Mama Monday: Africa is THE CONTINENT Part II - THE MOTHERLAND

© Sandra Shanungu

I was watching Oprah visiting India and meeting with Deepak Chopra when as they greeted each other he welcomed her to the motherland.  Huh? What the....???????!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought to myself, dost my ears deceive me?

Emmmmmmmmmm, CORRECTION!  There is only one motherland! Where it all begun. On THE continent. Yep that is right AFRICA....THE ORIGINAL and ONLY MOTHERLAND!  

There I was thinking I had educated y'all on this.  In Deepak Chopra's defence he had made that error long before I blogged about Africa being the continent last month and clearly before this post, otherwise I wouldn't be writing it. Well I would eventually but not inspired by this happenstance.  Why is Africa THE motherland?  For those of you who weren't born on African soil or have never been afforded the privilege of disembarking a plane and experiencing her warm, welcoming, comforting, soulful embrace, let me enlighten you...

Kalambo Falls, Zambia
©  MbA

Life began in Africa.  Evidence is repeatedly found in beautifully majestic places like this.  Near sources of water with nearby caves.  And just look at how verdant and lush the landscape is.  Africa nourishes.  If that is not motherly I have no idea what is!

©  Griffin Shanungu

Africa is home to the largest land animal, the elephant.  Elephants live in a matriarchal society.  And even though patriarchy exists in Africa, I challenge you to argue with an elephant and come out alive.  It's more likely you will  be stampeded.  Elephants know all as they never forget.  I rest my case.  

Whenever something bad in the world happens in movies, particularly some sort of Armageddon, Africa is protected somehow.  We are happily overlooked and therefore spared.  People always know if they can get to the continent in time, they can start anew.  We are protected by the continent that is the source of life.  Obliterate the continent, obliterate life!

Wolverine is protected by his Adimantium skeleton, a metal found on the continent.  Mothers protect so that you land safely.  Wolverine gets into so much ish, especially as he lives through the ages, and the motherland has ensured he is better equipped to live his many lives.  Btw, ignore the portrayal of Lagos and rural Nigeria in the movie for your own sanity so you can enjoy this marvel (yes I did he he he ;}). And don't throw Kryptonite falling on the continent and being Superman's Achilles heel to refute this claim.  Kryptonite fell on African soil so it could be safe-guarded.  It is stolen by Lex Luther according to the Christopher Reeves version film.  See - the motherland protects, but what can you do when a psycho comes and pillages?!

To be further enlightened, read Part 1 and enjoy these two songs that further illustrate why Africa is THE continent and THE motherland ;} 

New video! Kabungo Precious Mumbi-Habeenzu's MUNTU Zed Series 3-4

The MUNTU and Zed Series has officially popped its cherry! I thought I would start off MUNTU nestled in Africa’s womb, Zambia aka Zed. This birthing has required me to indulge in nepotism, a truly African move, by cajoling my Aunt to be my first interviewee.  Luckily she has forgiven me for almost drowning us both in a pool as kids as I coaxed her to venture to the deep end with me.  I haven’t lost my touch he he he he ;}.  She hasn’t forgotten though and reminds me of this whenever she has the chance. A fellow biophiliac and partner-in-crime, I am honoured and proud to present to you the beautiful, passionate and talented Miss Zambia 2005, mother, wife, advocate and proudly Zambian, Black and African, Mrs Kabungo Mumbi-Habeenzu.

3 places and/ or things that make Zambia special:

4 experiences that Kabungo has learnt from:

For the rest of this interview, please read Kabungo's 10 Questions here.

Afropolitan Elephant Delicacy

In an effort to preemtively get my brain functioning in French for my classes that start next week, I decided to start reading the paper while eating my lunch.  (Yes I do keep some of my promises). In the kitchen, there usually is a copy of 20 Minutes, a very light read that basically steals a lot of its news from the BBC ha ha ha.  Which made it very easy to fudge through as I was like I read about this yesterday....Anyhoo, I came across this little fluff piece, which is not available online, so I took a picture of it.

Elephants are my favourite animal due to the affinity I feel for their way of life and because they are just awesome possum!  They are family oriented, smart, majestic and have a taste for marula fruit that I would still like to believe gets them a little tipsy as does Amarula when I fancy a tipple :).  And they are a little destructive for no apparent reason sometimes, which I can completely understand and this imperfection makes them perfect. Sometimes you just need to stomp about and let it out. You have to have flaws to be truly beautiful I think.  And now it seems they can be Afropolitan too!  Here they are in Switzerland and like me are also partaking of local delicacies and delights.  Badly translated the caption reads:

"Christmastime is over, the Bale Zoo animals are always at the party.  Christmas trees that don't find a buyer are given as dessert. A culinary delicacy that is much appreciated by the elephants!"

Here they are being all cosmpolitan it's awesome! As I was walking home I saw a pile of abandoned Christmas trees and wondered if they too will end up rounding off an elephants meal in the future. My hosts have been coaxing me to have one more glass of wine and feeding me horse.  Oui, cheval! Je sais, je sais...I would try some sapins de noel too but I think I'll stick to my wine, cheese, chocolate and Haribo thanks.  I've had fondue (with cognac in it he he he), now to try raclette...

Euphemism Of The Day: Simba

Today I was talking about how I feel energised: refreshed, revived, and refocused and this blog has a lot to do with it as well as other positive things in my life despite the uncertainty I am surrounded by. This spawned the euphemism:

The lioness is no longer sleeping, she is ready to hunt! ;}

A friend pointed out that this can be interpreted in a myriad of ways so use it as you will.  You are welcome :)

I think lions really are a very good animal to describe a certain way of life that I am quite happy to adhere to.  They are considered lazy because they lounge about most of the time in the shade, away from the heat, yawning and sleeping away.  But then when they are wounded they fight like champions, and when they are ready to feed every coupla days they hunt with precision and determination. Its all about conservation of energy to then utilise to its fullest at opportune and appropriate moments.  Its a "green" way of life if you will. They may not be the fastest like the cheetahs and they are certainly not shameless like hyenas that wait to feed on the left overs but they still manage to awe and impress us.  Hence the title as the King of the jungle. You don't have to be necessarily the very best, but you need to be near the top, you need to be tactical to be able to use your potential to the fullest.

 However I think there is a caveat.  The lions don't hunt the lionesses do.  Lions sit around growing beards and preening and looking pretty.  So I say lionesses are Queens and lions are useless and undeservingly have the title of King.  This has absolutely NOTHING to do with gender bias on my part he he he ;}