America is Everywhere

Dre wanted to see if he compared to the depiction of the color of Americans.

There is good that the American government does around the world like in this Secondary Lamu school the government funded the construction and currently provide a fully loaded computer lap.


There is even an "American Corner" in the library of the small island of Pemba that offers an airconditioned room and free internet. The boss of this place was so excited to see Americans since Pemba isn't really a touristy place to go. He said that he would tell the embassy that they had us come through probably to insure the future funding. 

Swedish Man in Lamu & Landing in Malindi

So as we sit by the coast of Lamu in the Palace Hotel we meet a Swedish guy in his 50s. Andrew the Swede started to talk to us. After all the tomfoolery and a few irrelevant preliminary conversations he looked at me, said my name wrong and asked if he could ask me a question. I said sure with a look of "PLEASE DON'T SAY SOMETHING STUPID". (One is allowed to hope). He said, "I know what it's like to be white in Africa but what is it like to be Black in Africa?" I then gave him the why you say something stupid face. Noticing how stupid it sounds to ask a Black person/African what it feels like to be Black in Africa he said, "I mean being a Black American in Africa"which still isn't a better question. He saw the (white) privilege that I had and was surprised that I was Black and was wondering what it felt be the only black people in an all Black island to have just as much privilege as he. 

The question should be reversed and should be furthered by asking why do some whites feel a need to come to "developing countries" just to feel superior, important, adequate or maybe even comfortable. A more interesting question would be "why do whites feel so comfortable in a place where they are the minority/ what are you doing in Africa?

I wish I could have answered Swedish Andrew with my experience in the coming day

  So either this is EXACTLY how a terrorist looks or they were singling out Cheickna and I as soon as we landed in Malindi. Apparently when we were waiting for our plane in Lamu to Malindi amongst only/majority whites "someone" pointed out the two darkest brothers on the thirty passenger plane as "suspicious". So when we landed we were greeted by "authorities" (one guy with an AK 47 and the other with a serious look and bad pronunciation of our names.) We were asked for our passports. Cheickna was furious. In a Muslim nation we were suspicious because we were wearing a hat (Kofia). 40 minutes of our life wasted in trying to prove that Cheickna and I are not terrorist with American passports. It didn't help that my passport states that I was not American born, our names were both West African and we claimed to be American (good thing we had an "American Accent") nor did it help that Cheickna and I have the EXACT same birthday except I'm one year older.

He wrote down all the info on our ID's and Passports but then his superior comes in and says that they need a photocopy of our passport but they didn't have a scanner or any means of coping it there. So the Academic Director, Cheickna and I had to go to a store and get a copy while he followed on a motocycle. We gave him the copy and he said, "sorry brothers we too are muslim but we must do our jobs." 

So, what's it like to be conscious in the Black Continent? It's frustrating to see the "others" who have shaped a place that's not theirs so much so that till this day they feel entitled to come and go as they please. While locals cant move around as freely because they don't have the money that the "others" have amassed doing god knows what. To the the point that "locals" look out of place in their own space. Europeans and other westerners use Africa as  an "under developed Las Vegas" where their money goes even further. They are addicted, fasinated, and obssesed with Africa so they take advantage of the sad situations in Africa that was instigated by colonialism and now by business and Neo-Colonialism. Jomo Kenyatta opened up Kenya to the Westerners after independence as if he forgot the struggle and lives lost to attain independence from England. An Independence that was done through much bloodshed ie Land Freedom Army (falsely labeled Mau Mau). 

I guess there is a reason why whites settled in Kenya during colonialism and dubbed the name, "White Man's Land". Maybe someone should pull out a map and point out Europe.  

Taita & Kilwayu Pictures

Where we slept for two day in Kilwayu

BOSS in Taita

On Top of Vuria in Taita

Kiwayu

Where the guys slept

What We floated in on

The island of Kiwayu is even smaller than Lamu and should be about 40 miles away from Lamu; but for some reason it was a four hour trip there and a nine hour journey back. We ran out of gas and had to sail 90% of the way back which would have been okay of the winds weren't blowing at 5mph.
Despite the irregular amount of time spend on water Kiwayu was a pleasant place because of it's remote location. There was no electricity and we slept two nights on beach while the girls slept in the tree house.
First day there we went to the white sand beach and played soccer. 5v4 against the locals and we still didn't win though we held our own. Ate dinner and built a camp fire on the beach.  The director of the program, Athman, invited all of us around the fire to try some octopus. Tried it but have absolutely no desire to try it again.

Returning to Lamu. Maulidi Mubarak

Second day we snorkeled around 10am with some local sailboats and sailors. Had shark for lunch which by the way is way better than octopus. We slept through soccer and made a bonfire.

Sleeping in the Bow of the boat. It was HOT on DECK. Marisa decided to join since clearly I look to be comfortable. 

Maulidi First Few Days

DHOW RACE TOMORROW! The crew will sleep on boat to insure that no one sabotages

     Maulidi is a week long celebration in honor of the birth of the prophet Muhammad. The holiday is very controversial in the islamic community. Orthodox muslims like the Wahhabi considers the act "haram", which is a sin. They argue that the prophet never celebrated his birthday like this therefore it is not "Sunna". Sunna is anything that the prophet did that was not said by Allah but is considered good to mimic though if you don't you are not punished. It's used to enhance one's faith. They consider the Maulidi to be blasphemous and nearing idol worship. However on the very muslim island of Lamu they celebrate this week with Donkey Races, Dhow Races, Bow ( like mancala) Competitions, swimming competitions and of course soccer tournaments where there will be monetary prizes for first. Islamic schools known as madrasa's come from kilometers way to chant and represent in the festivals. 

     Lamu is well known for hosting the biggest festival in Eastern Africa today because a man known as Habib Swaleh or Swaleh ibn Alwy ibn Abdullah Jamal al-Lail. Habib Swaleh was a Shariff (a descendant of Prophet Mohamed) of Lamu in the 19th century but his origins are from Yemen. He brought this holiday and made it famous by interfacing the aspects of local culture into the celebrations i.e donkey races ( since lamu has no cars, donkeys are the best mode of transport).
To learn more about the history of Lamu Click here.

     On this day people ask the deceased like Muhammad and Habib to pray and talk to Allah on their behave which is a very African concept that elders and ancestors are the connects between man and the devine. Thinking about how Habib is treated after his death and how the prophet is treated informs that even though Africans were/are invaded, influenced and marginalized they retain there culture and traditions that can never be done away not through colonialism, imperialism or religion. 

Swimming Race! Some of these boys can swim in the Indian Ocean as if they were in the manicured pools we have. They dive off a dhow and swim about 100 meters. 

"Lamu, there is a four-day long festival, since 1990, the National Museums of Kenya, is the sponsor of the celebration. It organizes dancing demonstrations, donkey races, dhow races, Swahili poetry events, Islamic calligraphy competitions, Koranic recitals, henna competition, and other entertainments. Is estimated that at least 50,000 people attend this festival every year"

Swahili Doors

The swahili like the Arabs dont have art or any decorations in or on the house so they get fancy with the design on the door which is allowed. The doors usually state the wealth, occupation and the type of family the man comes from.

Allah & Jah

This game of dominoes as well as the paint on the walls of Lamu clearly depicts that there is a universal development and exchange of ideas. This game is played just like the Jamaicans play it on the island. There are partners that are diagonal from each other. Objective is to  get rid of your dominoes first going clockwise. Everyone gets Seven dominoes. Anyone with the double blank and/or double one's must show it. That person must get rid of that domino before the match is over or else it would be a 50 point deduction.  The winner of the match adds up the partner that lost's dominoes and that will also count against them. First team to 101 loses.

First time I played my partner and I won in three games with only 20 points against us.