Kwa Simu Kutoka London

Freddy Macha

Na Freddy Macha

Bangi ni ulevi unaotumiwa kuzidi yote duniani leo.

Madhara yake yote hayafahamiki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_huNuWsG4yc&t=10s

• Askari wanawaachia wapandaji bangi majumbani- pic F Macha 2017

Ukeketaji Tanzania - Female Circumcision

FLASH MASSAGE DIASPORA:

 

Kilio cha mwanamziki/mwanahabari mkongwe Freddy Macha hatimaye kimesikika na kuwagusa viongozi wa ngazi zisizokamatika.Ni sawa na kuyaona machozi ya kilio cha njiwa.Kama ni mila,jadi,itikadi za dini kuwepo na utafiti wa kiafya kupunguza maumivu na mateso ya ukeketwaji wa watoto wa kike hata utamaduni wa kambi za jando maporini kwa watoto wa kiume yafanyike kwa madaktari bingwa katika madahawati ya serikali kupitia usimamizi wa kadi za bima maalumu-NSSF kwa jamii kupunguza msongamano

wa vifo kwa watoto ambao kwa miaka ya siku hizi wanazaliwa tayari wamekomaa kama vijana wa Taifa.

   

http://michuzi-matukio.blogspot.dk/2014/06/ukeketaji-wanawake-ni-udhalilishaji.html

MATUKIO-MICHUZI: Ukeketaji Wanawake ni Udhalilishaji – Waziri Sophia Simba

			MATUKIO-MICHUZI: Ukeketaji Wanawake ni Udhalilisha... eketaji.
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FREDDY MACHA-KITOTOBLOG

Kumbukumbu:

http://kitoto.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/sherehe-kusaidia-ujenzi-wa-jumba-la-kuhifadhi-wasichana-wanaokimbia-kukeketwa/

SHEREHE KUSAIDIA UJENZI WA JUMBA LA KUHIFADHI WASICHANA WANAOKIMBIA KUKEKETWA

			SHEREHE KUSAIDIA UJENZI WA JUMBA LA KUHIF... Ijumaa tarehe 30 Mei, London. Ukumbi wa hoteli iliyoko kitongoji cha Hackney, kaskazini ya London ulishuhudia usiku wa muziki, chakula na vinywaji. Kila aliyeingi...
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SOURCE: MIKIDADI-DENMARK

Afya ya Vijana Leo ni Mbaya Ukilinganisha na Yetu Zamani

Na Freddy Macha

Kwa ufupi:

Desturi ya kula inayozagaa nchini kote hususan majiani ni ile iitwayo ‘fast food’ huku Majuu. Ilianzia Marekani.

Tumalizie mada yetu leo iliyoanza wiki tatu zilizopita.

Kitakwimu idadi ya vijana Tanzania ni kubwa zaidi ya wazee, nchi zilizoendelea walipitisha miaka 70 ni wengi sababu ya ubora wa maisha. Lakini hapo hapo Uzunguni yapo ‘mabaya’ yanayostahili kuangaliwa.

Azma ya kutamani ‘maendeleo ya haraka haraka’ bila simile imeanza kuchangia aina ya maradhi ya kisasa. Zamani kisukari, ugonjwa wa moyo au kupoteza nguvu za mapenzi yalikuwa magonjwa ya wazee, walakin leo yanawakaba na kuwasepetua vijana.

Katika makala mbili zilizopita tumejadili namna taratibu nzima ya maisha, siasa- uchumi, elimu na utambuzi yanavyochangia adha hii. Mathalani kama hulali saa nane kwa siku, unaharibu akili, sura, tabia na afya yako.

Kipindi cha miaka 30 iliyopita. kumekuwa na tatizo la Wazungu, hata weusi waliozaliwa huku Majuu, kupungukiwa mbegu za uzazi. Ndoa nyingi zinavunjika. Tatizo hili linaloitwa “low sperm count” au kwa wanawake ‘infertility problems’, limefanyiwa utafiti sana. Mathalan nchini Marekani, imethibitishwa kuwa kutozaa husababishwa na udhaifu wa mayai ukihusisha wote, wanawake na wanaume. Asilimia 30 wanaume na asilimia 30 wanawake wana tatizo hilo.

Sababu zilizotolewa ni pamoja na kurithi hali hiyo, kutokula vyakula asilia, maradhi ya zinaa, uchovu kutokana na kazi na maisha ya kasi sana (“stress”). Tatizo hili lilifikia kilele miaka ya 1980 ambapo wenyeji walipendelea zaidi ndoa na sisi tunaotoka nchi za joto au zinazoendelea.

Kwa nini?

Aina ya maisha (Afrika, Asia na Marekani ya Kusini) ni tofauti na ya Uzunguni. Joto, kutokimbiakimbia ovyo (“stress”), vyakula na hewa safi asilia isiyoathiriwa na moshi, pia mashine za kisasa ni baadhi ya mambo yaliyochangia mbegu, haiba na tabia zetu kimapenzi kuwa bora.

Hivi sasa Wazungu wamegundua kula vyakula asilia (“organic food”) na kufanya mazoezi hustawisha siha ya mapenzi na ngono. Miaka 15 iliyopita vuguvugu la maisha ya siha, limetanda kiasi ambacho maduka yamejazana vyakula asilia vinavyonunuliwa nchi maskini. Mathalan hivi karibuni nilikuwa nakwenda duka moja hapa London kununua nyama ya nyati wa Zimbabwe.

Kwa nini Wazungu wanalipia zaidi vyakula asilia ?

Hapo! Wamegundua njia waliyokuwa wakiipitia baada ya maendeleo ya mashine yaliyoanza karne ya 18 na kufikia kilele karne ya 20 inawaharibia afya na maisha. Sisi tumejaza vitu hivyo, lakini hatuvithamini.

Mwaka 1976 wakati nilipoanza kazi Gazeti la Uhuru, tulikuwa tukila katika vibanda na magenge ya Mama Ntilie. Enzi hizo ubwabwa kwa maharage na ndizi mbivu vilikuwa sehemu mahsusi ya mlo wa mchana. Mwisho wa juma tulipotoka dansini au disko, kando ya barabara yalikaangwa mayai (macho ya ng’ombe) kwa nyanya na vitunguu.

Nilikuwa na rafiki yangu mwanahabari (marehemu) mpigapicha, Awadh Shebe, akiishi Kariakoo. Kila mchana siku za Jumamosi tuliingia Mnazi Mmoja kupata “fruti” yaani bilauri za mseto wa matunda. Leo kinachotiliwa mkazo ni vinywaji vya “kisasa” kama Cocacola, Mirinda kwa “chips” kavu baada ya kazi. Mafuta ya hizo “chips” huwa yameshapikia hata wiki nzima bila kubadilishwa. Sawa kweli?

Desturi ya kula inayozagaa nchini kote hususan majiani ni ile iitwayo ‘fast food’ huku Majuu. Ilianzia Marekani.

Huko ndiko walikojenga maduka na migahawa maarufu ya MacDonalds. Wamarekani haohao wanasemwa hawajui kupika, hawali vyakula asilia. Wanakumbwa na maradhi ya unene na moyo. Haya ndiyo mambo yanayoingia kwetu Afrika. Tena kwa haraka sana.

Je, wangapi leo tunapika nyumbani?

Ni vijana wangapi wanajua kupika msosi ukalika?

Tunakimbilia nyama na ndizi choma tu. Kula nyama choma siyo vibaya hata kidogo. Ubaya imegeuzwa chakula kikuu. Waafrika tunapenda nyama. Twazila kila siku. Nyama nzuri ndiyo. Lakini yanatuponza. Afrika Magharibi na ya Kati wamefikia kula nyama mwitu : panya, nyani na popo! Matokeo ndiyo hiyo Ebola inayoangamiza watu Guinea sasa hivi.

La pili ni ulevi.

Wiki ya jana vyombo vya habari Uzunguni vilitangaza matokeo ya utafiti wa Shirika la ‘Slimming World’ linaloangalia matatizo ya unene kwa walevi 2,000, hapa Uingereza. Kawaida mwanaume anatakiwa asizidishe bia tatu kwa siku, yaani kipimo cha vitengo (“units”), kumi. Ikizidi, mwili hubadilika na kuharibika. Wanawake wanashauriwa vitengo vinane, yaani glasi 2 za mvinyo kama bia mbili. Ulevi unapokiuka vitengo hivyo, mtu hutaka kula zaidi.

Utafiti ulisema, tabia ya kilevi ni kutaka kula ‘chochote kile’ kiwe kibaya au kizuri, kujaza tumbo baada ya kulewa.

Matokeo ni nini? Kutapika, vitambi, ushuzi, unene, harufu mbaya ya mdomo na mwili na mambo kama hayo.

Utafiti wa pili ulichunguza wazee wenye umri wa zaidi ya miaka 60. Ukadadavua kuwa kadri umri unavyokwenda, ndivyo ubongo husinyaa na kupungua uwezo, hii husababisha kusahau, kutofanya mambo sawasawa-yaani ‘dementia’ kwa lugha ya kitaalamu. Utafiti ukashauri kuwa, mazoezi ya viungo kama kutembea (dakika 20 hadi 45 kwa siku), kuogelea, kukimbia na kadhalika kwa watu wa makamo kuimarisha bongo zetu.

Je, yanaathiri vipi vijana?

Vijana leo, (Uzunguni na nyumbani) wanaonyesha dalili za kuwa na matatizo yanayostahili kuwapata wazee. Kwa kuwa bangi ni rahisi kupandisha nishai kuliko pombe (aghali) vijana huanza kuivuta wakiwa wadogo sana. Bangi na dawa za kulevya, humfanya mtumiaji kutojali wakati, kujisikia mzito, mvivu na mwenye usingizi, moyo kukimbia na kadhalika. Bangi inasababisha pia maradhi ya akili (‘schizophrenia’). Ukishazoea sana bangi unakuwa sugu; unataka “kali zaidi.” Unatafuta (‘cocaine’), sindano za ‘heroin’, na kadhalika. Ushetani huu huathiri mzunguko wa damu, jambo linalochangia kupungua nguvu za kufanya mapenzi.

Mwisho, tuangalie ulimbukeni.

Neno hili limetokana na “limbua” au “kulimbuka” yaani mara ya kwanza, kama ua linalochanua. Ulimbukeni ulioenea Tanzania na Afrika unatokana na azma ya kujaribu kupambana na hali duni ya maisha. Kijana anayekua sasa hivi anahitaji uongozi thabiti. Je, ikiwa uongozi bora haupo tutafanyaje? Itabidi tuyakubali maneno ya mwanamuziki wa Kispanyola Manu Chao aliyefanya mahojiano hapa London mwaka 2007 akadai: “Hatuhitaji viongozi. Kila mmoja wetu ahitaji kuwa kiongozi.” Siyo kuvuta bangi na ushetani. Siyo kuwa wavivu. Bali kujituma. Kujielewa sisi nani. Kuipenda nchi yetu; kuipigania. Kujisomea na kujipenda zaidi.

Freddy Macha Atoa Wimbo Mpya!

WASIFU WA MLIMA  KILIMANJARO NA TANZANIA

Mwandishi na mwanamuziki Mtanzania,  Freddy Macha,  katoa video ya wimbo  unaoyasifia mazingira, mandhari, watu,  asilia na uzuri wa Tanzania kupitia mlima Kilimanjaro. Kibao hiki alichokitunga akiishi Brazil (na kurekodi mjini London 2001) kimeshirikisha wanamuziki wa Ulaya, Afrika Mashariki na Kati ambao wengi ni marafiki zake wa karibu sana.

  "Kilimanjaro" ni kati ya nyimbo zinazotazamiwa kufungua kinywa cha Albam mpya ya Macha, baadaye mwakani.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqjF5nf5JjA

Chai na Mwandishi Nguli wa Kiswahili

Kaka Freddy Macha alibahatika kukutana na kumhji Nguli wa Kiswahili Abdilatif Abdalla.

MWANAHARAKATI WA KISWAHILI-ABDILATIF ABDALLA

BOFYA HAPA KUSOMA HABARI ZAIDI ;

Freddy Macha at the London Jazz Festival

GLOBAL FUSION MUSIC AND ARTS

Presents

ROYAL GREENWICH JAZZ

PART OF LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL

Thursday 14th November 2013

Legendary Jim Mullen Trio

Plus Freddy Macha and Friends

Performing songs from his new album

Doors Open 7pm

Gig 7.30 - 10.30pm

CHARLTON HOUSE

CHARLTON ROAD

LONDON SE7 8RE

Ticket price £7- available @ www.wegottickets.com

Info - 0208 858 9497

Umahiri Wetu wa Lugha Unadidimia!

Na Freddy Macha

Umahiri wetu wa lugha umeanza kudidimia.

Si tu lugha za kikabila, pia Kiswahili na Kiingereza. Njia moja ya kujiendeleza ni kusoma na kusikiliza mashairi na fasihi...

http://www.freddymacha.com

Warsha Kwa Vyombo Vya Habari London 6/12/12

WARSHA FUPI YA VYOMBO VYA HABARI KESHO ALHAMISI LONDON


Na Michael Zetulla

Jumuiya ya Urafiki kati ya UIngereza na Tanzania (Britain –Tanzania Society) itaendesha warsha juu ya vyombo vya habari Tanzania, kesho Alhamisi.

Semina hiyo itafanyika chumba namba 4421 katika chuo kikuu cha lugha SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) kilichoko Russell Square, katikati ya London, saa kumi na moja hadi saa moja jioni.

Mtu yeyote anaweza kuhudhuria na hakuna malipo yeyote yanayotakiwa.

Mzungumzaji mkuu atakuwa Ben Taylor wa Daraja ambalo linasimamia magazeti kadhaa mjini Njombe na Iringa ikiwemo Kwanza Jamii. Mwenyekiti wa warsha atakuwa Freddy Macha mwandishi na mwanasafu mkazi London.

Kufuatana maelezo yaliyotolea na jumuiya ya BTS, mada ya warsha itakuwa : “Habari na demokrasia Tanzania”. Shughuli hii ni sehemu ya warsha mbalimbali zilizofanywa na jumuiya ya BTS toka mwezi Oktoba kuzungumzia na kuangalia mada mbalimbali za Tanzania. Mwezi jana Waziri wa Uchukuzi , Dk Harrison Mwakyembe alialikwa kuzungumzia suala la katiba na usafiri katika ukumbi wa Central Hall, mjini London.

Habari zaidi tembelea:

http://www.btsociety.org/events-and-announcements

Au piga simu

+44-20-7727-1755
+44-7721-869-215

Mpira London

MASHABIKI ARSENAL WAMTEMEA MOTO ROBIN VAN PERSIE

Urban Pulse na Freddy Macha waweletea habari moto moto siku moja baada ya kutangazwa kuhama kwa mshambuliaji na nahodha wa Arsenal, Robin Van Persie kwenda Manchester United  adui  wake mkubwa. Mahojiano yalifanywa kando kando ya uwanja maarufu wa Emirates ambapo washabiki walikuwa wakielekea kufurahia mechi ya kwanza ya ligi (2012-2013) baina ya Arsenal na Sunderland.

Video za WaTanzania Katika Michezo ya Olimpiki

Hizi linki mbili kuhusu Watanzania  Olimpiki na mataifa mengine hapa London:

Urban Pulse wakishirikiana na Freddy Macha watoa video mbili kuhusiana na michezo ya Olimpiki London 2012. Zote katika lugha ya Kiswahili na Kiingereza...

1.Ya kwanza inaongelea siku ya kwanza.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x68gyfUdlH8

2. Ya pili inajaribu kutathmini juma la kwanza; tulivyochemsha na kwa sababu gani:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfg7R11LVkQ 

Habari zaidi tembelea

http://www.kitoto.wordpress.com

Tamasha la Kumuenzi Hayati Remmy Ongala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huNcBwH9_UQ

Aziza Machozi Ongala na mumewe Miael McGeachy, mzawa wa Jamaika, wakiongea na Urban Pulse na Freddy Macha kuhusu shughuli zao kuimarisha kumbukumbu na kazi za mwanamuziki Remmy Ongala aliyefariki Desemba 2010, mjini Dar es Salaam.

Mahojiano yalifanywa  katika Ubalozi wa Tanzania, London.

Habari zaidi bofya : http://www.thedkremmyongalafoundation.com/

Asanteni,

URBAN PULSE CREATIVE Wakishirikiana na Freddy Macha

Mchoraji Raza Kufanya Maonyesho London

Habari Zimeletwa na Mdau Freddy Macha

Mchoraji wa rangi, vitabu na stempu, Raza Mohamed anatazamiwa kufanya maonyesho ya picha zake katika ukumbi wa Mulberry Tea Room, Charlton House, kitongoji cha Greenwich Ijumaa tarehe 17 Juni hadi Jumatano 20, Julai mwaka huu.

Raza Mohamed ambaye ni hazina ya taifa letu amekuwa akichora toka akiwa mtoto wa miaka sita tu mwaka 1952. “Nilianza kwa mkaa...” alisema nilipomhoji nyumbani kwa mwanae, jana.

Michoro yake Raza huonyesha taswira mbalimbali za maisha ya Watanzania, wakiwemo watoto wadogo, wanawake, watu wazima, wavuvi, wafanyakazi mbalimbali, nk. Amewahi kuonyesha michoro hiyo katika majumba mbalimbali ya utamaduni Marekani, Norway, Ujerumani, Kenya, Denmark na pia matamasha ya kimataifa mathalan Festac, mjini Lagos, Nigeria, mwaka 1976.

Raza ambaye ni pia mjumbe katika kamati ya Sanaa katika Ikulu amewahi pia kuwachora Marais wote wanne wa Tanzania yaani, Mwalimu Nyerere( 1965), Ali Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa na Rais Jakaya Kikwete.

Mwanae, Eddy Mohamed anatazamiwa pia kushiriki katika maonyesho haya ya Charlton House. Kama babake, Eddy amekuwa pia akisanifu michoro tangu akiwa na umri mbichi wa miaka 6. Alizaliwa Oktoba, 1940, akamalizia shahada ya Sanaa katika chuo cha East London University, Docklands.

Baba na kijana wake wote wameeleza mapenzi yao makubwa katika uzuri wa Tanzania na hutumia fani ya muziki wa Jazz kujihamasisha kazini. Jazz iliyoasisiwa Marekani na wanamuziki weusi mwanzo wa karne ya 20 inayo mizizi katika utamaduni na ngoma za Waafrika. Kati ya picha kubwa zitakazoonyeshwa na Eddy ni ile aliyomchora gwiji maarufu wa jazz , mpiga Saxafoni, Charlie Parker aliyefariki mwaka 1955 akiwa na wenzake.

Mara ya kwanza picha zake Mzee Raza kuonyeshwa hapa London ilikuwa wakati wa mkutano wa Watanzania Ughaibuni (Diaspora) mwezi jana. Ila onyesho hili ni la kwanza la kimataifa na linategemewa kutumbuizwa na mwanamuziki Mtanzania. Freddy Macha.

Tafrija nzima imeandaliwa na shirika la sanaa la Global Fusion Music and Arts (GMFA) lenye makao yake Greenwich. GMFA inayoendeshwa na wasanii toka mataifa mbalimbali mjini London ilianzishwa mwaka 2001 na wanamuziki Louisa Le Marchand (Uingereza), Kaz Kasozi (Uganda), marehem Sukh Saini (India) na Gill Swan Uingereza).

Habari zaidi tembelea www.globalfusionarts.com

Barua pepe: globalfusionarts@yahoo.co.uk

Blog: www.kitoto.wordpress.com

Simu: 0208-858-9497

Mobaili: +44-7976-941-435 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44-7976-941-435

Umuhimu wa SInema Tanzania a Freddy Macha

Why are movies so important? - By Freddy Macha

From The CITIZEN PAPER IN TANZANIA

By Freddy Macha

Can anyone tell me the origin of the word dezo?

In standard Swahili it means anything obtained free of charge. Sometimes I like to think of it as dazzle or daze which is to stun and bewilder.

Surely that explains the feeling of happiness after being endeared?

Anyway, I recall sinema dezo, back in the sixties and early seventies. Movies would be shown for free across Tanzanian fields and football pitches.

We watched the Charlie Chaplin, Stanley Laurel and Oliver Hardy series, then known as Chalii Mnene na Mwembamba. They were not only funny they also help build the Swahili vocabulary.

Charlie or Charley became Chalii or Chale, which in Swahili is a funny or humorous person. Movies not only entertain but also create new words thus helping shaping a national language.

By the mid-1970s, sinema dezo was out and in came the cinema halls. Our mothers and sisters flocked to watch afternoon movies (matinee) from India.

Nobody spoke Hindi, but the songs were loved. Does anyone recall i (which means Sometimes) and Sholay? The stories were long; movies went on for three hours plus.

Some of these Hindi films had strong social political messages like Mother India and Namak Haraam. I recall seeing them without subtitles and loving them across Dar es Salaam halls – Empire and Empress (in the Askari Monument area), Avalon, Odeon and Cameo.

For those who did not like these Hindi movies with their exaggerated sentimental singing and tears, there was an alternative option: Bruce Lee and kung fu, whoo, whaa films.

These flicks razed and grazed our halls until early eighties when the economic doom chocked and slapped everyone. The only consolation were second-hand imported ‘B’ movies like the soft porn wave Emanuelle.

From then on until around the arrival of mainstream television in the mid-1990s we had nothing. The film industry in Tanzania has always been thirsty and hungry.

Before Josiah Kibira's efforts in 2003 with the production of the Bongoland series we had only Fimbo ya Mnyonge as a Swahili movie of any substance. Mwalimu Nyerere must have gone to his grave wondering, will it ever be?

Lately because of this hunger we have started munching Nigerian and South African films.

US-based Josiah Kibira says he used to watch the Nigerians and wondered. His Bongoland one and two tale is a convincing narrative about dreams of a young Tanzanian totally gone wrong.

Like Obama's presidential win in 2008, Kibira uses the Internet well to publicise and sell them in a well packaged and organised product.

And that is the story of May-June 2010.
Lovely Gamble, a Swahili-English, film has just been released in the UK by young Tanzanian filmmakers. I have seen the flick and attended the launch last weekend in Reading, a few kilometres out of London.

I do not think Lovely Gamble is anything close to Bongoland. The storyline is simplistic, with an ending that women especially will find uninspiring. However, its release has heralded a new chapter in our filmmaking.

In 2008, I watched and listened to Spike Lee, the African American filmmaker, answering a crucial question in London. Many of us asked him why he never makes films about Africa. He said we should do it ourselves and in collaboration.

“Be a gang, form a posse...,” said the creator of Inside Man, Malcolm X, Do the Right Thing and She Is Gotta Have It.

Makers of Lovely Gamble, known as Urban Pulse, have already ticked this box. Urban Pulse unites not only a group of Tanzanians, but other Africans and Caribbean youths. They are all multi-skilled and multitalented.

Launching the event, which also raised funds for HIV orphans in the UK and Tanzania, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation at our London High Commission, Amos Msanjila, made a lively speech that summed up why the film industry is so important for any nation.

Brand Tanzania, is what Swahili movies may create and help reinforce. Nigerian and Hindi films have helped popularise their countries, the diplomat said. Then there is the use of Kiswahili a language rated amongst ten fastest growing in the world.

Not to forget employment opportunities. Making films is an activity involving a lot of people: technicians, actors and business people. But before going any further we need to make convincing films.

Films depend on well-written stories, researched materials and high standard acting.
More info about Lovely Gamble or to get DVD phone Frank Eyembe on +44-7865594576. Email: urbanpulsecreative@gmail.com

Email: kilimanjaro1967@hotmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. www.freddymacha.blogspot.com

WaBongo Hatujali!

Msanii, mwandishi na mwanablogu maarufu, Freddy Macha, ameandika feature katika gazeti la The Citizen. Inahusu sinema za Josiah Kibira, Bongoland na Bongoland II na jinsi waBongo wasivyothamini kazi za wenzao. Na anasema kweli. Sisi waBongo tuna tabia mbaya sana ya kupondana. Ukiona mtu anafanya mema unajaribu kumvuta chini ili muwe sawa!

*****************************************

Kutoka gazeti la THE CITIZEN

Saddening indifference to Tanzanian Trailblazers

Freddy Macha

I am watching Bongoland Two, the movie by Kibira Films, for the third time now. I have seen it alone, with a filmmaking colleague and, tonight, with a group of friends of various nationalities. For those who do not know Kibira films, it is a company run by US-based Tanzanian filmmaker Josiah Kibira.

"He is pressing the right buttons," I am saying at the end.

"Ah, this is a load of rubbish," a fellow "Bongolander" chips in.

"Rubbish?" asks Raul, a Brazilian friend.

"I would not waste my money buying this."

"Waste of money?" Zak from Pakistan interjects, incredulously.

Bongo guy: "No one would behave like Juma. Such an ugly girlfriend?"

Juma is the main character of the Bongoland series. In both Bongoland One and Two, Juma is frustrated by his employers and community.

In Bongoland One he finds life in the US tough after he was made redundant. Soon, he is lodging at a friend's flat where he cannot pay the rent. He then breaks up with his white girlfriend whose father is a racist.

The American authorities discover he is an illegal immigrant and finally we see him driving to the airport, hoping for a better life back in Tanzania.

Bongoland Two sees Juma settled in Tanzania with a good job, a place to live and a local girlfriend. Problems, nevertheless, still thrive. His boss favours a lazy colleague, who happens to be his girlfriend.

The place he lives at is noisy and people smoke indoors. When he complains to the landlord or his corrupt boss he is told he is arrogant because he has been living overseas. Top that with a serious family crisis, and life remains a struggle.

At the end of Bongoland Two, we see an introspective Juma walking along a beach, most probably in Dar es Salaam. Josiah Kibira manages to show that Juma's problems may not be resolved by moving from one country to another.

Maybe we shall see Bongoland Three. Maybe the two flicks are enough to make us reflect and create a hypothesis. One of the roles of cinema is to stimulate social thought.

I am interested in two things ? what my fellow viewers are debating about and the implications of the Kibira Films venture.

I notice that all the foreigners in my flat are surprised at the negative reaction of some of my fellow country folks.
Raul, the Brazilian (cameraman and freelance filmmaker), has very captivating views.

"You guys have to thank God that this guy, what is his name again?"

"Kibira."

"He is trying to make a non-Hollywood film. Personally, I did not know there was a language called Swahili. I did not know Tanzania. I had never heard the word 'Bongo'. I have heard there is a Brazilian coach teaching your national team. But there is no information. So making such a film is a good thing. It opens the eyes of people from other countries."

One of the "Bongo" guys is sneering and making faces. He is clearly not amused.

"Won?t you even support by buying the films?"

"No."

It is sad and shows how we see each other.
Here is a man trying to sell us globally. Unlike those films you see from home made in a rush, with inferior sound and acting, Josiah Kibira strives towards quality.

Tanzania has not made a significant film since Fimbo Ya Mnyonge back in the mid-1970s. Some American television stations have even interviewed and spoken about these Swahili films. Kibira has already been invited to major international festivals including the prestigious Edinburgh and Zanzibar events.

Not only is he smart at marketing himself on the Internet, he is giving old and new Tanzanian actors a chance to be seen on the screen. He works with American film crews and technicians, consequently broadening working relationships between the two countries.

This is history in the making. In other words, it is the future of our entertainment industry. Although the $30,000 Kibira invested in the venture might be a small amount in terms of filmmaking, this is an expensive enterprise that demands a lot of time, determination and commitment, and should be applauded by every ?Bongolander?.

We should ask ourselves how various world-famous brands (be it Japanese cars or Bollywood films) came to be established.

We need to support the Buy Bongo, Buy Tanzania brand such as the Kibira Films venture. For more info visit http://www.kibirafilms.com/

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=10575