Mama Monday: Mwana Being A Mama On Radio Phoenix 89.5FM

Me and DJ Luch at old
Radio Phoenix studio last year

Today at 09:30 CAT: 15:30 CST, 07:30 GMT, 02:30 EST, 23:30 PST(Sunday for y'all), I will be chatting with DJ Luch on Radio Phoenix.

I will be talking about my life journey so far as a woman, entrepreneur and aspiring media mogul: lessons learnt and plans for the future.

Hopefully I will be able to impart a few nuggets of wisdom that inspire.  Not promising anything though coz you know me he he he he he...I must say I am more likely to make sense since Radio Phoenix moved from the 12 floor of that that horrible building in town that had a forever faulty lift, to a lovely one storey facility in Olympia ;}. No more Kung Fu Pandaing me with stairs ha!

You can listen online here: Radio Phoenix website or Tune in.

For other radio stations in Zambia check out Zambia Media Online.

FYI on Friday will be part of the panel at the screening of the documentary Kicking it with the Kinks in Lusaka at BongoHive. You can register to attend here.

Soul Food Friday: "Top 10 Posts" of 2013

As usual, I am rounding up the last year's top 10 posts. Soul Food Friday is a good day to reflect on the year past.  Unfortunately in 2013 I wrote even less than I did in 2012. Shame on me:  I only managed a paltry 16 posts!  I have vowed to stop the rot, and find a way to create a system that allows me to blog at least once a week, twice if I can to make sure that I have more to choose from (I have blogged about creating better life systems already this year here).  I also have to deal with my work-life balance.  Blogging for me is therapeutic and a hobby so I can't let my professional life drain me to the point I have no juice left in the tank to bang on my computer keys to compose word rhapsodies.  I think it is important to have a way decompress with fun activities that replenish your passion tank.  

So the top 10 will really be the top 7 plus a bonus: the profile of me in Kenyan onilne mag AfroElle celebrating Afropolitans around the world.  

1. A Tale of Self Motivation Through Video and Images

2. Twit Tuesday: Zed Childhood Trip Down Memory Lane

3. Happiness

4. Twit Tuesday Debut: Justin Timberlake Jimmy Fallon and #Hastags

5. Y Zed Series: Barefeet Theatre - A ROARing Good Time Part II

6. Nelson Mandela: A Selection of Quotes

7. Twit Tuesday: Asikana Network's First Connect Forum Zambia

8. AfroElle Magazine Afropolitan Issue p 46-49

If you can't access the magazine, you can read my article below (click on them to enlarge them):

Check out the Top 10 posts for 2012, 2011 and 2010 too :)! 

Mama Monday Debut: Africa is THE CONTINENT - Part I

Word!

I am currently in Ghana visiting friends and we were having a useless conversation about how McDonalds is far superior in other places than in the USA.  As you know I love profound nonsense and as we were talking about good places to chow the cow in Europe, I said in response to someone mentioning France as an example that other places on the continent were good too, to the pseudo chagrin of others in the discussion.

They jokingly took umbrage because I had said the continent in reference to a delineated landmass other than our beloved Africa.  Though it was in jest and I was being chastised playfully, at the time I defended my usage of the phrase as I was talking in context: Europe had already been introduced into the conversation and so it was clear I was referring to it as aforementioned, and I had not applied stress through intonation by saying THE continent.  If I had done such an abominable thing, they would have had a much stronger case against me, and I would have pled guilty and carried out whatever sentence dealt uncontested to repent and correct my wayward ways.

I reflected on this later and realised that in general, as far as I am concerned, if I refer to the continent in any other context by default I mean the only continent worth giving such deference to: AFRICA baby!  There is only one.  Africa is THE continent. And that is the sentiment shared by all of the proudly African women I was powwowing with.  And by all Africans.  And anyone with sense really.

Then I wondered if people from other continents refer to their part of the world as the continent and then was overcome with great sympathy for them. Why? - Coz they are deluded!  

I am here to inform you that despite whatever you may think, or how proud you may be, there are six continents in the world but there is only ONE that can be referred to as as THE continent - Mama Africa.  There is no argument to refute this irrevocable fact.  IT JUST IS. PERIOD. FULL STOP.  NEXT!

Mwaunfwa (You hear)? Africa has and always will be THE continent.  

You're welcome, I am glad to have informed and/ or corrected you  he he he ;}.

Soul Food Friday: A Brief Ethiopian Art Experience

On my way to Ghana, I had an overnight stay in Addis Ababa, as I flew by Ethiopian Airlines.  I have always wanted to go to Ethiopia and was sad that I could only get a snapshot of the city in the dark, and at an ungodly hour of the morning on the way back to the airport to continue on to Accra.

However, the hotel I was put up in for the night had a great range of paintings on display.  I happened to be installed on the top floor, and as I walked down the flights of stairs to the dining room I was able to discover all this great art.  I am glad I decided not to be lazy and take the lift.  Here are the paintings (click on each picture to enlargen):

These paintings look like they have been drawn in pencil rather than painted with a brush.  I have never seen anything like it before, I had to stare at them for a while to understand what technique and medium was used to create these beautiful scenes.

I like the white washed background in these in order to make the vibrant colours pop.  This style is very common all over East Africa I have found.  

This was the only abstract painting I found.  It really jumped out at me and I am still trying to figure out what it is saying.

These are in a very classic European style.

This style was my favourite. It feels very ancient, like something you would find in an old temple, castle, fort or an ornament like a vase or something fashioned out of wood (like a wardrobe) or stone.  There is a visceral, ethereal, feminine  warmth and strength in beauty that I felt looking at these ones.

If you liked this check out other posts in the Art and Zarty Farty tags.

Happy New Year: Amashiwi ya Bakulu

Happy New Year from Accra!  So excited to be in West Africa for the first time.  I shall blog about that in due course I promise.  In 2014 I plan to create a system to better accomplish my goal of blogging more, as part of my larger life passion to contribute to creating and populating the internet with more Zambian and African content, after being inspired by this article.  The ridonkulously fast internet here in Ghana is definitely already encouraging me to be more proactive already ;}.

I recently listened to Zambia's first President, Kenneth Kaunda's tribute at Nelson Mandela's funeral - by default amashiwi ya bakulu: words of/ from those who are grown ie: (wise) words from our elders. There was as a lot of furore about his use of the now derogatory term Boer as opposed to the more politically correct and acceptable Afrikaner.  I think people overreacted as he was recounting stories of Mandela's (and his) experience of Apartheid . And KK is old: leave this nonagenarian alone!  He spoke off the cuff, in an impassioned, personal and honest fashion.  I do not think he meant any harm by it.  I think the speech needs to be viewed in context.  I really appreciate the candor, eloquence and authenticity with which he delivered his tribute.  What I took from his outpouring of love for Mandela and his insight into human nature is that we need to stop getting in our own way and realise that we need to "love thy neighbour" as we are all the same: we are all muntu: human in the end.  And in order to do that we need to realise our power and not abuse it by being an agent or active force of subjugation, but use it as a positive and impactful force for change.

So here's to a year dedicated to focusing on creating systems of evolution and inspiration that lead to positive change and to passionate and fulfilled lives - especially in unexpected and interesting ways :)!