Runny Eggs- YUCK!

It seems like every post is about food. Sorry, but it’s one of the main things that I look forward to when I travel. I love trying different foods and learning new ways of preparing things. I’ve realized that with many African, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures, we use all of the same ingredients, just prepared differently.

The place we’re staying at in Juba, tries it’s darndest to cater to the varied pallets of each of its guests. I haven’t really spoken to anyone else who is staying at my hotel, but I can tell that they’re from all over the world by their style of dress, language, and accents. Unfortunately, my hotel is trying a bit too hard and the food is disgusting. It’s as if the cook has tried to hard to learn how to cook an item from everywhere, that they haven’t mastered anything. Would you rather get straight Cs or two As and a bunch of Ds? I personally like As…

So despite their being curried chicken, goat stew, ugali and fresh vegetables, fried rice, and pastas with all types of sauce- it’s all gross.

This morning when I actually work up and got ready leaving enough time for breakfast, I was ecstatic to see that there was an omelet bar. It took me back to my college days. When I ordered my eggs, I specifically told the cook that I wanted them fried hard because that previous week, I had been given runny eggs in Nairobi and had to send them back when I realized that they were runny. But of course, despite my clear request, what I was I given, runny eggs! YUCK!

I gave them back to the chef and while he was refrying them, I asked him why he insisted on giving me runny eggs. (Some of you may know how inquisitive and slightly confrontational I can be). He proceeded to tell me that since most of their guests are White Europeans, they tend to runny eggs. Well, I’m clearly not White, so why give them to me even when I requested they be friend hard? And he said that that’s just how they’re trained to do it. Huh?!?!?

Long story, not so short, it seems as though in an effort to please everyone or assumably please everyone, tings are actually made worse… and taste as gross as runny eggs. Sorry if I offended any of you runny egg lovers.

Homophobia in Africa Harms Us in More Ways than We Realize

In an age where globalization often blurs the line between cultures- Africans are steadfast in maintaining their traditions as it relates to family values. In the US and other Western societies public figures routinely "out" themselves and openly engage in same sex relationships.

However, most African communities vehemently oppose and even criminalize any form of homosexuality and openness often results in persecution and sometimes even death. This forces homosexuals to engage in high risk sexual relationships for fear of being exposed within their community. Many African countries are already battling high HIV/AIDS infection rates, this coupled with the increased level of transmission between men who have sex with men only further exacerbates an already strained situation.

The criminalization of homosexuality also poses a health problem for those that are already infected with HIV/AIDS. Many who are aware of their HIV/AIDS status are afraid to seek treatment for fear of being outted. Others are incarcerated for their sexual preference and die due to AIDS related infections due to lack of care while in prison. And some who are brave enough to seek care despite the repercussions are turned away from some health facilities because of the stigma associated with their sexuality.

In Uganda, during a global HIV/AIDS conference, gay rights activists staged a protest against the discrimination of homosexuals. As a result, the activists were arrested, tortured, and humiliated- an incident which has publicized by Human Rights Watch and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). However, the situation has been largely ignored by authorities because the Ugandan government promotes homophobia and homosexuals can be imprisoned for life.

As a result, Western countries that due not institutionally discriminate against homosexuals have found themselves in a precarious situation as it relates to African immigrants. In the UK, a campaign has been launched to prevent a Ugandan asylum seeker from being deported back on the basis of his fear of sexual persecution. And in the US, a Senegalese man was successfully granted asylum on the basis of his sexuality.

I can't help but feel that on both fronts, political resources should be better spent- like the protection of civilians from violent crimes, as opposed to moral ones. I do not believe that individuals should abandon their values, but in a time where the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS is impeding human development, I find it more beneficial for a society to increase their number of health and educational professionals, even if it means they be homosexuals as well. Africa cannot afford to continue to lose young lives, whether it be to death from infection, persecution, or because they simply flee to escape these ills. We do not have to completely lose ourselves within Western culture, but killing ourselves for the sake of tradition doesn't seem to be working either...

Let American Apparel Show You How to Dress Like an Afrikan

American Apparel has a line of clothing available in four "Afrikan print" styles.
I've never seen this in Africa or worn by Afrikaans (since they so tactfully used a "k" instead of "c").

Unsurprisingly, there's lots and lots of zebra prints... What a mess!

Enough of ENOUGH

I usually don't like to criticize other NGOs for the work the do because I try to believe that everyone approaches their work with good intentions. And if we all shared the same vision then there would not be a needed for hundreds of different organizations. However, recently NGOs have been casually throwing around political terms that are extremely destructive and disrupting the humanitarian communities capability to reach our goals and truly generate positive change in the world.
Currently, I am thoroughly annoyed with ENOUGH. Besides the fact that I immediately recognized them as one of many bandwagon jumpers claiming to work towards the end of genocide in Darfur (ie. Save Darfur, 24 Hours for Darfur, Genocide Intervention Network, Stop Genocide Now, Our Pledge, and more that I could ever find the time to name), their latest "campaign" has really got me pissed off.
ENOUGH claims to be a "project to end genocide and crimes against humanity". However, their latest report is focused on Robert Mugabe and his dictatorship in Zimbabwe. Now, anyone who has been following this blog knows that I am not a fan of Mugabe and his most recent stunt thoroughly pissed me off. However, you also know that I am not a fan of any dictator and have compared him to other current leaders, who have been welcomed and befriended by the same leaders and countries that criticize Mugabe. I'm all about calling a spade a spade, but I can't stand double standards or public figures who exploit their power and influence for the sake of personal interests.
ENOUGH, however, seems to be unaware of leaders throughout the world who mirror Mugabe's style of leadership and took the time to write a 28 paged report suggesting that he should be held accountable and prosecuted for international CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. I'm not even sure if they know what that means. They then go on to say that the African Union should support the effort, though they will be reluctant to do this. Ummm...yeah...considering most of the members are his cronies!
Though I never held them in a high regard to begin with, I've completely lost respect for ENOUGH because in an effort to yet again jump on another humanitarian/political bandwagon, they have simplified the meaning of international statues and are abusing external actors role in protecting citizens. America and the Western world in general need to recognize that they are not world police. It has led them to act like the backward law enforcers citizens despise, who accept payoffs from billionaire drug lords and arrest 14year old corner boys.
Why hasn't ENOUGH written a report demanding that George W. Bush be indicted for international war crimes - considering he has illegally invaded and occupied a country for five years, destroying their infrastructure and invalidating the established method of governance, resulting in millions of refugees and displaced people. All to the political and financial benefit of he and his cohorts. But I won't get into that...
Ultimately, I've had ENOUGH with ENOUGH and they need to seriously reassess their mission and purpose.

African Idol

I was recently made aware of the existence of "African Idol" through an article questioning why contestants had to sing Western songs to gain legitimacy on the song. I supported the authors critique, especially because I am a fan of various genres of African music and also find it nonsensical for Africans to not use the show as a platform to showcase their own talents.
Because I had never seen an episode of African Idol, I decided to youtube it, take a look at how the show was produced, and better understand the author's critique. I was more than surprised by what I saw. Take a look at the video!

As Simon would say, it was absolutely HORRID! I think we do better when we stick to our own songs. It sounds so sweet!





But I'll give props when it's due, this was a damn good rendition of "Faith"!