Category: BLOG POSTS

Posted on in TANZANIA

Village life in Tanzania

When I always travel to a village in Tanzania, I am mesmerized by how natural life is there. Sure it is not easy but it is away from all the distractions such as phones, tv but people sit around their homes interacting with one another, cooking together, women walking to a river close by to wash clothes, people farming, kids running around “playing” and not locked up with screens in their faces. I am saddned by how life in the city is taken over by technology where people feel social media is the way to interact with people rather than paying attention to the ones around them, the kids who barely have learnt how to walk are hooked up on ipads and iphones. I feel people these days are missing out on the beauty of living life normally, paying attention to the beauty around them. Things have changed in Dar es salaam city over the years, when I was a child I remember as soon as the clock hits 4 all the kids in the neighbourhood would gather around and play, there would be no much cars passing by, no kid is hooked into a show it was the ideal way for any child to grow up and enjoy childhood. Technology is really ripping off kids of their childhood, thus, whenever I get the chance to I always make sure I spend a week or two in the villages of Tanzania my best go to place is Lushoto, It is the most peaceful and beautiful place I have ever been to. It takes me back to my childhood where life is just simple.

Posted on in EAST AFRICAN RECIPES

Chapati Mayai

A traditional dish, chapati is similar to the indian flatbread, it needs no baking powder or yeast, and popular among the local people of Tanzania.

What you need is;

  • 500g of all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tbs of sugar
  • 1/2 tbs of salt and oil

Add enough water to wheat flour and knead well. Heat 1tsp oil in a pan over medium flame. Beat two eggs in a bowl, add salt and scotch bonnet peppers in it. Once the chapati is well cooked pour the beaten egg over the chapati and let it cook well.

Once the egg has been cooked your chapati mayai is now ready to eat.

Eggs in Swahili is known as Mayai

Posted on in TANZANIA

Your guide to the wonderful people that make Dar Es Salaam a heaven of peace.

FRUIT SELLERS

In the streets of Dar Es Salaam, you can find fruit sellers all day round. Some walking from street to street, some standing by the busy highways waiting for the cars or bus to stop in traffic and some at the vegetable market in the city centre.

In Swahili fruits is known as MATUNDA

Posted on in Adventures Of a Designer

How I lost everything

I grew up with my uncle, lots of memories together; we never spent a second apart. He walked me through my roughest days by handing me a piece of paper and encouraged me to draw anything, to let my feelings out. I used to eagerly wait for him each day after lunch for him to get back from work so I can spill my heart out on how my day went at school and sadly who bullied me that day. But he always found a way to give me a reason to be happy again, we spent nights on the terrace under the stars talking about aliens and planets, evenings standing in the balcony talking about chickens ( we have wild chickens on our street back in Tanzania ). When I told him that I wanted to pursue a career in Design, he was the happiest person but sadly before I could walk on that stage knowing he is watching me making him proud, I lost him three days before my graduation. I lost everything I had in my life, I lost myself, and I have never been broken down in life before. I still live with that pain three years after, but I still hold the tears back and always make sure I still keep making him proud and making his dream come true and hope somewhere out there he is looking down on me and watching over me. I was used to him being there guiding me every step of my life in my design program, now I feel directionless sometimes. This time I have no one to guide me, and whenever I feel lost, I take myself back to when I had him, back to that safe place.

Posted on in BLOG POSTS

My journey so far

So, I come from a small city called Dar es salaam located in East Africa, Tanzania. I am very lucky to be born and brought up there as I was exposed to the beautiful African culture. My childhood was all about making mud cakes with my friends and spending time in the balcony by myself embracing the moment, I loved powercuts! It does sound strange but I love when we have power cuts which means lighting candles around the house, everyone is off their gadgets and actually sit together and talk and most of all the food. My uncle and I though always had an adventurous time together, during the summer we would go to the terrace and lie on the floor talking about the stars, stand in the balcony in the evenings talking about animals and birds, and every morning racing to beat eachother to get ready for school and work. When I think of my childhood my mind goes back to time with him and how I wish he would have been around longer ( I shall talk on him more on another post ) . I moved to Toronto, Canada 4/5 years back to start my education in Illustration at Seneca College, I had the most wonderful teachers that keep me motivated till this day and has led me to persue further into my degree in Design at Conestoga College, Kitchener. It has been a huge change for me when I moved to Kitchener, it is still a developing city with not much to do and sadly leaves me very isolated from everything. I have met amazing people since I moved here and built a small family of my own, but I surely do miss my friends and family back home. I shall be sharing my life in Kitchener and any exciting adventures in future on this blog.