her beauty and architecture will stay with me always.
To A Kindred Spirit
JDJ said, 'I would rather grow old all alone than ever have another lover'
'You must learn to water your spiritual garden' is one more pearl of wisdom - here's another,
'You need to remember the love that lies deep within ourselves'
'You have to want it so it starts with you and no-one else.'
So here's to us, the girls who won't compromise,
who's intellect and intelligence are not inconsiderable in size.
And when we look back when we're old and grey,
may our stance of today not have changed in any way.
'You must learn to water your spiritual garden' is one more pearl of wisdom - here's another,
'You need to remember the love that lies deep within ourselves'
'You have to want it so it starts with you and no-one else.'
So here's to us, the girls who won't compromise,
who's intellect and intelligence are not inconsiderable in size.
And when we look back when we're old and grey,
may our stance of today not have changed in any way.
Joyeux Anniversaire
Ma chérie
Sur l'occasion de ton anniversaire,
j'espère que tu recevras beaucoup des cadeux.
Amuses-toi bien demain.
Meilleurs voeux.
Ton cousin
Sur l'occasion de ton anniversaire,
j'espère que tu recevras beaucoup des cadeux.
Amuses-toi bien demain.
Meilleurs voeux.
Ton cousin
Thursday 22 March 2007
Memories
Hold on to the memories
of those who have gone
because while the grief is still raw,
that's all one has to live on.
Their smile, conversation or simply their presence,
are sorely missed, along with their effervescence.
So until we meet up again in the afterlife,
we'll cherish their memories as we try to get by.
AndrewB I still walk with my nose in the air
Jolo your ability to light up a room is what I remember most
Wednesday 21 March 2007
DELUDED!!
Dear Tony Blair
You are morally and ethically bankrupt, but you have heard those words before as I used them in a letter I wrote to you back in 2004. A letter which you can't have read otherwise you (read Downing Street) would not have sent me the standard postcard in response.
You are a war criminal and I believe that I'll see you stand before the International Criminal Court in my lifetime (2010 seems a good year to prosecute). You took Britain to war on a lie. You perpetuated the myth that Iraq could launch WMD in 45 minutes and when David Kelley had the temerity to point out that you were talking a load of bollocks, he was silenced.
I watched you on Sunday AM a few weeks ago and when you said that it wasn't British or American (no acknowledgement of the other nations in the misappropriately named coalition of the willing) soldiers who were killing the Iraqis in response to a question posed by Andrew Marr as to whether Britain bore some responsibility for the chaos gripping Iraq, I realised just how deluded you really are.
In the run up to your illegal invasion of Iraq, you said that Sadaam posed a threat to Britain, yet another one of your mistruths. It's now coming to light that you steadfastly ignored all evidence to the contrary.
I, for one, believe The Trial of Tony Blair will come to pass and unlike you, I'm not deluded.
See you at the Hague in 2010.
You are morally and ethically bankrupt, but you have heard those words before as I used them in a letter I wrote to you back in 2004. A letter which you can't have read otherwise you (read Downing Street) would not have sent me the standard postcard in response.
You are a war criminal and I believe that I'll see you stand before the International Criminal Court in my lifetime (2010 seems a good year to prosecute). You took Britain to war on a lie. You perpetuated the myth that Iraq could launch WMD in 45 minutes and when David Kelley had the temerity to point out that you were talking a load of bollocks, he was silenced.
I watched you on Sunday AM a few weeks ago and when you said that it wasn't British or American (no acknowledgement of the other nations in the misappropriately named coalition of the willing) soldiers who were killing the Iraqis in response to a question posed by Andrew Marr as to whether Britain bore some responsibility for the chaos gripping Iraq, I realised just how deluded you really are.
In the run up to your illegal invasion of Iraq, you said that Sadaam posed a threat to Britain, yet another one of your mistruths. It's now coming to light that you steadfastly ignored all evidence to the contrary.
I, for one, believe The Trial of Tony Blair will come to pass and unlike you, I'm not deluded.
See you at the Hague in 2010.
Monday 19 March 2007
Mmm
Didn't I tell you that Lewis Hamilton was one to watch? I bet the odds on him winning the Formula 1 championship have now been slashed.
As predicted, the Spanish Matador won in Indian Wells. Rafa to take his good form to Miami and I'm backing V to do the business on the women's side.
Well it looks as if impending fatherhood is distracting Tiger Woods. However, come the majors I fully expect him to continue his prodigious winning streak as he relentlessly marches on towards his Holy Grail.
Liverpool are concentrating their energies on winning the European Cup as the worst place we can finish in the Premiership is 4th. Titi less Arsenal will concentrate on finishing third and use the remaining games to blood more of their starlets. It will be interesting to see if Chelski can catch the team from further up the M62, especially since Shevchenko has started to find his feet and Didier Drogba shows no signs of letting up. Admittedly, Twinkle Toes is on fire and Shrek is playing well too. The Welsh Wizard is making a significant contribution as well.
Wow, IRELAND!! That was a well deserved victory on St. Patrick's Day no less. Then Bangladesh put paid to India, the fearlessness of youth coming to the fore. Now lets see if Kenya can put paid to England, led by their inspirational captain, Steve Tikolo. South Africa are looking good and the West Indies should beat Zimbabwe and qualify for the Super 8.
Zimbabwe's state sponsored thugs still cannot see the writing on the wall. But it's good to see the AU and African statesman like Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania voicing their disquiet along with bloggers and the African press. South Africa's condemnation while welcome, is way overdue.
Till next week.
As predicted, the Spanish Matador won in Indian Wells. Rafa to take his good form to Miami and I'm backing V to do the business on the women's side.
Well it looks as if impending fatherhood is distracting Tiger Woods. However, come the majors I fully expect him to continue his prodigious winning streak as he relentlessly marches on towards his Holy Grail.
Liverpool are concentrating their energies on winning the European Cup as the worst place we can finish in the Premiership is 4th. Titi less Arsenal will concentrate on finishing third and use the remaining games to blood more of their starlets. It will be interesting to see if Chelski can catch the team from further up the M62, especially since Shevchenko has started to find his feet and Didier Drogba shows no signs of letting up. Admittedly, Twinkle Toes is on fire and Shrek is playing well too. The Welsh Wizard is making a significant contribution as well.
Wow, IRELAND!! That was a well deserved victory on St. Patrick's Day no less. Then Bangladesh put paid to India, the fearlessness of youth coming to the fore. Now lets see if Kenya can put paid to England, led by their inspirational captain, Steve Tikolo. South Africa are looking good and the West Indies should beat Zimbabwe and qualify for the Super 8.
Zimbabwe's state sponsored thugs still cannot see the writing on the wall. But it's good to see the AU and African statesman like Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania voicing their disquiet along with bloggers and the African press. South Africa's condemnation while welcome, is way overdue.
Till next week.
C'est écrit dans les étoiles
A mon avis
Je pense que ce n'est pas un accident mais
le destin pourquoi nous avons rencontrer.
Je suis perdu, mais maintenant, à cause du toi,
je vais tres, tres bien.
Merci beaucoup.
Je t'embrace toujours.
Je pense que ce n'est pas un accident mais
le destin pourquoi nous avons rencontrer.
Je suis perdu, mais maintenant, à cause du toi,
je vais tres, tres bien.
Merci beaucoup.
Je t'embrace toujours.
Sunday 18 March 2007
Ujamaa
Ujamaa is Swahili for familyhood, cooperation and the most renowned proponent of Ujamaa was Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's founding father.
I invoked the spirit of ujamaa in early 2000, in the aftermath of the floods that devastated Mozambique. Mozambique, unlike some other African countries that I won't mention, had exercised good governance under the leadership of Samora Machel (tragically killed) and his successor, Joaquim Chissano. So I thought Mother Nature was sending out the wrong message when her tears caused extensive flooding in low lying Mozambique.
At the time, I was waiting on the FTC to approve a merger (more like a takeover) between the company I worked for and a British energy behemoth. Once the takeover was complete, I would be out of a job because the behemoth outsourced their IT and the office I worked at would be shutdown.
The seeds of the idea were sewn by someone else, but I saw an opportunity to turn a 100m race*, between myself and my supervisor, into a fundraiser, by getting the other company employees to bet on the outcome of the race, with all the proceeds going to, what was by then, a major international disaster appeal for Mozambique.
There were about 325 employees in that company and while not everybody contributed, in 3 days we had raised over £1000 - we only had a certain window of time to work in. It felt really good depositing a cheque for £1000+ into the account of the Emergency Disaster Appeal fund for Mozambique.
To all those ARCO British employees who helped me invoke the spirit of ujamaa back in 2000, I say now as I did then, asanteni sana (Swahili for thankyou very much).
*As a footnote, I failed to win the race, but the success of the fundraising rendered the outcome of the race irrelevant - I failed successfully
I invoked the spirit of ujamaa in early 2000, in the aftermath of the floods that devastated Mozambique. Mozambique, unlike some other African countries that I won't mention, had exercised good governance under the leadership of Samora Machel (tragically killed) and his successor, Joaquim Chissano. So I thought Mother Nature was sending out the wrong message when her tears caused extensive flooding in low lying Mozambique.
At the time, I was waiting on the FTC to approve a merger (more like a takeover) between the company I worked for and a British energy behemoth. Once the takeover was complete, I would be out of a job because the behemoth outsourced their IT and the office I worked at would be shutdown.
The seeds of the idea were sewn by someone else, but I saw an opportunity to turn a 100m race*, between myself and my supervisor, into a fundraiser, by getting the other company employees to bet on the outcome of the race, with all the proceeds going to, what was by then, a major international disaster appeal for Mozambique.
There were about 325 employees in that company and while not everybody contributed, in 3 days we had raised over £1000 - we only had a certain window of time to work in. It felt really good depositing a cheque for £1000+ into the account of the Emergency Disaster Appeal fund for Mozambique.
To all those ARCO British employees who helped me invoke the spirit of ujamaa back in 2000, I say now as I did then, asanteni sana (Swahili for thankyou very much).
*As a footnote, I failed to win the race, but the success of the fundraising rendered the outcome of the race irrelevant - I failed successfully
Mother's Day
This is going out to the biological mothers, the cyber mothers and the virtual mothers. Or, in other words, those who know they are mothers, those who don't know they are and those who don't know that they don't know that they are (don't worry, I'm extremely lucid).
For the unconditional love that resembles a one way hash function,
for the inherent need to protect that becomes the default option.
For the support, inspiration, encouragement and all the sacrifices made,
we celebrate and venerate you, on this Mother's day.
For the unconditional love that resembles a one way hash function,
for the inherent need to protect that becomes the default option.
For the support, inspiration, encouragement and all the sacrifices made,
we celebrate and venerate you, on this Mother's day.
Friday 16 March 2007
Polyglot
I speak the following languages:
I feel it's important to be able to converse with the natives wherever I go even if it's to ask them in their language whether they speak english, for example
me: pouvez-vous nous aider s'il vous plait?
her: oui
me: ou se trouve Club 79?
her:...............straight ahead.........
me: merci beaucoup a votre l'aide
Bye. Au revoir. Kwaheri. Ciao. Auf wiedhersen. Oveo.
- English (my first language)
- French (assez bien)
- Swahili (mbaya mbovu)
- Italian (un po)
I feel it's important to be able to converse with the natives wherever I go even if it's to ask them in their language whether they speak english, for example
- parlez-vous anglais s'il vous plait?
- unaelewa kizungu?
- parlo inglese por favore?
- habla inglese por favor?
- sprechen ze inglese?
me: pouvez-vous nous aider s'il vous plait?
her: oui
me: ou se trouve Club 79?
her:...............straight ahead.........
me: merci beaucoup a votre l'aide
Bye. Au revoir. Kwaheri. Ciao. Auf wiedhersen. Oveo.
Thursday 15 March 2007
An African lament
If ever there was an example of power corrupting absolutely, Robert Mugabe is it. I don't know what it is about Africa, but if there's one list in which we leave the rest of the world in the shade, it's the list of the so called Big Men. Alphabetised, I give you:
Just as it takes a long time for an oil tanker to change course, South Africa's criticism of Mugabe's heavy handedness was welcome even if it was way overdue.
John Kufour of Ghana called the actions of the Zimbabwean government an embarrassment
Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania made an unscheduled visit to Harare to criticise Mugabe face-to-face
- Sani Abacha - Nigeria
- Idi Amin - Uganda
- Daniel arap Moi - Kenya
- Kamuzu Banda - Malawi
- Omar al-Bashir - Sudan
- Paul Biya - Cameroon
- Felix Houphouet-Boigny - Ivory Coast
- Jean Bedel Bokassa - Central African Republic
- Omar Bongo - Gabon
- Samuel Doe - Liberia
- Gnassingbe Eyadema - Togo
- Muammar al-Gaddafi - Libya
- Hissene Habre - Chad
- Haile Mengistu Mariam - Ethopia
- Hosni Mubarak - Egypt
- Denis Sassou-Nguesso - Congo
- Milton Obote - Uganda
- Mobutu Sese Seko - Zaire now the DRC (the daddy of them all),
- Charles Taylor - Liberia
Even those who started out with noble intentions such as Jomo Kenyatta, Kenneth Kaunda, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kwame Nkrumah, lost their way and clung to power for far too long. If you haven't done something in 10 years, you ain't likely to do it in twenty!!
Africa would be a different place if Patrice Lumumba had not been assassinated with the complicity of the CIA, the Belgian government and a hamstrung UN (plus ca change) - he had the temerity to suggest (at his inauguration speech no less) that the wealth of Zaire's minerals resources belongs to Zaireans. And how much black consciouness would African people have if Steve Biko was alive?
We have to applaud the efforts of Sir Seretse Khama and Quett Masire of Botswana (fortunately for them, the diamonds were discovered after the British had left), Samora Machel of Mozambique and of course, the most venerated African man alive, Nelson Mandela. And of course we acknowledge Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Ahmed Sekou Toure of Guinea, Chris Hani, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo of South Africa
Thabo Mbeki's softly, softly approach to Zimbabwe is BOLLOCKS!! He just needs to turn off the Zimbabwe's electricity supply for a week and Mugabe will come round. Olusegun Obasanjo should be able to exert some influence as well.
Thankfully, Mugabe's time on this earth is drawing to a close.
To my Zimbabwean brethren, stay strong as the days of Mugabe's regime are numbered.
****UPDATE****Just as it takes a long time for an oil tanker to change course, South Africa's criticism of Mugabe's heavy handedness was welcome even if it was way overdue.
John Kufour of Ghana called the actions of the Zimbabwean government an embarrassment
Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania made an unscheduled visit to Harare to criticise Mugabe face-to-face
Wednesday 14 March 2007
Jumping out of a plane.........willingly
Admittedly, if you were to review the video, it may not look as if I was willing, but I was more concerned with falling out of the plane before I was ready to jump!
On July 18 1999, 22ooft (that's approximately 730m for my metric readers) above March in Cambridgeshire, I became the fourth person to exit the 7 seater plane for my static line jump. The first five seconds while I was freefalling are unaccounted for - I can only surmise that my brain shutdown in abject terror! Five seconds is a long time, world class sprinters will have run most of 60m in five seconds. When my parachute opened, I came back from wherever I had gone and took in the English countryside from my lofty perch. I alternated between running (with the wind) and holding (against the wind) using the toggles on the straps of my chute and it was exhilarating. It was a beautiful summer's day and I could see for my miles.
A big white arrow painted on the ground marked the landing spot and from about 200ft (67m), as the ground approached, I locked my knees together and turned against the wind to ensure I hit the ground at the slowest speed possible. As part of our 8 hour training for the jump we had been told to execute a forward roll on hitting the ground and I duly did so. My landing was so good that I was able to play basketball the next day. The only downside was when I somehow managed to get myself entangled in the parachute while folding it up. However the ex-army instructor's grading of my first jump more than made up for it.
Next up, exiting a plane 5000ft (1667m) over the Grand Canyon.
On July 18 1999, 22ooft (that's approximately 730m for my metric readers) above March in Cambridgeshire, I became the fourth person to exit the 7 seater plane for my static line jump. The first five seconds while I was freefalling are unaccounted for - I can only surmise that my brain shutdown in abject terror! Five seconds is a long time, world class sprinters will have run most of 60m in five seconds. When my parachute opened, I came back from wherever I had gone and took in the English countryside from my lofty perch. I alternated between running (with the wind) and holding (against the wind) using the toggles on the straps of my chute and it was exhilarating. It was a beautiful summer's day and I could see for my miles.
A big white arrow painted on the ground marked the landing spot and from about 200ft (67m), as the ground approached, I locked my knees together and turned against the wind to ensure I hit the ground at the slowest speed possible. As part of our 8 hour training for the jump we had been told to execute a forward roll on hitting the ground and I duly did so. My landing was so good that I was able to play basketball the next day. The only downside was when I somehow managed to get myself entangled in the parachute while folding it up. However the ex-army instructor's grading of my first jump more than made up for it.
Next up, exiting a plane 5000ft (1667m) over the Grand Canyon.
Monday 12 March 2007
Mmm*
It looks like the team from further up the M62 will come acropper due to fixture congestion. They've got yet another match to play and with Saha in and out of the treatment room, Larsson gone and Alan Smith not match fit, their reliance on John O'Shea to score the goals will be their undoing. Alas Titi will not grace the park again this season - tant pis!! Hopefully, he will come back next season ready to lead his swashbuckling cavaliers to even greater heights.
World Cup Cricket has kicked off in the Caribbean - what a treat!! I fancy England and South Africa to do well and I hope Brian Lara can get the fitting finale that his cricketing career deserves.
Wow!! Didn't England play well against France at Twickenham?! I think Catty should remain captain and Toby Flood should start as number 10, even if Johnny Wilkinson is fit. The fearlessness of youth was typefied by Shane Geraghty's performance.
So the Swiss Maestro has finally been beaten by a guy who was unjustly convicted. I fancy the Spanish Matador to contest the Indian Wells final against The Kid, with the former prevailing.
This had me stitches, but it's quite telling.
*Mmm - Musings of a Failure's Monday Musings (a bit of a mouthful, hence the abbreviation)
World Cup Cricket has kicked off in the Caribbean - what a treat!! I fancy England and South Africa to do well and I hope Brian Lara can get the fitting finale that his cricketing career deserves.
Wow!! Didn't England play well against France at Twickenham?! I think Catty should remain captain and Toby Flood should start as number 10, even if Johnny Wilkinson is fit. The fearlessness of youth was typefied by Shane Geraghty's performance.
So the Swiss Maestro has finally been beaten by a guy who was unjustly convicted. I fancy the Spanish Matador to contest the Indian Wells final against The Kid, with the former prevailing.
This had me stitches, but it's quite telling.
*Mmm - Musings of a Failure's Monday Musings (a bit of a mouthful, hence the abbreviation)
Friday 9 March 2007
The French Impressionist and the Dutch Master
I discovered that Thierry "Titi" Henry wears the number 14 shirt in homage to the player he admires most, Johan Cruyff. For Titi think Monet, and for Cruyff, think Rembrandt. They have elevated the execution of their sport to a higher art form, and are not merely players, but artistes - isn't it high time FIFA recognised aestheticism as a merit in its own right?!
While Titi is missing a Champions League medal, Johan Cruyff has never won a World Cup medal, after the Dutch narrowly lost to what was then West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final. Der Kaiser famously said about Cruyff, "He was a better player, but I won the World Cup."
At club level, Titi came into his own at Arsenal, where he has broken virtually every club scoring record while for Cruyff, it was at Barcelona where he not only won La Liga and the European Cup as a player, but later on, as manager, won the league title for four consecutive years, 1991-1994, and the European Cup. He belongs to a select few who have won the European Cup as a player and a manager.
Both Henry and Cruyff were instrumental in getting their respective countries, France and Holland to World Cup finals. In Henry's case, he top scored for France in their 1998 World Cup triumph - he matched this feat at the Euro 2000 Championship, which France also won. At the FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006, he was instrumental in France's 3-1 defeat of Spain, and against Brazil, converted Zizou's free kick to put paid to the reigning World Cup holders. Despite losing the 1974 World Cup final, Cruyff won the Golden Ball, for best player in the tournament. He famously boycotted the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, in protest at the military coup that had taken place 2 years earlier, despite having played a significant role in helping Holland qualify for the tournament.
Cruyff patented the Cruyff turn. This could become Henry's signature move, but then again maybe not as it hasn't become part of mainstream viewing which means too few people know about it. If there's another player out there whose exploits can evoke a spontaneous operatic aria from a watching commentator, I would like to know.
While Titi is missing a Champions League medal, Johan Cruyff has never won a World Cup medal, after the Dutch narrowly lost to what was then West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final. Der Kaiser famously said about Cruyff, "He was a better player, but I won the World Cup."
At club level, Titi came into his own at Arsenal, where he has broken virtually every club scoring record while for Cruyff, it was at Barcelona where he not only won La Liga and the European Cup as a player, but later on, as manager, won the league title for four consecutive years, 1991-1994, and the European Cup. He belongs to a select few who have won the European Cup as a player and a manager.
Both Henry and Cruyff were instrumental in getting their respective countries, France and Holland to World Cup finals. In Henry's case, he top scored for France in their 1998 World Cup triumph - he matched this feat at the Euro 2000 Championship, which France also won. At the FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006, he was instrumental in France's 3-1 defeat of Spain, and against Brazil, converted Zizou's free kick to put paid to the reigning World Cup holders. Despite losing the 1974 World Cup final, Cruyff won the Golden Ball, for best player in the tournament. He famously boycotted the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, in protest at the military coup that had taken place 2 years earlier, despite having played a significant role in helping Holland qualify for the tournament.
Cruyff patented the Cruyff turn. This could become Henry's signature move, but then again maybe not as it hasn't become part of mainstream viewing which means too few people know about it. If there's another player out there whose exploits can evoke a spontaneous operatic aria from a watching commentator, I would like to know.
Mother Nature is UPSET!!
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and Mother Nature is feeling very scorned at the moment. She let us know of her extreme displeasure with us when she stamped her foot and within five minutes, had extinguished the lives of over a quarter of a million of us, in December 2004. The following year, she wagged her finger and wreaked havoc for the residents of the low lying New Orleans and Biloxi.
It's quite scary to think how puny we really are and despite all of our technological advances, mankind is as powerless against the forces of nature as a fly caught in a spider's web.
Mankind's unbridled exploitation of her natural resources, with scant disregard for the environment, as witnessed by the environmental disaster that is the Niger Delta and the deforestation of the Amazon, has her SERIOUSLY hacked off.
I think initiatives like this do mollify her somewhat, but I wouldn't like to be around when she decides to stamp both feet.
It's quite scary to think how puny we really are and despite all of our technological advances, mankind is as powerless against the forces of nature as a fly caught in a spider's web.
Mankind's unbridled exploitation of her natural resources, with scant disregard for the environment, as witnessed by the environmental disaster that is the Niger Delta and the deforestation of the Amazon, has her SERIOUSLY hacked off.
I think initiatives like this do mollify her somewhat, but I wouldn't like to be around when she decides to stamp both feet.
Thursday 8 March 2007
International Women's Day
Today is International Women's Day and while women have made great strides, a lot still remains to be done as evidenced by this. Asia leads the way when we comes to the appointment of women to senior positions. Interestingly, Asia also leads the way when it comes to electing women to the top political job:
However, for the vast majority of Africa's female population who live in grinding poverty, the achievements of their illustrious sisters have largely gone unnoticed as the daily battle for survival is foremost in their thoughts.
Msichana wa Afrika (African Girl) is an anthemic song by Divas of the Nile (DON) that seeks to address the plight of Africa's girl children by paying the fees of those girls who are academically bright, but cannot afford to go to school. Msichana wa Afrika* is an example of Afro Fusion and it will let you get in touch with your inherent rythm.
*the song lasts for about 4 mins and starts playing 44 seconds into the broadcast celebrating International Women's Day from an African perspective
- Bangladesh - Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed,
- India - Indira Gandhi,
- Indonesia - Megawati Sukarnoputri,
- Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto,
- Philippines - Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
- Sri Lanka - Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrike Bandaranaike Kumarutunge
- Britain - Margaret Thatcher
- Ireland - Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese
- Norway - Gro Harlem Brundtland
However, for the vast majority of Africa's female population who live in grinding poverty, the achievements of their illustrious sisters have largely gone unnoticed as the daily battle for survival is foremost in their thoughts.
Msichana wa Afrika (African Girl) is an anthemic song by Divas of the Nile (DON) that seeks to address the plight of Africa's girl children by paying the fees of those girls who are academically bright, but cannot afford to go to school. Msichana wa Afrika* is an example of Afro Fusion and it will let you get in touch with your inherent rythm.
*the song lasts for about 4 mins and starts playing 44 seconds into the broadcast celebrating International Women's Day from an African perspective
Wednesday 7 March 2007
A classic example of a successful fail
Last night, Liverpool failed to beat Barcelona at Anfield, but as they had succeeded against Barca in the Nou Camp, 2 weeks previously, Liverpool successfully failed.
You could say this is my Eureka moment.
You could say this is my Eureka moment.
My African Select XI
In interests of promoting pan-Africanism, here's my Select XI made up of African players currently plying their trade so please do not nominate the likes of Kalusha Bwalya, Stephen Keshi, Abedi Pele, George Weah who have long since retired. Also, I have taken their current form into consideration.
Goalkeeper
Richard Kingston (Ghana, Ankaraspor)
Defense
Mahamadou Diarra (Mali, Real Madrid)
Taiye Taiwo (Nigeria, Marseille) - African Young Player of the Year, 2006
Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast, Arsenal)
Midfield
Stephen Appiah (Ghana, Fenerbahce)
Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea)
Mohamed Sissoko (Mali, Liverpool)
Strikers
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Arsenal)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea) - African Player of the Year, 2006
Frederick Kanoute (Mali, Sevilla)
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria, Portsmouth)
Coach
Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia)
Substitutes
Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast, Arsenal)
Benni McCarthy (South Africa, Blackburn)
Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria, Lille)
Tony Sylva (Senegal, Lille)
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria, Newcastle)
Over to you.
Goalkeeper
Richard Kingston (Ghana, Ankaraspor)
Defense
Mahamadou Diarra (Mali, Real Madrid)
Taiye Taiwo (Nigeria, Marseille) - African Young Player of the Year, 2006
Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast, Arsenal)
Midfield
Stephen Appiah (Ghana, Fenerbahce)
Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea)
Mohamed Sissoko (Mali, Liverpool)
Strikers
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Arsenal)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea) - African Player of the Year, 2006
Frederick Kanoute (Mali, Sevilla)
Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria, Portsmouth)
Coach
Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia)
Substitutes
Emmanuel Eboue (Ivory Coast, Arsenal)
Benni McCarthy (South Africa, Blackburn)
Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria, Lille)
Tony Sylva (Senegal, Lille)
Obafemi Martins (Nigeria, Newcastle)
Over to you.
Tuesday 6 March 2007
Happy FIFTIETH!!
To my Ghanaian brethren,
I wish to extend my warmest felicitations on this auspicious occasion of your independence jubilee.
At this time, we shall join you in remembering Kwame Nkrumah and his pan Africanism ideal and celebrate the progress Ghana has made under the leadership of President John Kufour. We applaud the Black Stars' performance in Germany last year, where without the engine, that is Michael Essien, you took the game to Brazil.
Amidst all the celebrations and festivities, it may be hard to take a reality check, but should you care to do so, you may wonder why it is that Ghana is not as prosperous as Malaysia, given they both gained their independence in 1957.
I wish to extend my warmest felicitations on this auspicious occasion of your independence jubilee.
At this time, we shall join you in remembering Kwame Nkrumah and his pan Africanism ideal and celebrate the progress Ghana has made under the leadership of President John Kufour. We applaud the Black Stars' performance in Germany last year, where without the engine, that is Michael Essien, you took the game to Brazil.
Amidst all the celebrations and festivities, it may be hard to take a reality check, but should you care to do so, you may wonder why it is that Ghana is not as prosperous as Malaysia, given they both gained their independence in 1957.
Sunday 4 March 2007
Sins/Virtues of our forebears
Action
An amateur genealogical researcher by the name of William Reitwiesner decided he would selectively examine Barack Obama's lineage on his mother side. He unearthed the following nugget of information, 2 of his ancestors owned a grand total of FOUR slaves.
REACTION
Obama's camp discovered his great-great-great-grandfather, Christopher Columbus Clark fought for the Union army (against slavery) during the Civil War.
In sporting parlance, doesn't this qualify as a draw/tie?!
An amateur genealogical researcher by the name of William Reitwiesner decided he would selectively examine Barack Obama's lineage on his mother side. He unearthed the following nugget of information, 2 of his ancestors owned a grand total of FOUR slaves.
REACTION
Obama's camp discovered his great-great-great-grandfather, Christopher Columbus Clark fought for the Union army (against slavery) during the Civil War.
In sporting parlance, doesn't this qualify as a draw/tie?!
Why Liverpool will beat Barcelona
Liverpool were unlucky not to win their match against the team from further up the M62. Even SAF admitted as much. Liverpool played well, had the best chances but the team from further up the M62 seem to have lady luck smiling on them. Despite being outplayed in their last 2 games, against Liverpool and Fulham, they have come away with 6 points. The team from further up the M62 have not really had a bad patch all season so they are long overdue a fallow period - hopefully, this will begin in the return leg against Lille.
Barca on the other hand are continuing their self-induced implosion. I fully expect Rafa "The Master Tactician" Benitez to capitalise on this and naturally, fortress Anfield will play its part.
Barca on the other hand are continuing their self-induced implosion. I fully expect Rafa "The Master Tactician" Benitez to capitalise on this and naturally, fortress Anfield will play its part.
Friday 2 March 2007
My first love
Athletics aka track and field is my first love. I used to represent my school in the 100m and 4 x 100m relay and recall attending night time athletic meets at Crystal Palace in the seventies. At the beginning of 1981, I started doing the high jump. I mastered the Fosbury Flop and successfully failed at progressively higher heights. In April 1981, we moved to Kenya and when I saw the crash mat had been replaced by a sand pit, I called time on my nascent athletics career. In 1992 I attended the national trials for the Kenyan Olympic team and met Paul Ereng (he gave me a signed photo) and Kenya's 5 time world cross country champion, John Ngugi. When I approached the latter for an autograph, he brusquely told me that he didn't know how to write - my sympathy was in short supply when he was subsequently banned for 2 years after refusing to provide the drug testers, who showed up at his house, with a urine sample.
On my return to England, I attended meets at Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Sheffield. It was in Birmingham where I witnessed the Kenyan born Dane, Wilson Kipketer, smash the world indoor record for the rarely run 1000m. I've visited Berlin's Olympiastadion in 1995, but somehow missed the memorial to Jesse Owens unparalleled feat in 1936 - doh!! In 2003, I went to the World Athletic Championships, at the Stade de France in Paris - this was the scene of France's 3-0 drubbing of Brazil in the FIFA World Cup final in 1998. My seat was in the 2nd row and it overlooked the finishing line so I had a very good view of the proceedings. I saw Carolina Kluft, after a titanic struggle with Eunice Barber, become only the 2nd woman in history, after the legendary Jackie Joyner Kersee, to amass more than 7000 points in the heptathlon. The now disgraced Kelli White won the women's 100m - I had hoped to see Marion Jones run, but she had taken time off to have a baby. I was in the stadium when Jon Drummond staged a lie-down on the track, in protest at his disqualification, and held up proceedings for 10 minutes - the crowd was on his side because replays on the big screen showed he had not moved. A little known fact is that the current 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, was also disqualified along with Drummond. While I was in New York in 2005, I went to the Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium, Randall's Island. There, I saw first hand, the media frenzy that surrounds China's Olympic gold medallist and world record holder, Liu Xiang. There was also a welcome return for Jamaica's Usain "Thunder" Bolt and we saw Ethopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, leave her sister, Ejegayehu, and the rest of the field trailing in her slipstream.
I have a purpose bought autograph book which contains the signatures of various Olympic & World Champions. To drop a few names, I have Ato Boldon, Stephane Diagana, Maurice Greene, Sally Gunnell, Aisha Hansen (a very classy lady), Allen Johnson (lovely man) Christian Malcolm, Sandie Richards, Peter Rono, William Tanui, and numerous others. At Crystal Palace, I would strategically book seats next to the athletes' tunnel with a view to getting the athlete's autograph after their race - it was an unwritten rule of mine not to approach them before their competition while they were in the zone.
I remember waking up at 2am in an Aberdeen hotel in July 1996 to watch the evening session of the track and field program at the Atlanta Olympics. It was time for the men's 200m final and the array of flash bulbs that went off as the starter's gun fired, was momentarily blinding. I watched, in a state of suspended disbelief, as Michael Johnson's gold shoes propelled him to a Beamonesque world record of 19.32s. Namibia's Frankie Fredericks, a thoroughly decent man, ran 19.68s to record the 2nd fastest 200m of all time as both first and second fell within Pietro Menea's previous world record of 19.72s. I recall Marie-Jose Perec doing an elegant 400m/200m double at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to replicate Valerie Brisco-Hooks feat in 1984. I watched Marion Jones win her first Olympic gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as she streaked to the 100m title in 10.75s - Evelyn Ashford won the 100m title at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, in a time of 10.97s and later went on to set a world record of 10.76s. I remember willing Marion Jones on at the in her drive-for-five quest. Even though she won bronze in the long jump and the 4 x 100m, Marion Jones became the first woman to win FIVE Olympic medals at a summer games.
Citius, Altius, Fortius or Faster, Higher, Stronger is the Olympic motto and is fundamentally, what track and field is all about. With all the tawdriness surrounding the sport at the moment, how refreshing to see the Olympian ideals espoused so winningly by Carolina Kluft - she competes uninhibited and maybe that explains why she's the reigning, Olympic champion, World and European champion, both indoors and outdoors, in the pentathlon and heptathlon.
On my return to England, I attended meets at Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Sheffield. It was in Birmingham where I witnessed the Kenyan born Dane, Wilson Kipketer, smash the world indoor record for the rarely run 1000m. I've visited Berlin's Olympiastadion in 1995, but somehow missed the memorial to Jesse Owens unparalleled feat in 1936 - doh!! In 2003, I went to the World Athletic Championships, at the Stade de France in Paris - this was the scene of France's 3-0 drubbing of Brazil in the FIFA World Cup final in 1998. My seat was in the 2nd row and it overlooked the finishing line so I had a very good view of the proceedings. I saw Carolina Kluft, after a titanic struggle with Eunice Barber, become only the 2nd woman in history, after the legendary Jackie Joyner Kersee, to amass more than 7000 points in the heptathlon. The now disgraced Kelli White won the women's 100m - I had hoped to see Marion Jones run, but she had taken time off to have a baby. I was in the stadium when Jon Drummond staged a lie-down on the track, in protest at his disqualification, and held up proceedings for 10 minutes - the crowd was on his side because replays on the big screen showed he had not moved. A little known fact is that the current 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, was also disqualified along with Drummond. While I was in New York in 2005, I went to the Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium, Randall's Island. There, I saw first hand, the media frenzy that surrounds China's Olympic gold medallist and world record holder, Liu Xiang. There was also a welcome return for Jamaica's Usain "Thunder" Bolt and we saw Ethopia's Tirunesh Dibaba, leave her sister, Ejegayehu, and the rest of the field trailing in her slipstream.
I have a purpose bought autograph book which contains the signatures of various Olympic & World Champions. To drop a few names, I have Ato Boldon, Stephane Diagana, Maurice Greene, Sally Gunnell, Aisha Hansen (a very classy lady), Allen Johnson (lovely man) Christian Malcolm, Sandie Richards, Peter Rono, William Tanui, and numerous others. At Crystal Palace, I would strategically book seats next to the athletes' tunnel with a view to getting the athlete's autograph after their race - it was an unwritten rule of mine not to approach them before their competition while they were in the zone.
I remember waking up at 2am in an Aberdeen hotel in July 1996 to watch the evening session of the track and field program at the Atlanta Olympics. It was time for the men's 200m final and the array of flash bulbs that went off as the starter's gun fired, was momentarily blinding. I watched, in a state of suspended disbelief, as Michael Johnson's gold shoes propelled him to a Beamonesque world record of 19.32s. Namibia's Frankie Fredericks, a thoroughly decent man, ran 19.68s to record the 2nd fastest 200m of all time as both first and second fell within Pietro Menea's previous world record of 19.72s. I recall Marie-Jose Perec doing an elegant 400m/200m double at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to replicate Valerie Brisco-Hooks feat in 1984. I watched Marion Jones win her first Olympic gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as she streaked to the 100m title in 10.75s - Evelyn Ashford won the 100m title at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, in a time of 10.97s and later went on to set a world record of 10.76s. I remember willing Marion Jones on at the in her drive-for-five quest. Even though she won bronze in the long jump and the 4 x 100m, Marion Jones became the first woman to win FIVE Olympic medals at a summer games.
Citius, Altius, Fortius or Faster, Higher, Stronger is the Olympic motto and is fundamentally, what track and field is all about. With all the tawdriness surrounding the sport at the moment, how refreshing to see the Olympian ideals espoused so winningly by Carolina Kluft - she competes uninhibited and maybe that explains why she's the reigning, Olympic champion, World and European champion, both indoors and outdoors, in the pentathlon and heptathlon.
Nigerians, you must be very proud
Today, I heard on World Business Today that Nigeria is about to pay off her debt, due in no small part to the efforts of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to the London Club, having made previous arrangements to pay off her debt to the Paris Club, on the back of high oil prices for her deliciously named Bonny Light Crude. It's wonderful to know that Nigeria is finally making sure the proceeds of her enormous wealth benefit the country and ultimately, her wonderful people.
Nigeria gets an unnecessarily bad rap (just like Colombia) because a handful (1 in every 6 Africans is Nigerian) of her extremely intelligent people engage in nefarious activities. As someone who has visited the wonderful city of Abuja, TWICE, I speak from first hand experience. Abuja is how an African capital city should be and one can see that the emphasis was definitely on the planning - I shall wax lyrical about Abuja in a later blog.
Nigeria gets an unnecessarily bad rap (just like Colombia) because a handful (1 in every 6 Africans is Nigerian) of her extremely intelligent people engage in nefarious activities. As someone who has visited the wonderful city of Abuja, TWICE, I speak from first hand experience. Abuja is how an African capital city should be and one can see that the emphasis was definitely on the planning - I shall wax lyrical about Abuja in a later blog.
Thursday 1 March 2007
Barack Obama
Gary Younge writes a very interesting article on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential bid and I would like to add my 2 cents.
The reluctance of the likes of Jesse Jackson**** and Rev Al Sharpton (always so well coiffured) to endorse Obama's presidential bid can be traced back to the tension (for want of a better word) that exists between black Americans and black Africans. Barack Obama encapsulates the term African American to a tee - his father was Kenyan, his mother American so I find it rather droll that black Americans are more than happy to prefix the African to the American and yet the reality is dem people whose ancestors were slaves look down on people from their so called motherland. One of the first things that crossed my mind when I saw the wretched faces of the victims of Hurricane Katrina was how if I closed my eyes, I could see the same faces in the refugee camps in Chad, Darfur, Goma and numerous other places across Africa.
I recall a black British woman questioning the validity of my degree in the UK (BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nairobi) during a mock interview and I also remember how angry I became. As if we, as black people, don't have bigger fish to fry, we allow ourselves to get caught up in internecine rivalries. I suppose this touches on our insecurities as a people, especially dem people whose ancestors were slaves - we need to keep our eyes on the real prize.
Barack Obama is charismatic, eloquent and white Americans don't perceive him as threatening (very important!). He's a masterful orator and has shown himself to be adept at gaining consensus amongst camps with widely differing views. More importantly for Africa, he feels that good governance and accountability matter. So come January 2009, after his inauguration, the so called Big Men of Africa will start sitting a little less comfortably. (Ah well, the audacity of hope allows one to dream!)
****UPDATE****
I stand corrected as it has been pointed out that the Rev Jesse Jackson has finally seen the light and endorsed Obama's presidential bid
The reluctance of the likes of Jesse Jackson**** and Rev Al Sharpton (always so well coiffured) to endorse Obama's presidential bid can be traced back to the tension (for want of a better word) that exists between black Americans and black Africans. Barack Obama encapsulates the term African American to a tee - his father was Kenyan, his mother American so I find it rather droll that black Americans are more than happy to prefix the African to the American and yet the reality is dem people whose ancestors were slaves look down on people from their so called motherland. One of the first things that crossed my mind when I saw the wretched faces of the victims of Hurricane Katrina was how if I closed my eyes, I could see the same faces in the refugee camps in Chad, Darfur, Goma and numerous other places across Africa.
I recall a black British woman questioning the validity of my degree in the UK (BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nairobi) during a mock interview and I also remember how angry I became. As if we, as black people, don't have bigger fish to fry, we allow ourselves to get caught up in internecine rivalries. I suppose this touches on our insecurities as a people, especially dem people whose ancestors were slaves - we need to keep our eyes on the real prize.
Barack Obama is charismatic, eloquent and white Americans don't perceive him as threatening (very important!). He's a masterful orator and has shown himself to be adept at gaining consensus amongst camps with widely differing views. More importantly for Africa, he feels that good governance and accountability matter. So come January 2009, after his inauguration, the so called Big Men of Africa will start sitting a little less comfortably. (Ah well, the audacity of hope allows one to dream!)
****UPDATE****
I stand corrected as it has been pointed out that the Rev Jesse Jackson has finally seen the light and endorsed Obama's presidential bid
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