Perceptions of Africa Archive
Redistributed Marriage
Posted by jimheck in Charity, Culture, Economy, Perceptions of Africa, Women's Rights in Africa on October 11, 2012
We should be incensed by the privileged often American tourist to rural Africa who characterizes want and poverty as some kind of pristine Garden of Eden that should just be left alone. After her “first visit to Kenya,” a recent American tourist asked in her blog: “The Maasai culture and traditions are pure, so why [...]
Bipartisan Balderdash in Africa
Posted by jimheck in Charity, Perceptions of Africa, Politics on April 27, 2012
We in America can’t agree to increase taxes for better education or health care, but we can all agree to pay an extra ten million or two to obsess about a fallen Africa criminal. The absolute farce with Invisible Children reached the otherwise empty halls of Congress this week. The viral YouTube video based on [...]
On Safari: The Call of The Wild
Posted by jimheck in OnSafari, Perceptions of Africa on April 3, 2012
A feral ginger cat on my lap trying to bite off my hand for having left her unstroked during my seven weeks in Africa. Why do I already miss Africa? Our game viewing was fantastic: wild dogs, lions mating, 7-day old lion cubs and 4-day old cheetah cubs, lion hunts and elephant charges, 8-foot vulture [...]
Sorry Mr. Kristof – I Don’t Buy It
Posted by jimheck in Perceptions of Africa, Racism, Uncategorized on March 6, 2012
By Conor Godfrey [Song of the day: This blog is on empathy; more specifically, what elicits it and what doesn’t. Have a listen to this Tiken Jah Fakoly remake of a song you will likely recognize – his version is called “African in Paris.”) For the life of me I cannot find an English translation [...]
Top Ten 2011 Africa Stories
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, African Awakening, Arts and Culture, Big Game, Botswana, Congo, Culture, Economy, Egypt, Environment, Nairobi, Perceptions of Africa, Poaching, Politics, Poverty, Refugees, Safety, Serengeti, South Africa, Sudan, Terrorism, Tourism Trends, Twevolution, Uganda, War, Weather, Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe on December 31, 2011
Twevolution, the Arab Spring [by Twitter] is universally considered the most important story of the year, much less just in Africa. But I believe the Kenyan invasion of Somalia will have as lasting an effect on Africa, so I’ve considered them both Number One. 1A: KENYA INVADES SOMALIA On October 18 Kenya invaded Somalia, where [...]
Heri kufa macho kuliko kufa moyo
Posted by jimheck in Mara, Perceptions of Africa, Safari Lodges on December 12, 2011
Great circus barkers are so accomplished that they spur the tiger through the blazing ring so effortlessly it creates joy from daring. That was Ari Grammaticus. In this case, the cheetah on the roofhatch. Ari Grammaticus died last month. His memorial service is tomorrow in Nairobi. With him goes the personal daredevil thrill that was [...]
Ho-Hum Just a Routine Day on Safari!
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, OnSafari, Perceptions of Africa, Serengeti on September 19, 2011
Bumpy road, alkaline dust, wind in your face. And a honey badger, some impala, hartebeest, elephant, a serval in a tree killed by a leopard and a family of 11 lion taking down a bull buffalo. Anyone who only reads first paragraphs might be misled. It was hardly an ordinary start. We lucked out big [...]
Beware Andrew the Crusader Harper
Posted by jimheck in Perceptions of Africa, Safari Lodges on August 15, 2011
Andrew Harper’s sissy-fit earlier this year about Nairobi’s best hotel, the Norfolk, because they refused to give him an early check-in (that he didn’t pay for) was just another little annoyance of his that I usually ignore. But now my own clients are asking me to respond, so here goes. Bit by bit, blog by [...]
So You Want to Write on Africa…
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, Culture, History, Perceptions of Africa, Poverty, Stereotypes on March 17, 2011
by Conor Godfrey on March 17, 2011 I was going to continue exploring why some people, or states, support pariah regimes (this time with a more sympathetic view towards the supporters), but I was side tracked by a wonderful article from GRANTA magazine entitled “How to Write About Africa”. (The article is actually from a [...]