Art

Another pencil portrait. Here I tried out Lupita Nyong'o of 12 years a slave fame.

Art

I know this has been drawn several times before but this one here is my version using only a 2H pencil. It took me more than 2 hours to complete. Not completely perfect but Am guessing you can identify this person.

Art

                                            How about some Jay Z?

Art

I was bored looked up amazing horse pictures on the net and picked up my pencil. I came up with this.

Art

I have not done this for close to 20 years until today. This was one of my hobbies growing up.

 

Art

Lively up yourself and don't be no drag. A 2H Pencil portrait of the legendary singer Bob Marley.

 

 

Nyango - Long journey to a resting place of Namibian heroes

One of dilapidated buildings that served as shelter for many
Namibian refugees. Photo: George Sanzila

The area of Nyango located in the Kaoma district some 400 kilometres west of Lusaka is rich in history and is likely to get a new lease of life in the near future from the Namibian government, due to the sentimental value the area holds 

as Nyango hosted countless Namibian refugees that fled their country in fear of persecution during the struggle for independence.

Even though the then South African apartheid regime relentlessly pursued Swapo fighters who had crossed over into Zambia, most Namibian refugees considered Nyango a safe haven. That the place is of significant historical importance became evident during Zambezi Regional Governor Lawrence Sampofu’s recent visit to Zambia.

Just getting to Nyango is in itself cumbersome. During a long drive from Lusaka – traversing Zambia from east to west – we veered off in a northwesterly direction off the main road to embark on yet another adventurous drive, only this time it became more challenging and time-consuming.

It took a further 35 kilometres through thick dust that refused to settle quickly in the rough gravel road that leads to Nyango. Many of the sedan vehicles forming part of the entourage failed to pass the test and had to return to the main road due to the impassable conditions of the gravel and dirt road.

We drove over six culvert structures in the Barotseland area that appear to be prone to flooding. When we finally arrived at Nyango, the sun had already set. Due to the poor conditions of the road it felt as if we had driven the mere 35 kilometres to Nyango thrice.

Arriving at the site was a sombre affair though, particularly at the gravesite where many Namibians are buried. Some structures still stand in the highly secluded area and – even though dilapidated – still serve as a reminder of the once peaceful sanctuary it offered to Namibian refugees.

The locals seemed unfazed by the official visit. Some recalled those times with bittersweet memories and greeted everyone with a grin in Oshiwambo, a language that once dominated in the refugee camp.

The visit to Nyango coincided with the commemoration of Heroes Day in Namibia and commenced with a moment of silence at the gravesite in remembrance of the fallen. Sampofu noted that it was befitting for him and his delegation to visit Nyango on Heroes Day, adding that the contribution made by these people resulted in the freedom the country enjoys today.

He further noted that Namibians buried at Nyango deserve dignified burials and that the government would continue exhuming their remains to be reburied in Namibia. 

During a courtesy call  by Sampofu the following day the minister of the western province, Poniso Njewulu, stated that many Namibians can rightfully regard the western province as a second home, due to the integral political history the region shares with Namibia.

 Many Namibian freedom fighters, including Sampofu, operated from the western province adjacent to the Angolan border.

The vice-president of Zambia, Inonge Wina, had also bemoaned the dilapidated state of the Nyango camp during an earlier interaction with Sampofu, suggesting that a joint effort was needed between the two governments to put up a school there. Sampofu also noted at the time that in memory of the fallen freedom fighters, the Namibian government was considering building a shrine in the area.

A culture-less generation.

Women from Zambezi demonstrate the art of pounding Maize.
Photo: George Sanzila

UPON an interesting conversation I had with one of the elders in the Zambezi Region, it became evident the elderly have lost confidence in today’s youth.

More so because we have drifted away from what ought to be our guiding light – culture.

He asserted that the confusion with young people today is that they have fully embraced a modern culture, of which they know nothing about.

That has culminated in the many social problems they face today – domestic violence, unemployment, poverty, rape, crime, disease and hunger.

Sadly enough, they tend to drag the elderly into their mishaps by involving parents in matters whose origins they know nothing about.

Culture is supposed to be hereditary.

It is who we are. It defines our identity and respect for one another. That simple fact has been forgotten by the youth who will jump at every opportunity to be more western than the westerners themselves.

Our culture and customs are what sustained our forefathers. It created a sanctuary for peace and co-existence unlike the present day. Losing such values is tantamount to losing yourself.

In as much as the youth scramble to urban centres in search of better education and jobs, there is a greater need to tap into the fountain of indigenous knowledge.

The few elderly people with the knowledge are not passing it on to the youth the reason being that the youth seem not to be interested or are not eager to learn and often shy away from embracing this useful wealth of wisdom. They shun their roots in the process.

Indigenous knowledge is key to our quality of life as well as our future survival as people. In Zambezi Region where I hail from, many of the youths fail to perform menial jobs as basic as pounding maize, cultivating fields and catching fish.

Yet the tasks provide the much needed food for the family. Popular culture seems to have taken its toll and it’s a worrying phenomenon.

Nutritious traditional riverine foods such as water-lilies (isoto) can only prepared by a few skilled cooks and only sold at special places at exorbitant price.

Even though the youth seem to have a growing appetite for traditional cuisine, they do not care to learn how to prepare it.

Some cite doing so is backward. Many youths without jobs go hungry in villages everyday while rivers and forests are just metres away.

This has in turn prompted the influx of foreigners who possess the skills or are eager to survive and are often employed by us. In the Zambezi Region for example, Lake Liambezi has been a hot bed for foreign fishermen because young people simply do not possess the skills to catch fish.

The paradox is that we tend to complain of the plunder of our resources when we have created an environment that allows such a situation to flourish.

We have only ourselves to blame for the exploitation of our resources by foreign nationals because we lack the knowledge and zeal to exploit them ourselves. We are becoming our own victims.

Twenty years down the line, we would be a people that have not only lost its natural resources but also a people with no cultural value, the very foundation of humanity.

Perhaps what is more worrying is the fact that the generation with the knowledge is slowly fading away.

Strategies ought to be improved by the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture to ensure the restoration of our cultural values and customs, lest we become a cultureless society.

‘Stone City’ an idyllic recreational spot

Breath taking - Stone City at the border with Zambia  Photo: George Sanzila

People crowd the shallows of the riverbank, as the cascading water trickles over the rocks offering a cadence to the rhythms and notes of the festive season.

Not too far away a flock of birds hover lazily above the water, beckoning the rain as schools of fish negotiate the currents of the great Zambezi. Katima Mulilo is in happy festival.

Aptly named ‘Stone City’ by locals, because of the fascinating rock formations of the area, this spot has become a magnet for the residents of the town, as well as visitors, and offers a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of life in the town and most importantly is a sanctuary from the scorching summer heat and oppressive humidity.

For first time visitors, a view of ‘Stone City’, which is nestled in a lush forest and etched against the choppy and foamy Zambezi River, can be absolutely breathtaking.

And to accentuate the splendour of this idyllic location the Zambezi/Sesheke Bridge hovers majestically over the river only a few metres away.

The only drawback is that there are no ablution facilities or parking. Perhaps it is time for the town council to pay a little more attention to ‘Stone City’, which is undoubtedly a great recreational site. Failure to do that will only lead to degradation. Already pollution is a big problem.

Fortunately the chief executive officer of Katima Mulilo Town Council, Charles Nawa, says the town council has already embarked on a de-bushing exercise aimed at improving the site.

The reputation of ‘Stone City’ has even crossed the boundaries of the country and today it attracts visitors from as far as Botswana and Zambia for the sole purpose of recreation. The area, considered somewhat of a frontier between Namibia and Zambia, lies very close to both the Wenela border border post and the Zambezi/Sesheke bridge on the outskirts of Katima Mulilo. At night, when the bridge is fully illuminated, the reflection of the giant structure in the water is astounding.

Mo Ibrahim rewards the privileged

Ambitious - Founder Mo Ibrahim

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation was established in 2006 with the aim to support good governance and great leadership in Africa. The latest recipient of the US$5 million prize money is former Cape Verde President Pedro Pires. Previous recipients include Festus Mogae of Botswana, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Nelson Mandela of South Africa. The prize comprise an initial US$5 million payment followed by US$200 000 annually for life.

I do not have a problem with the aim of the prize itself - that of supporting democracy and good leadership. My problem lies with its selective approach in rewarding an individual in the form of a President. Isn't democracy born out of collective leadership involving even the nation’s citizens. Why then, should a single President be rewarded single handedly? On the other hand, why should a President be rewarded for a job they were elected to do in the first place? Doesn’t that constitute a bribery of some sort?

When Presidents are elected into office they are often bombarded with many benefits, to a point that when they leave office, most become wealthy regardless of whether they were honest or corrupt leaders during their reign. Why then, should we shower them with extravagance in the amount of of five million US Dollars? Are we really encouraging good governance or greed? Should Africa be paraded as a continent where democracy can only thrive when they're “handsome rewards”? Where is our moral fabric as patriotic Africans whose goal is to advance this continent without necessarily looking at incentives? Is this prize money even enough to discourage African leaders to stop their rot? For instance, the late Gabonese leader Omar Bongo's personal bank accounts revealed a huge amount of over 130 million US Dollars coupled with lavish properties in France. Would US$5 million discourage other potentially unscrupulous Presidents in Gabon for example? Why can’t Ibrahim instead invest his vast wealth in programmes aimed at eradicating poverty and inculcating ideals that are against greed and corruption in African Governments? Better yet, how about rewarding countries with good governance and not necessarily it's Presidents? 

Like I pointed out at the beginning of this article, I fully support the aim of this prize. It is common knowledge that citizens of such countries whose Presidents are recipients of this lucrative prize continue to live in abject poverty, hunger, disease and corruption so why reward a select few?

The Mo Ibrahim prize for achievement in African leadership as it stands is an embodiment of the ever growing gap between the rich and the poor.