Botswana wa Tsabakela

Yes. I've been trying to figure out what that phrase in Setswana means. For the unitiated, Setswana is the language of Botswana. They even have a Setswana wikipedia. But even there I couldn't find what this phrase means. Even so, from all the googling, I've at least been able to find out that 'wa' means fall or belong and 'Tsabakela' means to glisten. Which would mean 'Botswana belongs to the Glistening'? Don't know. Tell me if you know what it means. So why am I looking for the meaning of this phrase?

Well, here's why. This the opening phrase of the title track of this very nice BBC / HBO series set in Botswana that I have been watching off and on for the past few days. Its called 'The no. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'. It is highly entertaining and lovely to watch and is inspired from a book of the same name by Alexander McCall Smith. In fact, I first read the book and then one of my Zambian colleagues told me about the series. And I must say, unlike many other disappointing attempts to make books into movies or TV serials, this one does a fine job of it. Not that they haven't tinkered with the plot and the storyline here and there. And added or deleted some characters. But then, the soul of the book stays intact in the series. Anyway, have a look at the title track. It has some very nice animation and the soulful, straight-from-the-heart voice reminds me of Usha Uthup

Doesn't it? Ok, now press the play button and close your eyes. Don't know about you, but for me the music conjures up images of giraffes peacefully feeding in grasslands. And rhinos minding their own business in the jungles (or the 'bush', as they call it here). And a simpler world where people are still righteous, forthright and honest. Not the world of today where people's morals are all different shades of grey. So, if that's what you pine for as well, this show is definitely worth a watch. On a related note, I wonder where I could get more such lovely, soulful, traditional African music. Its just beautiful. Speaks to my soul. Liberia doesn't seem to have much traditional music. Or maybe I don't know it, not having travelled much into the bush myself. But if there is, I'd love to hear it.

So, all this is part of my Africa education. O, did I mention? Last weekend, I went to have Ethiopian food. And, do you know, they actually have a huge variety of vegetarian dishes? Their food is much like the Indian roti subzi. Actually the roti is more like a dosa, in that it is fermented. But this dosa is made of some other type of brown flour. Injera, this bread is called. And they use teff flour to make it. So, anyway, there's one thing that's certain. Now that I am in Africa, I want to experience as much of it as I can. The cuisine, the music, the people. Its a whole different world. A world that is often ignored. And that is still simple and untouched, for what its worth. I've already been to 3 countries in Africa (even though two of them were just for a couple of days) and I want to see more of Africa. Amen to that!

(PS: I forgot to mention how they keep having 'bush tea' all the while in the show. I think the next food experiment shall definitely involve this bush tea. Amen to that as well!)

"You can’t come here with European eyes"

Yes, readers, that title is borrowed from a very interesting article that was shared on the Liberia expats forum by someone today (read it here). Not so much of an article as an open letter, it is addressed to one Mr. John Humphreys, who apparently is a BBC reporter of much repute (read about him here). So, anyway, this letter, which is pretty forthright, calls Mr. Humphreys's bluff. It asks him to stop milking Africa for its sob stories. It asks him to look beyond. It asks him to look at Africa Rising (does that ring a bell, Indian readers? Heard of India Shining?). Yes of course, Africa does have its famines, starving children, illiteracy, coups; but then its also achieved a lot, and let me quote the letter, "(Africa has) been growing at rates we in the West can only dream about".

Much like India of not so long ago. The letter, you see, talks about two Africas, the "old" Africa and the "new" Africa. Reminds me of "India" and "Bharat". To the uninitiated, we still talk about two Indias back home. There's 'India', which is developed, with the shopping malls, mobile phones and what-have-you and there's 'Bharat' (the traditional word for our nation), which is the India of the farmer suicides, dowry deaths and the female infanticides. Wasn't long ago that India was reported about by the West only for the 'Bharat' now, was it? Why, we're still referred to as the land of the snake charmers in some quarters, aren't we?

The author of the letter, one Mr. Richard Dowden, he's not even from Africa. And yet, he calls upon Humphreys and those others of his ilk to report Africa as it is, not just the "new" Africa or the "old" Africa but the real Africa, whichever one of the two presents itelf. He beautifully sums it up in his appeal to Humphreys and BBC in general. Let me quote the letter again, "Help our government – and your bosses – to understand that £1 spent on a good BBC World Service does more for development in Africa than £100 spent on aid." Which is quite true, because, well, all I knew of Africa before I came here a few months ago was through watching BBC, CNN and other such reportage of the continent. Point to ponder, eh?

So, good luck and godspeed to you, Mr. Dowden! Its only a matter of time before Africa goes the India way. After all, there isn't any place else in the world that's left to develop now, is there?