The Majesty of Ronda, Spain!

 The Majesty of Ronda, Spain!

(Promotional photos)

The Majesty of Black

The Majesty of Black

By Eddie the Don

Black people have been a part of Canadian history for centuries, contributing to the fabric of the nation in various ways.

The presence of Black people in Canada dates back to the early 1600s when African slaves were brought to the region by European colonizers.

Over time, Black individuals gained their freedom and established vibrant communities across the country. Many Black Canadians played significant roles in the fight against slavery and discrimination, advocating for their rights and equality.

One notable figure in Canadian history is Viola Desmond, who challenged racial segregation in Nova Scotia in the 1940s, long before the civil rights movement gained momentum in the United States.

Her courageous act sparked change and is celebrated as a milestone in the struggle for racial equality in Canada.

Today, Black Canadians continue to make important contributions to various fields, including arts, sports, politics, and academia.

Their achievements and resilience have helped shape the multicultural and diverse character of Canada.

The Elephant Rock Located In Namibia.

This magnificent natural formation is located in the beautiful country of Namibia, in southwestern Africa.

It's known for its striking resemblance to an elephant, with its massive body, long trunk, and distinctive ears. The rock stands tall and proud, captivating all who lay eyes on it.

The Elephant Rock is nestled within a stunning landscape, surrounded by vast stretches of desert and rugged terrain.

Its unique shape and size make it a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world. Many people visit this remarkable site to take photographs, capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.

Namibia itself is a country renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, including the Namib Desert, the Skeleton Coast, and the Etosha National Park.

The Elephant Rock adds to the natural wonders that can be found in this part of Africa, showcasing the incredible diversity of the continent.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Namibia, make sure to include the Elephant Rock on your itinerary.

It's an incredible sight that will leave you in awe of nature's artistry.

Beatrice Chebet breaks 10,000 metres record

 In a race that was set up as a 10,000m world record attempt, the competitor who initially had no intention of challenging the record became the one ultimately to smash it. 

Wanda Prefontaine Diamond League meeting earlier on Sunday

The record now belongs to Beatrice Chebet of Kenya, who ran 28:54.14* to become the first woman under 29 minutes on the track. That performance, achieved on Saturday (25) at the Prefontaine Classic, is seven seconds faster than the previous world record of 29:01.03 that Letesenbet Gidey established in 2021. The race opened the Wanda Diamond League meeting with an immediate roar from the Hayward Field crowd.

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay became the third-fastest all-time performer with her runner-up finish of 29:05.92, as four women ran faster than 30 minutes. The race also doubled as the selection race for Athletics Kenya’s Paris Olympic team, and Chebet and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (29:26.89) qualified.

In a race that took place before the Diamond League programme, Tsegay and Chebet stayed within a stride of the lights marking world record pace as they passed halfway in 14:31, until Chebet sped ahead with three laps remaining, the lead all her own, and with it the weight of a world record attempt. 

Her move was motivated by seeing world 5000m record-holder Tsegay – who had initially requested a world record pace, only to decide against it because of discomfort in a foot, and change her mind again in recent days after feeling better – begin to fall behind the pace lights. Chebet said she entered the meeting to qualify for Paris, where she plans to contest both the 5000m and 10,000m, but her intent was not the record.

“When Gudaf asked for a world record, I decided to say: ‘Let me try to go for that to see how the body is.’ Because my body was not bad,” said Chebet, the two-time world cross country champion who also claimed world 5km gold last year. “I was comfortable to run a world record so when I saw Gudaf drop a bit, I said: ‘Let me try to push it to see how it can go.’ When I got to the last two laps, I just got motivated and said, I’m on a world record pace, so let me push the last 400m.”

With 800m to go, Chebet pulled ahead of the pace lights by two whole strides as fans inside Hayward Field began standing in their seats.

After the finish, Chebet fell to the track, splayed out in exhaustion, as Tsegay finished and joined her on the track. When the women stood, they hugged as the new world record flashed on the scoreboard behind them. Chebet later returned to the track wearing a ‘Stop Pre’ T-shirt, the same design that Steve Prefontaine wore at Hayward Field more than 50 years earlier.

After only her second ever 10,000m race, Chebet adds this world record to the world 5km record of 14:13 she set in Barcelona in December.

“I knew a woman could run under 29, I’ve known for a long time,” said Sifan Hassan, who entered the meeting as No.2 all-time, and now ranks fourth. Hassan believes women “can run 28:45” in the future

A minor lesson about the name Africa

 

A minor lesson about the name AfricA!

 

Africa is not named after a Roman general! If so, it is because I have pledged to repeat it again and again with the hope that it will someday sink in.

Africa is not named after Roman general Scipio Africanus. Nor is it named after Leo Africanus--a man who comes much later. These are myths. I repeat, these are myths!

Scipio Africanus is the Roman general who engineered the defeat of the African nation called Carthage--centred in what is now Tunisia.

Carthage was a colony of Phoenicia. It was established in 814 BCE. The Nile Valley was still thriving at this time and the civilisation called Nok--based in what is now Nigeria--was rising up.

The Phoenicians themselves had an African mixture and with the passage of time Carthage itself became increasingly African.

Carthage means "the new town" and the most famous Carthaginian was General Hannibal Barca. The Romans called this entire area Africa.

And so with the defeat of the Carthaginians, Scipio is given the name "conqueror of Africa." So Scipio Africanus does not give his name to Africa.

He gets his name from Africa! Get it? Make sense to you?

Now the man named Leo Africanus was himself an African. Indeed, his name means Leo the African!! He got his name from Africa. He did not give his name to Africa.

Now before you tie yourself up in knots and begin to ask "what was the original name for the continent of Africa" please ask yourself, "What makes you think that ancient people thought of themselves as living on continents?"

The notion of continents is a European notion and it is a relatively recent one at that. The word Ethiopian is Greek. It means land of the burnt faced people. And Alkebulan does not even appear to be an African word.

So why not start looking at things from an African perspective. Why not use our own frame of reference?

We need to spend more time educating each other. I try and do it each day.

Runoko Rashidi! (Eddie the Don)

 

Welcome to Somalia

 

Mar walba soo dhawow!

Always welcome

Welcome to Somalia!

(Courtesy of Eddie the Don)

Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes.

Whether you're exploring the bustling streets of Mogadishu or relaxing on the pristine beaches of Berbera, Somalia offers a unique and diverse experience.

One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive is the warm hospitality of the Somali people.

Somalis are known for their generosity and welcoming nature, and you'll often be greeted with a friendly smile and a cup of sweet Somali tea.

The concept of "xoolo" or hospitality is deeply ingrained in Somali culture, and you'll feel it wherever you go.

Somalia is blessed with stunning natural beauty. From the majestic mountains of Cal Madow to the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, there is no shortage of picturesque landscapes to explore.

The pristine beaches of Hargeisa and the untouched coral reefs of Kismayo are perfect for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts.

For history buffs, Somalia has a rich historical heritage. The ancient port city of Zeila, with its ancient ruins and beautiful architecture, is a must-visit destination.

Additionally, the historic town of Merca, with its centuries-old mosques and traditional Somali houses, offers a glimpse into the country's past.

Somali cuisine is a true delight for food lovers. Make sure to try delicious Somali rice dishes like "bariis iskukaris" (spiced rice with meat or vegetables) or "baasto" (Somali pasta).

The flavours of Somali cuisine are influenced by Arabian, Indian, and African culinary traditions, resulting in a unique and mouthwatering experience.

Music and dance are an integral part of Somali culture. From traditional dances like the "dhaanto" and "Somaliland" to the vibrant beats of Somali music, you'll be captivated by the rhythmic melodies and energetic performances.

So, welcome to Somalia! Prepare yourself for an incredible journey through history, culture, and natural beauty.

Enjoy the warmth of the Somali people, savour the delicious cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions of this beautiful country.

 

Jackie Kennedy's funeral

 

Jackie Kennedy's funeral

Photo courtesy of Alamy

Courtesy of BBC (first draft)

Thirty years ago this week, former First Lady Jackie Kennedy was buried next to her first husband, 35th US President John F Kennedy, who had been assassinated 31 years prior. The grave was a short distance from the resting place of Robert F Kennedy, her friend and former brother-in-law, who was also a victim of a political assassination.

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Jackie Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer in 1993, after she fell off a horse and was examined by a doctor who found a lump near her groin. In early 1994, she underwent chemotherapy, but it was soon deemed terminal and she died in her New York apartment on 19 May that year.

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As the original BBC radio script shows below, 64-year-old Kennedy had a "simple burial" which lasted 15 minutes and ended "with a hymn sung by a naval choir" – a service which matched "the very private way she led her life".

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In the bulletin, radio listeners heard the voice of the then President Bill Clinton, who "paid tribute to [Kennedy's] dignity, grace and commonsense".

The Brilliant George DeSouza

 

The Brilliant George De Souza

George De Souza was an eight-year-old in Dar es Salaam when his big sister Ivy bought him a 20-shilling box guitar (in 1954 that was nothing to be sniffed at, if you had a shilling in your pocket, you were considered rich). His sister had seen that George was interested and made the big sacrifice. He went on to become one of the hottest musicians in East Africa.

From that moment on George began the sometimes-tortuous journey, but always borne with great determination, of learning to play the instruments.  “I was self-taught. I picked up some books from the library to help me learn. I listened to records and music on the radio to sharpen my ears and pick up keys and cords quite easily.”

Four years later George took up the bass guitar seriously. He had already preferred playing rhythm instead of lead.  Inspired by the kings of Rock N Roll at the time: Elvis Presley and Bill Hayley and the Comets (the unforgettable signature song that launched Rock N Roll worldwide, Rock Around the Clock), George played in his debut gig at the age of 13 at the Goan Institute in Dar es Salaam. It was a local group.

George recalls that there were quite several bands making a name for themselves among them were the De Mello brothers and lots of African bands. “They were doing covers of mostly British acts, early Rock N Roll and other popular music. These bands were amongst the best I had heard. Their rhythm was fantastic,” George says.

When he was 14 and while playing with a band, George realised that he was better than most of the bassists around and that he was also quite different from the traditional bassists and musicians. “I would go and listen to other bands and I could see that one thing (the X-Factor) was missing: they had zero personality. So as a gimmick, I started playing the guitar with my teeth, smashing a guitar on stage. Soon I was getting offers from Europe.

In those days playing music was frowned on by a very conservative community but I made it my own, despite what people said,” George recalls.

Milestones

 

1. Playing in Zanzibar for the president's wedding

2. Getting my radio show, and being friends with all the government ministers, they were always good to me and used to come to see me play

 “I left Tanzania because all the nightclubs were closing after Tanzania got its independence. There was much less freedom and I felt it was time to go. I wound up in Lethbridge because I married a Canadian woman who was working in Dar in the Canadian embassy and her family was from a small farming community called Warner, an hour south of Lethbridge. I asked her to marry me and we left shortly after and being so good I got a job straight away, ending up in Montreal at the CP Hotels. My son is getting to be more famous than I am, he's out in Vancouver. He writes and sings his songs, his name is Marq De Souza.”

Sadly George is also doing it tough, healthwise, in Canada.

From left: Mario from that heavenly place Swiss Grill in Westlands, Jessel Mandricks and the late Joey Peters from the Bandits, and George De Souza for a special gig in Nairobi.

His son Marq hass followed in his father's footsteps:

A veteran rock n' roll survivor, Marq DeSouza has weathered the fads of the music industry over the years, never losing sight of the integrity that cornerstones the stuff that truly lasts. Songs in the classic way. Lauded for his razor-sharp lyrics, ambitious arrangements, & incendiary live performances, whether solo-acoustic at a sold-out Commodore Ballroom or fronting his full band at the grungy Cobalt. Music that knows no fixed genre. 

Marq's best-known previous project is 'Solarbaby'. That group released 2 successful albums. Both were nominated for the prestigious Georgia Straight Music Awards, as well as placing high on the national college charts. The band was also taped 'in-session' for CBC radio, performed on MuchMusic, & did the festival circuit, with Marq invited for multiple appearances at the Bluebird North Showcase, in conjunction with the Canadian Songwriters Association.

In his various incarnations, Marq has shared bills with such artists as Drive By Truckers, Ben Kweller, Martina Sorbara, Joel Plaskett, Matthew Good, Sarah Harmer, & Nickelback. Sir Bob Geldof sought Marq out backstage at their co-bill at the legendary Commodore Ballroom to tell him he was reminded of a 'young Van Morrison', & Canadian rock icon Todd Kerns has called Marq his favorite Canadian songwriter, & 'Canada's Bob Dylan.'

A staggering number of accolades have been accumulated here on this site, so please check out the full reviews, or for just a smattering, see selected quotes.

Marq is also a multi-instrumentalist, & handles most drum/bass/guitar/keyboard/harmonica duties on each recording project, as well as session/live work for hire with other artists. 

Most Thursday evenings find Marq hosting the popular open stage at Trees in the heart of downtown Vancouver, as well as booking/hosting the Friday Night Music series featuring the best of local & touring acts doing full sets.

Marq's latest release is an EP side project focusing on his love of the electric blues. An all original concept record that sounds nothing like anything he's done before. It's currently getting airplay on indie blues stations around the world. Check it out here.

Also, check out a few featured interviews/performances on music podcast episodes of 'THE ARTIST SERIES', 'MAKE A SCENE' & 'MUSIC A to Z'.

 

Vet recounts wild tales of working in Kenya

 https://bbc.com/news/articles/cz4xn7yqe25o

Vet recounts wild tales of working in Kenya

Rachel Candlin, BBC News, West of England

 

Hugh Cran treated animals in the Rift Valley in Kenya

A British vet who worked in Kenya for 55 years has recounted the time he went for "a pee", only to see a lioness staring back at him.

Hugh Cran, who lives in Somerset and trained in Edinburgh in the 1960s, was also a British vet who worked in Kenya for 55 years and has recounted the time he went for "a pee", only to see a lioness staring back at him.

 He said over the years he had "many chance encounters".

"I was threatened twice; on one occasion I was charged by an elephant on the top of a mountain," he said.

He said that every day was a challenge in the unforgiving environment of the Rift Valley, as he travelled miles on rough roads, performing impromptu surgery by torchlight with dirty water.

Mr Cran, who has now written a book, said: "I once got out of the car to pee and saw a lioness peering at me through the bush."

But he said the experience only sought to encourage his passion for working in the country.

Mr Cran, from Castle Cary, had answered an advert to be an assistant vet in the Rift Valley shortly after finishing his training.

He covered a 100-mile (160km) radius of untarmacked rads in the course of his daily work.

"I had darting equipment so I was called out to dart zebras which had been snared, or injured lions or cheetahs which had a broken leg or jaw," he said.

"The distances were so great you couldn't nip back to the surgery and out again, so I used to carry everything in my car for any possible emergency."

He said over the years he had "many chance encounters".

"I was threatened twice; on one occasion I was charged by an elephant on the top of a mountain," he said.

"When that happened you had no time to do anything except get out of the way."

The second was his close call with the lioness.

Mr Cran travelled long distances to treat animals caught in poachers' snares.

He said his interest in Africa had been sparked at an early age.

"I was always very keen on reading about Africa; King Soloman's Mines, that sort of thing, and I always wanted to work in the Tropics," he said.

But when he took the job in Kenya he had no idea how long he would end up there.

"I intended to stay to test the waters for a year or so but ended up staying rather longer," he added.

The Great Rift Valley is part of a ridge system running through Kenya from north to south.

As a young vet he quickly had to adapt to the very different working environment from that he was used to.

"Frequently I'd go into my surgery in the morning and turn on the taps, and there was no water," he said.

"I'd turn on the switch, and there was no electricity. Sometimes in the middle of an operation, say at night, the power would somehow stop.

"Vets in this country would probably be appalled, but I think the results were just as good as they would be if you had all the equipment which one gets in this country."

A stunning encounter

On one occasion Mr Cran was asked to help a crew filming a flock of pelicans with the help of a microlight aeroplane. He said it was a stunning encounter he has never forgotten.

"They were trained to follow the microlight in formation as if it was one of the flock, they were so tame and trusting," he said.

"If the plane dropped back another bird would take its place as part of an extraordinary interaction.”

"They were wonderful, wonderful birds." He always carried darting equipment with him in case came across animals that needed to be sedated.

  Mr Cran kept diaries of his experiences and has used them to spark the memories he has retold in his book.

Rift Valley Fever, named after a disease spread by mosquitos affecting humans and livestock, was published on 25 April.

The sanctuaries trying to save birds of prey from extinction in Kenya

 

The sanctuaries trying to save birds of prey from extinction in Kenya

(Courtesy of Al Jazeera)

Poison, deforestation and power lines have pushed the African raptor population to a 90 per cent decline in the last 40 years.

Raptor technician John Kyalo Mwanzia rehabilitates a juvenile fish eagle to flight after it was treated for grounding injuries sustained in a territorial fight at the Lake Naivasha habitat, at Soysambu Raptor Centre. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

Simon Thomsett tentatively removes a pink bandage from the wing of an injured bateleur, a short-tailed eagle from the African savannah, where birds of prey are increasingly at risk of extinction.

“There is still a long way to go before healing,” Thomsett explains as he lifts up the bird’s dark feathers and examines the injury.

“It was injured in the Maasai Mara national park, but we don’t know how,” says the 62-year-old vet who runs the Soysambu Raptor Centre in central Kenya.

The 18-month-old eagle, with a distinctive red beak and black body, was brought to the shelter five months ago, where about 30 other injured raptors keep it company.

The sanctuary in the Soysambu reserve is one of the few places where the birds of prey are safe.

A study published in January by The Peregrine Fund, a United States-based non-profit organisation, found that the raptor population has fallen by 90 percent on the continent over the last 40 years.

“You can go down a road today for maybe 200km [125 miles] and not see a single raptor,” Thomsett says.

“If you did that 20 years ago, you would have seen a hundred.”

Critically endangered Ruppells vultures warm themselves in the morning sun at the Naivasha Raptor Centre [Tony Karumba/AFP]

The reasons for the decline are multifold.

Vultures and other scavengers have died from eating livestock remains, falling victim to a practice adopted by cattle farmers who poison carcasses to deter lions from approaching their herds.

Deforestation also plays a part as does the proliferation of power lines across Africa that prove fatal for birds who perch on them to hunt prey.

Some species are shrinking so fast that conservation initiatives will not yield results, says Thomsett. “We are too late.”

Birds of prey also suffer from an image problem.

“Vultures are seen as ugly, unsightly, dirty and disgusting,” says Shiv Kapila, who manages a bird sanctuary at the Naivasha national park which lies around 50km (31 miles) from the Soysambu reserve.

Some communities even go so far as to kill species such as owls and lappet-faced vultures, believing they bring bad luck.

“We have to convince people that not only are they absolutely gorgeous but also incredibly useful as well,” he says, as long-legged Ruppell’s vultures and pink-headed lappet-faced vultures rub shoulders inside a cage.

A lappet-faced vulture, that is critically endangered, in its habitat at the Soysambu Raptor Centre [Tony Karumba/AFP]

Educating people about birds of prey is essential, says Kapila, who organises school trips to the sanctuary and visits to local communities to shift public opinion.

“We can see a lot of difference in attitudes,” says 25-year-old vet Juliet Waiyaki, who began working at the Naivasha sanctuary last year, helping to care for the 35 birds of prey housed there.

But she sometimes questions whether her work as a vet makes an impact.

“I can’t tell you if by us saving eight vultures out of 300,000 … if that makes a difference,” Waiyaki says. “But we do our part.”

At the Naivasha sanctuary raptors can stay from just a few days to several years. Staff often travel across the country to rescue injured birds.

“We take an injured bird from the field or members of the public bring them to us and we treat them,” says Kapila, adding that 70 percent of his patients eventually recover enough to return to the wild.

Despite the massive decline in numbers, Thomsett sees “room for optimism”, especially when he thinks of injured birds that seemed to have “had no chance whatsoever … [but] are alive and well today”.

He even gets return visitors, he says, with some birds coming back to greet him years after they are released into the wild. “It is extremely rewarding,” he says.

Mwanzia subdues a critically endangered white-backed vulture that is being prepared for an X-ray scan of its wing. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

The white-backed vulture had a broken wind and tissue damage from a hyena's bite while jostling for a carcass in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

Thomsett holds on his arm a crowned eagle nicknamed 'Helen'. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

Mwanzia poses with 'Helen'. The crowned eagle is unable to fly due to a damaged wing and compromised eyesight sustained after it was captured by villagers in a neighbouring county. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

Shiv Kapila, one of the directors of the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust, exercises 'Horrace', a male lappet-faced vulture he has been caring for at the Naivasha Raptor Centre. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

Kapila checks on 'Phil', an African spotted eagle owl. [Tony Karumba/AFP]

A juvenile fish eagle takes to flight during a rehabilitative excercise session at Soysambu Raptor Centre. [Tony Karumba/AFP]