World story telling day

On 20th March 2012 I overheard on a radio news bulletin that it was World Story Telling Day.

What story could I concoct for my visitors at dinner? I did not need to conjure up any story after I encountered a snake outside my bedroom as I headed out to dinner.

More remarkable, I managed to capture the snake in a plastic bag and carried the bag and its contents to the dining room with my hand holding the bag clenched in a tight grip. I thought the visitors would be interested to see the snake. They were, although only one of them, Caroline, came close enough to observe the snake.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-version-of-year-in-review-january2.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-remove-poisonous-snake-from-house.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-version-of-year-2010-in-review-march.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2009/01/up-to-my-neck-in-snakes.html

My version of the year 2011 in review: 28 January

At the junction of the Mwanza to Musoma road, 11 kilometres from Butiama, I noticed that the old signboard featuring President Jakaya Kikwete and our Member of Parliament for the Musoma Urban constituency Nimrod Mkono had been replaced by a new one.

posted from Bloggeroid

My version of the year 2011 in review: 27 January

For the umptieth time, I sat on my reading glasses.

A chicken has to die

Several days ago, a student of Butiama Secondary School carried to school a present for two of the five Canadian visiting teachers. A live cockerel.

When I drove to pick them up at school the teachers asked me: "what do we do with it?" A pertinent question as they will shortly leave for Canada. I said: "you eat it."

That did not go down smoothly. The visitors, unlike the hosts, did not not take too lightly the cessation of one life and transforming it into a dinner menu.

I have pledged to keep the cockerel as a permanent pet. I expect future visiting teachers from Canada's Queen's University to demand to see the gift that the teachers from 2011 left behind.

Zanaki culture

One cultural practice of the Zanaki ethnic group that could be considered unusual in other societies is effecting burial on residential compounds.

The photo depicts, on the left, Chief Nyerere Burito's grave. He died on 30th March 1942 and was buried on the grounds in front of his house at Mwitongo in Butiama village.

The round building in the photo was constructed as a memorial on the spot where his house stood.
On the right is the grave of his fifth wife, Christina Mgaya wa Nyang'ombe. She died in 1997 and was estimated to be 105 years old.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2009/12/letter-from-butiama-married-life-in.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/04/zanaki-and-meat.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2011/10/zanaki-culture.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/07/inheritance-among-zanaki.html

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