Tecnology in Africa

Yes, nowadays even mud houses in Africa have the internet and television! This photo was taken recently in Lushoto District, Tanzania. Photo by John Kusaga.

Bongoland II in Chicago

BONGOLAND II compared to Ousmane Sembene's films

See promo GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER

BONGOLAND II: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME 2008,
Josiah Kibira, Tanzania, 100 min. With Peter Omari, Thecla Mjatta

Friday, August 15, 6:15 PM AND Wednesday, August 20, 6:15 PM

In his first film BONGOLAND (2003), Josiah Kibira related the misadventures of Juma, a Tanzanian immigrant in Minnesota. In this self-sufficient sequel, Juma returns to Tanzania (aka Bongoland) to manage a company. His American-style ideas about efficiency and motivation meet with a less than enthusiastic response, and, when Mom’s visit produces some jaw-dropping revelations, he discovers that his relationship to his homeland has become even more tenuous. The film’s sharp, angry satire recalls such Ousmane Sembene classics as XALA and GUELWAAR. In Swahili with English subtitles. DV-CAM video. (MR)Who is Ousmane Sembene

CLICK HERE

Paris Jazz Night

Encore Performance!

Special Event: Paris Jazz Night Saturday, August 16, 2008

Two Performances in One Room Only

Chez Ducrot presents an evening of elegant dining and a special encore guest performance by one of Boston's finest talents: Ron Murphy and Friends. Enjoy four-course, leisurely dining to the acoustic sounds of jazz standards and classics, sung by baritone Ron Murphy, accompanied by Bassist Dave Zox and Pianist Jonathan Singleton. Let the music come to you & enjoy Ron's rich, honey-toned voice in either of two personalized one -and -a -half hour performances in the intimate atmosphere of our bistro room, overlooking the garden. Savor an evening of elegant dining and music in the ambiance of an upscale Parisian bistro.

Location: The Home of Philippe & Linda Ducrot, 40 Russell St. Plymouth, MA

Two seatings: 5:30PM - 8:00PM, 8:30PM - 11:00PM both seating in the Garden Room
Limited seating available

Reserve Now $65 per person

Call for reservations and information
508-747-4148

All dates and times are subject to change.

Chez Ducrot Reservations & Information: 508-747-4148Email: info@chezducrot.comWeb Site: www.chezducrot.com

All dates are subject to change.

75th SAG Anniversary Party in Boston

Some of the local Boston actors who attended the 75th Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Anniversary Party at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston, Saturday June 21, 2008.

Center is Ellen Becker-Gray. From l-r Ron Murphy, Rob Gray, Paul (?), Me, Doug Weeks, Maria (?),

Super Banana

I'm not sure where this photo was taken but it is certainly a record breaking banana plant!

Zanzibar International Film Festival 2008

ZIFF ALIVE!

Zanzibar Catches Festival FeverFestival Centre Buzzes with Top Talent and the Best local and International Films of 2008 Zanzibar, July 11-20, 2008:

The Eleventh edition of the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is in full swing, with both industry delegates and cinema lovers riding a wave of excitement following the coming ten days’ activities, and looking forward to another 8 days of local and international discussion panels, workshops, Ten days of screenings of the best local and international cinema and evenings of musical concerts including a Gala each evening.

The festival is an all-arts affair, with all its programs culminated of realising the capacity of film to fuse together the best of each art-form, offering a wide range of Entertainment, Educating, Shopping, and Networking options for world audiences.

The festival centre is located in the beautiful stone town area in Zanzibar. The main location of the festival is an atmospheric Amphitheatre located inside an Old Fort. Other venues are Mambo Club, House of Wonders, Old Customs House, Palace Museum, Aecrotanal, Chake Chake and Wete Cinema in Pemba.

Each festival evening begins with the Festival of Festivals, welcomes festivals, TV stations and different programmers to showcase their works and discuss them with audiences. Cocktails in the sunset splendour of the House of Wonders. It leads on to the presentation of the main films of the day at the Amphitheatre in the Old Fort.

Screening 50 films from an impressive collection of studio and independent features that enthral and top notch documentaries that captivate and inform audiences. This year festival has created space for four of the newest offerings to world cinema- 4 World Premieres. showcasing African Premieres, including the most talked about films coming out of Africa recently Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation (2007) and Ezra (2006) the winner of the Etalon Yenenga at FESPACO 2007.

The FESPACO 2007 package, composed of all winning films at that Premier Film festival of Africa also presented.

The11th ZIFF is the Festival as you’ve never seen it before! ZIFF ALIVE!

Check us out@ http://www.ziff.or.tz/Let your friends, neighbors know that YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE 11th Ziff Festival from 11th to 20th July 2008!

Experience the festival difference!

Funeral Arrangements for Jim Mitchell & Obituary

Burial will be private, but a celebration of his life will be held at the Warner Town Hall on Tuesday, June 17 at 2 pm to be followed by a reception at his home, The Gallery at MainStreet Bookends.

Obituary for Jim Mitchell

Henry Milnor Jim Mitchell died June 4, 2008 of a heart attack in his home, MainStreet Bookends of Warner. Born March 17, 1950 in Charlottesville, VA, he was the first child of Arthur Hayne Mitchell, Jr. and Edith Looker Mitchell.

With his sister and brother-in-law, he in 1998 created and became co-owner of the community bookstore MainStreet BookEnds of Warner. In his ten years operating the store, it won numerous awards, including Yankee Magazines Must-See Bookstore of New England, and NH Magazines Best Community Bookstore.

It became the focal point and gathering place for the town. Here he coordinated over 300 events a year, including concerts, lectures, classes, story hours, and the meeting of primary presidential candidates. He was a former director of the annual Warner Fall Foliage Festival, served on numerous town committees, and was named Warners Citizen of the Year in 2004.

Jim was a decorated Vietnam veteran, being named Airman of the Year in 1970. He began his long radio career as a news anchor with WLNH in Laconia, New Hampshire, and moved to WSB Radio in Atlanta, GA where he stayed until 1981. He then came back to New England to anchor the morning news at WHDH Radio in Boston, the afternoon news at WEEI-AM, and then in 1998 became the weekend news anchor for WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

He also served as a union negotiator for the news crew. He received numerous broadcast awards including several awards from the Associated Press for "Best Newscast." He was most proud of his award for "Best Spot News" coverage of the World Airways crash at Logan International airport in Boston in 1982, and was known in the Boston area for bringing human interest stories from all around the world. He had traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, South America and the South Pacific.

He will forever be remembered for his clear voice, his humble nature, for his million small gestures of kindness, his ability to make everyone laugh and feel at ease, and his free balloon hour in the bookstore.

He leaves behind his adoring sister, Katharine Mitchell Nevins, and her husband, Neil, of Warner. Their children Lane, Matthias, Colin and Klare were his greatest loves. He is also survived by a brother Arthur Mitchell of Virginia, his wife Monica, and their children Katharine, Andrew and Thomas, his aunt Karen Hyde also of Virginia and many cousins.

He leaves behind a huge and grateful community of friends in Warner, at WBZ, and within the world of radio news.

Jims passion and greatest pride was the little town of Warner. He worked to encourage and promote all the artists, writers, musicians and children that live there. To honor Jims spirit and life work, his plans and dream for a community park between the bookstore and the Pillsbury Free Library of Warner will come true.

Any donations should be directed, in his name, toward MainStreet Warner, Inc., P.O. Box 248, Warner, NH 03278, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that he created. Burial will be private, but a celebration of his life will be held at the Warner Town Hall on Tuesday, June 17 at 2 pm to be followed by a reception at his home, The Gallery at MainStreet Bookends.

Rest in Peace Jim Mitchell (WBZ News Radio Anchor)

WBZ News Radio Weekend Anchors from left to right, Jim Mitchell, Bill Watson and Walt Perkins

You know its strange. Last week Saturday, I was talking to Jim Mitchell and when my shift ended I told him that I'd see him again this week today. That wouldn't be the case as Jim died of a heart attack on Wednesday. He was 58.

I worked with Jim Mitchell for the past 8 years at WBZ News Radio in Boston, where I work part time as a news writer mostly on Saturday's. I often wrote for Jim. If there was a problem he was always polite about it and keen to educate.

He loved his bookstore in Warner, New Hampshire. He even offered to order a book for me that I was looking for...free of charge. Sometimes he'd bring in treats for the newsroom like cookies, cakes and pies which would be devoured quickly. He passed away in his beloved Bookstore.

We loved hearing him interview foreign correspondents. He was a pro at it, and even pronounced their names right.

I will miss Jim. I'm in the Newsroom now, it just doesn't feel the same.

REST IN PEACE JIM MITCHELL

For more information visit:

New Hampshire Union Leader

Concord Monitor

Bride Wars Filming in Cambridge

Part of the film Bride Wars is being filmed in Cambridge. Here is a sign on the corner of Western Ave & River St. directing cast and crew to the set. I took this on Monday, May 19, 2008.

Brief Video of Firefighters at River St. Fire

Fire on River St. In Cambridge, MA

Today 5/17/08 a fire broke out in triple decker next to the Wash and Dry Laundromat on River St. in Cambridge, MA. It is across from the Indian Store on William St. The smell of the burning building could be smelled in a large portion of Cambridgeport.

Firefighters climb to the roof of the triple decker that is on fire.
Police blocked off Pleasant St. so that cars could not go onto River St.

Cops gaze down River St. and this 70 T bus was stranded. People had to get off and walk to Central Square.

Firefighters climb a ladder to get to the building roof while spectators watch
A close up of the William St. River St. Corner
Something started gushing out the bottom of this truck


Firefighters climbed the fire escape of this house on Pleasant St. in the same block as the burning building. They knocked on windows to see if anyone was inside. They wanted them to leave for their own safety.

Junction Pleasant & River St.

A firefighter gets ready to go into action.

Casting the film Amistad

Amistad's Problematic Casting Call

By Melinda Spaulding

Many filmgoers know about Steven Spielberg's coup in casting Golden Globe nominee Djimon Hounsou for a leading role in "Amistad." What they may not know is that hiring the film's leads was easy, says casting director Vicki Thomas -- at least when compared to filling "Amistad"'s smaller roles.

Because of the authentic Mendhe language spoken by the movie's slave characters, director Spielberg insisted that these actors be African-born. The perfectionist auteur believed that the 13 slave characters with talking roles should be native speakers of one of the more than 100 African languages. This requirement eliminated most of African-American Hollywood, and left it up to Thomas and her crew to span the globe -- literally -- in search of talent.

Thomas ("Con Air," "Devil in a Blue Dress") held open casting calls across three continents: Africa, Europe and North America. To bring a '90s twist to the film that's set in 1839, solicitations for photos and credentials were placed on the Internet. "With just two and a half months to cast everyone, we were scrambling every minute," says Thomas.

But it was near the end of the casting process that Thomas and her team encountered their biggest problem. They had narrowed their list to the African-speaking actors they wanted, but when Thomas requested proof of their clearances to work in the U.S., she felt as if she were speaking a foreign language.

"We would ask for their green cards and visas, and they would tell us yes," says an exasperated Thomas. "But then we wouldn’t hear from them for days.” Eventually Thomas discovered that many of the actors were in the U.S. illegally.

For some extras, the problem went beyond that of normal legalities: It was a matter of life and death. "We had people who had escaped from Sierra Leone," says Thomas. "We lost an esteemed professor, who was a very good actor. But for him to go back to Sierra Leone to get a visa, meant he risked losing his life.” The lack of legal paperwork put both Thomas and the actors in a difficult position. “We couldn’t put them in the movie," she says, "but we couldn't bring ourselves to turn them in either."

Now that the film is finished and Hounsou may end up with an Oscar nomination, Thomas understandably feels that her hard work was well rewarded. "When you have an end result as good as this," she says, "it's absolutely worth every headache."

Posted Jan 19, 1998

Important Health Tips

Health - Important Tips

Answer the phone by LEFT ear

Do not drink coffee TWICE a day

Do not take pills with COOL water

Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm

Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume

Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night

Keep your distance from hand phone CHARGERS

Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time

Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning

Do not lie down immediately after taking medicine before sleeping

When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times

Forward this to those whom you CARE about

African Ambulance

This photo was taken recently in Mtwara, Tanzania by John Mnamba. An ill person is being carried to a local hospital. The person is obviously poor and cannot afford a ride in a taxi. Plus ambulance service as we know it in the USA is not available.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Why has Rev. Jeremiah Wright been villainized? He is a minister of the Word of god yet some want him to be seen as the Devil incarnate. Compare him to other politicians.

While I don't agree with some of his comments, he is right that Blacks in America have been oppressed and are still being oppressed. We cannot just sweep the legacy of slavery and its effects under the carpet.

*************************************************************************

There are far more serious matters in the world than wasting time on this dribble: For example....Real Men In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines. In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital , as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.

For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation. What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/ sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections. Who is the real patriot?

The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America 's biggest cities. This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.

TAMWA 20 years later

Please note, I am one of TAMWA's Founding Members.

*******************************************************
Bravo, TAMWA, for searching for women activists

2008-04-08

By Salma Mlindi

Tanzania Media Women Association`s 20th anniversary has clearly reflected how the association is determined in advocacy regarding African women`s activism as narrated by Special Correspondent Salma Mlindi: On March 29, 2008 the Tanzania Media Women`s Association (TAMWA) began a week long commemoration of 20 years of advocacy for women`s human rights. Among activities earmarked to mark the occasion include the opening of a self-sponsored office building; the launch of a Fundraising Campaign for a Women`s Media and Documentation Centre; and a book launch of TAMWA`s story in pioneering social transformation in Tanzania as experienced by members, supporters and friends.

TAMWA was officially launched and registered in 1987 by 10 women pioneers working in the media with two major objectives: to agitate for a positive portrayal of women in the media; and to raise the academic and professional standards of female journalist to enable them to assume positions of influence in the media with the expectation that they will have a voice with regard media content and output in so far as its portrayal of women.

Twenty years later TAMWA has much to celebrate about. Arguably TAMWA is the foremost advocacy organization for women`s right in Tanzania. TAMWA`s command of the local media is unparralled and stems from years of capacity building and advocacy of media heads in various media institutions.

Nevertheless, in Tanzania, TAMWA is best known for its work in gender-based violence. Soon after its formation, TAMWA made it her business to expose crimes against women that were otherwise considered taboo. The association has demonstrated its commitment in the struggles against domestic violence and notably wife beating, incest, and family neglect together with sexual harassment at workplaces.

TAMWA also addressed the larger phenomena of sexual abuse against women and children in Tanzania, contributing to the impetus of increased local responses to address the phenomena. The association has teamed up with other associations with similar objectives of liberating women in the country. The associations include the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association. Undeniably, Gender Based Violence (GBV) is the mother of activists` struggles in Tanzania thanks to a large part to TAMWA`s relentless advocacy on the issues.

Other than the ongoing Campaign on breast cancer by the Tanzania Medical Women`s Association (MEWATA) which is mainly service-oriented no other advocacy campaign has been as successful as the Campaign to Stop GBV launched by TAMWA in the mid 1990`s. Through innovative strategies like media advocacy, action research and campaigns TAMWA made sure that her advocacy agenda was current news and popular, not just with legislators and bureaucrats but with the local populace.

It is not unheard of that activists visiting any village in Tanzania would be approached by concerned villagers about human rights violations against women and children in the belief that the activist who cared enough to visit them represents TAMWA. While Tanzania now has a number of women`s rights organizations, TAMWA remains the most recognized and coined by men and women alike. TAMWA`s advocacy ensured that GBV was not only named, but was also unpacked and demystified.

Certainly fifteen years ago many Tanzanians did not know about the prevalence of female genital mutilation FGM)in the country. Personally, I learnt about the practice in France after watching a documentary prepared by Sudanese women on alternative forms of cutting. However, building on her research work on crimes committed against women undertaken with journalists in various regions of Tanzania, TAMWA exposed FGM and made it a national agenda.

Consequently, Tanzania was among the first countries to outlaw FGM and to have an active anti-FGM network at regional and national levels. Another less publicized issue was the deaths of old women accused of witchcraft in west and north western Tanzania.

TAMWA made the link between the deaths of old women to economic insecurity experienced in most poor rural communities. Access to landed resources increasingly endangered the lives of old women occupying land that younger relatives wanted to access and control. Other than changing the dominant perspective about the issue, especially witchcraft beliefs, TAMWA was able to lend impetus to and influence the content of the Land Campaign in the late 1990`s to address the question of women\'s access and control of landed resources.

In many ways TAMWA activist trajectory informed and continues to inform my own activist trajectory. I was introduced to TAMWA in the early 1990\'s when I was still doing my LLB helping out in what was then known as the Library and Documentation Unit. This was the beginning of my own official activist trajectory and as Fatma Alloo, the first TAMWA Chairperson, puts it, ``Of channeling my anger against injustice towards more productive activist enterprise``.

Other than having first hand access to feminist literature from different parts of the world, I got to meet many authors and or subjects of books in the centre satiating my growing zeal for alternative leadership figures and visions. Just as the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) Women Wing and later Umoja wa Wanawake Tanzania (UWT) was a pioneer for women`s interests pre and post-independence, TAMWA pioneered autonomous women rights organizations as well as autonomous advocacy agendas.

Figures that led TAMWA also offered the first real taste of female leadership outside the dominant party structure. The growth of private media houses meant that TAMWA personalities were recognized nationally, often times as readily as leading government figures. The pedestal TAMWA has come to enjoy in the civil society sector means that the successes and struggles she achieves impact on the larger women`s movement in Tanzania.

Thus, when in the mid nineties TAMWA suffered an organizational crisis bought on by rapid organizational growth, burn out and rifts between the ranks that otherwise would be normal in an organizational context but that spiraled to become personal because of the absence of an awareness in how to manage the health of a dynamic, visible and politically charged organization, mushrooming advocacy organizations held their breath.

They were conscious that TAMWA`s failure would reflect not just in the women`s movement, but also in the larger civil society sector that was beginning to attract some level of sanction on account of its work. Perhaps the crisis appeared bigger than it actually was because the emerging activist sector while commonly survives on camaraderie, trust and enthusiasm had not had to deal with the full force of what it means to be empowered individuals.

Also the age old habit of selfless devotion and sacrifice `serving others` most women succumb to, may have been transferred to the activist space such that some members may have felt not adequately appreciated. Indeed in an activist space the actors are many, the roles more visible and the stakes are higher such that it is not uncommon for egos to become more sensitive to criticism or doubt. Nonetheless, TAMWA survived and emerged stronger.

In fact the crisis introduced the notion of organizational health and anti burn out measurers to CSOs. Following an emotional OD intervention members were able to come to terms with their reality and create a healthier space to address existing and perceived weaknesses. TAMWA had to change and since she has learnt the value of reinventing herself and her agenda making it timeless. TAMWA`s records successes not just institutionally, but also with her membership which comprises of exceptional pioneers.

Edda Sanga was Chief Controller and acting head of Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam (RTD) before her retirement while Joyce Mhaville manages the largest private radio and television network in the country. Fatma Alloo, Halima Sheriff and Rose Kalemera all among founder members have also worked in the civil society sector serving and serve in a number of prestigious boards. Pili Mtambalike and Rose Haji work for the Media Council of Tanzania and MISA-Tanzania respectively.

Young women journalists who interned at TAMWA are mostly employed as media consultants and directors in the private sector. Mahfoudha Alley Hamid, a TAMWA veteran was a member of the first East Africa Legislative Assembly and currently serves as Deputy Chairperson for the Tanzania Human Rights and Good Governance Commission while others like Zainab Vulu serve as Parliamentarians and others like Halima Kihemba and Betty Mkwasa in local government administration.

As I danced and ululated in celebration with women I had known and grown with for 20 years, I could not help but feel a strong sense of achievement. Members I had not seen for a number of years trickle into the new headquarters to join in the momentous occasion. There was laughter and congratulations all round.

By sheer will the vision of 10 women, who the whole world seemed to ridicule had lived on, thrived and triumphed! It inspired and gave birth to other smaller social justice movements at local and national levels.

The Tanzanian First Lady, Mama Salma Kikwete graced the occasion. I was gripped by a strange disquiet as she posed a challenge to TAMWA for the next twenty years. As I looked around me, I wondered would I recognize my sisters (and brothers) in activism 20 years from now? Certainly, mostly TAMWA members and `official` activists`` attended the event. I would have loved to see greater participation of the population that TAMWA spent 20 years advocating for.

Perhaps a public solidarity walk would have been more appropriate to facilitate a broad based commemoration. Also while there were a few men in attendance, many men representing media organizations stayed away. How could they then be seen to lend moral support to women`s human rights when such support is not felt in physical terms?

While TAMWA`s successes fill me with pride I can`t help but worry about the implications. I worry whether the agenda we have fought so hard to push is getting co-opted as more young women with activist potential are being lured by the private sector which is reverting to selling the sexualized image of young women.

It is no secret that other than plastering images of young and supposedly successful women in marketing ads, many companies employ younger women because of the `sex appeal` they offer. Another consideration is the lower wages they attract in contrast to male executives. This is not to say that young female media practitioners are not worth their salt. Rather there is a real concern around the original agenda of using the media to conscientize about and advocate women`s human rights being compromised in the era of a liberal media and economy.

The detachment of young women from the struggles of past is palpable as most activists organizations and initiatives remain dominated by middle aged and retired women. Young professions have sold out to the liberal economy as most become preoccupied with becoming successful in the market and portraying an outer image of success through apolitical consumerism. Gender discrimination has mutated or gone underground such that young female professionals appear clueless about the struggles of past that brought about the even playing field they now enjoy.

Mistakenly, and perhaps because they come armed with an education, they think this is how things were and will continue to be. Indeed, TAMWA produced young professionals and executives who can compete with handsome pledges to her fundraiser providing much needed relief from over demanding and increasingly tightfisted funders.

But I wonder if in so doing whether the women`s movement is not opening itself up to an elitist and consumerist culture that is unconcerned with the means through which she achieves her end? Or is it a matter of redefining our values? Salma Mlidi is a political activist.

SOURCE: Guardian

Bongoland - Viewer Comments

Bongoland II - Mini Review

The new Film, Bongoland II, premiered in Minneapoli, Minnesota, this past Saturday Arpil 5, 2008. Here is a review from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

BONGOLAND II - The movie review - StarTribune - April 4th, 2008

The following is a movie review written by MEGAN KADRMAS from The StarTribune - Friday April 4th - After she reviewed the movie. (Page F11)Plymouth based filmmaker Josiah Kibira releases his third attempt Saturday in a quest to create high quality films in Swahili.

"BONGOLAND II" completes an adventure that brought Kibira back to his native country of Tanzania for 36 days of filming.As a continuation of Kibira's first Swahili-based movie "Bongoland", this sequel follows as main character Juma as he readjusts to life in Tanzania after failing in the United States.The beauty of "Bongoland II" arises in its misleading simplicity.

Although it could be said that the film tracks Juma's adaptation, it uses larger issues to highlight the ways in which Juma is not - and may never be - fully readjusted. From family secrets to workplace drama, reconnecting with friends to waiting for his girlfriend, it becomes clear that Juma might not fully reclaim who he once was.

Tanzania serves as a complementary backdrop, with its own mixture of basic starkness and complex beauty. Inside cinder block shanties and pristine swaths of beach, Juma learns that leaving home is sometimes easier than returning home.

Megan Kadrmas

Happy Easter

I take this time to wish all readers, a Happy Easter!

Learn Swahili

This is a new book available at Lulu.com

swahili grammar in use

by elizabeth mahenge

A book exposes simplest ways and methods of learning Swahili language as a second language. It exposes a learner to equivalent meanings which makes sense in his or her language, and then it gives a communicative translation which will help you to learn the language in a smooth way. So in a couple of days you will find yourself speaking standard Kiswahili language and you will wonder yourself how competent you are. In addition it give exercises at the end of every session along side answers at the back of the book to enable self-teaching of the Swahili.