Mojatu Magazine Berkshire Issue B028 by Mojatu Magazines

Berkshire connected

Berkshire Exclusive interview with

FGM Survivor

ANXIETY What triggers anxiety? WINDRUSH GENERATION What is it? PREVENT CHILD VIOLENCE Good Parenting FGM Facts, Help & Actions - P2 Role of men in the prevention of FGM - P7

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Editor’s Welcome Berkshire connected Hello and welcome to the latest issue of Berkshire Mojatu Magazine B028. Check out our cover story an exclusive interview with the FGM survivor (Pg 4). We also have quite an insightful and informative article on Windrush (Pg 8-9)

The ‘Cutting Season’ where many children are believed to be at risk of Female Genital Mutilation is here now. See articles and information on facts, how to get help or report and actions you can take (Pg 2). Men are very important in the campaign to end FGM, we have two great articles on the role of men on (Pg 7). We also bring you the Grand Maasai Cricket Warriors Tour! They will be highlighting this important role See (Pg 32) We have an exciting article about a motivational woman, who has achieved great academic heights despite challenges. Florence Makinde is an inspiration to the youth (Pg 26). We have also featured in this issue, African women in Europe (Pg 19) and Visit to Rhodesia (Pg 12-18). GDPR has come into effect and a lot of individuals and businesses are coming to terms of its implications, we have featured a checklist for charities (Pg 28) We explored whether it is time to change the education system, whether the emphasis on ‘schooling’ is short changing our youths (Pg 30-31) There are lots more fun and informative contents on health, Spirituality and parenting, we not only believe that you will enjoy the contents, but you will also be able to give us feedback on your views and how best we can serve you better. Happy Reading!

Editorial

Contents

News & Sports FGM Survivor Interview/Prayer.......................................4-5 Survivors Alliance Launch.....................................................6 Engaging Men in FGM............................................................7 The Windrush Generation - What Is It?.........................8-9 Community The Power of Parenting................................................. 10-11 Trip to Rhodesia............................................................... 12-18 Arts & Culture African Women in Europe - Vol.1..................................... 19 Health & Food What Triggers Anxiety................................................... 20-21 Sweating: Causes, Adjustments, Complications.. 22-23 MHFA: Mental Health First Aid ..........................................24-25 Education & Career Florence Makinde: Professional Growth....................... 26 Green Arch: Business Services.......................................... 27 GDPR Charities Checklist..................................................... 28 GDPR Breakdown ......................................................................... 29 Education: The Need To Change The System........ 30-31 Adverts Maasai Cricket Warriors....................................................... 32

Cover

Bridget Waciuma Maingi Courtesy Utulivu Womens Group

Mojatu Foundation Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.

Kevin Price - kevin.price@mojatu.com Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage Address: Utulivu Women’s Group, 555 Northumberland Av, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 8NXT 0118 907 2534 | 07859 063 643 | 07516 962 992 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumedia Printers: Mojatu Publications

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News & Sports

INTERVIEW WITH BRIDGET WACIUMA MAINGI FGM SURVIVOR By Cecily Mwaniki Here is Bridget Waciuma Maingi sharing her experience of FGM from a point of strength and her love of being the change she seeks. Bridget is a Mental Health Nurse who cares enough for the wellbeing of the communities as she understands its importance in the positive development of individuals. She therefore shares her personal experience with the view of ending this harmful practice in a generation. She is a great teacher and leader in bringing change where it is needed.

I was fourth born child in a family of eight siblings and second born girl. What I remember, a lot happened in the family when I was growing up. There are good memories to remember, but bad memories over the years will always be remembered. For any of you who may know FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), it is very disturbing memories. This reminds me of how I was approached by my grandmother to be prepared for my time was ready to be an adult. I was brainwashed the importance of going to visit a certain lady ill called Rachel (not real name). She lived at about twenty miles from family home. My grandmother wanted so much for every girl in the family to undergo FGM. School holiday was coming up and grandma wanted me to spend time recovering from the FGM procedure. I didn’t want to go through the experience, I could remember very well how my sister came home one morning on summer holiday two years before. She had come from the lady Racheal where she had been taken early hours of that day. At the age, I didn’t not know what had happened to her, but I knew for sure something was very wrong as she stayed in bed for a few weeks without leaving the room. Due to the fear of unknown, I kept saying I’ll not go. That didn’t stop my grandma and her friends to do the best they could to convince me the importance of going to lady Rachel. I was told stories to scare me like “you have to go and if you don’t, no man will come near you. Men don’t like women who are not circumcised as women rape them” I was about eleven years old and that was nothing to worry about as I didn’t know why I would need men to be near me anyway. Instead of taking advise, that made me happy, as I never wanted to get married due to bad experiences of how my parents used to fight. That reason alone, I believed husbands must beat wives, something I hated most. However, my granny’s plan didn’t work but she came up with another one as she was not going to give up until I was through FGM. My grandmother this time said, a woman who is not circumcised smells and no one in the family will be able to sit near you or talk to you. As this is what happens when one refuses to be removed dirty stuff within them. Every girl must be clean if they want to have a brighter future.

My senior sister was named after my grandmother. That made grandma tell me she could not leave uncircumcised and my other grandmother (mom mother) needs to tell me, as herself is clean and she became clean two years ago (referring to my sister) My mother was not making me feel the weight or rejection of the FGM but my grandmother could not give-up. Grandma kept saying she will leave the other grandma to talk to me. But all changed when school holiday commenced, actually this was on the month of August and it appeared they could not wait any longer. I don’t know what the hurry was for, as I was just a little girl and every time the mention of going to visit the woman, I could not stop the running of butterfly in my belly. However, it was not in my control on what was to happen to my own body, but decisions were to be from my grandma, parents, family, friends and the community obviously. I didn’t have the right of my body, no power on self and my life was to be dictated by those who could have protected me most. The FGM had to happen. I was taken to the lady as grandmother wished and FGM was performed. I was devastated, traumatised and depressed. My life changed from there on to date and I have never been able to talk about in my life. I have lived a life of lie and unable to seek support, due to shame and fear of unknown as I mentioned earlier but I am glad to be here today. I met Cecily and we have been chatting for a while. After a lengthy chat over the days-woman to woman, she got the impression I have lived long in pain within me and have never shared. She encouraged me to accept what happened and start the healing process and recovery journey of the past life and present experience by talking openly. I have talked about the experience over and over again and I can confirm, as I have always reassured friends, patients and family that recovery is a journey but now I have personally chosen to take the journey far as the pain in me needs to heal. My journey is long and painful. This will follow in soon, whereby I will share the pain and grief of losing my parents when I was a teenager and a mother at the same time. The pain of losing siblings in their thirties and early forties and above all losing my only daughter due to heart attack. Wait!!! And listening to me you’ll know if you hope for something in life, there’s no mountain you cannot climb.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ

Berkshire connected

News & Sports

mojatu 1ST INTERNATIONAL SURVIVOR ALLIANCE FOR MODERN SLAVERY SURVIVORS TO BE LAUNCHED

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INTERVIEW WITH VALENTINE NKOYO

A team of survivors are launching the Survivor Alliance, an international network of modern slavery survivors on 23rd April. Partnering with the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham, the mission of the Alliance is to unite and empower survivors of slavery and human trafficking around the world. The founder and director of the NGO, Minh Dang, is studying for her PhD at the University of Nottingham and shares with us more about the Survivor Alliance. Where did the idea of the Survivor Alliance come from? The initial idea for our organization began in the U.S. in 2013, when a group of survivor leaders saw a lack of investment in long-term and meaningful engagement with survivor leaders. There was a growing interest from the anti-trafficking movement in the inclusion of survivor voices, but a lack of infrastructure to support survivors who were sharing their expertise and personal stories. A handful of supportive NGOs developed training programs and survivor networking opportunities, but they could not meet all the needs of a growing and diverse survivor community. Also, organisations were calling on the same survivor voices and there was a need to grow new leaders. The idea for the Survivor Alliance grew out of survivor leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desire to fill this gap. What is the vision for the NGO? Our vision is a world where survivors of human trafficking and slavery are thriving members of society. Why is working with survivors important? We want to empower survivors to develop solutions for their own communities, and to collaborate with other survivor communities around the world. We believe that connecting survivor leaders and building their capacity will enhance their daily lives, improve the anti-slavery movement, and contribute bestpractices for community-based social change. Though we support survivor leaders in the anti-slavery field, we will support our members to pursue goals in other industries as well.

Why is it important to launch Survivor Alliance initiatives in the UK? The U.K. has a tradition of anti-slavery activism and there are growing cross-sector partnerships to provide support for survivors. This means that more and more survivors will live in the U.K. We think that this is a critical time for survivor voices to be involved in program and policy development. Based on our success in the US, we are keen to develop the UK chapter of the Survivor Alliance in collaboration with survivors based in the UK to ensure their needs as survivor leaders are met. How can organisations tackling modern slavery can be involved? We are keen to partner with organisations tackling modern slavery in different countries. The organisations can help us in different ways including: yyReaching out to survivors through our leaflets, posters, newsletters, social media, emails, etc. yyReferring survivors to join the membership yyDisplaying and sharing our work within their networks yyJoint bidding and co-hosting events yyRepresenting us in their region How can other members of public be involved? Members of public can help if different ways including: yyReferring survivors of modern slavery to join the Survivor Alliance membership yyReaching out to survivors through our leaflets, posters, newsletters, social media etc yyVolunteers with us yyFundraise for us How can you be contacted? Website: www.survivoralliance.org Survivor Alliance membership membership@survivoralliance.org General enquiries info@survivoralliance.org

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News & Sports

The Windrush Generation - What is it? By Cecily Mwaniki

What is the Windrush Generation? This is a question those who are not familiar with it may be asking now that it was on our TV screens almost on a daily basis a few months ago. In explanation, Windrush relates to or denotes the people who emigrated from the Caribbean to Britain on the British ship-- the ‘Empire Windrush’ in 1948. The Empire Windrush’s voyage from the Caribbean to Tilbury took place in 1948. Believe it or not, very few of the migrants intended to stay in Britain for more than a few years. If it hadn’t been for the Second World War, the Windrush and her passengers might not have made the voyage at all. During the war, thousands of Caribbean men and women had been recruited to serve in the armed forces. When the Windrush stopped in Jamaica to pick up servicemen who were on leave from their units, many of their former comrades decided to make the trip in order to re-join the RAF. More adventurous spirits, mostly young men, who had heard about the voyage and simply fancied coming to see England, ‘the mother country’, doubled their numbers.

An important landmark in the history of modern Britain June 22nd, 1948, the day that the Windrush discharged its passengers at Tilbury, has become an important landmark in the history of modern Britain; and the image of the Caribbeans filing off its gangplank has come to symbolise many of the changes which have taken place here. Caribbean migrants have become a vital part of British society and, in the process, transformed important aspects of British life. In 1948, Britain was just beginning to recover from the ravages of war. Housing was a huge problem and stayed that way for the next two decades. There was plenty of work, but the Caribbeans first clashed with the natives over the issue of accommodation. But alongside the conflicts and the discrimination, another process was taking place. Excluded from much of the social and economic life around them, they began to adjust the institutions they brought with them - the churches, and a co-operative method of saving called the ‘pardner’ system. At the same time, Caribbeans began to participate in institutions to which they did have access: trade unions, local councils, and professional and staff associations.

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Berkshire connected

Community

Identity By the start of the seventies, West Indians were a familiar and established part of the British population, and they had achieved more than mere survival. One indication of their effect on British life is the Notting Hill Carnival. the carnival took place in the same streets where West Indians had been attacked and pursued by baying crowds, but it began as a celebration, a joyous all-inclusive testimony to the pleasure of being alive. As it developed, it became clear that here was a British festival where everyone was welcome, and everyone who wished to, had a part to play. Throughout the seventies, the children of the first wave of post-war Caribbean migrants began to develop a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;black cultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which is now part of a black British style shared by Africans, Asians and white young people alike. The people of the Windrush, their children and grandchildren have played a vital role in creating a new concept of what it means to be British. To be British in the present day implies a person who might have their origins in Africa, the Caribbean, China, India, Greece, Turkey or anywhere else in the spectrum of nations.

The now-familiar debate about identity and citizenship was sparked off when the first Caribbeans stepped off the Windrush. Alongside that debate came the development of arguments about the regions within the United Kingdom - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The British national self-image has been thoroughly remodelled in a very short time. Seen against the deadly agonies associated with ethnic conflicts in other European countries, Britain offers the example of a nation, which one can live comfortably with a new and inclusive concept of citizenship. In a sense, the journey of the Windrush has never ended.

10 Community

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12 Community

Trip to Rhodesia By John Fisher

John Fisher was born and grew up in Zimbabwe then called Rhodesia. John studied accounting and made a successful career in that and now lives in UK. He loves connecting and being connected and so you will often find him positively contributing in community matters through use of his many talents. Please read this article to learn more about John.

TRUE STORY

The best known is Mala Mala (sable antelope). During the winter months, rain is unusual and this forces the animals to seek moisture from the pans, created at strategic sites.

On Saturday morning, the 17th July 1948 with a companion, John Davies, some nine years my senior and divorced, and who worked for the same company in Johannesburg, I set out in my solid front axled Morris 10, for a fortnightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiday.

The next day Sunday, we reached Skukuza, but on Monday we ran into a stretch of country where the rains had arrived early, and where for hours we literally skidded the miles before reaching our next resting place, at Letaba.

Other than an intention to visit the Kruger National Park game reserve, and then head north, we had nothing planned, and no bookings made.

Possibly because of the weather, possibly because of our impatience, the speed limit is 20 mph, my recollection on this visit was of numerous impala, few elephant, giraffe, and of the reluctance of lion to emerge and be seen.

After Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa we passed Witbank, a mining town and then at Middleburg, a steelworks town also with surrounding coalmines, 110 miles from Johannesburg, the metalled road ran out. Over corrugated roads for another 150 miles, through the lowveldt of the eastern Transvaal, past Nelspruit, that Saturday evening we arrived at Pretoriuskop rest camp at the southern end of the game reserve, to stay the night. Established in 1898 on a proclamation by President Paul Kruger it was the first large wildlife reserve in Africa. Visited by King George V1, the queen and the two princesses during their southern African tour of 1946, it covers an area 200 miles long with an average width of 40 miles, between the Crocodile River in the south and the Limpopo to the north. At the southern end antelope, lion, hippo, elephant, buffalo, baboons, vultures, hyena, giraffe, zebra, crocodile all to be seen. Our accommodation was basic either thatched rondavels, or huts but quite adequate to the activity. Nowadays alongside the reserve on the western side, owners of individual farms have no fences and have formed a sanctuary for game. Not altogether altruistically, since they have established luxurious viewing lodges as tourist attractions.

Cine photography on subsequent visits to the Reserves both in South Africa and Rhodesia show a much more rewarding picture of conditions and animal sightings. We stayed the Tuesday night at Punda Maria rest camp at the north of the reserve. Leaving the reserve, we went west to Louis Trichardt at the edge of the beautiful scenery, running from east to west, of the Soutspansberg Mountains, so named because of the saltpan discovered there by the voortekkers. Climbing the spectacular route over the mountains we descended to pass through the narrow gorge of Wyllieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s port, before traversing the tropical plain dominated by mopani and baobab trees. I had prior to this trip damaged the front of the car in a collision. Coming down from the mountains, the shuddering from the roads had aggravated the repairs and the fan hit the radiator with obviously detrimental results. 50 miles north of the tropic of Capricorn, intensely hot, we could not replenish from the dry beds of the rivers we passed. Using whatever water we were carrying we were fortunate to find a lone house, and with their assistance we were able to limp into Messina, the home of MTD copper mining, where an obliging garage did the repairs.

Berkshire connected Messina, from the native word for copper “musina” was founded in 1904 when Col. John Grenfell (a forebear of a recent chairman of MTD married to Joyce Grenfell) discovered large deposits of copper. The town sits on the Great Rift Valley, which appearing in East Africa spreads southwards across Rhodesia where it is known as the Great Dyke, and emerges on the Rand, and along which are found the wealth of mineral deposits which have influenced the hope, the greed, the despair, the achievement of so many in southern Africa. Wednesday night at Messina, we left the next morning for Southern Rhodesia. It was 10 miles from Messina to the border. To the great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo River of Kipling’s poem, and the customs posts South African and then Southern Rhodesian, at each end of the magnificent Beit Bridge. 1550 feet long and comprising 14 spans, it was built from funds provided by a trust set up on the death of the financier colleague of Cecil Rhodes, Alfred Beit who with Rhodes and Barney Barnato had formed the De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited to amalgamate the whole diamond industry of South Africa. Opened in 1929, this bridge, as well as road traffic, carried the railway just as far as Rhodesia. The rail connection from the Rhodesian railway system coming south from Bulawayo to Beit Bridge, as the border post is known, was never completed. Only in recent years has a connection been made, across country to the line running from Gwelo to Lourenco Marques. In 1948 South Africa still considered itself a British Dominion, we did not of course know that within three months the Nationalists would replace the Smuts government, and that the march to a republic would be under way. What we did know was that from the border, for us, there was a refreshing sense of freedom, probably stemming from the fact that there was no longer evidence of bilingualism in the signs. Ahead of us, from the Limpopo to the mighty Zambesi we were to find parkland nearly twice the size of the United Kingdom. But first we now encountered Rhodesian roads. These except for a few kept for historical purposes have now virtually disappeared. They arose from the depression of the thirties, when to counter unemployment, projects were undertaken to lay across the country from north to south and east to west, on all the main thoroughfares, two parallel strips of concrete, at a sufficient width to take a car’s wheel tracks. No real attempt was made to straighten the roads, or to eliminate rises. The strips just followed the contours with low-level bridges over rivers. Over time the soil alongside and between became eroded, and as a consequence despite topping up from time to time, the strips sat higher than the surrounding ground.

13 Imagine two cars, like trains on a single-track railway, approaching each other at a combined speed in excess of 100 miles per hour. At the last moment each decides to pull off the road. Not totally off the road. Just to transfer the right wheel from the right strip, over the loose gravel in between, and then on to the left strip. In the meantime the left wheel has gone down the slope on the left side and is now running in loose gravel. At an angle thus the two vehicles approach, pass in a cloud of dust and then lurch back onto both strips, to proceed until the next encounter. My business was insurance and when I subsequently worked in Rhodesia I was surprised to find how few accidents occurred from these hectic but necessary procedures. Although seemingly primitive, these roads served to make all parts of Rhodesia accessible. By this means therefore we made our way the 180 miles to Fort Victoria, where we were to spend that Thursday night. Apart from hotels at Bubye Bridge and the Lundi river the journey was unrelieved. Ranching country, Liebigs producers of Oxo and Frey Bentos corned beef ran enormous herds of cattle, at their Nuanetsi ranch, reputed to be the largest in the world, of 1250000 acres, some 2000 square miles, in this area. This was in 1948. Later I was to be reminded that less than 60 years earlier, what had become a settled country, was unknown other than to missionaries, explorers and concession hunters. That in 1890 a Pioneer Column comprising 196 officers, NCO’s, and men of very varied experience and qualifications, had been raised to implement a concession secured by Rhodes. They were paid 7/6 a day and promised a farm and 15 gold claims. The organisation of the whole expedition cost £90000. A few civilians, and 400 mounted men accompanied the column. Thus the BSAP had its beginning. Entering Rhodesia at Fort Tuli 220 miles to the southwest it had hacked its way through the bush. Confronted by what seemed impenetrable hills, a way through was found. Up what they named, and still remains, Providential pass they journeyed to reach Fort Victoria, where on 13th August 1890, an outpost which still stands, was established before they pressed on another 180 miles to Salisbury named after the then prime minister Lord Salisbury. The Union Jack was raised in Salisbury on 13th September 1890 The 400 miles had taken two months. We in Fort Victoria in 1948 had no need to complain of strip roads. Twenty miles to the south of Fort Victoria lay Great Zimbabwe.

14 Community At Great Zimbabwe, are the well-preserved ruins of a great enclosure like a mediaeval castle, the walls made of fragments of granite piled high one on top of the other, interlaced with occasional crisscross design. Welllaid walls stand uncovered yet forming passages, with a great conical tower. Other ruins scatter beyond the main enclosure. And above overlooking from a hill, more ruins mingling with the boulders, which often form so large a part of the Rhodesian rocky scene, with more fragments of granite. The cumulative effect of thousands of small piled fragments is one of concentrated human effort. These, with the soapstone sculptures of the Zimbabwe bird, a stylised fish eagle, the references to the Monomatapan Empire, contribute to flights of fancy, involving attributions to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. These are not supported and it is probable the great enclosure dates from 1200 AD. Although there are similar types of ruins at other locations in Rhodesia, I have read that there are no ruins like these anywhere else in the world. Alongside Great Zimbabwe in more recent times has been constructed a dam to hold back Lake Kyle. Apart from the incidental pleasure facilities, this dam provides water for the Hippo Valley and Cheredzi sugar estates, which have now been established to the south. From Fort Victoria we headed 110 miles east, past the turning to Umkondo copper mine, on to the Sabie River. Approaching the river, in the sky appears the graceful steel structure of the Birchenough Bridge. A suspension bridge, built in 1935, and similar in appearance, to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it had the same designer. Nearly 1100 feet long this gift of the Beit Trust to Rhodesia is one of its finest, and was at the time the third largest single span bridge in the world. We had no time to make the detour to Chipinga, a dairy and cheese producing area, founded when in 1892 sixty eight adults children and servants trekked 1000 miles from Bethlehem in the OFS to arrive 8 months later, nor to see the memorial to this Moodie Trek of the South African Boers. This detour would also have taken us past Melsetter with its Bridal falls and unbelievable views of the Chimanimani Mountains, which separate Rhodesia from Portugese East Africa. Of remarkable beauty the range rising to 7870 feet consists of white quartzite, which sparkles silver and gold in the sunshine. Here the Boers also settled whilst now tea and coffee plantations flourish. Similarly when we reached Umtali, we had no time to dwell on the arrival here of the railways in 1898. No time to recall that it was via this entry to Rhodesia from Beira on the PEA coast that Rhodes visited Rhodesia.

mojatu.com Here later was to be the oil refinery at the terminal of the pipeline from Beira. Also a recollection of masses of mushrooms, served when a visiting rugby team stayed too long in the bar, and had no time for dinner before departing. No time to explore the densely forested slopes of the Vumba mountains to the southeast. No time for the Inyanga National Park to the north where the highest mountain in Rhodesia Inyangani rises to 8250 feet, where waterfalls cascade down the Pungwe gorge, where the Mtarazi falls plummet a sheer 2000 feet. Where from the road to Inyanga across the Honde valley into Mocambique, is one of the great views of Rhodesia. Instead we needed to reach Salisbury. This we would achieve the next day, Saturday, but this Friday night we were to stay at Rusapi, the southwestern approach to the Inyanga Park, still some 100 miles to go to Salisbury. In 1817 far to the south in Zululand, Tshaka founder of that nation had attacked Mzilikazi a chief of one of the tribes, the Amandabele, forcing him to flee over the Drakensberg Mountains. For the next quarter of a century Mzilikazi had no resting place, waging war on those he encountered he wiped out most of the tribes between the Orange and Limpopo rivers. Defeated in the Northen Transvaal by the Voortrekkers he crossed the Limpopo to finally settle 260 miles to the west of Salisbury at Inyati, 35 miles north of Bulawayo, with his Ndebeles and where the name of the land around was later to be corrupted to Matabeleland. He had conquered the local peoples, clans of the KarangaRozvi group, and descendants of the Monomatapan Empire, whose ancestors as early as AD 500 had found their way south of the Zambezi. Then they had brought with them their herds of humpbacked cattle, burning patches of forests, cultivating to exhaustion and moving on. They worked the outcrops of iron copper and gold and about 1000 AD there was a steady trade with Arabs on the east coast, though this was not as profitable as the ivory and slave trade of the north. They established themselves between the Zambezi and the Limpopo in what is now known as Zimbabwe and became known as the Monomatapa Empire. During the 15th century the Karanga people split and they lost their original strength. An expedition by Jan van Riebeck in 1660 had unsuccessfully endeavored to trace this empire. It was these people who washed for gold in the rivers and were noted for their skill in iron working, whose isolation was broken by Mzilikaziâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invasion. Conquered by Mzilikazi, he gave to them the name Shona, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a people on the way downâ&#x20AC;?.

Berkshire connected Modern Salisbury, the city of flowering trees, is located at the centre of Mashonaland. In spring the hazy mauve jacarandas, the flamboyant, the bauhinias, the red Australian flame trees, and the yellow cassias all bloom. The African flame trees in summer, the bougainvilleas and poinsettias seem perpetually in flower. Salisbury, as does much of the country, lies nearly 5000 feet above sea level on a fertile well watered plain, the Kopje a low rocky hillock dominates the site. From this site, in 1890, the setting was so attractive, that when Sir Leander Starr Jameson (of the ill fated Jameson raid) saw it, the site of the capital was changed, and the column proceeded no further towards the proposed Fort Hampden, 10 miles to the northwest. Although sub-tropical, the altitude produces a temperate climate with a 30-inch rainfall, and cool nights for most of the year. The Anglican cathedral houses the original altar cross made of cigar boxes, the ten bells cast in London each bear an English rose and a Rhodesian flame lily. The seat of government, the House of Assembly built in 1895 was originally intended as a hotel. The churches, the racecourse, the hotels, the museum, the schools the hospital the settled community were reminders that those who lived here, had come with an intelligent appreciation of the worth of this parkland that is Rhodesia, and had worked unstinted to enhance it. The company with which we were employed, had principal representatives in Rhodesia, and we made their acquaintance first in Salisbury. This was to prove crucial to our travels, and also to my future. We had the intention to proceed across Southern Rhodesia to Bulawayo and thence to the Victoria Falls. This would have taken us through the heart of Southern Rhodesia, through the cotton fields around Gatooma where the Research and Industry Board had established a modern mill, where the Cam & motor Gold mine was the biggest single producer, to QueQue with its nearby steelworks, to Gwelo, rich in gold, chrome, iron, asbestos and tungsten. Also in sight of Ntabas Induna a hill 10 miles from Bulawayo where Mzilikazi had arranged the execution of his advisers. But we were persuaded to consider going north over the Zambezi, on to the Northern Rhodesian capital, Lusaka, and then to approach the falls on our return south. And so on the Sunday morning we heeded the exhortation â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go North young man â&#x20AC;&#x153;, and went north. Away from the Balancing Rocks at Epworth Mission, away from the Mazoe Valley with its citrus groves. Past Sinoia where over a long period of time water has created a vast sinkhole filled with absolutely clear water 300 feet deep.

15 Viewed from the edge, this Sleeping Pool is of beautiful blue. Past tobacco farms, past the Alaska and Mangula copper mines. Petrol was not rationed by coupon, but only four gallons were supplied at each fill up. Many Rhodesians carried 4 gallon gerry cans, but we were not so equipped. To augment our supply, we decided to make a detour, on what we thought would be a satisfactory road, to Miami. When committed we realised too late that the road was little better than a track and only suitable for jeeps and the like. We pressed on through gullies, and did find petrol, but with much misgiving. In an area where mica was mined, the ground everywhere was covered with the glistening flakes of this mineral. Returning to the main road, of two strips, delayed, we pressed on hoping to reach Lusaka, some 70 miles north of the border. By now it was growing dark and we were descending the escarpment to cross the relentlessly hot valley of the mighty Zambezi. This was the Mana pools area, frequented by elephant, buffalo, hippo, rhino, lion, antelope, and leopard. Fortunately on the Southern Rhodesian side, for the last few miles, a full tar road had been preferred to the two strips. Against this the road was very tortuous. My companion was driving, in my car, and I continually prevailed upon him to go more slowly. Suddenly in the headlights ahead on the road we saw the great lumbering hulk, of what we thought and have never been persuaded from thinking, was a rhinoceros. Whatever it was it was sufficient for us to take pause, before increasing speed, to pass. Thereafter no longer any need to put the brake on, rather go to the other extreme and urge greater speed. With this experience we did not feel disposed to proceed through the unknown terrain of Northern Rhodesia that night and stayed in the centre of the 1050 feet long Otto Beit suspension bridge, another gift of the Beit Trust, sleeping in our car right over the middle of the Zambezi. We had been away just over a week, this was Sunday night. Next morning across the bridge, in a country where slavery had only been abolished at the turn of the century, we felt we were explorers. No strip roads, back on the gravel, as in South Africa constant use had caused corrugations, and an uncomfortable journey. 300 miles north of Salisbury we reached Kafue at the junction leading 20 miles north to Lusaka and then the copper belt, and south to the Falls. We decided we had gone far enough north and turned south and headed for home. We had already done 1500 miles, only some 1100 miles to go. Along the line of rail, we reeled off the townships, one by one. All having some Europeans, some Asians, a few stores and the occasional hotel.

16 Community Away from the townships, in a country twice the size of Southern Rhodesia, inhabited by 2 1/2 millions, of which only 70000 were whites, and 10000 Asian or colored, we felt the solitariness of the bush as it stretched away in the dusty haze. A haze, which rose from the roads which deteriorating, had become two parallel troughs worn down by passing vehicles to such a degree that the car sump, was scraping on the ground, and but for that solid front axle going ahead would have suffered damage. Past Mazabuka, Monze, Chisekes, Pemba, Batoka, Sikalongo, Choma, Mukwela. In the dusk the dark red sphere of the setting sun was magnified by the haze, and as from somewhere unseen the rancid smell of the evening fires wafted across our path, we felt a magic quite unique, that I have long remembered. We reached Kalomo, on Monday night. In June 1852 David Livingston had left Capetown at the start of his great Trans-African journey. This journey was to take him to Linyati, some 150 miles to the west of Kalomo in September 1853. Leaving in November he went westwards to reach the coast at Luanda on 31st May 1954. Returning on 20th September 1854 he was at the east coast in Mocambique on 20th May 1856 just four years after leaving Capetown. On the 3rd November 1855, during this great Trans-African journey David Livingstone left Linyanti, where, exhausted physically and spiritually he had rested for two months. The path to the west being impracticable he turned east, and on the 13th sailed down the Chobe river to join the Zambezi, to visit the Falls called by the natives, Mosi-oa-tunya, the smoke that thunders. First seen at a distance of five miles, five columns rose to mingle with the clouds. The scene of the banks and the islands adorned with vegetation, of great variety colour and form, was extremely beautiful. Towering over the entire great burly baobab. Passing down the centre of the stream, Livingstone came to an island in the middle of the river on the edge of the lip over which the water falls. Creeping in awe to the verge he peered into the great rent to see the stream stretching over a mile from bank to bank, and 350 feet deep, comprising what we now know as the Devil’s cataract, the Main Falls, the Rainbow falls, so romantic by moonlight, and the Eastern cataract and which on that 16th November 1855 he was to name the Victoria Falls in honor of the queen at that time. My conception of the Falls was conditioned by scenes of Niagara, which only half the width and half the depth of Victoria Falls, yet had an open expanse across which the cascading wall of water could be seen. Victoria was not like that. It needs to be seen in full.

mojatu.com By traversing its length, over the incomparable road rail bridge, built on the initiation of Rhodes and completed in 1907, and then through the rain forest to the Livingstone statue, the immensity of the disturbance and erosion that formed the rifts in the earth’s surface, becomes apparent. Down to the river’s edge beneath the bridge, to the boiling pot as the rush of water turns through 90 degrees. The whole, a scene “so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels” wrote David Livingstone. No angels, we nevertheless decided to join them to see such grandeur from the air. So next morning we arranged a flight and were able to appreciate its magnificence. Using a 6 by 6 Voigtlander camera of pre war vintage I was fortunate to obtain an aerial photograph, which remains a lasting memory of this experience. A few miles back up the river down which Livingstone had paddled; past a game reserve is Kasangula. No canoes now, but the flying boats of Imperial Airways now used the stretch of water as a base at the end of its trans African flight. At Kasangula it is virtually possible to stand, if you had four feet in the adjacent territories of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, South West Africa and Botswana, while but a 100 miles to the west is Angola. We stayed that Tuesday and Wednesday on the north side of the Zambesi, at the Northern Rhodesian town of Livingstone, and through which we had earlier arrived. On the southern side the Southern Rhodesian township is Victoria Falls dominated by the magnificent hotel built by the Rhodesia Railways, and which has commanding views of the gorges through which the waters of the falls escape, of the bridge and behind, of the falls themselves. Close by a crocodile farm. No commercialism, the native kraal quite in keeping, and near the eastern cataract, enduring memories of Africans crafting and selling their works created from the horns of animals and native woods. Chirundu, where we had crossed into Northern Rhodesia lay 270 miles to the east. Today, in between the Kariba Dam has been built holding back a lake 175 miles in length. Opened on the 17th May 1960 by the Queen Mother, it was a regarded as a concrete “wedding ring” between Northern and Southern Rhodesia. Now we were back in Southern Rhodesia, our passports stamped with the date 29th July 1948, and on our way to Bulawayo 280 miles away. Eighty miles to the south, cooling towers, the black dust of the coal-mining town of Wankie. The dry heat. Not a place to enjoy.

Berkshire connected But a powerhouse, for the north as well as the south, working the enormous deposits. Here disastrously in 1972 427 lost their lives in an underground explosion. Nearby the National Park, comparable in all ways to the Kruger Park, where herds of elephant with their young, can be seen at distances of some hundred yards, and individual animals considerably closer. On south through the sand country so productive of timber. The forests of teak, where the trees meet in a canopy over the main road to blot out the sun and provide welcome shade from the continuous heat. Past halts as different in name as Gwaai, Halfway House, Lupane and Sawmills. And then to Nyamandhlovu, 30 miles to Bulawayo. Here in 1959 were to be found the bones of a dinosaur reputed to be 180 million years old. We were at the heart of Matabeleland, to the east Inyati where Mzilikazi coming from Zululand had settled, and whence he had made his sorties to subdue the Mashonas. Where Mzilikazi had granted permission to the London Missionary Society to establish a mission under the leadership of Robert Moffatt, whose daughter married David Livingstone. To this end on 28th October 1859 the party arrived at Inyati, but they had to wait until 26th December 1859 before William Sykes, John S Moffatt and Thomas Morgan Thomas with their wives could outspan six wagons in the Inyati valley. With two years supply of stores, their trek had begun in Capetown in July of the previous year, 30 years before the Pioneer column started out for Salisbury. 100 years later in 1959 The Inyati Centenary Trust published a book detailing the missions in Rhodesia. The figures revealed in 1959 close on 300,000 African church members. Mzilikazi was followed at his death in 1868 by his son Lobengula, who set up his capital at Bulawayo, the place of killing, in 1872. It was here at Bulawayo in 1888 that Rudd acting on behalf of Rhodes had secured from Lobengula the concession for the mineral rights of his country, and following which a charter was issued by Queen Victoria. For £100 per month, 1000 rifles, and a gunboat on the Zambezi (later replaced by £500) the concession granted exclusive charge over all metals and minerals in Matabeleland. This enabled Rhodes to establish the BSAP Company, which sent the Pioneer column of 1890 to establish Salisbury and exploit the concession. Friction between the Matabele and the Mashonas, who since the arrival of the pioneers, considered themselves under their care, led to the Matabele War in July 1893.

17 Columns from Salisbury and Fort Victoria overcame the Matabele, who fled north. Whilst in pursuit, a patrol of 33 men under Major Alan Wilson was cut off, when the Shangani river came down in flood. They were wiped out to a man. To the south of Bulawayo, in the hills of the Matopos National Park is the Worlds View, a granite outcrop, selected by Rhodes as his burial place, and where lie those who have deserved well of their country. For Rhodesians a place of pilgrimage, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the two princesses visited it in 1946, when the queen had considered it prudent to take the younger Elizabeth’s shoes before attempting the ascent to the site. Here, with Rhodes, Jameson and Coghlan, the first prime minister of Southern Rhodesia, laid the remains of those of the Shangani Patrol in a fitting monument. Of Lobengulas Bulawayo nothing remains other than the thorn tree in front of the State House, built to replace the rondavel used by Rhodes. Beneath this indaba tree Lobengula held court. The rondavel also still exists. Founded in 1893, Rhodes’ Bulawayo was laid in squares. He ordered that the streets should be wide enough to allow a wagon and full span of oxen to turn. In 1895 the Administrator Jameson proclaimed the territory Rhodesia. In 1896 the Mashonas in the east and then the Matabele in the west rose against the government of the BSA Company. On March 20th 141 Europeans were murdered in Matabeleland and on June 14th 103 in Mashonaland. In many centers the people went into laagers. The Matabele withdrew to the Matopos hills, and fighting continued until Rhodes with three other Europeans and two natives walked unarmed into the enemy stronghold, and persuaded the Matabele to lay down their arms. Of Rhodes, Kipling wrote “The immense and brooding spirit shall quicken and control Living he was the land and dead his soul shall be her soul” These words appear on his memorial in Capetown, a memorial that is graced by Watts’ statue “Energy”. The relief on the plinth of the Rhodes statue in Kimberley depicts this indaba in the Matopos. The fighting had lasted over a year, apart from those killedin the uprisings, 62 Europeans were killed and 139 wounded. 1896 marked the end of the settlement period. Peace reigned. The names of the pioneers and early settlers, men and women are now recorded in records of the Rhodesia Pioneers and Early Settlers Society.

18 Community The arrival of the railway from South Africa via Bechuanaland (Botswana) in 1897, made Bulawayo the main centre for the supply of the mining industries, gold asbestos nickel in the area, and it is now comparable in size to Salisbury. A statue to Rhodes facing north stands on one corner; on the next a Gatling gun surmounts a monument. With light and heavy industrial sites, Bulawayo is the industrial centre of Southern Rhodesia. But not a smoky one. The wide streets trees are lined with Jacaranda, the suburbs colored with bougainvillea poinsettia and hibiscus rise towards the Matopos hills to overlook the town. On mornings when there is an inversion, the town lies shrouded in mist whilst storied buildings, like fairy castles gleaming in the morning sun, pierce through to point upward to the clear blue sky. Dams large and small abound for water supply and leisure pursuits.

mojatu.com The central garden, with its spectacular illuminated fountain, has proved large enough to accommodate a caravan park, in a woodland setting for passing caravanners. Here too is the impressive National Museum and the site of the International Trade Fair. As in Salisbury we met the Principal Representatives of our employers. We had spent Thursday and Friday nights in Bulawayo. We had achieved our goals, and on Saturday the 31st July set out on our last 550 miles back to Johannesburg. By dint of continual driving we were home by 2 am on Sunday morning. We had seen much of Rhodesia in a fortnight. But there was so much more that we could have seen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So little done, so much to doâ&#x20AC;? was Rhodesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; words. There is of course a sequel, which involves the departure of a certain person to Southern Rhodesia in the following October, the offer of a position in Bulawayo, and a journey north in the next February.

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Stories of Strength & Positivity - Book Review

This very special and ground-breaking book is a celebration of the empowered African woman living, working or running a business in Europe. It showcases the immerse togetherness and strength that African women in Europe share with Women in their homeland-Africa. The book is written by African women (and men) who are making a difference in the Diaspora and their home countries and covers the exchange of ideas, sharing experiences and empowering each other. This book gives an opportunity to share these stories and teachings with the wider world. It is the brainchild of the founder Joy Zenz, who founded the African Women in Europe (AWE) in 2008. AWE has a team of admins all over Europe including the Co-founder Wambui Njau who resides in UK. Every year members meet in one of the cities in Europe for networking retreats when members get to learn from each other and celebrate achievements through the African Women in Europe Awards. In 2008, African Women in Europe (AWE) was founded. It is a network of over a thousand women from across Europe who believe that we are strong when we work together and that we are the change we seek.

The AWE network come together once a year to share experiences and celebrate achievements. They alternate between summit, which is a full day conference and an award ceremony (AWEA) to commemorate and appreciate the hard work which these women are undertaking in their countries within Europe and in our homeland, Africa. These events are held annually in different cities within Europe where members network, empower and celebrate each other. The book gives another avenue to share our stories and successes as African Women In Europe. AWEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision is to empower and unite women, and bring out the best in them. I strongly believe that we share the same struggles and successes but being in a foreign land can bring its own share of difficulties hence as connected network, the need to work together and learn from each other. We are delighted to share with you the stories of hope and achievements of women from various backgrounds. The writers come from different countries of Africa but are resident in Europe. These co-authors include the following: Joy Zenzâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Founder, African Women In Europe.

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Florence Makinde Shares The Story Of Hope For Professional Growth

When you graduate with a new qualification for the sixth time - this must be academic progress. Florence Makinde is a hard-working dedicated woman, mother and daughter who studies to show herself approved. Having climbed up the academic ladder with sweat and tears, facing life experiences and every day challenges she thanks her God for giving her the wisdom to succeed. Florence is very kind and supportive always helping others as she journeys on. Never giving up and always using resilience to keep pressing ahead to get that one extra academic strike. From being a Registered Nurse 1989- RGN -RM Midwife 20 years with the NHS. An International Teacher-Motivational Speaker and an Inspirational Leader-Lecturer and currently Senior Lecturer - no wonder her academic achievement is commendable. She is a role model to our young people having engaged in her community with all cultures, ages and works of life with love for diversity and equality and passion for caring.

On a personal level ...I have known Florence from her popularity and kindness to others, which has been spoken about by her patients, family, friends and students mainly for going the extra mile to support others. My greatest friendship developed over 7 years ago during the Annual Utilivu Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conferences: where Florence loves to use her energy to promote books, organise the flow of events or support the stopping of FGM in her ever-loving master of ceremony role. Finally, her dream is to support women in the developing countries and aim at reducing the Maternal mortality rate in Asia and Africa. Florence, we wish you well as you thrive to help others - with Just a few more steps to reach your dream goal, we want to celebrate your success when you get there.

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Green-arch Business Services (GBS) is a new venture that provides services to individuals and groups in the community. It provides these services through a brokerage, delivering personal development coaching and employability support. Our journey in starting this venture is shaped by experiences as carers, support worker and tensions of joggling career development and family life. Armed with faith and an effective network led by Utulivu, ACRE and RVA are establishing a progressive business portfolio sensitive to community needs. We believe our general well being has five factors to it, which when fully addressed makes us feel well and happy. In my professional life working in community economic development there are key social policy initiatives which I have embraced in supporting people and community groups. I therefore approach personal development and group coaching from a social health perspective, thus the five outcomes of every child matter guides me in the process.

Faith & Spirituality

As a start up and small business we believe our unique selling points are influenced by our values which are faith-based to aspire to achieve these outcomes for all. GBS is located in a yard in residential and provides a safe space for people to use either as groups or as individuals. Operationally we provide the following services: • • • • • • •

IAG (Information, Advice & Guidance) Coaching Skills-based training (Health and Social Care/ Security Industry) CV writing and proof reading Volunteering and work experience placements Volunteer recruitment and training Job-application support

Just to jog your memories or bring to your attention the five outcomes which are; 1. To stay safe 2. Be healthy 3. Enjoy and achieve 4. Make a positive contribution 5. Achieve economic well-being

Contact Victor Besong Nkwo, on: Tel: 0118 376 9783 / 0749 211 6189 | Email: greenarchbusinessservices11@gmail.com

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