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Friday, December 6, 2019

THE FIFTH ESTATE

The Fifth Estate:
Initially - I coined these words as a book title. And, as the title suggests. Ideally, this is also an addition to the four well known institutions of what embody the three estates of governments and, the fourth being the (outsider) media.

In my understanding - the Fifth Estate is an embodiment that straddle the outside and inside of governments.

Characteristically, the largely invicible estate started historically as individuals with favor contacts - enjoying 'go-getter' relationship with top leaders. The favored individuals were outright outsiders. Of intellect or none intellectual qualities but trusted doers of the 'go-getter' private jobs for the leaders.

THE EUROPEAN FACTOR.

In ancient Europe, at the Lordly and Emperor beginnings of the Fable ages.. these favored contacts, used by the Lords and Emperors did lots of clandestine work. Mostly, things the law would prohibit or inhibit insider members of the systems handling. Such missions were secretly delegated to those vetted unknown individuals.

At the dawn of idealisms - when ideologues began writing ideological analysis that led to socialism, communism and democratization or capitalism - things had gotten more complicated, collective and Political.

The popular word for the 'go-getter' also changed to 'get the young Turks'.. when a rival had to be quickly and descreetly eliminated.

The young men who could do anything - no matter how dangerous were from ancient Turkey. The demands for their private services increased throughout southern Europe and scaled-up northwards eventually, to become strong immigrant workers generally. They were a huge invisible influence.

A lifetime of reading various authors and, vast titles of their works - is at the backdrop of my Fifth Estate book idea.
However, whatever input I make in this blog post doesn't scratch the bare top of it. Because, the whole picture changes - discussing it as an African study.

THE AFRICAN FACTOR.

Here, the African nepotism creates a torn-away damage! Dismissing the 'go-getter' idea.
In Africa, the go-getter might just be favored relatives or clan/tribes mates of the leader. That too, undermine the effectiveness of an ambiguity in the clandestine fieldwork.

Which is also how the governmental insiders get entangled with the outsider players.. So that, in the 'see-saw' certain amount of facts, roumors and half-truths get shared - knowledge is wealth!

How did the fifth estate evolve in some African countries?

'Mark Twist' nearly as in Oliver, was the nickname of a certain African who was an early day clandestine outsider lone operative - in a certain African country.
In his day, Twist was known to be deadly criminal largely involved in buffling undertakings - unsolved grizzly crimes, robbery of Banks and cars.
The Head of State sought the guy and, soon Twist was hobnobbing in the secret corridors of a whole national power!

Not far from the avenue where the big-man sat, was a large colonial type restaurant with large French windows..
Quietly, this place was coined the 'Assassin's' corner. Where, I was a decade later to learn that, that was Mark Twist's lair - his day time joint where he had steams of coffee, snacks, newspapers and things..

And, that often an elderly woman privy to the Head, would saunt by and drop an envelope..

Somewhere in the city some rivals or their proxies would fall - to the charin of the hysterical newspaper reporters and editors. And, the count kept going for a good part of ten years.

Up till the time I was in the newspaper myself 2009/12, I was haunted by this lucrative book material.

Then, I read Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons' - now the pieces fell together.

The young Turk 'Assassin' character that profusely fought Robert Langdon, the Anthropologist American - fussed very nicely with my old Mark Twist discovery: they were the root of the 'Fifth Estate'. A massive bite too, you could die!

Today - relationship between some African Presidents are shrouded in dark diplomacy - to me, the cause factor is the overbearing cropping of the outsider influences that grew out of the shoe of the likes of Mark Twist. And, their ancient prelates in lower European countries. They are now generalized 'CORRUPTIONS'. End.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Cronological & Practical History - How did we understand it all..

The Cronological; Practical History - How did we understand it all.

Oh
It had started as a debate. Somehow shifted into an argument. Heated into challenges, then ruptured into this massive actions.

One group had said: 'World is flat like a table' and that, if you sailed directly into the setting sun, your ship would hit the perrenial Maelstrom and disappear down the eternal abyss.

The other had said: 'World is round like a ball' and that, should you sail directly into the sunset, your ship would reappear at the Sunrise East.

The dramatic debate built into outright confrontation: on one side were perceived darkness people, while on the other side were lumenaries - people of light. The Illuminati!

Christianity was still young and slowly spreading across Europe. Crusaders  were forming in South Western Europe.
In Portugal and Spain the successions of those Kings known as the 'Catholic Monarchs' inspired and fired-up the debates and arguments.

In the ports of Servilla new industrial development spread: no longer would slaves row boats at the beat of the drum as they had done for centuries.. on the Mediterranean Sea.

Tuplins, Canvas, Twines manufacturing and larger Ocean going Ships were being built along the ports of Portugal and Spain - and, the new industry was spreading across coastal Europe to as far as Italy and Greece: by the time King Phillip II  ascended, the famous Artwork canvas depicting the Blessed Virgin spreading her hands over the Port strewn with the 'Great Whites' was a new Dawn. The age of the farers, voyagers, discoverers was born! Mothered by the blessed Virgin.

By the fourteen hundreds, the assult on the Oceania had moved out 'Ahoy'!

If you went to Mombasa in Kenya today, you would find a notice board posted outside the entrance of 'Fort Jesus' - on it, is written the dates the Portugese built that Fort.

A light house looking to the East! For it was said that the 'World was round' and, therefore 'Great Whites' that sailed out of the Blessed Virgin's ports in Portugal must see this 'light house'! On arrival onto the known 'Old World' - The African Continent, was part of the mapping of that 'Old World'. And, the point of proof that actually the World was round - should the Ships that sailed into the sunset, suddenly appear from the far East.

Columbus, sailed out. Then Amerigo the Italian hit the New Found Land. Batholomew Diaz went round the west coast of Africa and demonstrated the Cape of Good Hope.

We, the African children sat attentively as we learned about Europe in our classes! Mostly, how you understood it, depended on how dramatic your class teacher was!

So that,  finally, out of the five Great Whites to set sail from the Blessed Portuguese Port, Commanded by Ferdinand Magellan - who dies fighting in the Philippines - one ship made that mission of circumnavigation of Earth. Limping back to home port in Portugal. 1519 - 1522.

In a typical grandiosity, as usual, the glory gets taken away! The story perspective gets hijacked!

So that, the Jesus (Magellan) dies in the Philippines!

On the African Eastern coasts Fort Jesus  is embattled! The Mohammedans constantly attack and assult Fort Jesus! It eventually breaks the will of the Portuguese.
The Sultan of Mombasa (Al Hasan) - supported by three Sultans of Somalia, that of Zanzibar, the spice islands of Pemba, Mafia etcetera

Partnered with the trade wind Emirs from around the old Gulf Emirates - fought off the Portuguese forcing them to shift further South to what is now Maputo, Mozambique - the story perspective had shifted!

The Port of Peace: 'Dar es Salaam', earns it's name as volatility engulf Mombasa and Tip-o-tip's Zanzibar. Trade in slaves flourishing - while spice trade peaks in the Islands of Pemba and Mafia. Thus far, I am not so sure we the African pupils got it wrong.

THE NEW ERA:

George Stephenson (1781 - 1848) makes landmark invention that gives old England a new sense of direction. The original prototype steam engine is developed into two massive engines: for the Train (originally designed to run on rails by the inventor) and, for a whole new entirely Iron bodyworks Ocean going Ships.

Then, the Treaty of Berlin happens - 1885.

The scrumble for Africa begins. England already had India under the Victorian Crown.

It was as easy as writing 'one' figuratively, for the British to create the linkage between India and Mombasa - now vacated by the Portuguese.

William Mackinnon and initial partner open-up the 'Mackinnon - Sclater' road, 970 kilometers of hand dug 'Ox-Cart' track from Mombasa to Busia.

Mackinnon, was an early investor into the massive George Stephenson ideas. Barely five years after the Treaty of Berlin, with Mackenzie floated a Royal Chattered 'Colonial Enterprise': IBEAC - Imperial British East Africa Company - 1888.
Mackinnon was to be knighted and, also made the Administrator of Uganda from 1890 to 1894 when IBEAC was desolved by the British Government - prior to the declaration of 'Uganda Protectorate'.

1896 to 1901, the railway lines, built by the Mackinnon/Mackenzie alliances back in Britain, were layed by the British Government - Mombasa to Kisumu.

CONCLUSIVELY

A huge part of this cronological history and, it's overarching spirituality and religious background is kleidioscopic with many cut-out parts.

It is my belief and conviction, that, we Africans suffer loss of base material knowledge here.

Which is why, we do not identify clearly, the values inherent in the infrastructural development and or maintenances. END


Tuesday, August 20, 2019

FOREIGN CHARITY & LOCAL COMMUNITY...

WORLD EMBRACE - a Canadian Charity, on an outreach program finds us, the people of Paliga a possibility host, for their ideal project.

A first experience for our, a little shy and hugely interested community.

'This is an opportunity, you should hold and value'.. so said Gulu's Chairman L C 5 Ojara Mapenduzi who attended the introductory sessions.

Indeed, if all goes well, my people of Paliga, in Gulu Northern Uganda becomes, like many communities around the Country, a unit in the statistics of foreign investment beneficiaries - Uganda Government's prime program is making accessibilities between organizations and local community even easier and, simpler.

We are duely and diligently trying to shape things between us and, enter the pipeline stages - where we also look forward to government officials playing their parts and help us package our interests and wants.

On the whole, there is enthusiasm - we are also learning each other: the foreign organization and the local community.. this is not a project to be bogged down by pertinent issues and vain individualism. Ours, is an act by two groups: one foreign and one local - pursuant of projects under a legal frame work definitions.
We as the locals, are encouraged that Government prefers that our interests be thus developed on the basis of our common understanding. END

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Paranoia - African Social Media psychology!

Currently, we on this other side of the enormous social media parapsychology coin are having fits.

In this 'free-for-all' world of social media the psychological frey: with all comer posts, comments, paraphernalia, innuendo, palaver and, the deadpan - throw the spanner into the wheelings. The most disaffected on this,  our African side, are the perrenially psychological security insecure!

What you post. Your comments. The quotes you make - show your African insecurity.

Yours is a wanting. A desperate attempt to leave a mark. A 'speedy gonzales' attempt to scurry-by noticeably and make your name (not your point) noticed - because, in our African-ness we hardly have a point of our own: Socrates, Shakepeareans, Darwin.. or quotes from the Bible are essentially all we have, from the Colonialism left over perspectives. We ask questions that have already been asked a thousand times by Western and Eastern philosophical thinkers - who also variably have scored all the 'grand design' answers.

So what do we Africans talk about?

Nothing! Actually, almost nothing that impress anybody anymore.

God, (you shall not mention the name of God in vain) created us Human beings and, protected us in our formative ages: Adam and Eve, and a score of others like them. Abram and Sarai, who became Abraham and Sarah. Lot and his family, who feature in that dawn strike over Sodom and Gomorrah. Melchizedek, King of Saleem were the first to experience direct interactions with God.

Then eventually came the age of the 'guardian Angels': even in the teachings of the Christian Churches - this is the unclearest.. factor in religious teachings todate! The guardian angel who stood there, watching over Adam and Eve seem to have been demobilized. That Army of burning sword Angels.. are no longer part of active modern faith.
It is worth the ventures anyhow, to reason-out what they might have left behind.. amongst us humans.

What immediately comes to mind is 'fineart' - in days goneby, inspired artwork cropped up to show imaginations that defined the relationship between Mankind and Heaven. Schools were created that developed inspirational canvas painting.
We Africans also learnt over the ages, that actually, the very causes of World War Two - were deeply rooted in history of those Austrian art School developments - with Hitler, as the one-man stigma of the conflict that killed six million Jews and, conscripted a score of Africans Colonial Armies fighting in that war 1939 - 1945.

Wait a minute - what exactly am I writing about here!?

Jesus Christ said: "I leave you my peace - my peace I give you". Meaning what!?

Gone he was! And, you and I, can only summon his Salvation through our own faith and beliefs!

If your faith might be the size of a Mustard seed!

In other words - just like the guardian angels who beat the grand heavenly withdraw, Heaven also recalled the Saviour! So that, verily, we are essentially on our own!

'God will quench your thirst - God will give you the water of life! Today!'

'God will give you good luck today - God will shower you with wealth today!'

'In the name of Jesus! Hallelujah!'

The African preacher sees God, as having a direct hand in the daily life and, activities of Earthlings.

Then why are Churches closing down in the developed world? In the UK, this is so and, the poor Africans in the Diaspora can't buy those Church buildings! How come!?. . Their faith  wouldn't generate that wealth!

'WHY?'

Because, 'that's the way it is...' - you need lots of luck to afford it! And, the definitive word 'luck' depict 'gambling'!

And, there is our African wits end.

In Uganda, my home Country, gambling is basically abominable - it got to be tolorated only of recent. Even then, the management ethics is way out beyond us Africans.
Africa can't move, can't advance, can't develop or generate wealth at all because - we don't have a realistic understanding of our own!

The 'dreams' of the 1970s &; 1980s - comes to us Africans, twenty years on, through Asian and, far Eastern understanding of our side of the coin! And, the European virtualization of our untapped infrastructural potential beginning 2005.

Where is the realism?

The realism is - God (forgive my calling your name) - left us, and Heaven has been on a withdraw mode from ancient history times - the last being the obvious recall of Jesus Christ, two thousand years ago! Since then, and gradually and grediently - Earth, is being controlled by a sort of 'wild bunch' Principalities.. it is a believe it or not situation! And, actually very much dicey.

It is bewilderingly unknown to us.. especially Africans - what those principalities are, but, more and more the bizarre nature of their activities are apparent. They mostly seem to stimulate dubiousness that lead us nowhere.. there is so much lack of inspirational development amongst us Africans. The principalities might more likely be engrossed in punishments and things.. END



Thursday, June 20, 2019

Apprenticeship and, Tramp!

Apprenticeship and, Tramp!

You first - must have been a street Tramp - for you to have evolved into an Apprentice!

There, on the street, was and still is where you actually became MEN!
There was never any other way - an Apprentice always started from the beginning by first being a street Tramp.

MEN - challenges you and, interests and want drove you. You are street walking. Street fighting and all you want and need is just one initial win. The entry-level to MEN is clattered with actual and very real difficult situations.
Everyday you are deeper and deeper.. if you score against the enormous odds, you might find a warmth, waiting - she was your minute prize!

If you don't have this sort of experience in your life, then you are not.. just read and do nothing else, for here trips a live guillotine!

Back in my day, in the late 1960s Kampala, I often went street walking: young, interests driven and confident as a young Police recruit (1969), I learnt to play the practiceable elements of my training in the 'power of observation' roaming the streets.

Kishenyi - was the more fertile area, for it was loaded with criminals and prostitutes..

MEN interests and, it's challenges often gets the better of you! Inavitably, you follow the prostitute and empty your nuts.. in that warmth, for the 3.00shs. All, in the process of Apprenticeship - you are new to these forbidden fruit..

Outside. Someday, couple of boys want the entire content of your pockets! Suddenly, it is a skirmish with one down, you are 'Manix' - you run after the one who got away.. but then you were fleeing from a potentially deadly environment.

Kishenyi back then, was notorious with sampling of people from as far as Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Rwanda, Somalia - Kishenyi was squalid, but the most fashionable characters emerged from there.

In those bits and pieces of life experiences.. I too, emerged as an Apprentice Writer decades down the road.
I now live in the belief that, the pathway to Apprenticeship is, first to be a street Tramp! The University does not make you an Apprentice - it is only being a learning Tramp! End.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Generational African leadership - vis a vis - Generations in African leadership

Generational African leadership - vis a vis - Generations in African leadership.

'Great Expectations' - seem to lead African opinion towards a mixup of our thinking.
There ought to have been traditions that ruled over Africans before coming of the white man - and Balkanization of the continent.

What Africa seems to lack or, may have lost, is PURPOSE!

 That sense of direction: where were we the Africans headed.. before the white man came? Did we have a simple sense of direction? How were these if any, defined? What clue do we have towards that or those senses of purpose?

Are we aware - that having a genuine sense of purpose also hold the imbibements for self generated skills apprenticeship?

That, back then ancient Africa may have moved from stone age, to iron age and, onwards to industrial age - without the prop-up of the white man since Balkanization of the continent?

With this in mind. What do we Africans imagine - as generational African leaderships - that "come and go" don't seem to exhibit PURPOSE!

And, if at all, it is blood-letting that seem central - in purposes.. how do we then un-blank our side of the coin?

Colonialism built the East African Railway: Kenya to Uganda with partly imported labor (Indian), and partly conscripted local African labor - the stark ignorant African work force learnt impromptu, and the apprenticeship generated what they needed to implement instructions.

Sixty years after decolonization, we, of post independence Africa, live and enjoy, even celebrate our educated achievements!
Oblivious, of the glaring fact that, we failed to maintain or rebuild - what the uneducated colonial era African Laborers, under foreign supervision were able to do.
In Uganda, the network of railway tracks laid by Colonialism are overgrown with thickets of grass, weeds even trees.
Rhetorically, even the current generation of leadership in Eastern Africa have been talking of 'standard gague' tracks - even as the ancient track slippers have been caniblized or just disappearing for decades..

There has been talks of plans (for over a dozen years) for 'speed trains'. Words so sweet in the ears of those who know PURPOSE. But words that seem to thin-off..

It is true, first generation African leaders hardly knew their own leadership roles; Obote, Kwame, Kaunda and others of that generation were rehtorical and, labor unions often intimidated them!
They were not into material manipulation for constructive developments. Which set the stage for something else.

Second generation - Coup and overthrow makers! Were only there to spill blood and, set another stage for the revolutionaries..

The revolutionaries seem to have purpose and, know exactly what Africa needs in leadership! They also had the rare opportunity to know real HUNGER live, and one-to-one! Unlike their predessesors who knew hunger theoretically...

That too, is probably one of the main factors that ran Bashir out of office in the Sudan Republic more recently.

And, the real reason why President Museveni of Uganda might continue to occupy the State House...
Protected by: Rolex (not the watch), roasted cassava, maize, and all them road side and Street fast foods! Juices, bottled wines, Pan cakes, buiscuits, and, all them imported everything eats! And niceties.. and gamings!

The highly educated call that 'Micro Finance' activities and 'Macro Economic' broad based poverty erradicate measures.
Uganda has undaubtedly achieved that aspect of finance and economic solutions today.

People who like to poke fun and talk mindless innuendos - both inside or outside Government, also like to imagine that; the apparent possible demise of the railway, might cognitively be one-day laid at the doorsteps of haulage big-time heavy trucking concerns.

'Trains will put trucking out of work' others actually say..

Funny, but these clever guys don't seem to do 'binnoculars' to look see how trucks, trains and buses run Europe, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, China, the Koreas et Al..

Which makes me wonder - did we Africans have any simple fundamental PURPOSES before coming of the white man? End.