imagination

Our standards will only be met when we assert them

Reflection

Last week, I was all excited, preparing to go to a Kenyan party-slash-concert. It was less about the particular musician visiting and more about being with my fellow Kenyans and experiencing a little taste of home. 

First impressions: the venue was quite obscure – an Indian restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Further impressions: my little stereo could put the sound system to shame and the wine tasted of millet porridge. Crucial impression: the musician did not show up until 4am! At this point, we were leaving so, I'm yet to find out if he actually performed at all! On my way out, a man who I presume was one of the organisers, restrained me to make this plea – that I stay for, even if the artist performed for 2 minutes, it would be worth the wait.

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Quote of the week and a crisis of the imagination

Blooming-cabbage

"To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of the ocean by the frailty of its foam.
To judge you by your failures is to cast blame on the seasons for their inconstancy."

— Kahlil Gibran in his beautiful work, The Prophet. That is one book I will never tire of reading and being inspired by.

This quote makes me think of how a lot of people have distorted visions of Africa – including us Africans! Any negative headline quickly confirms what was assumed. The positive? It's plenty but its almost invisible for those who cannot imagine it. Both in terms of people looking in on the continent and in terms of African's looking within themselves. 

Africa's biggest crisis may just be a crisis of the imagination.