To The Unbeliever

Looking for words in Goedgedacht

2011-09-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

For one week between 5th and 9th of September 2011, I was in the wild for a writing workshop, supposed to help me improve the writing of my thesis.

The stay was great. The place is a farm called Goedgedacht. It is surrounded by hills and lost in a valley. The air is fresh and the only noise heard come from birds and other animals.

Hopefully the initiative will inspire others. The retreat helped me to finish with some structural issues of my thesis chapters. I came back from there revived and confident to hand in the document very soon.

Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival

2011-06-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I would like to invite you to visit the 13th Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival.

The program is at this address: http://www.encounters.co.za/

Here are some pictures from the event venue at Cape Town V&A Waterfront Nu Metro theaters.

I will tell more afterwards...

A funny experience of using trains in Cape Town...

2011-06-03T03:47:00.000-07:00

I am writing in order to raise awareness on some Metrorail (PRASA) agents doings making me fear them more than any robber or killer on my way home. And I would like to point out some people behaviors when they witness someone getting mistreated.

Hopefully, this will help, as well, someone else who would be complaining about the same thing and would have got a response meaning that he/she was the only one to complain: now we would be two.

Some times ago, around 6pm, while going back home (I stay in Cape Town - SA), I was stopped at the Ndabeni station by train ticket controllers or people looking like them (which is unusual at that time of the day). I was traveling in a first class wagon with a third class ticket. I was driven out of the coach. The fine is R40 for that kind of issues. I followed the agents hoping that we could negotiate a settlement (something like paying a normal fair). They asked me to pay the full fine amount and I answered that I hadn't enough money to do so. They were four: three men and one woman. They were acting like having all rights. They were not having identification badges with them. There would be no way to recognize them (I thought). One of them was visibly under the power of alcohol.

We were four: A colored mature man and three black men. The colored man paid quickly and was released. We were then conducted to the offices up the stairs. When we arrived upstairs, I was ordered to get into a sort of cage (I am still amazed that they do have cages in train station to retain people). I refused to do so.

They pushed me, pulled me, beat, choked and handcuffed me. I started fearing that it could get funny and I could get uselessly injured or killed, or I could loose my valuables in my backpack with all my work inside. I decided to pay the money. I gave them the money and I was relaxed.

I was amazed: it was just unbelievable. What did I do to deserve so much violence? I didn't insult them. I was assaulted for an affordable train ticket. Was it the money the problem? Was it that I resisted? Do they have the right to put people in cages? Are they law enforcement agents ?

People were just watching. None of them said or did or expressed any concern about what was happening to me. Every one was minding his/her own business. Anything could have happened to me and nobody would have intervened. I suppose that it might be the police job or I could have just paid earlier or I could have avoided to be in the wrong wagon with my ticket. Just after I was relaxed, a young colored man approached me and expressed his discontent of what he witnessed. He said: "they should treat people properly!"

I just wonder if there was a team allocated to search customers on that line at that moment of the day or I was just robbed by people dressed like Metrorail agents or Metrorail agents turned into robbers.

At the end of the day, I felt violated. I was wrong to be on that coach with the wrong ticket. But their behavior was just unacceptable. And because I was wrong in the first place, nobody listened to my story, estimating that I somehow excited them (Sounds like what happens to girls who got raped).

Further more, I am embarrassed that in Africa, you would die in front of people an nobody would have raised a finger to help, because they are minding their own business. What is that culture of loneliness? That's sound very new to me; and that presage dark times for all of us.

A glance on “Infecting the city”: The Spier public arts festival (2011)

2011-03-02T01:47:00.000-08:00

Cape town discovered on the 21th of February 2011 a very strange activity, spreading all over it streets, with people raising stages, raising ‘dirty’ stages and ‘dirty’ houses, wrapping monuments and trees, and performing unusual oriental delectable.

There were in the program various performances with The Jewels, treasure hunt, art work display, and other pleasurable.

Cape Town’s plazas and squares turned into art galleries.

I was curious not to ask but to get something just coming to me; and I discovered plastic humanoid remains: and I directly felt that the life was gone.

An over consuming and polluting city stands on dirt, wears dirt and accommodate unfortunate people with dirt. I even hesitated to scratch some building stones on the way fearing to reveal the dirt fleshing it... May be I am just sensitive to art or... I have too much imagination...

The public art festival ran from 21^st to Saturday 26of February 2011.

Cape Town train station was the festival hub.

Students from numerous schools attended the event and were conducted throughout the routes.

I was just walking by and That captivated me.

www.infectingthecity.com

www.africacenter.net

http://www.spier.co.za (Spier farm and wine)

Lira lyra

2011-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Cape Town was burning under an empty blue sky. At CPUT, Cape Town campus there was a live Lira performance.

The Jazz voice brought some cool to the hit and the whole campus exploded in exultation. The was repeating the words like a choir and it felt great being there and enjoying that.

Happy New year 2011 and coons Carnival in Cape Town

2011-01-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

Best wishes for the new year.

Usually we enter the year, here in Cape Town with sounds and music with the coons carnival.

But this year, because of some misunderstanding the fest turned bizarre with police all over the place, something that cut your pleasure down...

But nothing could stop the Cape entertaining groups from showing their colors, in sounds and dances...

Some are comparing the coons carnival of Cape Town to the Carnival of Rio... I will say that there may be rivalry in spirit...

And keeping the best for the end... here are pictures of a group with Cameroon colors...

Yes... what a year ahead... it feels great to be Cameroonian in Cape town now...

We’re all black stars...

2010-07-02T05:38:00.000-07:00

It was a very dark period, I couldn’t even write... The whole continent was despairing counting its teams driven one by one out of the greatest tournament of the beautiful game ever organised that it was hosting. Then came a star, in a spark, a black star, from the west, which stroke the heaven on it way, and sprinkled Mzansi’s shores with the hope of keeping the cup home for a while. Where certain favourite names failed, our black star succeeded for our pride. Today, Ghana is our country, Ghana is Africa... Yes, today, we’re all black stars!

When Cameroon went head on head with Netherland on the 24^th of June a lot of things appeared. For that game at the Cape Town stadium, an impressive flow of fan followed the fan walk like an orange river; it was difficult to distinguish the very scarce green jerseys though. It was the first time since the beginning of the competition such a people preferred the experience of the fan walk to any other mean towards the stadium. And the stadium filled at around 90% of it capacity.

All Bafana Bafana...

2010-06-17T03:41:00.000-07:00

When the referee accorded the penalty to the opponent team our hearts broke, and when he gave the red card to the goalkeeper, we almost died.The emotion was huge and I can guess that all Africa shared the despair of the rainbow nation at that moment. But rules are rules and those are the rules of football. And in life you just can’t win every time.Fortunately there are still chances and a lot is still possible, let keep the faith and keep on believing. Tomorrow is another day rich with greater opportunities and occasions to enjoy ourselves and to celebrate victory, achievements and breakthrough.

The spirit is still palpable in the streets and people are looking forward for more thrills from games between legendary teams and clashes between incredible players.

Ladumaaaaaaaaaa !

2010-06-13T04:47:00.001-07:00

Feel it people, it’s in Africa. Here is the report of the World Cup’s kick off from Cape Town streets.

On the 11th of June 2010, the world witnessed it: Africa made. The most beautiful face South Africa gave to the world that day was unity behind Bafana Bafana. All races were represented, the joy was excessive, and just a few violent issues were registered.

We made the walk amongst the crowd from Fan fest point at Grand Parade to a small pub on Loop street.

The pictures speak for themselves..

Vuvuzela in one hand, the world cup in the other:

Let feed the supporters:

Africa was entirely behind the bafana's and the game against mexico gave all the promises. When Shabala striked for the goal, an extraordinary explosion of joy shake the whole continent and we started truly to think of keeping the cup in Africa.

It is here, feel it !!!!!!!

2010-06-11T01:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome all to the very first World Cup on the African Shores.

The journey for a real Fan to the Fan fest (pics of the opening fan fest in Cape Town on the 10 -06 -2010 ).

From home, you take ticket with you
you take the train (It's free for ticket's holders)
At the metropol, you start with the "Soccer fan fest gathering point", the noisiest, the best;

Don't feel threaten by the security
And sink into the crowd
And B careful when you will be going back, the whole country is on fire, nobody is safe

And you better be a bit high (otherwise you won't feel anything of what a 'high' country can feel right now )

Triggering the world cup fever

2010-06-08T02:45:00.000-07:00

There we are, going to the 2010 WORLD CUP in South Africa. The kick off is not yet official but the fever is already palpable and the heat is getting burning.

In Cape Town the chilly winter weather of the southern Africa’s shores can’t just help it. South Africa is now ready for the world most attended event.

Flags are everywhere, in shops, on the street, on most of cars, at houses windows and discussions are around the latest news about the composition of teams. Brands are battling for the best point where viewers would gather to watch the games and enjoy themselves.

Security seems to be of high standards. Political parties and leaders are all showing off their patriotism or how well the national football team jersey fit them. Even rugby bastions are like taken away for the event: the traditional rugby supporters are gathering to support the soccer team.

The fest looks to get awesome and huge all around the country.

This is the first post for the world cup. Lipem will bring you in the soul of people and the spirit of what will be going on.

In some places, the African teams only have the honour. They are well represented, with Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. South Africa is just the colour of the place.

The Cameroonian mascot Ngando Piket is the icon of this shop in Cape Town.

Yep, the kick off will be on Friday, let feel the smells, the taste and the heat, of the Mzansi’s hug, welcoming the world to the utmost soccer extravaganza.

The Cape Town 11th Jazz Festival Green market Square free concert

2010-04-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

Me at the beginning of the doncert

Here with Olivier, gislain (handshowing) and the Soulman (next to gislain)

The first of April was a sort of a 'summer' day and had to end up as is with celebrations and enjoyments. At that very day was offered at the ‘Green market square’ a free concert in line with the Cape Town Jazz festival at it 11th edition. It was also the occasion to celebrate 300 years of the square where so much happened.

The people of the multicultural Cape Town garnered and very quickly, just before 7pm, the place was dark of a noisy crowd. It was possible to hear Portuguese, French, German, Chinese as well as other foreign and local languages words spelled out, in a Babylonian tower legend kind of tongs break down, to share the pleasure of meeting, of music, or just to be there. It was an impressive party at that place where others were sold less than two century ago.

The party started as indicated 5:30pm with Mezzoforte; then came Glenn Robertson Jazz Band, and Jonathan Rubain, and from Japan, the Soil & Pimp. The performances were awesome, and people were dancing, jumping, and shouting helped with some alcoholic ingredients.

Authorities join the event in the persons of the premier and former mayor of the city Helen Zille, as well as others.

But the vibe was with people in phase with the performer and the music. And there is more to hear at the festival…

Some updates on Cape Town end of 2009

2009-12-31T05:22:00.000-08:00

Me on the 23rd of december 2009

Hi folks, long time no read? I’m still around the corner, stalking, observing and nourishing “To the unbeliever”. A lot of things certainly happened but it was a bit difficult for me to update you on them. Anyway, here is a summary of several marking events. There is a word on soccer (how Cameroonian living in cape town welcomed the news of the national team qualification to the world cup, the FIFA draw and Roger Milla visit), and a word on the Coons Carnival.

Yep, it’s summer time on Cape Town officially since the 1rst of December. The sun is high up there and people are showing off like you can imagine. They are defying the possible with their supposed relaxant outfits, quiet unveiling when it comes to women and rather home like when it is to consider men. Sun glasses of course are the rule.

Usually, the rather small Cameroonian community living in Cape Town assembles to watch the national team games at “Boom Boom Africa”, a small bar by Salt River (also Southriver). Every one has a dress with something referring to the country: a green shirt, a green red and yellow one, red hats or just a t-shirt with Cameroon written over it. That day, 12th of November 2009, Cameroon was playing Togo for the qualification to the 2010 football World Cup. South African television channels were not showing that game; but the Cameroonian national channel (CRTV) was. As usual, some problem occurred: No images for more than twenty minutes for purely Cameroonian reasons (The retransmission rights were not paid, the image provider didn’t fulfill his part of the contract … just guess what you can, the incredible truth is laying somewhere there). Anyway, once the images appeared soccer love and patriotism took over and at the end of the game, with 2 to 1 as score, it was time to celebrate all over the city, making noises to express how it feels to be from the country of the best African football team of the century. Yes Cameroon is qualified and now, the whole continent stands a chance to keep the cup for a while longer.

The FIFA draw was held in Cape Town, at the CT International Convention Center (CTICC) in the presence of President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Blater, Mr Hayatou, as well as other excellences, dignitaries and celebrities from all around the world. Zakumi the mascot was also present, of course. As a distinguished guess,

Roger Milla was part for of the festivities. He was just arriving in the city and he heard about the funeral, thus he pitched up. He came to Salt River Hall where Cameroonians were gathered in order to pay respect to a young man remains. He presented his condolences to the family representatives present there and shared his sympathy with the community for the loss. He explained that as a Cameroonian, were ever he goes, if there is a body, it is a duty to pay tribute and participate to the remains repatriation. And he left to have some rest. During the draw, he received an ovation for the great player that he was and his role as an ambassador for the African football community.

The story behind the Coon Carnival comes from the past, during the slavery period in South Africa and was running for more than a century now here in Cape Town. It seems that it was the celebration of the New Year by slaves whish were granted on that day the freedom to enjoy themselves. It is principally a “colored” affair. The participant and most of the spectators are from that racial group. It is hard to find white or black watching the bands parading, coming from the “Cape flats”, dressed like clowns, with paint on their faces, smiling, shouting, singing, making as much noise as they can. They come from places like Kuirlsriver, Lentegeur, Bonteheuvel, Athlone, Bridgetown, lansdown, and it is all about having and giving fun. There are so many troupes at the “Grand Parade” place (Nelson Mandela did his first address as a freeman over here) that it takes the whole day to see them all. Late in the evening after the parade, the party continues in the Cape Flats.

Once upon a time, The Basketball and me

2009-10-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

At the multipurpose building of the Cape Peninsula University Of Technology, I was laying up a ball towards the basket. Yep... I still can do these things.

It just happens that I though about a game we played, some friends and I at KOTTO, Douala, Cameroon. It was warm and deligthful. A team of friends. The story continues ...

2009 ZAWWW international conference at Port Elisabeth

2009-09-10T04:33:00.000-07:00

Just arriving at Port Elisabeth airport for the 2009ZAWWW where I was an invited speaker under CPUT banner. The conference venue was next to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University which was cohost of the event with CPUT.
I really don't want to explain how hard it is to speak in front of people; but it comes to do the exercise in front of a panel of expert on the subject you are speaking on, it get worse. I got good comment of my presentation of my article entitled "Mobilising an Obama nation using Web 2.0:Yes we can". It was all about online campaigning using web 2.0 .
A beach near the conference venue. I know nothing about it except that it is beautiful and fresh.

An unnamed building. Beautiful but no body told me anything about it.

My supervisor Marlon Parker and I at the end of the confernce.

Other speakers at the conference and lecturers at CPUT. at the right end is Mr Jay Barnes and at the left Mrs Ziestmann

Certaily the best part of the conference, the last relaxing meal with friends. We realy shared great moments together.

Goodby PE and 2009 ZAWWW International conference.

Ubuntu festival in Cape Town: Happy birthday Madiba

2009-07-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Hi folks. Aibo! The Ubuntu festival, celebration of a “Mandela’ day” by the Mandela Rhodes Hotel here in Cape Town, told us how “yes we are because others are”.

It was meant to “uniting people through dialogue, theatre, food, jazz, rock, pop, opera, dance, art, craft, produce, design, hospitality, sport, trade, enterprise and entrepreneurship.” A lot of people came along to taste the worldwide cuisine, to follow the rainbow rhythm and to feel the spirit of the Ubuntu togetherness.

The musical offer was jazzy with Jimmy Dludlu, Chad Saaiman, Coda, Tucan tucan, Thembi and many more others.

Just some pics:

A Madiba - Jackson apparition ... lol

Ubuntu is also about beautiful singer

Pop Idol 2007 winner, still great...

Gugulethu Tenors, a regal ...

Langa poets and drummers, inspiring ...

From the streets of Cape Town to the stage, the power of Ubuntu unfolding an unexpected talent...

Can't wait for next year to come...

Yes my father loves me!

2009-06-23T04:56:00.000-07:00

My father don’t tell that he loves me
But when I suffer
He turns his back to me
He reproaches my mother
He watches me in glances
He considers me in secrete
He suffers in silence
He prays for me in each of his breaths

And after the trouble
He taps me on the back of the neck
He congratulates me louder
He looks me now
He mocks my mother who get upset
He prays for me every evening
He gets amused of me
He troubles my games and embarrasses me

And me
I always look to him
I see him struggling and surviving
I hear him selling his life to redeem mine
I pray
I am merely my father’s son

Exile

2009-05-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

Exile

Step after step
With all our strength
With all our soul
With all our faith
Might we progress against all odds,
Leave… throwing hundreds and one glance behind

Leaving the ground of our loves, joys, peoples, dreams …
Closing eyes to shame, sadness, pain which enfold us
And on the road where dwell the death, hatred, fraught and oblivion
Feeling no pleasure, no suffering, no love, no hate and shedding no tear
Lost for ours, lost for ourselves, lost within the darkness,
Follow the invisible steps of the one who knows all the paths

Step over the waters
Calming storms
Step through
Breaking through bulwarks
Step upon death
Living again

Always

Everywhere, give, receive, love, enjoy and dream again
Yesterday in the soul, carpe diem under the skin, and tomorrow in the eyes
Run toward the cliff shape
Step upon void
And soar en route to hope
The world to come where our illusions have flesh and our fleshes have bodies

Laban

Mobilising an Obama nation using Web 2.0: “Yes We Can”

2009-03-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

I am researching the topic entitled and abstracted below. If you have an idea about please post me something.

Title: Mobilising an Obama nation using Web 2.0: “Yes We Can”

Abstract:
The 44th US president was massively elected on the 4th of November 2008 after an extraordinary campaign that successfully embraced the social capabilities of the World Wide Web. The Barack Obama “Yes We Can” campaign was impossible to ignore; it was simply everywhere. Additional to the effective use of traditional media such as radio, television and direct mail, their campaign utilised Web 2.0 technologies to reach the masses who could access the web via PCs, mobile devices, gaming stations and other devices. Maximising the use of social web applications such as Facebook, Skype, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn they succeeded to touch and muster people beyond customs and racial hindering, around a message, a program and a leader.

All around the world, as well as in South Africa, every time democracies have to consult populations on important decisions, to gain their adhesion to a painful program of reforms or to campaign for any essential reason, the web is also utilised to disseminate the message; but it doesn’t always succeed as expected.

Living lab feedback

2009-02-19T07:08:00.000-08:00

in Cape Town suburb,

We went to the living lab at the Impact center in Bridgetown/athlone following, brought over there by Marlon Parker.
We met with former gangsters, substances dealers and addicts. They shared their former lives with us and spoke about the new life they are getting into. It was very inspiring.
We visited ¾ of Athlone in order to see and feel the people and the community heartbeat throughout Bridgetown, Kewtown, and Sylvertown. We noticed the infrastructure cover:
- Impact centre
- Community centre
- Churches
- Mosque
- Library
- Civic centre
- Community theatre
- Police station
- Community health centre
- Clinics
- hospital
- Crèche
- Eros school (Children with disabilities)
- Primary, high school, and College of cape town campus
- Tuck shop (almost 50)
- Shoprite store
- Van gate mall
- Stadium
- Train station
Those infrastructures are the sign that the City of Cape Town is trying to improve people life condition. The city authorities tried to create employment, open the locality to the rest of the city, early educate inhabitant, to care about their health, and to bring them other possibilities of interest like sport, art performance and etc.

It came to us that people are very young in that community with 2/3 under 40 years old. But 2/3 are unemployed (Source: City of Cape Town, ECONOMIC AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 2005/06, Socio-Economic Profile of Ward 49, general information from Census 2001, Statistics South Africa extracted by Innovation, Information and Knowledge management Directorate).

Community issues: Unemployment, criminality, substance abuses, sexual abuses, insecurity, hopelessness.

Possible problems: Educational and Cultural trouble (Knowledge of the good)

Possible solution: inoculate Ubuntu philosophy to people

Technology point of view: Why shouldn't we bring technics like data mining, or business intelligence to help see better the community issues and know the accurate answers to provide?

What I learnt: Reiteration of a belief that people can change to the good. They certainly need someone to take them by the hand and show them how to go.

NB: No intention to offense. This is only a feedback of an enriching experience.

LET UNLEASH THE BEAM OF OUR FIRE

2009-01-30T05:11:00.000-08:00

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void;
And Darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light:
And there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Gen 1:1-4

The myriad of luminaries that appeared was burning an intimate fire
A holy fire
That we all share
With the creator

So let unleash the beam of our fire
To sprinkle the night with new lights
From creative creations
Wondering the wonderful
Greeting the greatness
In praying praising prayers
Like praising praying shouts
From far to farther boundaries
Through heaven and depth confines
So let unleash the beam of our fire!
Holy fire,
Everlasting flames.

CALLING THE GREATNESS

2009-01-30T05:10:00.000-08:00

Oh thee handling
Beyond understanding
Under my feet
Fitted all above my head
Heading around me
Meeting my whole

O thee who launched from the void
“For with thee is the fountain of life,
In thy light shall we see light.”
I call,
I call,
My all is calling thee
My whole is calling to live by thee

Misery

2009-01-30T05:07:00.000-08:00

Misery

I felt myself so miserable
Grabbed to someone boots
To feel myself crowded
I was selling my soul
To feel the sweet of gathering
It was so miserable

I wanted to feel good
Being with a person
I was comfortable with
And I feel so bad
I was giving to a foolish
The most precious of me
My talent, my kindness, my goodness and my faithfulness
Expecting friendship
Awaiting love
And I felt so pitiful
Begging unworthy
Treated like waist
While I am precious to God himself

I love people
But they don’t love me
I want their good
But they don’t care about
They just want to use me

I am deeply deceive
I am living an utmost disappointment
I feel just like
There is nobody.

Oh God my lord I did sin toward you
Have mercy on me
Take away my burden of shame
And fill me with joy
You gave me people who love me
And you love me so much

Thank you.
14/01/2009

Welcome into an experience through giving and receiving

2008-10-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

I am just what i am. I just want to share ideas, point of views, goodthings with people around. It will be funny, educative and good, just like me. It won't be sexy, despite that it could interest me, but here i would like to show out something different and smooth and agreable.