Merkato, into Africa’s largest open-air market
Teju Cole’s ‘Every day is for the thief’ is among my favourite books on Africa – a hark back to my own growing up days in Nigeria. A memorable quote from the book goes: One goes to the market to participate in the world. As with all things that concern the world, being in the […]
Herero, kosher
Acts of assertion At airports: Bole International, Addis Ababa One would think it a gold-plated oil pipe if it was found anywhere else but on the passenger’s wrist. Even then the dimensions were adequate to traffic a newborn. Definitely more of what it was made of in little pellets or pewter format inside. The stuff […]
Goree Island – Confrontation as reconciliation
All around me was dark. I think it has been kept that way – midday outside but a kind of gloaming inside – probably the closest a visitor can be made to feel what went on in these narrow corridors and dungeons. The wall plaster is peeling in most places and remains of corroded iron […]
The anatomy of an emergency landing
I prayed and offered my soul to God. Then I took Susan’s hand and held it tight. She was crying. I told her it was good that we are together – if we are to die, we will die in each other’s arms. Of course, not that it stopped her from crying. Bob On my […]
Windmills for Windhoek
Vincent came running. “I was in that house cleaning their swimming pool,” he said pointing and with a broad smile I had gotten used to in Africa by now. “The rain and the wind had mucked it up,” he added, swole in damp clothes and wiping off drizzle from his face. The woollen cap was […]