Tap Magazine Issue 2 by Tap Magazine

T H E

A F R I C A N

P E R S P E C T I V E

M A G A Z I N E

VOL 1 | ISSUE 2 | JANUARY 2015

Obesity

among Kenyan/ Canadian Kids

Happy

Kwanzaa

The Key Album -

Music Of A War Child

African Legal

Heritage Before Colonization

Must Attend

Festivals in Africa

Why Arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

WWW.TAPMAGONLINE.COM

You A Vegan?

Eastern Africa

Royal Dutch Airlines

Within Africa, Sky Team offers 1664 weekly departures to 68 destinations in

46 countries.

Hello all,

Editor-in-Chief MOSES MUTABARUKA

EDITOR'S NOTE

First and foremost, allow me to welcome you to our second official issue. It is a great honor and privilege to be publishing yet another issue. If you are conscious of and intrigued by Africa, you’ll enjoy this publication. Within its pages, you’ll find superior content for all knowledge seekers and all African enthusiasts. Health, business, travel, entertainment, sports and a special article on the diaspora are featured. While the theme and primary focus of these issue is to celebrate those pieces that our audience on www.tapmagonline. com have enjoyed the most during the year 2014, we’ve also added new and intriguing bits never published before. Moreover, we are excited to introduce Tap Speaks project to the wider TAP audience in this issue. Tap Speaks is a (Google hangout) project that aims at inspiring, challenging and empowering the next generation of African youths through dialogue, information sharing and networking. On behalf of the whole TAP team, I’d like to extend sincerest gratitude to everyone who’s contributed to this issue in one way or the other. Special thanks to Alex Ribeiro, Yvonne Nyawira, Shadrach Kabango, Emmanuel Jal, Dr Stella Muthuri, Rama Isibo, Warren Edwards, Kelly Wairimu Davis, Jeff Kinyanjui and to Che Kothari, Thomas Elfregen and Ignacio Hennigs for affording their awesome images to this issue. Last but not least, I want to thank all TAP enthusiasts for your constant support. This past year, our audience reach surpassed the 1.6 million mark. We have spent the last months of this year revamping our content contribution list to make sure we continue to bring you superior content on everything Africa and the wider global African community. More than ever, we are inspired and committed to telling the African story to the world; Uncensored, unbiased and from a balanced perspective. On behalf of the TAP team, thank you once more for your support and hope you enjoy this issue. Moses Mutabaruka CEO, TAP Magazine @RasMutabaruka Cover Image by Che Kothari

Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter”. — African Proverb

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WHAT'S

INSIDE

HISTORY

West Afrikan Legal Heritage Before Colonization

DIASPORA

A Guideline To Returning Home

TAP SPEAKS

Tap Speaks Overview

HEALTH/NUTRITION

Why Arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t You A VEGAN?

ECONOMICS

Black Economics in North America

TRAVEL

Must attend festivals in Africa

CULTURE

Happy Kwanzaaâ&#x20AC;¦ Celebrating "Ubuntu"

MUSIC

THE KEY ALBUM - MUSIC OF A WAR CHILD

HEALTH

Social Economics of Health: Obesity among Kenyan and Canadian School aged Children.

SPORTS MODEL FEATURE

Meet Kelly Wairimu Davis: Miss Kenya USA 2014

Mainstream Sports Academy: Empowering Street Children in Kawangware Through Footbal

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HISTORY

Courtesy: Catalan Atlas

West Afrikan Legal Heritage Before Colonization Manden Kalikan and Kurukan Fuga

Article 30: In Mande, divorce is tolerated for one of the following reasons: the impotence of the husband, the madness of one of the spouses, the husband's incapability of assuming the obligations due to the marriage. The divorce should occur out of the village".

his is the Manden charter from 1222, as the Mansa (emperor or King of kings) of Mande (Mali) and Simbo (master hunter) Sundiata Keita enacted it. As you may have noticed, the themes are very contemporary, showing how those progressive values arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as new in Afrika as they may be in other areas. It also begs the question: what if the Europeans considered what we had to bring to the table instead of dismissing us as savages and ransacking our lands and people? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not even discussing their values, readiness or maturity level at the time, but since I am able to approximate the value of some of what we lost through the Maafa, it gives an interesting perspective as to the opportunity the world, especially the western world, lost because of their predatory ways. And last but not least, it brings to focus what we Afrikans came up with on our JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 9

HISTORY

relationship) and the tanamannyonya (blood pact) have been established among the Mandinka. Consequently any contention that occurs among these groups should not degenerate the respect for one another being the rule. Between brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, between grandparents and grandchildren, tolerance should be the principle. Article 8: The Keïta family is nominated reigning family upon the empire. own. It shows that there is no need for the Afrikan to follow the European’s development path, for he can create his own glorious path. The Manden charter is among those landmarks to be considered when we are planning the development of Afrikan societies. Our own ideas, our own values, our own conceptions should guide us, not those of people foreign to our situation and environment. I am not saying their ideas are bad; they are good for them, as much as ours are good for us. We need to create our own path in order to really assume our independence. Below is the reconstruction of the Kurukan Fuga, the constitution of the Mali Empire, as written by Siriman Kouyaté. It has 44 edicts and treats of moral issues not normally ascribed to the period by historians since it was first edicted in 1236.

Social Organization Article 1: The Great Mande Society is divided into sixteen clans of quiver carriers, five clans of marabouts, four groups of "nyamakalas" and one group of slaves. Each one has a specific activity and role.

Article 2: The "nyamakalas" must devote themselves to tell the truth to the chiefs, to be their counsellors and to defend by the speech the established rulers and the order upon the whole territory. Article 3: The five clans of marabouts are our teachers and our educators in Islam. Everyone has to hold them in respect and consideration. Article 4: The society is divided into age groups. Those born during a period of three years in succession belong to the same age-group. The members of the intermediary class between young and old people, should be invited to take part in the making of important decisions concerning the society. Article 5: Everybody has a right to life and to the preservation of physical integrity. Accordingly, any attempt to deprive one's fellow being of life is punished with death. Article 6: To win the battle of prosperity, the general system of supervision has been established to fight against laziness and idleness. Article 7: The sanankunya (joking

10 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

Article 9: Children's education behooves the entire society. The pater-

nal authority in consequence falls to everyone. Article 10: We should offer condolences mutually. Article 11: When your wife or your child runs away, stop running after them in the neighbour's house. Article 12: The succession being patrilineal, never relinquish power to a son when one of his father's brothers is still alive. Never relinquish power to a minor just because he has goods. Article 13: Never offend the Nyaras (the talented).

HISTORY

Article 14: Never offend women, our mothers.

Article 27: A girl can be given in marriage as soon as she is pubescent without age determination.

Preservation of Nature

Article 15: Never beat a married woman before her husband has tried to correct the problem. Article 16: Women, apart from their everyday occupations, should be associated with all our managements. Article 17: Lies that have lived for 40 years should be considered like truths. Article 18: We should respect the law of primogeniture. Article 19: Any man has two parentsin-law: We have to hold them in respect and consideration. Article 20: Do not ill treat the slaves. We are the master of the slave but not the bag he carries. Article 21: Do not follow up with your constant attentions the wives of the chief, of the neighbour, of the marabout, of the priest, of the friend and of the partner. Article 22: Vanity is the sign of weakness and humility the sign of greatness. Article 23: Never betray one another. Respect your word of honour. Article 24: In Manden, do not maltreat the foreigners.

Article 28: A young man can marry at age 20. Article 29: The dowry is fixed at 3 cows: one for the girl, two for the father and mother. Article 30: In Mande, divorce is tolerated for one of the following reasons: the impotence of the husband, the madness of one of the spouses, the husband's incapability of assuming the obligations due to the marriage. The divorce should occur out of the village. (The French version published in 1998 does not include this article, but splits article 34 into two, numbering the intervening articles differently). Article 31: We should help those who are in need.

Of Goods Article 32: There are five ways to acquire property: buying, donation, exchange, work and inheriting. Any other form without convincing testimony is doubtful. Article 33: Any object found without a known owner becomes common property only after four years. Article 34: The fourth heifer born is the property of the guardian of the heifer. One egg out of four is the property of the guardian of the laying hen.

Article 25: The ambassador does not risk anything in Manden.

Article 35: One bovine should be exchanged for four sheep or four goats.

Article 26: The bull confided to your care should not lead the cattle-pen.

not robbery if you don't take away anything in your bag or your pocket.

Article 36: To satisfy one's hunger is

Article 37: Fakombè is nominated chief of hunters. Article 38: Before setting fire to the bush, don't look down at the ground, raise your head in the direction of the top of the trees to see whether they bear fruits or flowers. Article 39: Domestic animals should be tied during cultivation and freed after the harvest. The dog, the cat, the duck and the poultry are not bound by the measure.

Final Disposals Article 40: Respect kinship, marriage and the neighbourhood. Article 41: You can kill the enemy, but not humiliate him. Article 42: In big assemblies, be satisfied with your lawful representatives. Article 43: Balla Fassèkè Kouyaté is nominated chief of ceremonies and main mediator in Manden. He is allowed to joke with all groups, in priority with the royal family. Article 44: All those who will transgress these rules will be punished. Everyone is bound to make effective their implementation. It may look too advanced for Medieval Afrika to oblivious individuals, but if you understand the history of the universe, you'll probably be familiar with these rich part of Africa JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 11

TAP SPEAKS

Tap Speaks TAP SPEAKS is built on the belief that "If you want to know you’re progressing both as an individual/community, you should be able to look up and there's someone pulling you and you should be able to look down and you’re pulling someone up".

Goal Tap Speaks

ap Speaks is a forum of The African Perspective Magazine that is soon to be the home of all African enthusiasts, thinkers and professionals. Through Google hangout presentations; TAP's audience meets, engages and recoils ideas with movers/shakers, professionals, intellectuals, idealists and African community leaders. Tap Speaks is centered on INFORMING, CHALLENGING, and EMPOWERING Africans both in the diaspora and at home. 12 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

TAP SPEAKS has two major goals. First, to create a platform that tells African stories and guarantees our voices are heard thus providing an alternative narrative to the African story. Second, Tap Speaks seeks to build and establish networks of empowerment within our communities and beyond.

Audience 64% of TAP’s audience is between the ages of 24 and 36. We are a young people; in fact, the whole African community is quite young. The African Union commission reports that “About 65% of the total population of Africa is below the age of 35 years, and over 35% are between the ages of 15 and 35 years - making Africa the most youthful continent. By 2020, it is projected

that out of 4 people, 3 will be average 20 years old. Furthermore, about 10 million young African youth enter the labor market” every year. All these young people need sound resources and information. Tap Speaks seeks to cater to the aforementioned by acting as a bridge that builds and connects networks that empowers Africa’s next generation. For more info; Contact tapspeaks@ tapmagonline.com TAP SPEAKS is built on the belief that "If you want to know you’re progressing both as an individual/ community, you should be able to look up and there's someone pulling you and you should be able to look down and you’re pulling someone up".

TAP SPEAKS

Overview

In storytelling, like in any other aspect of life, try to come from a positive place. Be positive, encourage, entertain and inspire". - Shad K

"The Art of Story Telling". Tap Speaks with Shadrach Kabango Tap Speaks hosted its first ever live online event “The Art of Storytelling” with Shadrach Kabango. Shad is a Juno Award winning Rwandan/Canadian artist; He has earned rave reviews as one of Canada’s premier storytellers who has taken over the national/international scenes by showcasing his expressive, lethal yet socially conscience storytelling ability. Just last year, Shad was ranked by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) second on their list of “25 greatest Canadian rappers ever”; topping household names such as K’naan, K-os, Saukrates, and Drake among others. There was not a better person to kick start Tap. Below are some of the key takeaways from the hangout

1. As a storyteller, you must have a strong reason as to why you do what you do! Shad for example loves telling stories because he enjoys playing with words and entertaining. Taking words, combining them with ideas and life experiences and producing a record. 2. As far as individual styles go, a storyteller must be flexible, continue to write and to tell stories until you figure out what works for you and what doesn’t! Continuous storytelling is the only way that one forges their storytelling style. 3. In storytelling, like in any other aspect of life, try to come from a positive place. Be positive, encourage, entertain and inspire. 4. The best way to overcome writers block is just to keep drafting notes, even if they are notes that you can’t use they will keep your mind in a creative space and soon enough you’ll be back in the full swing of things. Keep writing whatever ideas come to mind. 5. As an artist and a writer, producing your first album or getting your first article published in a major publication is tough. Do not despair though, put one foot in front of the other and keep taking steps. Realize what you need and go step by step on your list; always one foot in front of the other. JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 13

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the Masai Mara

ECONOMICS

BLACK ECONOM

Warren Edwards

oes the American Dream exist in Black America or is it folklore as real as the Easter bunny? Six out of 500, which is a measly 1.2%, of the Fortune 500 companies have a black CEO. CNN Money says “The United States government has a black chief executive, but 99% of the nation's largest businesses do not”. Only seven out of 1342 billionaires in the world are black. Of those seven, only one is from the US, only one is a woman and that just so happens to be the same person! The numbers above triggers the question as to why is it that blacks are the fiercest competitors when it comes to athletics, but when it comes to the accumulation of wealth we are nowhere to be found?

Lack of a Philosophy Have you ever heard the saying that “what you focus on grows?” Well if a person’s thoughts and words consisted of “Money cannot buy me happiness” and “Money is the root of all evil,” what would you expect their bank accounts to look like? If the “power of life and death 16 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

lies in the tongue” and if you “ask and you shall receive” hold to be true, then we are getting exactly what we ask for and what we have focused on be it consciously or subconsciously. We have to change our philosophy towards money. Just think if money was the root of all evil why are our churches, schools, and organizations like the Red Cross always asking for it? Money is a necessity and a tool.

Lack of a Plan “A Failure to plan is a plan for failure.” Everything that succeeds in life has a plan. Successful businesses have business plans, builders have blueprints (building plans), pilots have flight plans, teachers have lesson plans, and the wealthy have financial plans. Most people spend more time planning a party or a vacation, than they do on planning their financial future. We just wing life and ignore that when we have children they are going to have milestones in life. At some point, our children are going to need braces, go to prom, to college, and get married. Being fully of these things we know that the time is coming

however we never prepare and are one emergency away from financial ruin.

Lack of Ownership We fully grasp the concept that it is better to own a home than it is to rent an apartment but we dropped the ball in the area of business ownership. We spend billions of dollars on clothes, electronics, hair care products, and sporting events but we do not own any of the companies? Black women spend billions on hair and hair care products yet all of the beauty supply shops

ECONOMICS

MICS

n North America are owned by foreigners. That is wealth that is leaving our community and being used to build someone else’s. We celebrate the huge million dollar contracts and endorsements our athletes get, but who owns the team, who is writing the check? And how much of that cheque do they actually retain after the tax collector’s visit?

the family business. We do not have to willingly accept consistently being the ethnic group with the highest level of unemployment, nor do we have to accept being highly skilled, yet hold positions that do not pay a respectable wage because we get passed up for promotions.

Lack of Vision

We can no longer afford to be waiting for Superman to swoop in and save us with some opportunity. We must save ourselves and create our own opportunities through entrepreneurship. I heard someone ask the question “how is it that administrators want us to believe that the black youth cannot grasp simple math concepts, but they can convert grams to dollars on the street corner without calculators?” We must save our young black entrepreneurs and encourage them to start legal businesses so that they can have legal business ownerships.

Lest we forget about Corporate America. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Everyone wants a good paying job and because most of us lack one, we say we are going to make sure things are different for our children but we program our children with the same thing our parents programmed us with, “go to school and get a good education so that someday you can get a good paying job.” No one ever talked about go to school and get a good education so you can start your own company and employ people in the community, or so you can take over and grow

Lack of Self-reliance

Today, countless college graduates have amassed large sums of debt

by way of student loans and cannot land a job to put a minor dent in their loan balance. Let me ask you this rhetorical question; if you go to college and graduate with a bachelor’s degree which you collected student loan debt totaling $30,000, but land a job working at Wal-Mart paying minimum wage, what are your chances of obtaining home ownership? The solution we are given to our money problems by our peers and society is to go to graduate school and rack up another $30,000 of debt, because maybe then you can land a better paying job. If you follow this plan and this logic you will be in debt forever and you will be in a position where you will NEVER be able to retire and you will be working until the end of your days. This is what is happening every day in America, the land of opportunity, the land where there is supposed to be an American dream! Unless we change the tradition in Black America from getting a “good job” to business ownership, we will become the permanent underclass Dr. Claud Anderson talked about. JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 17

Africa is closer with MoneyGram

DIASPORA

A Guideline To Returning Home Returning home; Your five options Rama Isibo

Before you take the plunge, think; what are your reasons? Are you just fed up with life in the West? Or do you want to come home and build something? If you are just fed up with the cold, it won’t work, you have to have a reason to be here or you’ll just be a floater. If you want to return like the Prince of Zamunda with petals thrown at your feet everywhere you go, THINK AGAIN. 20 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

o you want to go home, you’ve had it!!! Even Africa wasn’t this bad, not another winter!! I remember I said the same thing every year, for 14 years, until I went home in 2007. Still at home (Rwanda) ever since, I have seen a lot in the past 6 years that has made me realise that there are a certain number of options you can use to come home. In that period of time, I have seen many come home to settle but I saw many more that were fed up with the differences and went back [to their respective Diaspora’s]. Before you take the plunge, think; what are your reasons? Are you just fed up with life in the West? Or do you want to come home and build something? If you are just fed up with the cold, it won’t work, you have to have a reason to be here or you’ll just be a floater. If you want to return like the Prince of Zamunda with petals thrown at your feet everywhere you go, THINK AGAIN. There are 5 ways/avenues upon which you can pursue in your quest to return home. Each way has its own advantages, disadvantages and requirements that you will need to fulfill if your journey is to succeed. Enjoy

DIASPORA

1. Like a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bawseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; This is the Self-made individual. This is when you come back on your time, on your terms, and full of your own money. It takes years to prepare for it, saving, building, and learning. When done correctly you have 95% success rate, and it is beneficial to all. For diaspora people with citizenship abroad and access to capital who can help bring their native country up. It can be very challenging to save money while abroad considering the influx of bills each month and the desire to have a social life which leads to lots spent and little saved. If you have citizenship in a western country you can get credit at JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 21

DIASPORA

Success” but no one will know the years of planning and hard work to get there.

2. Prodigal son/ daughter (crash and burn)

much lower rates than in Africa, with as little as 3% to 6% on average as opposed to the rates in most African countries hovering between a minimum of 12% up to as high as 25% per year, -which makes the loans harder to repay. There are gaps in the market, leading to a number of opportunities. For instance, with $10,000 you can set up a business (with the needed research that it will work, demand vs supply etc) and could possibly earn $1,000 a month; and with a responsible lifestyle that is plenty in Africa. What a returnee needs is a “Cash Cow” something to bring in money to furnish the basics while they make the next move. Aim at a small-medium sized business (a T-shirt printing business, a chicken farm, a bar, a restaurant, a consultancy, a cyber-cafe, a shop); any that requires start-up costs of approximately $10,000 and can earn money back quickly. This gives you freedom and selfreliance, and eventually you can earn capital to invest in your other ventures. It allows you to become an “Overnight 22 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

ADVANTAGES ARE THAT:  You are fully involved with the business, don’t need to hire managers and sit back  You get success on your terms and are self-reliant.  You can always innovate new things to stay ahead (new business are popular at first but fail to keep customers when they cannot innovate)

DISADVANTAGES/POINTS TO NOTE ARE:  Watch out for copy-cats, your ideas will be copied very quickly by locals, if you open a T-shirt printing shop, another person will open another one next to you. Competition can get tough especially in a market that does not have clear abided by laws regarding competition.  Always diversify and reinvest in other sectors, that cash cow will not last forever, you need other cash cows, and slow-earners and prestige investments

This can be a curse or a blessing; it is when matters are out of your control. Your visa expires, you lose your job or you have a bad experience that makes living in the West less viable, so the decision makes itself. Returning to Africa is hard, you encounter what we call the “Prodigal Son/daughter” complex; you always want to come back like a King/ Queen, rolling in money to show it was worth it. The truth is; many Africans are too ashamed to come back until they have the money to show for it, so they slave in the pig pens of the West, shovelling dirt because it is less embarrassing than having to tell your family that it didn’t work out. The truth is that your family loves you for who you are, not the money you make, they would rather see you at home broke than suffering far away. Eventually you find yourself back home but if you choose to make the best of it then it can work. The effect of this crash and burn is hard, but the biggest problem is solved. The hardest part is to break the mental hold that the West has on people, the lifestyle, the convenience, the order, the variety, and the sense of place. Then you return to a place with a harder lifestyle, total inconvenience, lack of order and variety. Crashing and burning allows you to start from the bottom, to redevelop your humility, reset your life goals, it rebuilds your family ties, and teaches you the importance of living. They say “never let a crisis go to waste” so next time you crash and burn, don’t repeat the cycle. I crashed and burned and 6 years later

DIASPORA

ADVANTAGES ARE THAT:  It breaks the mental hold of the West, since there is no going back.  Restores African values and resets your life goals at the same time rebuilds your humility  Teaches the importance of people over property  You always bounce back and you have lessons to teach others

DISADVANTAGES/POINTS TO NOTE ARE:  Crash and burn can be traumatic, depends on your mental attitude.  Forget the shame of returning empty-handed, your family loves you

The rewards of returning can far outweigh the risks, but it requires a lot of planning, patience, and hard work.

JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 23

DIASPORA

I’m still here in (Rwanda) Africa. It was hard but it had to be, to remove all the mental cobwebs I had in my head and reset my aspirations.

ADVANTAGES ARE:  Helps you experience home before you commit  It is a “soft-landing”  Relies on friendship, networks and family which can be an advantage if you have the necessary connections.  Doesn’t allow you to fully integrate can be an advantage in the sense that you will always be on your game and careful as you may have to return.

DISADVANTAGES/POINTS TO NOTE ARE:  Needs real budgeting to extend stay.  Relies on friendship, networks and family can be a disadvantage as well due to the fact that it is these same people that you might find to be unsupportive in your business ventures and that can be demoralizing.  There is a thin line between their support and your disappointment. Doesn’t allow you to fully integrate which can be a hindrance to business or the depth of the networks created.It is hard to adjust mentally. The short period allows you to miss “home” in the West lessening the chances of staying

24 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

3. 1 foot here 1 foot there (Left foot in, right foot out) This is the best of both worlds, come home (Africa) but still go back to your western ‘home’. You think you’ll “I’ll take a month off, come home on an extended break, when you get to Africa do interviews, try and get a job, then quit the one in the West”. But then you get here and the whirlwind gets you, you get here, party, party, party, everyone wants to see you, relatives, school friends, conmen, and you miss the days ticking away. Before you know it, you are back on the plane, BROKE. When your here, you have to control who you see, treasure time here, be in Africa but on European time. If you come back and stay with relatives, it is possible to earn less and still live well; you need a starter job, even volunteering, just to get in the system. Living with relatives after freedom in the West can be hard depending on your home situation (like my friend’s dad has the keys to the gate and won’t let anyone in after 9pm). Staying with friends can also be tricky, as they think you are rich. It can be a free room but cost you more in beer than renting, as you take him out every night. The best arrangement is a 3-month contract with a local company, enough to see if it works for you. Having one foot in never lets you adjust either way, your mind is there, when you are here, and here when you are there. A time comes when you have to make a choice to go back or stay, like a bungee-jump it can yank you up and back where you came from.

4. Golden (expatriate) Parachute This is the one we all dream of – the golden parachute that can absorb your fall

from the sky, and land you lightly on the savannahs of Africa. Say you get hold of some money; James got redundancy (severance) pay after the company he worked for folded. He got $10,000 and decided to move back home. He got back to see relatives but his expensive lifestyle eat up that money thick and fast. He had to run back abroad after all his money was gone in 2 months. Then there is George, he worked at an airport in Winnipeg, started out in security systems, then eventually air traffic

ADVANTAGES ARE: You make the money you so desire (although the disadvantage is usually the loss of peace of mind) Points to note are:  Choose your job carefully, more money is more stress in unfamiliar work environment, choose a midrange job.  Watch out for an expensive lifestyle, eat natural, shop local, save money to build  Have a good work-life balance, hobbies are essential even in Africa  Integrate with locals, these barbedwired villas are safe but it becomes a bubble  Always read what you sign at work, you can be set up, you can be arrested if things go wrong  Be resourceful, always find ways around obstacles, have a problemsolving mindset  Bide by the laws; money breeds jealousy and any slip-ups can cost you

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Home?

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DIASPORA ADVANTAGES ARE: Advantages are that:  It gives you a fuller experience  You truly understand and can build your country  The rewards are great, understanding yourself, the country, your people – you make a difference

Points to note are: It requires sacrifice, to live humbly and connect with locals It needs patience and adjustment to the local way of thinking You are committed to a project; you will never return or give up until you have achieved your goals. You commit to the project not just the country.

control. He applied for a job with the Civil Aviation Authority back home and got it, he came back to a good package; $2,000 a month with $1,000 in living allowance, a house with a perfect view over the hills with a slight breeze that kisses your cheek. The job was soon a nightmare, the ethics, work practices, and the different attitudes made him clash with all the zombies in the office. They soon conspired to make his job unbearable and George had the choice to quit or continue with the madness. Lesson: if your going to follow this option, choose the job very carefully, many choose NGO’s because they pay well and have good work environments. The Golden Parachute can quickly turn into the Golden Noose, with the chilling words “you don’t know how things are done here.” And you’re gone.

5. Like a local/regular Joe (Get down and dirty) Adjusting to life when you get here is a real problem, many people want to keep the same lifestyle they had in the West, shopping in supermarkets, driving a big 26 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

4x4, living in a ‘palace’, as is befitting a person of their [diaspora] status. You can live in the NGO bubble, can go to parties with Africans as a tiny minority, where all the Africans speak with an American twang and complain about fellow Africans all day. Many of these people are on the golden (expatriate) parachutes but cannot adjust mentally to locals, they speak the language badly on purpose and they never really mentally come home. For others, they take full advantage and dive fully in. For example, my friend Patrick was called by his uncle to run his farm, he knew nothing about farming but took a chance, took the farm from 15 cows to 50 milking cows and used methods he got from Europe to increase that capacity. After a hard struggle he succeeded but few returnees are ready to get down and dirty and be a regular Joe (like the locals). He chose to lead by example; he shovels dung along with his workers and sweats equally with them. It is hard, you are dealing with people who live for the day and hand to mouth. It challenges you. You cannot make long-term goals because they dont make sense to the average African as their needs are immediate. Nonethe-

less, these willingness to work hard as a team helps you integrate better to the local system, and increases your chances of success. The rewards of returning can far outweigh the risks, but it requires a lot of planning, patience, and hard work. In Africa, you always feel like you are making a difference, you don’t have to explain who you are, or justify your being there. You need a strong will, to avoid falling in to the hold of western guilt, seeing a beggar with no legs can shock you if you never saw it before. Then there will be the endless stream of relatives asking for handouts, it will be hard to say no. Always remember that you are no one’s saviour, the same God who kept them alive without you will keep them alive tomorrow. You can easily blow all your investment money on trivial stuff, or just giving it to them to drink away. You are dealing with societies that live for the minute, from minute to minute; they have hungry bellies and will tell you to eat the seeds you saved for planting. Once I saw a mother digging in a field, her baby wrapped up in blankets on the side, crying relentlessly, I was forced to stop and mentioned she stop digging and tend to the child. Her answer, “I sit and cuddle this kid and he stops crying, who will dig this field? The child and I will starve to death if I don’t dig, let him cry he’ll get tired soon enough.” Cruel to be kind and that is the focus, to see thebig picture. All Africans live for family, but you cannot let short-term problems of others destroy your long-term future. Africa is rising, come home or you’ll be left behind.

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HEALTH/NUTRITION

Why Aren’t You A

VEGAN? You don’t have to compensate for the meat and other animal products you don’t consume for there is no nutritional requirement for animal products: a balanced vegan diet can easily satisfy all your body’s nutritional needs. Yes, I know, it is surprising.

28 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

et's talk about a topic so frequently overlooked, especially in our Afrikan spheres: the vegan diet! Yes, that stupid fad of refusing the consumption of animal products, as some would put it. You see, whenever It's dinner time and I bring my “untraditional” diet to the table, I'm usually met with questions like: “Why are you a vegan?”, “You don’t like meat? What type of Afrikan are you if you don't eat meat? Do you miss the taste?”, “You already ate meat for a big part of your life, what is stopping now going to accomplish?” and “you need meat, how are you going to replace it?” First of all, you don’t have to compensate for the meat and other animal products you don’t consume for there

is no nutritional requirement for animal products: a balanced vegan diet can easily satisfy all your body’s nutritional needs. Yes, I know, it is surprising. To assure you that you didn’t misread it, let’s repeat it again: there is no nutritional requirement for animal products, whether it is meat, foeuses or milk products. Yes, now give that thought some time to sink in. I know this can be shocking. Go to the next paragraph when you are ready.

Are you ready? There is no nutritional requirement for animal products because all the nutrients necessary to you are abundant in the plant world. If you think about it, those animals have to ingest

HEALTH/NUTRITION

the nutrients in order to have them in their corpses. That is why minerals like calcium and zinc can be found in those products. Let’s think this through: if a cow has minerals such as calcium in her milk, with minerals being in the earth and the cow not eating earth, what is her source of calcium? And the same goes for proteins as proteins are plant-generated acids. The main area of concerns would be the intake in vitamin D (the sun vitamin) and vitamin B12 which can be found in fortified soy and almond milks and other fortified foods or in spinach. In fact, many high-level athletes, such as world record-holding strongman (multiple categories) Patrik Baboumian, bodybuilder Bill McCarthy and Carl Lewis (nine times Olympics Gold medalist) have proven that avoiding animal products does not mean sacrificing physical performance. You might need a pause there too. Whoa! Carl Lewis!? Yeah, and Mike Tyson too. The healthfulness of a vegan diet has long been proven, even though people are gradually getting a grip on the idea. Avoiding animal products tremendously lowers the risk of saturated fat-induced diseases such as hypertension. And digestion is less of a hassle as a vegan. So not only are animal products not a necessity, they can also be a threat to your health. Now whenever you go grocery shopping, compare the prices of vegetal products and animal products. Yes, a vegan diet is healthful for your pocket too; more money to invest on more than survival. And as you may have noticed, farm animals are mostly herbivores, so they depend also on our agriculture all

along their shortened lives. But agriculture does not need these animals, not even as a source of fertilizer as plant matter is a much better source of that too. So an increasingly vegan population would push the food producing sectors of the economy to make better use of our land resources and our fauna (particularly bountiful in the Motherland). This would subsequently allow growing more carbon-breathing trees and plants, and decrease greenhouse gas with the reduction of commercial transport of manure fertilizers, food for condemned animals and heavy corpses. Here, go ahead and be a hero, you can start caring for the environment every day with a fork! I sometimes get the rebuttal about genetically modified (GM) foods: people argue that all the foods we have access to are modified and full of insecticides and that therefore it does not change a thing to try to eat more healthy, in a vegan or any other way. This argument is a very big exaggeration, but I will take it on a joyride to Logic-land: if ALL plants are genetically modified and full of insecticides, so are those that the genetically modified animal you eat was fed on, which is not a big stretch as GM food is cheaper for farmers. And since that animal is jailed in unnatural and unhealthy conditions, doped with hormones and antibiotics, and, as a result of these, under-develops physically, there sickness is only increased! Now think: what happens when you ingest something infested? Take the example of drinking in the same glass as a sick person, and multiply it by eating the sick being. As much as I avoid GM food, a GM mango can never be as scary as a GM corpse. I also get another rebuttal: one sa-

ying that we owe our evolution to the consumption of meat and that we may regress as a species if we let it down. It is true that in our ancient history, animal products consumption has helped us fulfill our nutritional needs and even challenged the genius minds of our great ancestors. But we live in another era now, where our technological advances allow very efficient agriculture that can easily feed the whole species. Yup, the seven billions of us can be fed with vegetal products that can meet all our nutritional needs. So what is the need today to feed on hormone sources? As the belief in the necessity of animal products for human sustenance has been disproven, the moral status of the decision whether to eat animal products or not evolves from being a question of killing for survival to a question of killing for the pleasure of your taste buds and wannabe-hunter ego. And as outlined in the previous paragraphs, it is not only immoral towards animals, but towards ourselves, for it can jeopardize our quality of life and, as a big contributor to pollution and resource wasting, our future. The world we live in now asks for important changes from us; you should feel concerned and put your money where your mouth is, literally. So, why aren’t you a vegan again? I Lex I Lex is a young Ras hailing from West Afrika and living in Ottawa, Canada, studying translation and linguistics because he “knows that the key to overstanding the trap lies in language”. I Lex is also the author of the “roots’ column on TAP MAGAZINE. JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 29

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TRAVEL

Courtesy: Sauti Za Busara

Must attend festivals in Africa All yearlong, thousands of Africans from every corner of the world make their way to the motherland. Each with an agenda of their own; visit family, attend weddings, for business and pleasure among other things. This year, and in the future, while making your arrangements, consider attending one of the following events in your plans. You will not regret it.

Sauti Za Busara

icknamed "the friendliest festival on the planet", the four-day event is held every year (Feb. 12-15 in 2015) in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The festival focuses and promotes the Swahili coastal cultures of the East African regions of Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. It features a massive and diverse program (300 acts/artists) with the regions artists, fashion designers, carnival parades and an open-air film program among other things. Sauti Za Busara is the perfect festival to attend if you want to learn and immerse yourself in the Swahili culture, music and the 32 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

people of the East African region. For 2015, one of the events headliners in the Ghanaian born New York best Blitz the Ambassador.

The festival in the desert How would you like to party in the Sahara deserts! The most remote festival in the world, Mali's "Festival au DĂŠsert" is an outdoor gathering in the deserts that celebrates the nomadic Tuareg people, the "Blue Men of the Desert". Families and clans would assemble and celebrate traditional songs, dance, poetry, cultural manly prowess and female beauty among other activities.

According to www.thefestivalinthedesert.com the Touaregs, nomads from the south of the Sahara, have a longstanding tradition of coming together for annual meetings called Takoubelt in the Kidal region or Temakannit in the Timbuktu region. These meetings allowed them to reconnect with each other (after the nomadic season), have fun, resolve conflicts between individuals or groups and to exchange ideas about the challenges that they were facing. These encounters are what "Le Festival au DĂŠsert" is built upon. Due to recent security issues in the region, the festival has struggled but its still going on and worth looking at.

TRAVEL

The Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) Is the largest African film festival in the world. The equivalent of "film de Cannes". Courtesy: FESPACO

Harare International festival of the art A six-day annual festival and workshop, HIFA showcases the very best of local, regional and international arts and culture with an expansive compendium in theatre, dance, music, circus, street performance, spoken word and the visual arts. HIFA is the largest cultural event in Zimbabwe and a significant player on the international Arts and Culture circuit. In recent years, HIFA has come to be seen as an

important (positive) symbol of Zimbabwe among the local and international communities, unifying socially and culturally disparate groups of Zimbabweans at a time of ideological conflict and political uncertainties. It brings out huge audiences together to celebrate something positive – the healing and constructive capacity of the arts. HIFA 2015 will be the 16th edition of the Festival. The 2014 festival will run from April 28th to May 3rd 2014. www. hifa.co.zw

Fespaco If you love African film and culture, then you've found your match! The Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Festival PanAfricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou OR FESPACO) Is the largest African film festival in the world. The equivalent of "film de Cannes". Held biennially, and focusing mainly on African film and filmmakers, FESPACO is a must attend. This year’s event will be held from February 28th – 7th March 2015.

Courtesy: Festival in The Desert

JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 33

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CULTURE

Matunda ya kwanza ya mwamuko wa wana Afrika: the first fruits of the Afrikan Renaissance

Happy Kwanzaaâ&#x20AC;Ś Celebrating "Ubuntu"

he holiday period is here with many cultures celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, and Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) among others. However, it is quite alarming that few in our communities are aware of a holiday that is rightfully ours: Kwanzaa. Yes, it is alarming, but not so much of a surprise, JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 37

CULTURE

Umoja

Unity

Kujichagulia because most of the cultural, political and economic attempts to achieve selfdetermination in the worldwide Afrikan community are too often shunned by the colonized minds. Nevertheless, Kwanzaa is gaining popularity in the Diaspora and on the mainland - as it should - and consequently the sons and daughters of Afrika who have yet to be aware of it need to know what Kwanza is, where it comes from, and what is its importance in our journey as a people. Kwanzaa is a seven-day (December 26- Jan 1) Pan-Afrikan holiday celebrating African culture, values, history, and progress. The name comes from the Swahili matunda ya kwanza, which, as some of you know, means first fruits. It is rooted in the ancient Afrikan tradition of celebrating the first harvest present all across the Motherland and throughout the ages; from the ancient Nubians and Egyptians, passing by the Ashanti and Yoruba kingdoms to the contemporary Zulu, Swezi and Thonga nations, all had their way of underlining this event. The tradition was revived in 1966 during the Black Freedom Movement by Dr. Maulena Karenga, professor of Afrikan studies at California State University and scholar-activist, in order to provide a cultural boost encompassing all we stand and aim for as Afrikans, at home and abroad. As the endeavour is Pan-Afrikan in nature, the official colors are naturally red, black and green, the symbolic colors provided to us by the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Swahili was chosen for terminology as this vernacular language is the most spoken Afrikan language; it also helps to promote it as a lingua franca in the worldwide Afrikan community to replace colonial languages. 38 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

Ujima

Self-determination Collective Work and Responsibility

Nia

Purpose

Muumba

Creative

Imani

As it was in ancient days, Kwanzaa is a time to ingather the people, to reaffirm the common unity; to revere and pay homage to the bountiful forces that bless us every day; to commemorate the past and its lessons, reflection and time tp keep alive the memory of our models, our ancestors. Time to recommit to the journey we have to trod in our journey (righteousness) as a people and individuals, where it is important to put forward the best of Afrika and the Afrikan; and to celebrate the Good in all social, natural, and divine aspects.

Faith

a day to spend in silence, and during which we assess past achievements and things to do in the future; foster a reflection on self, life and the future of the people; and recommit to the best of our cultural values. The three Kawaida questions, Who am I? Am I really who I say I am? and Am I all I ought to be? are an essential part of the meditation. In addition, an Adae celebration, or Akwasidae, may also be held on one of the days to commemorate our ancestors and our heritage.

On each day, activities and events carrying the spirit of its principle are organized, and people are reminded to reflect on how they can apply these principles in their day to day trod.

The values put forward by the celebration of Kwanzaa are of the utmost importance to us, as Afrikans and as a people striving for upliftment, empowerment, prosperity and freedom. The meditation it carries is tremendously needed, especially at a time when autodestructive and self-demeaning pseudocultures have huge influence on many of us. We give thanks for Dr. Maulena Karenga and his beautiful legacy, one that we must keep fruitful at all times. Kwanzaa is a part of our heritage, one we must proudly claim, preserve, and improve upon, in the same way we ought to strive to make our culture, our societies and our world better than we inherited them. For more on Kwanzaa and how you can participate, visit the official kwanzaa website.

The last day of Kwanzaa is also Siku ya Taamuli (the day of meditation): it is

Peace By I Lex

There are seven days of Kwanzaa for each of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles): z Umoja, unity; z Kujichagulia, self-determination; z Ujima, collective work and responsibility; z Ujamaa, cooperative economics; z Nia, purpose; z Kuumba, creativity; and z Imani, faith.

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MUSIC

THE KEY ALBUM MUSIC OF A WAR CHILD Former child soldier turned rapper Emmanuel Jal released his 5th studio album “The Key” on September 9th

42 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

MUSIC

eleased on Gatwitch / Universal records. The new 13 track album which includes collaborations with Grammy Winners Nile and Nelly Furtado (who appears on the duet “Scars” and “Party”) followed on the heels of Jal’s co-starring role in major motion picture The Good Lie featuring Reese Witherspoon – which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival – the film traces the journey of four young Sudanese refugees (based on The Lost Boys of Sudan) who win a lottery for relocation to the United States. Jal was vaulted into global pop culture prominence after presenting his profound life story in both a book and documentary of the same name (War Child) which outlined his gripping journey, going from being a child soldier conscripted into a bloody civil war, into later becoming a noted humanitarian and chart-topping rapper. Jal has since collaborated and performed alongside world renowned talents including Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys and Joss Stone, and had the honor of performing at the late Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebration in London. He has been featured on CNN, Time, USA Today, MTV, BBC, NY Times, Rolling Stone,

NPR, and CBC among others. The Key is hands down Jal’s most ambitious and sonically adventurous music project to date. Recorded in Kenya, Uganda, London, New York, Connecticut and Toronto, and co-executive produced by in-demand A-list engineer Demacio “Demo” Castellon (Jay Z, Rihanna), The Key seamlessly blends traditional African music with contemporary urban, hip hop and global pop music rhythms, while incorporating EDM, reggae/dub, soul and Afro beat elements. It’s unapologetic “music with a message” that appeals to the urban and suburban, rural to cosmopolitan, and everything in between. Other notable collaborators on The Key include Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (Run DMC), the widely popular African Children’s Choir, Hit Room’s Anthony Marshall (Craig David), long time collaborators Roachie, Silvastone and Chris Adwar, and a number of buzzy, burgeoning talents who reside in his new home base of Toronto, Jeff Gunn, Tanika Charles and Ian Koiter. The Key is not only an album, but it’s an act of cooperation between two prominent social change advocates who have a shared interest in highlighting and supporting children’s rights issues.

JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 43

MUSIC “The potential of a young Bob Marley” – Peter Gabriel

At its core is a joint partnership between the album’s co-executive producer and noted entrepreneur Paul Lindley (Ella’s Kitchen) and Jal, who met by chance in South Africa, and who both not only wanted to shine a light on children’s rights throughout the album, but also outside of the recording booth through their offshoot social enterprise The Key Is E which aims to raise funds to benefit African entrepreneurs with a youth focus. The ultimate goal; to land on music charts and into children’s hearts. You can buy the album on http://gatwitchrecords.com 44 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

Images courtesy of Che Kothari

JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 45

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HEALTH

Social economics of health Obesity among Kenyan/Canadian Children Research by Dr Stella Muthuri Interview by Yvonne Nyawira

r. Stella Muthuri recently earned a PhD in Population Health for her work as a graduate researcher at the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), and research project manager at Kenyatta University. Her research was aimed at investigating the prevalence of, and factors associated with physical activity and overweight/obesity among school aged children in Kenya and Canada. This re-

48 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

search involved examining the influence of social determinants of health such as school environments, neighbourhoods, and home environments, and their effects on youth in relation to physical activity and overweight/obesity. Stellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous work included working with the Canadian Lung Association where she was a clinical practice guidelines coordinator and a Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) surveillance project manager

at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Ms. Muthuri earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Biochemistry at Concordia University in Montreal. Please introduce yourself to TAP SPEAKS. My name is Stella Muthuri, and I have most recently been working as a graduate researcher with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa (CHEO). I was also a project manager at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, where my thesis research project was conducted. In May of this year (2014), I earned my PhD in Population Health from the University of Ottawa.

We found that more children that were overweight or obese came from households that had parents with higher levels of education. We also found that lower numbers of children from homes with parents having higher levels of education were meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended daily minutes of physical activity for children.

Congratulations on your achievements. It must not have been easy, could you please tell us about your educational background and career journey? I attended Moi Girls’ High School in Nairobi, Kenya, and thereafter travelled for further studies to Canada where I earned my Bachelor and Master degrees in Biochemistry at Concordia University in Montreal. I was then hired as a research coordinator by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. I’ve also worked as a guidelines coordinator at the Canadian Lung Association before my most recent position as researcher and project manager at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Kenyatta University. Tell us what drew you to this career path? What was interesting to you about the work and the journey? The prospect of helping improve quality of life through research and interven-

tion has been the main source of my motivation in selecting to work in this field. I also always wanted to return to Kenya and pursue a research career which would allow me to make the most of my education, work experience, interest and drive, in working with others to improve the health situation here. As a young African woman studying and living in the diaspora, could you please tell us of some of the challenges that you faced in your journey? What were your motivating

factors, how did you keep going? One of the biggest personal challenges I faced earlier on was speaking up and speaking out. Our culture at home tends to be one that requires the young, and particularly girls, to be less vocal. I was quite apprehensive about approaching my lectures and others senior to me. I soon realised that in order to get the most out of my interaction with them, I would have to learn to JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 49

HEALTH

ducting research on the prevalence and correlates of overweight/obesity, physical activity and sedentary behavior among school aged children in Kenya. The purpose of this research was to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with physical activity and overweight/obesity in this sample of children. We also examined the influence of social determinants of health such as school environment and neighborhoods on child and youth involvement in physical activity.

voice out my concerns, questions, or comments. This also helped me learn to stand up in front of a large audience and present my research findings. In addition to personal challenges did you face any academic or professional challenges? What is your opinion on African women and their representation both in Kenya and in Canada at this tier of academic achievement? I have seen African women increasingly participating and seeking higher academic achievement in both Kenya and Canada, which is quite encouraging. I would say that the one challenge faced by many women is funding/financial support to carry out their studies. This was an area that I struggled with. More needs to be done to specifically support women in pursing higher education. I know that you did your PhD research in Kenya, how did that all happen? Were there any challenges related to that specifically in terms of business conduct and professionalism that you had to adjust yourself to? 50 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

Data collection in Nairobi was conducted as part of a larger study titled the â&#x20AC;&#x153;International Study on Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle, and the Environmentâ&#x20AC;?, a large multinational study seeking to investigate the influence of behavior settings, physical, social, and policy environments on the observed relationship between lifestyle characteristics, obesity and weight gain in children from countries in five major regions of the world. I was fortunate to have been introduced to the project by my thesis supervisor, who encouraged me to work with the team at Kenyatta University in developing the survey materials and thereafter data collection, analyses, and writing. This opportunity afforded me an invaluable chance to familiarize myself with the research environment in Kenya; hence, gain further international experience. Adjusting to the environment in Kenya was an easy one for me, with no particular challenges that stood out. In regards to your most recent project what were you working on? I was managing a team that was con-

This sounds like relevant and important information, could you please tell us about some of your Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredibly interesting. So basically poorer children in Sub Saharan Africa were found to be more physically fit and active, while poor children from Canada and similar countries were found to be more overweight and less physically active. Also African children from richer families were found to be overweight while rich North American children were found to be more physically fit! In your opinion what is the need and relevancy of this information to the public? What connections should people be making? What is the overall pressing health threat to Kenyan Children? Essentially, the main findings point towards a growing number of children that are overweight or obese, and that participate in inadequate levels of physical activity in the Kenyan and broader Sub Saharan Africa context. This is particularly true for higher socioeconomic and urban living children. Public efforts must therefore focus on this vulnerable population in order to prevent downstream increases in the occurrence of

HEALTH

KEY FINDINGS 



Children attending a private school were 4 times more likely to be overweight or obese compared to children attending a public school in Kenya.



Children attending a private school were 96% less likely to meet the WHO recommended guidelines for physical activity than children attending a public school. (In Kenya) In Kenya, children with mothers who had diplomas/degrees (more educated) were 75% less likely to meet the WHO recommended guidelines for physical activity than children with mother(s) who had a primary or lower education level (less educated).

Photo: Mbugua Kibera What are your hopes for the future? higher socioeconomic status were found to engage in lower levels of physical activity, higher sedentary behaviour, and performed worse on aerobic fitness measures compared to lower socioeconomic status children. 

Also of interest is that on the contrary, in countries like Australia, Canada and the USA (higher income countries), children who are from lower socioeconomic status are found to have lower physical activity and higher levels of obesity. A complete opposite.

To engage even more in the African research environment, and participate in capacity building efforts here. Thank you very much Dr. Stella Muthuri for your time, you are a wonderful inspiration and it was a pleasure engaging with you. We look forward to more of the same in the future. For more on Stella’s past work including a report on “Kenya’s 2014 Report Card on Physical and Body Weight of Children and Youth” among many more, visit her Linkedin page Here. Interview By Yvonne Nyawira

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). 

These findings were similar to those found in the larger SubSaharan Africa showing that a higher socioeconomic status was associated with obesity measures and that children from

What advice would you like to share with our readers who may want to pursue a similar journey into health and research? Go for it!! It has been an exciting and rewarding choice.

TAP SPEAKS is built on the belief that “If you want to know you’re progressing both as an individual/ community, you should be able to look up and there’s someone pulling you and you should be able to look down and you’re pulling someone up”. JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 51

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MODEL FEATURE

Meet Kelly Davis; Miss Kenya USA 2014 nly in her early twenties, Kelly Wairimu Davis (Actor & Model) is a woman on a mission. She’s already appeared on the big screens in Hollywood, won Miss Kenya USA 2014 Queen of the Universe pageant and started a powerful foundation that fights against female genital mutilation. Born to a Native American father and a Kenyan mother, Kelly’s perspective is broader and diverse than many her age. If it’s the first time you hear of her, do not worry, it’s not the last. TAP recently hooked up with Miss Kelly for an end of the year interview and it's our pleasure to introduce her to you. 54 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

INTERVIEW

Introduce yourself to the TAP audience. Names, where you grew up? What was your favorite moment growing up as a kid? My names are Kelly Wairimu Davis and I grew up in Wichita, Kansas. It is a beautiful city to grow up in… Lots of amazing people and there’s great values to learn in Wichita. One vivid memory I have growing up is that of dance recitals. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old and that has fuelled my passion for performing on stage. Back then, I would get really excited – these is my favourite moment as I still remember the adrenaline rush I would get as a little girl being on that stage.

What are some of your interests and hobbies? My hobbies are exercising, teaching Sunday school at my church, hiking, cooking, and Reading. Am also interested in learning about JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 55

INTERVIEW I was so grateful to get to appear on the Queen Latifah Show as a model and the Real Husbands of Hollywood. The highlight of it all was to participate in the Queen of the Universe Pageant, becoming Miss Kenya 2014. " different cultures - I love to travel and see the world. Of late, I have been very interested in learning to cook vegetarian dishes, been into spirituality and fitness.

Are you doing anything else besides modeling and acting? Becoming Miss Kenya 2014 in the Queen of the Universe Pageant has opened so many doors for me. It’s allowed me to start Kelly W. Davis Running International foundation. For now, this is where most of my focus is. That said, modeling and acting are a big part of my life as I have been modeling since I was around 15. I am most comfortable in front of a camera, being filmed, and being on stage.

How did you get into both modeling and acting? While still back home in Wichita, Kansas, a friend of ours introduced me 56 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

to a local modeling agency where I was able to study modeling for 2 years. I got a chance to compete at AMTC (Actors Models Talent for Christ) convention in Florida and won an acting scholarship to the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, California where I studied acting for 2 years. It’s been a blessing to have both modeling and acting under my belt.

Who are some of your favorite models and actors? My favorite models are Liya Kebede and (my cousin) Ashley Peterson. They are both so beautiful. My favorite actors are Tia Mowry Hardrict, Liz Nyagah Konstantarras, Lupita Nyongo and Angelina

Jolie.

How familiar are you with the African/Kenyan show business? This summer, I was so fortunate to travel to Kenya and appear on some of the most popular shows there. One was the Churchill Show, Afterburn on Kiss TV and Str8up show on KTN. I also did an interview with Ghetto Radio. Kenyan show business was so gracious to me and I would like to get to know the industry a bit more.

How’s life in Hollywood for a young person like you? Life is great in Hollywood once you find

working on projects that improve the lives of these young girls. We are also assisting in the effort to eliminate these rites of passage and in return have Communities embrace alternative rites of passage, such as education. My future goal is to build a center where these girls can take shelter and receive an education. For more information visit www.kwdrunninginternational.com

your way as it is very fast paced. One of the downsides is that you can easily lose yourself while trying to find fame and fortune. Once you find yourself, who you are, what your purpose is, what your focus is, then life is easier and purposeful.

What would you say has been your biggest success both on the screen and on the runway? I was so grateful to get to appear on the Queen Latifah Show as a model and the Real Husbands of Hollywood. The highlight of it all was to participate in the Queen of the Universe Pageant, becoming Miss Kenya 2014.

How has modeling changed your life? Studying modeling has given me a platform to find my purpose. Becoming Miss Kenya and choosing to fight FGM as my charity, has changed my life.

Your father is a Native American and your mother is Kenyan American! How has growing up with both cultures shaped your worldview? Growing up in two diverse cultures has made me more accepting and

respectful of our differences as human beings. It has also taught me the good and the bad aspects of both my parents’ cultures. For example, on my father's side, I learnt about the plight of the American Indians and their rich culture, while my mother has told me of the plight of her people under the colonial rule. Consequently, my background has shaped who I am and who I aspire to be. It has given me a broader view of the universe and a life full of purpose.

Would you be interested in working in Africa if an opportunity ever presented itself! I would love to work in Africa if the opportunity presented itself. I have been thinking about it for a while. If God opens a door, I will definitely take the chance!

You are very passionate about FGM; please tell us about your charity! Goals, mission etc. My charity is called Kelly W. Davis Running International. Its main objectives are to STOP female genital mutilation (FGM) and to empower young girls who are either preparing to undergo FGM/ or have undergone FGM and to offer an alternative rite of passage such as getting an education. We are currently

What can people (individually) do to aid the fight again FGM? They can voice their opinion to the community leaders around them, especially to church leaders in order to put pressure on governments to interdict parents who subject their young girls to FGM.

Finally, how can people get tickets to your fundraiser in January? For those who cannot make it, how can they contribute? Kelly W Davis Running International Foundation will be holding its First Annual Fundraising Event Jan 10-2015 At the LaQuinta Inn in Wichita, KS. Proceedings will go towards building eight our house (pit latrines/ toilets) for Kiwanja Ndege Primary School in Laikipia North. For info on tickets, please contact Cecilia Davis at 316.992.8578 or email jecewa@hotmail. com Or Contact Margaret Omido 316.648.0667; email margaretomido@ yahoo.com If you’re not able to make it to the event, you can contribute through the foundation website www.kwdrunninginternational.com JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 57

For The Love of The

Game

SPORTS

MAINSTREAM SPORTS ACADEMY: Transforming Street Children in Kawangware through

Football

Intro by Moses Mutabaruka Report by Jeff Kinyanjui (KPL Chat)

60 | Tap Magazine | JANUARY 2015

SPORTS

The main aim of Mainstream Sports Academy is to build character in these young men and women.

single Google search tells you half of everything you need to know about “Kawangware”: a shanty notorious slum on the outskirts of Nairobi overpopulated by low income residents, the majority of which are children, and many inhabitants are HIV-positive;

where there is no clean running water and crime is rampant, so rampant that at least one person gets shot by the police every other day. As a youngster in Kawangware, you don’t have many options - your free time is either spent into illicit activities or into football. While the above story is true of Kawangware;

another narrative is slowly emerging. Young people are relentlessly taking it upon themselves to remodel their environment. Over the last two years; Tap has worked with two youths, former football players who are impacting the next generation of Kawangware through football. Read their story below. JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 61

SPORTS

The crime rate in Kawan everyday a youth is kill to start Mainstream Sp youth, to keep them b with them, it’s the only over 300 kids in the thought it would be wis as they had been negle feedback has been gre transformin

It’s 2 PM on Monday; I rush out of the office and head to the bus stop ready to board a matatu to Kawangware. Ten minutes later, I’m in a City Hoppa bus heading to Kawangware. Ironically, the track playing is “Remember Those Days in Nairobi” by Dynamq a famous US based artist that used to live in Kawangware as a South Sudanese refugee. In this song,

Dynamq passionately talks about how he grew up in Kawangware and how they used to play football in the streets. I’m headed there to interview former footballers, Dynamq’s former teammates, who are now passionately trying to positively impact the next generation through a football academy.

Mainstream Sports Academy (MSA) was started in 2006 by John Bosco, Christopher ‘Khadiri’ Mbugua and several other former footballers from Kawangware. I arrive at the community ground a few minutes after 3, just in time to find several street children enjoying football. John Bosco welcomes me and mentions that they run the Street Loyalty Programme every Monday and Friday afternoon. Bosco explains that the high crime rate in the area is what prompted them to start the academy. “So many young people were losing their lives because of crime and it really hurt the community. For some time, we did ignore the fact that we were losing our youths and everyone continued leading their normal lives but whenever we met, we would always discuss that matter; too many of the youths within our neighbourhood were into crime,

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SPORTS

ngware is so high and almost led by the police. We decided ports Academy to engage the busy and to positively interact y thing we could do. We have e various team categories. We se to start a Street Kids team ected by the community. The eat so far and I’m glad we are ng the kids through football".

drug abuse and other vices. Something had to be done,” Bosco said. Today, the Academy has over 300 youths in different teams based on age and the senior team participates in the Nairobi County League Zone C where they finished fifth this past season. MSA also runs the Street Loyalty Programme, the main purpose of my trip to Kawangware.“Initially our plan was just to accommodate the youths in our programmes but we later realized we couldn’t avoid the street children as they were part of the community”. “Street children are looked down upon yet all they need is guidance. Just talking to them made us realize that they have the potential like all the other kids,” Bosco added. “The street children play football for two hours every Monday and Friday afternoon and these two hours are very

essential since it means they are off drugs and other vices that they could possibly participate in if they were not playing football,”

“I hope to become a professional footballer in the near future and play for the National team Harambee- Stars too,” he added.

“We as coaches talk to them after every session and this has helped transform some of them. Several have reintegrated their families and are now living normal lives while others joined school and vocational training institutions,”

Former Kenya U17 midfielder Christopher ‘Khadiri’ Mbugua, who is among the Mainstream Sports Academy founders, is optimistic that the programme will transform Kawangware to be a better neighbourhood.

“The main aim of MSA is to build character in these young men and women”. “Young people like something they can engage in and we thought football would be one of the best tools to use since majority of us are former players. Football was the only language we would use to get to them,” he concluded.

“The crime rate in Kawangware is so high and almost every day a youth is killed by the police.” “We decided to start Mainstream Sports Academy to engage the youth, to keep them busy and to positively interact with them, it’s the only thing we could do.”

Kevin Mbugua, a 19-year old street kid says the Street Loyalty Programme has given him hope of becoming a professional football player in future.

“We have over 300 kids in the various team categories. We thought it would be wise to start a Street Kids team as they had been neglected by the community.”

“It feels good to interact with my friends every Monday and Friday afternoon. This has really changed my approach to life,” Mbugua said.

“With the insecurity in the area, people thought these street kids were also thugs yet that was not the case in most instances.” JANUARY 2015 | Tap Magazine | 63

SPORTS

Academy to support these street kids,” Ingadi said, “The biggest challenge was to have these kids (children not from the street at the academy) accept them as friends because the society has really neglected them and we are happy with the way things are working at the moment,” “The feedback has been great so far and I’m glad we are transforming the kids through football,” he added.

“We are planning on having a tournament involving all the street kids in Kawangware in the near future,”

Mainstream recently partnered with the Maisha Poa Center, a Non-Governmental Organisation that now offers a feeding programme after every training session MSA on Friday. Mr Harrison Ingadi, a Coordinator at the Centre says he’s happy with the progress the Street Loyalty programme has achieved.

“Our plan is to transform most if not all the street kids in this locality. We’ve been successful at the moment having convinced some is always to go back to looking for Individual school and others have & Organizational partners. reinteContact them through grated mainstreamsportsacademy@ with their parents. gmail.com or through The sky is facebook.com/ not even the MainstreamSportsAcademy limit,”

“As an organisation we are extremely proud to have partnered with Mainstream Sports

“Our biggest achievement since we started MSA is having a team actively competing in the

Nairobi County League. When we started MSA, a lot of people thought it was another briefcase organization but few years down the line they respect and appreciate the work we are doing.” “We get kids coming from as far as Langata, Kabete and other neighbourhoods coming to train with MSA and that shows we are doing a good job. We hope to have our team in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) in five years’ time. We also hope to build strong partnerships with teams and organizations outside the country and eventually have regular exchange programmes for our kids,” he concluded. As I head to the bus stop for my ride back to the office, I’m lost in deep thoughts. What am I doing to help the youths in my own community? I’ve always thought that I would have to be rich in order to help but my experience at MSA has changed that; it was started with no resources and it is now a force to be reckoned with. It is changing lives, it is changing Kawangware… I also must do something. Tap Magazine collects used football kits, cleats and other equipment’s MSA might need. It also co-sponsors MSA annual players Christmas party. Get in contact with MSA and become part of the change.

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