It takes a Village in Africa

It takes a Village

It takes a Village

I got out of my four-wheel drive Toyota and walked toward the Sunset Hotel. It had been a long and exhausting drive from Kampala, the border crossing took two hours in spite of some bribes and I just wanted to sit on the balcony, drink a cold Tusker's Beer and view the glorious sunset over Lake Victoria and the ensuing thunderstorms over the lake.

As I walked across the lobby I was greeted by a friend of mine, Charles. He was smiling from ear to ear, and shouted "come and meet my new wife." Hmm, I had met his old wife, so what was this all about?

As I sat down with him and his new wife, Charles told me that his brother had died and he had inherited this new wife of his. It was a Luo custom, and before one rejects such a concept based on Western values one should take a closer look. In Africa, a widow would have a hard time trying to make ends meet, so in the wisdom of tribal elders, there came the concept of wife inheritance. Not only in this tribe but in many others as well. (The negative side today is that often the former husband died of AIDS, his wife is also infected and now it is passed on to the brother and his current wife.) The thought and wisdom is that it is the responsibility of the family, of the clan, the tribe, the village to take careof those who have a deep need. We in the West can look at such a practice and call this or that without realizing that the real reason for it, is an act of compassion and commitment to vows made to other family members and meeting the need at hand.

Some years ago I heard the a song performed by some Ugandan children entitled "In Africa - it takes a village to raise a child." Life in Africa as I have seen it does involve the village, the tribe, the clan, the family. Over and over have I seen individuals and families demonstrate this spirit in every part of life. Charles in Kisumu is only one example of this. As I sit here typing away I can think of many others who have shown that a string of wool alone cannot accomplish it, but weave them together and you have a tapestry of unity and togetherness of a village working together in the spirit of the Swahili word, Harambee.

Rose lived just down the lane from me in Makindye, a neighborhood in Kampala. She lived in a house without electricity, no water, and other facilities we take for granted. Her husband had died of AIDS some years earlier he had contracted in an affair. Yet, in spite of it all, Rose did not live alone. She was surrounded by about 10 AIDS orphans, children she had taken on from her extended family. She told me it was her duty as their mother. She was not their physical mother, but in her society even if the real mother was alive as an aunt she would be called that by her children.

I have also seen this spirit with people who were not related by family but because they were living in the same village. There is a sacred duty of caring for those who cannot help themselves. No matter what tribe, no matter what country in East Africa, the same spirit exists.

If you meet an African here in the United States or another country in the West, you might find out, that this person sends home on regular basis money so that nieces and nephews can go to school, that other family members back home might share in the prosperity that this person in the West is enjoying, no matter what kind of job they might hold.

I have written about this woman before. She lives in a town called Lira in Northern Uganda. She has seen her husband die, her oldest son die in a governmental overthrow, she has lost home and property and yet she is a woman proud of her inheritance. The inheritance being her family, her status as a matriarchal leader in the village. This was something I saw readily when I arrived to her home, and all kinds of people came to call on her, I had brought some gifts, which she immediately shared with others in the village.

Weddings in Africa, like everywhere are expensive, and yet there is a grand celebration even if there are not many financial resources. Before the wedding the families and friends, neighbors from the village or neighborhood come together for a dinner, at which time they commit themselves and resources they might have to make the wedding successful.

Funerals happen often in countries like Uganda. Drive along Entebbe road in Kampala and you will see countless of shops with wooden caskets, many of them for children. You will see families come and buy one and take it home on their bicycle. Attend the funeral and you will see the whole family coming together, the village standing as one with them in this time of grief.

In the West we can live alone, not know our neighbors, we can live in a town, have an address but not know or be known by the village. In Africa the village is the soul of life. This does not change in the town, the neighborhoods simply become mini villages where people come together in the evening drinking their homebrew and share their dreams, hopes, sad stories, dance and rejoice that they know others with whom they might share and are known.

You can see this spirit when one of their own graduates from University, the village turns up at graduation and rejoices with those who rejoice. You can see it at the airport when someone from the village returns or leaves. The whole village turns out to say goodbye or hello.

We all need that village, in our society in the West, the village often takes the form of the government but there is the absence of the spirit of the village, the absence of a soul that is alive and breathing, not just an institution that functions by legislation.

I have asked countless of children in Africa, what they wanted to do in their lives. Their answers have been very similar. "I want to be a lawyer or a doctor, a businessman to help my family, to bring water to my village, to help my grandmother, all answers with the realization burned into the African soul, "It does take a village." Ask any child in Africa...jon.

Westerners have aggressive problem-solving minds - Africans experience people.
- attributed to Kenneth Kaunda

What is the real connection between people? When the same knowledge opens a door between them.

When the same inner sight exists in you as another, you are drawn to be companions.

Rumi

What Life is like in East Africa

Informative pages on Life in East Africa-Get in touch with Life in East Africa. From facts about Countries in East Africa to celebrating life in Africa

Africa-My Perspective: Africa gets inside of your soul, you either love it or hate it. Some westerners get skeptical, others learn to do a paradigm shift and go with the African flow. Here are some of insights into Africa that have been shaped by years of living in Africa.

Uganda Country Information: Some historic background and facts about Uganda. Uganda's past and present are covered here and some country facts at a glance and insights into life in Uganda, East Africa. You will also find some population figures here.

Uganda-One Man's Perspective: The insight of a Westerner of Uganda, its everyday life, the people of Uganda and their joys and struggles. This is my insights into life in Uganda and the things I have seen while here in Uganda.

Kenya - One Man's Perspective: Observations on Kenya from the perspective of a westerner. Kenya was one of the countries of hope in Africa but the ethnic strive, the desire to rule, instead of serving the people of Kenya won out at the end of the day when after the election of 2007 the country exploded in violence. Today there is a makeshift peace and a coalition government walking on thin ice.

Kenya - Country Information: Facts about Kenya up to the present time. Kenya is one of the few countries where things are manufactured on a large scale basis and shipped all over Africa. It has a middle class but, poverty is still the rule of the day.

Kenya's Swahili Coast: Past and Present, A historical look at the Kenya coast called the Swahili coat with its rich history and background that just might surprise you. Find out what other people groups visited the coast from Kenya the Portuguese being late comers.

Rwanda - One Man's Perspective: Observations on Rwanda from a Westerners Perspective. Rwanda is one of my favorite countries in East Africa. Amazing place compared to some of the other countries. There is little corruption compared to other countries and people of government must give a yearly account of their source of wealth if they have any.

South Sudan - One Man's Perspective: Observations on South Sudan a place that is enjoying some freedoms and peace, even if it may precarious and the upcoming election will determine a lot of things in regards to the freedom and liberties that South Sudan is not enjoying.

The LRA-Joseph Kony-Child Soldiers and Northern Uganda: Pages on the LRA, the Child Soldiers, the war in Northern Uganda, Alice Lakwena and her influence on the LRA, Joseph Kony Biography, the story of Catherine Ajok who was held captive for 13 years by Kony, the amnesty program, the rebuilding of Northern Uganda since peace has returned. For 20 some years Joseph Kony has greatly affected the quality of life in Northern Uganda, thank goodness for Uganda peace has returned.

Aids-The African Plague: AIDS in the 1990's was like the black plague of Europe. People were dying everywhere of the slimming disease. Most every family had members die, businesses restricted as to how many funerals an employee could attend. Thousands of children were orphaned. It was simply unbelievable.

Aids-The African Solution: What Uganda has done to combat Aids? Actually a lot with simple tools for the most par. A-B-C meaning Abstention - Be Faithful and Condoms. The fight against Aids is not over in Uganda, there has been a slight resurgence in new cases.

African Picture Galleries: Literally thousands of pictures from Africa including the children and women of Africa, life in Africa, Africa's scenery and wildlife, visits to a village in Africa, Rwanda Pictures, South Sudan pictures, Kenya Pictures, Uganda pictures.

Africa's Children: The joys, the sorrows, get in touch with the children of Africa. Meet the children of Africa in stories, in pictures, in accounts of what life is like for an African Child. Pages and pages of the accounts of children in Africa along with pictures. Meet children through the stories and pictures and you will be touched in heart. Find out what life is like for Africa's Children

Africa's Women: The women of Africa. There are pictures of everyday women. Stories of Human triumph and of simply daily life for a woman in Africa. There is a resiliency and strength in the African woman birthed out of the daily trials she faces. Focusing primarily on the women of Uganda but can be applied to other countries in Africa.

Life in a Kampala Neighborhood: An average neighborhood in Kampala. The account is through the eyes of a westerner who lived there for some months. It is unlikely that you will visit many places such as this, but it gives you an idea how many people live. The very people who wait on your, clean your hotel room, drive you around, the people who make Kampala happen.

A day in a Ugandan Village: A visit to the small village of Kitaisa an hour from Kampala. You can see the pictures and read an account of the village. Most Ugandans live in the village, there are no jobs besides working in a small shop, but most people grow their own vegetables and the surplus is sold.

Harambee - Pulling together African Style: In East Africa, there is a Swahili word which is Harambee which translated means "pulling together". Meaning a coming together of people in solving a problem as a community, a clan, a family.

Keeping Time in Africa: When will we get there? Soon. How much longer, not long. What are you doing? I am waiting. When will it come? I do not know, but I am waiting. Time is different than in the west, it more relational rather than task orientated.

Bargaining in Uganda: The bargaining ritual, if you are not with a tour group you have to bargain for a lot of things from transportation to souvenirs. Enjoy the ancient ritual and bring a sense of humor, it is actually a lot of fun.

Every Ugandan has a Cell phone - But... The use of the mobile phone is changing African Society...there are now five mobile phone providers in Uganda. In the capital of Kampala everyone seems to have a phone, but no airtime. This is a humorous look at the use of cell phones in Uganda.

Dead White Man’s Clothing Get a Second Life in Africa: In East African countries such as Uganda the second hand clothing market is simply huge. Most people cannot afford new clothing prices since they do not make a lot of money, so it is used clothing from Owino market, or from door to door vendor. Come to Kampala and you can see smartly dressed people, and yes, mostly from second hand clothing that gets a second chance in Africa. Find out as to how most people in East Africa find their clothing.

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The African Entrepreneurial Spirit is alive and well: In Kenya, Uganda, there are entrepreneurs starting up. Here is a unique one in Kenya. A story to make you smile at the innovation of the people involved.

Food - African and Western Thoughts: Thoughts on food looking both at the African ways and Western ways. Most East Africans are thin until they gain wealth and can afford rich foods, while rich Westerners do everything to be thin.

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Last updated: 06 July 2010

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Living with death and celebrating life in Africa: Life in Africa is rather short compared to the west. There is this celebration of the moment that takes nothing for granted but one celebrates the now in East Africa.