Arouna by Kidjo

I really like Arouna by Angélique Kidjo. You can find the studio version here (Search for "Arouna").

Check out the live version:

Angelique Kidjo - Arouna
by sandriam
Lyrics here. Wish I knew what they meant.

Out of Africa - II

After hearing innumerable references to the film, I finally watched 'Out of Africa'. The film, which is based on a true story, and adapted from the writings of Karen Blixen, showcases various aspects of Kenya, notably:

• Kikuyu: Kenya's most populous ethnic group. Environmental and Political Activist and Author Waangari Maathai is Kikuyu.
• Maasai: an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
• Kenya's Natural Beauty: Aerial shots of the beautiful landscape reminded me of Yann-Arthus Bertrand's photograph of the Flamingos on Lake Nakuru in Kenya.
• Life in the early 1900s when the British controlled Kenya (then British East Africa).

I enjoyed the film very much (except the hunting scenes) and found it romantic and touching.

The film on Wiki, and the book it was based on.

Out of Africa - I

Recent African origin of modern humans: In paleoanthropology, the recent African origin of modern humans is the mainstream model describing the origin and early dispersal of anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens sapiens. The theory popularly is called the (Recent) Out-of-Africa model, and academically the recent single-origin hypothesis (RSOH), Replacement Hypothesis, and Recent African Origin (RAO) model. The hypothesis that humans had originated in Africa was published in Charles Darwin's Descent of Man (1871). The concept was speculative until the 1980s, when it was corroborated by a study of present-day mitochondrial DNA, combined with evidence based on physical anthropology of archaic specimens.

• From National Geographic: Modern Humans Came Out of Africa, "Definitive" Study Says
• The Wiki Answer to: Are all humans originally from Africa?

The Long Walk to Freedom

Today is a great day in history. It is on this day, 20 years ago, that Madiba walked free after 27 years in prison. All week, BBC's Africa today has featured fascinating snippets from that great moment in history. They featured this number by Hugh Masakela, "Bring him back home", which I liked a lot. Best wishes, Madiba!

Rowling's Speech

J.K. Rowling talks about her experience of working at Amnesty International's African Research Department. Watch from 12:00 minutes onwards.

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

Bill Bryson's Africa Diary

During Bill Bryson's visit to Kenya in 2002, he recorded his observations and published them in his African Diary. The book highlights the work of CARE International, an organization that helps the people of Africa help themselves through projects providing simple, sustainable solutions. Bryson donated all royalties from the book to CARE. The book is short, interesting and sprinkled with a good dose of Bryson's humor... he says that he expected Kenya to be like a setting from the film 'Out-Of-Africa'...!

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa

I just read 'A Guide to the Birds of East Africa' by Nicholas Drayson. If you're looking for a nice, light read based in Kenya which brings forth many aspects of the nation from the Government, the life of immigrants, society and crime to the scenery, people and of course, the beautiful birds, this is the book for you. Here is a review. If you like McCall Smith, you will enjoy this book; I sure did. One last thing... I loved all the little bird sketches at the beginning of every chapter. They prompted me to look up some of the birds and I've never seen anything like the Great Blue Turaco, Turner's Eremomela or the gorgeous Hoopoe seen below. Picture from Wikipedia.