"Sanu" is a Hausa greeting. Much like 'hello'. On the road to Mike's this evening, I greeted a group of small Hausa children sitting under a wooden stand, huddled around an empty bag of Tom-Toms. "Sanu!" They looked up at me with the usual mixture of skepticism and curiosity. Who is this oyinbo who greets us in Hausa? I walked past, smiling, and ( Read more... )

I feel like I'm coming apart at the seems lately. Everything's so upside down. Not online much anymore, hence the silence. Sorry.

Trying to get around has been a real nightmare since the ocada (commercial motorbike) ban came into effect. Every driver I know seems elated, but for those of us without access to our own vehicles, who don't have drivers, and who must pay from our pockets to get to and from place to place? It's been very hard. I spent at least two times the amount ( Read more... )

each kiss a cut
that slips its way
into my being,
just as your tongue
plays in my mouth
teasing me
to give you more -

but I am the one
who must lick the wounds
that your lips have left behind

( Read more... )

"I have many times wished myself away from Africa but I have only to see the sun go down over those hills and I'd not leave for anything in the world."

-Father McGuire-
The Sweetest Dream, by Doris Lessing ( Read more... )

How things change in such a short period of time. The serendipitous nature of existence never ceases to amaze me. And at 30 years of age, I realize that I am still a child startled by the myriad of unexpected gifts that life has to offer. Whether they appear as gifts at first glance is a matter of perspective (i.e. am I receptive to this 'new' ( Read more... )

The other day, a plane crashed in Benue state (Northern Nigeria). 10 generals were among the 12 people killed in the crash. Of course, this has lead to a degree of speculation. M and J seem to believe that it was deliberate. I'm not ruling out that possibility, but, given the number of plane crashes that have happened in the past year in Nigeria, ( Read more... )

"I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires." -Kahlil Gibran

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Live 'terracotta' warrior fools police

A German student briefly fooled irate police in China's famous terracotta warrior museum by posing as a soldier amongst the ancient statues, local media has ( Read more... )

I was standing on the balcony at M's last night, puffing away, when an absolutely fantastic fork of lightning lit up the sky. I'd never seen anything like it before in my life. The only way I can think of to describe it is to say that it looked like a Winter tree fashioned out of light. Three or four arcs issued forth from the same point and ( Read more... )