On the bus

‘Why cannot you believe in Jesus’, asked the Congolese passenger sitting by my side. This was during a spurt of conversation that the bus entered into, after a small town or stop had passed. He is heading to Congo, and will change for another bus from Dar Es Salaam, after taking rest for a night … Continue reading On the bus →

Belief ‘Why cannot you believe in Jesus?’I can! It doesn’t make any difference, this name or something else. 'Do you not want to believe in Jesus?’ he asks. We smile and share peanuts. He turned down my offer of cashewnuts. He is home bound. to Congo. And bought a Masai shawl for someone back home. … Continue reading →

16/7/2018 East Africa on a bus. Ends in 52 hours on a bus and traverses over 2000 kilometres of this piece of African continent. This is a different world. Interesting, beautiful, tough and brave.

17/7/2018 Nairobi Two pages from Sabiti Kabushenga’s ‘Yet’. Unusual form and extraordinary spontaneity in this poem. Re-reading every poem in the collection. Volumes of Poets of Africa to leave with.

Walking with Nairobi’s office folks. Busy and flowing just like any other big city. Watch out for the crazy matatus is said often.

16/7/2018 Nairobi On the left is a large Indian temple and on the right a dozen works snooze on the grass. Afternoon Nairobi is as laid back as the morning. They were found hurrying only in the evening, for their bus rides home. Moi Avenue’s noise levels increased rapid as the evening took on. While … Continue reading →

Stone Town. Diaspora. And layers of history of human endeavour.

Sighting land. A joy too primal. Need longer voyages soon.

12/7/2018 Zanzibar ‘Alhamdulillah, we are about to reach the end of our journey.’ Not too different from the reaction of ancient mariners on sighting this beautiful island, one imagines.

Followed like Pied Piper’s rat. Dar Es Salam