My grandfather, Chief Nyerere Burito, who led the Zanaki community of Butiama between 1915 and 1942, had 22 wives and four concubines – a reality that complicated his encounters with early Christian missionaries arriving in the region during the early 20th century. When told conversion required him to keep only one wife, he politely declined…

Signing a long-term agreement can feel like getting married, everyone is excited at the beginning, nobody wants to discuss what happens if things go wrong and both parties hope the roof doesn’t start leaking unexpectedly. For landlords, the key concerns are simple: Will the rent arrive on time? Will the property still resemble a building…

For a number of years in the past, cross-border phone communications have been attracting a host of roaming charges. The justification for this is that if for example you are calling someone in Kenya from your Vodacom network, your network will rely on a partner network in Kenya to connect the call and the two…

As usual in this column, I like to dig into the wisdom of our ancestors so that you and I can find food for thought and to guide our life experience. Today my memory goes to the indigenous education in which my parents and grandparents were raised. A fraction of that indigenous education has been…

During the 1960s, despite having no TV, we adored international soccer stars. Just like today. Ron Springett – English acrobatic goalkeeper, Pele, Mane Garrincha, George Best (Irish legend) and Eusebio the Mozambican. We, children, exaggerated his strengths. One yarn “confirmed” Eusebio had a kicked a ball so hard that it killed a goat! When I…

The fridge light shines like courtroom truth,Exposing every midnight move.I open doors with noble plans,Then leave with cheese held in my hands. Vegetables decay in shame,While sauces multiply unnamed.The leftovers form ancient states,Governed by uncertain dates. One shelf freezes fruit to stone,Another warms milk on its own.Family members stand and stare,As if fresh meals appear…

The leaf doesn’t think twice before letting go,It knows the roots have held it firm,The branches have swayed it in comfort,And the other leaves have rustled with it in the breeze. The parting is sweet when it is time to go,A voyage of its own,Twirling in the air,Carried away by the wind,Far, far away. As…