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20:27
Dead Cat Bounce
» For Love and Money Dead Cat Bounce
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19:06 Relationship Expert Julia Sanna Discusses What Every African Immigrant Ought to Know About Relationships (Part One)
» The Displaced African Enclosure: [download]
If there are two topics the Internet, including the African immigrant web, are obsessed with its relationships and sex. HUGE proportions of this blog’s traffic, controversy, friends and enemies come from relationship and sex-related articles.
With that in mind, I thought I would do the most responsible thing I could. Get someone who is an expert on relationships, especially as pertains to African immigrants and find out what she knows, what her research has uncovered and what practical tips we can take away that we can apply to make our intimate relationships magical.
The picture is gorgeous aint it
And so I called upon the years of expertise built by one Julia Sanna
This Interview Is Long, So…….
Me and Julia spoke for an hour and thirty minutes and so I have divided this interview into three parts that will come out over the next fortnight.
I hope this interview will contribute towards the end of our creating, and I quote, an African Immigrant Relationship Manifesto where we basically look at all the unique aspects of our identity and leverage them to make our relationships absolutely outstanding.
Enjoy!
One Last Thing
To receive the latest podcasts, and all the previous podcasts, for free direct to your computer and mp3 player subscribe to the Displaced African podcast. Instructions on how to do this are in the short video below:
The Podcast
Issues Discussed
1) Who, Julia Sanna is and why you should pay attention?
2) How has immigrant life changed in the US over the 14 years she’s been abroad?
3) Why is her focus on counseling couples in their early years of marriage?
4) The absolute importance of the decisions that people make in those early years of marriage
5) What defines a successful relationship?
6) Importance of negotiables vs non-negotiables
7) Commonalities, shared values and their role in relationships
We go in depth into negotiables vs non-negotiables9) The importance of the man’s earning power to women
10) The definition of love
11) How the feeling of love and the choice to love intermingle
12) What men want vs what women want
13) The search for one’s parents in their partners??!!
14)
Websites Mentioned
3) Julia’s blog
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16:37
n.b.: Twitter
» Kikuyumoja's realm 
I’ve been using Twitter as a form of microblogging for quite some time now - and what I really like about it is that you constantly get to meet new people from different backgrounds with fresh ideas and different perspectives. For those who are willing to play this game, it comes close to a virtual BarCamp. Quite inspiring.
I just wanted to mention this once because I often have the impression that not everyone really understood the meaning of blogs - and a microblogging service like Twitter (as opposed to a Tumbleblog with no comment-feedback = no conversations) is a very social, albeit also limited blog version. “Yeah sure”, you may think, “what’s so new about that?”. Nothing, actually - just the pure fact alone of meeting new folks online is something that may be underrated some times.
And for this purpose, Twitter is much better than traditional e-mails, forums, Skype/IM, #irc and even Facebook. Why? Because it’s 1:1, on a personal level.
Oh, and if you’re already busy hiding your papered 1.0 business cards in this fast-paced world, create your own QR code and stick it to the back of your phone - as this post suggests. Neat!
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12:34
The Kenya Association of Stock-Jokers
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com Here they go again. This time it’s the stockbrokers who are hyperventilitating about the bearish stock market. They want people to start buying those stocks, darn it! Remember how these brokers make money: By charging you (the consumer) exorbitant commissions to buy and sell shares. Whether you make or lose money is irrelevant to them. [...]
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11:48
Discount Definitely Discounted
» Rants, Raves & Reviews Yes... it is true... Discount Securities Ltd has bitten the dust but unlike prior failures (Francis Thuo & Conmen + Nyaga stealbrokers) the CMA is doing a Chapter 11... so the firm will continue in business while another partner is sought to inject funds into DSL.
I think the CMA's actions makes better sense than just closing it down but buyers want a 'clean' license.
Options:
1) CMA & NSE to accept the debts of DSL while suing the current owners for recoveries. Then sell the 'clean' firm to other investors.
2) CMA & NSE to put the firm in receivership & sell the license. Use the proceeds to pay off claims. This is similar to what happened at FT & Co. Best option.
3) Ask buyers to buy the firm 'as is' but with a backstop for losses. This is harder to achieve but saves the CMA & NSE compensation fund lots of moolah. NIC Bank bought 60% of (Not so) Solid Securities & are still paying for it!
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11:36
Debates on the Mobile Web at MobileActive ‘08
» White African We just finished a really good conversation on the the future of the mobile web at MobileActive ‘08. Toni Eliasz of Ungana Afrika moderated a discussion where one side of the room was charged with arguing against the mobile web, and the other half for the mobile web. I sat on the “for” side of the room.
My Position
The web is made up of data, and we generally think of it as what we access via the PC. However, that same data can be accessed and added to through mobile phones as well. Whether its basic SMS, Java apps or direct web browsing. Data is data - how you access is what matters.
Some of the issues holding back penetration of the mobile web:
- Accessibility - though this gets better every year
- Cost - The reason why you can’t directly compare interaction or development of apps and services that use the mobile phone to the PC is because of the cost associated with data and SMS costs on mobile right now.
- Interface - usability can be a major problem on Java apps, and 160 characters is very limiting.
But the basic truth remains. If you can access and contribute to the global databases of content, then you are in fact on the mobile web.
The mobile web is already here. It’s happening now.
Mobile Web Questions
Rabble’s and Blaine’s Positions
The questions we debated.Rabble, creator of Yahoo’s Fire Eagle, and Blaine, the original architect of Twitter, continued the discussion with me afterward. The claim here is that the only truly mobile web device is the iPhone, all else is negligible - maybe not in theory, but in action.
Rabble tells me that it’s much like saying that if you could get the web through this blurry glass, even if it’s feasible, it’s not useful or likely. He’s got a good point…
[final note: I was preoccupied while trying to post this with Rabble and Blaines' conversation...]
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9:50
Mobile Wars Continue: Part III
» KA-INVESTOR (Part I & II)
Safaricom
After the IPO, Safaricom has gone silent and it no longer cares about their subscribers or how aggressively its competitors are wooing them. In the face of very stiff price wars from Zain and ‘New Telkom’ (with Orange – secret ingredient) the Giant is still asleep. But I think it’s a matter of time before it jumps in to save face (subscribers’ base). Apart from their innovative ‘M-pesa’ service, every other service Safaricom has is facing stiff rivalry.
Update: The Giant has reacted with a rather confusing offer.
Zain
These guys have changed ownership, name and management so many times until we’ve almost forgotten they used to be some inefficient, overcharging per minute firm called KenCel. No price is too low for them in their bid to woo subscribers. Zain has launched an aggressive price cutting war that hits both existing players (Safaricom) and new entrants (Telkom and Econet). This has been cited has being unfair competition backed by oil money. The firm seems not to care much about profits after last year dismal performance in Kenya. Their IPO in Zambia was a big success. This is the firm to watch.
‘New’ Telkom (with Orange – secret ingredient)
The one shilling rate offer has just put them in a different light. But this does not really sound sustainable – it’s a gimmick/mirage to me. But Orange, the new Telkom owner, has acted fast to launch their presence into the market, unlike Econet which has been coming for ages now. Plagued by an almost dead fixed line system, gross government mismanagement and non-performing employees it will be a near miracle if this giant catches up with the top two any time soon. They have outsourced their customer care department to Kencal – something I always hoped Safaricom should have done a decade ago.
Econet
The 49% stake they sold to Essar Communication Holdings does not seem to help much. The only thing it’s done is to rekindle the old promise of launching soon. The deadline was June 31st, and then moved to September 30th and now nobody is talking about any deadline. They have however recruited staff, got dealers and even talked of partnering with an existing service provider to ride on their infrastructure in readiness for the roll out, but all these have just been an anti-climax. When will this firm roll out? -
DSL under Statutory Management?
» KA-INVESTOR 
I’ve read (here and here) that a Kenyan stockbrokerage firm, Discount Securities Ltd., has been placed under KPMG’s management for what is now called “corporate governance challenges”. There have been several complaints against this stockbroker for a while now. It comes as no surprise that they been placed on what I can simply term as a ‘friendly’ statutory management.
And they are not the only ones, other players are also rumored to be in financial distress. Is this market going down due to the players inefficiencies and crooked ways of cartels?
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8:29
NSE: one step back, one step forward
» bankelele NSE: one step back, one step forward
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Discount Securities discounted...?
» Rants, Raves & Reviews Rumours has it that DSL is the 'Another One Bites The Dust'...
It was not unexpected but considering the recent spate of buyouts I am surprised there was no white knight. Of course, as NIC Bank learned that buying existing brokers is fraught with bad debts! Luckily NIC Bank has deep pockets & can buy its way out of the muddle.
Crossfield lucked out in being bought out by ABC Bank... but I think there are 2 more players who remain shaky...
Yes... the safcon IPO problems coupled with the current drop in the market is really decimating the investors and the players!
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5:44
Daniel Pearl World Music Days: Music Program at Paa ya Paa Arts centre, Sat 25th Oct,2.30pm
» Kenyanpoet Daniel Pearl Foundation whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, tolerance and dialogue is joining hands with Paa Ya Paa Arts Centre and the U.S Embassy to bring you Daniel Pearl World Music Day (DPWMD), an afternoon of music, poetry, stories, articles, art and photography.
The event will be held at the Paa Ya Paa Art Centre off Ridgways Road along Kiambu Road on Saturday 25th from 2.30pm.
DPWMD uses the power of music to promote cross cultural understanding and inspire hope for our global community.
The foundation was created in response to the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street journal reporter, Daniel Pearl at the hands of terrorists in Pakistan.
The theme of the DPWMD day is to build a platform of Harmony for Humanity.
All poets, stroytellers, musicians are invited in this celebration.
If interested in participating, drop me a line on kenyanpoet(at)gmail(dot)com
(To get to Paa Ya Paa, you take Matatu no.100 in downtown Nairobi, Racecourse Rd)
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4:22
Remote Mobile Hack for Water Pumps
» Afromusing Via Jan Chipchase
Farmers were tired of waking up at odd hours to irrigate their farms, so one of them created a mobile app that allows remote control of water pumps
Jan notes that there is a commercial version, called Nano Ganesh.The impact of this, particularly when combined with cheap and reliable services like Village Connection should not be underestimated.
Indeed. This hack reminded me of the brilliant Morris Mbetsa from Kenya who made an anti theft device that is controlled remotely via mobile phone. When the technology platform allows for people to write localized applications, amazing things happen. This is another reason I like the Nokia S60, because it allows for anyone to create hacks such as this. Now that is transformative technology.
I am currently reading Jonathan Zittrain’s book ‘The future of the Internet and how to stop it’ In the first few chapters he mentions ‘generativity’ and how it is part of the internet. To paraphrase, it is the ability for 3rd parties to create and innovate on top of a platform. In light of the S60 Nokia platform and the open source nature of the Symbian and Android…perhaps the mobile world is set to have platforms that encourage innovation around the world. Just like the story from India and Kenya are interesting, I think there is definitely more to come.
PS: I am currently at Mobile Active 08 ; a conference bringing together many of the people using mobiles for social change. You can follow the proceedings on http://twitter.com/mobileactive
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The Lamu Cultural Festival; 28- 30 November, 2008
» Kenyanpoet The Lamu Cultural Festival 28- 30 November 2008
Lamu Old Town is a unique and rare historical living heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement. In 2001, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Since then the Lamu Cultural Promotion Centre, a community based group, has been organizing an annual cultural festival to promote and preserve the unique Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago.
The trade w
inds of the Indian Ocean have been bringing visitors from the world to the East African coast for over a thousand years. The local people of Lamu have a long established tradition of welcoming travelers. In the same spirit, the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group bids you a warm ‘Karibu’ to this year’s Lamu Cultural Festival to experience hospitality that has remained unchanged over the centuries.
The three day festival showcases traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races), and musical performances from both local and visiting artists sharing a united heritage. This year’s programme will feature the Arab-Andalusian group ‘Musica Antigua – Eduardo Paniagua’ from Spain as well as popular Taarab musicians from Zanzibar. The Spanish group, led by the award winning conductor, Eduardo Paniagua, specializes in interpreting medieval Arabic Andalusian music and play the lute, the hurdy-gurdy, the tromba marina, flute, organ and the darbuga (drum). There will also be displays of traditional handicraft, henna painting, Swahili food and a Swahili bridal ceremony. Lamu Fort will host an informative exhibition on the history and origin of ‘Swahili Doors’. National Museums of Kenya and the Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa will be organizing a workshop on the Lamu politician/poet (1760 – 1830) Zahidi Mngumi, which will culminate with the presentation of copies of manuscripts to Lamu Museum from the State Museums of Berlin and Hamburg.
Lamu Museum will be offering guided visit to Takwa Ruins on Manda Island on Sunday morning. Following the introduction of film shows at last year’s Festival, a series of films are scheduled once again in Mkunguni square on Sunday evening.
Lamu offers accommodation to suit all pockets. Transport by road to Lamu is safe. Public transport from Mombasa leaves daily at 7, 10 and 11am (Tawakal Bus, Tel. Mombasa 041 222975). The journey from Mombasa to Mokowe on the mainland takes six hours, followed by a half an hour boat ride to Lamu Island.
Other attractions include:
·Lamu Museum, exhibiting Swahili culture and the mainland’s non-Swahili groups
·Lamu Fort, dating back to 1821, having been built by the Sultan of Oman shortly after Lamu’s victory over Pate and Mombasa in the battle of Shela
·German Post Office Museum
·Swahili House Museum
·Takwa National Monument on Manda Island (a settlement dating back to AD 1500, with ruins of a Great Mosque and a pillar tomb)
·Ruins of Shanga, an 8th century Swahili settlement, on Pate Island, containing remains of the coral walls of 160 houses, two palaces, three mosques and hundreds of tombs
·The early Swahili settlement of Pate, once a power in the region
·Numerous sites and monuments that showcase Swahili civilization at its height in the 15th century
·Donkey sanctuary for the old beasts of burden
·The dhow making village of Matondoni
Through the Festival, the people of Lamu continue to share their heritage, both tangible and intangible with the wider world, promoting dialogue and understanding among pepoles and culture while at the same time playing an important role in promoting sustainable cultural tourism.
A wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty and traditions of this mystical, exotic and serene archipelago.
The Lamu Cultural Festival is organized by the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group
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3:09
Quick Links
» Black Looks *** No surprise poverty in “Africa’s Kuwait” All Africa reports, “Equatorial Guinea is one of the world’s top 30 oil producers, according to its Ministry of Mines, but corruption watchdog group Global Witness says most in the country still live in poverty. Global Witness US-based policy advisor, Sasha Lezhnev, told IRIN: “Equatorial Guinea is the dictatorship that [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Links", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/quick_links-15.html" });
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Poetry Slam: 3rd Slam Africa- Oct ,17th @Dass,Westlands
» Kenyanpoet The 3rd Slam Africa poetry challenge is on this Friday,Oct 17th @ The Dass restaurant.
The previous two slams saw Tim Mwaura and Obaladan take the titles of 'Slam Champion' and the prize money, the two were also featured in the cover of the 'WAPI Times' magazine.
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2:07
KELELE - it’s a conference
» Kenyan Pundit It will be a couple of years after the brouhaha surrounding the first African bloggers conference in Grahamstown SA and its supposed lack of diversity, but it’s finally good to see the announcement about an African bloggers conference in Nairobi. Hopefully those of you who felt that Grahamstown could have “looked” better will take this opportunity to help shape Kelele into what you’d like it to be as far as representing the African blogosphere (yes, no bitching after the fact is what I’m saying!).