2006
written by Tichayana , December 16, 2006

Music,
1990's R&B
I am rediscovering, SWV, Aaliyah, Xscape, Brownstone!!!!,
Shirley Bassey!!! The glory!

Books,
Karen Armstrong's A History of God , especially for these turbulent religious times. An insight into what God means and has meant over the ages.

Ngozi Adichiye's Half of a Yellow Sun
Her second noel. If you liked Purple Hibiscus, this will rock your world.

Zora Neil Hersting's Their eyes were watching God.

Rediscovered Tony Morrison's Beloved, also read the autobiography of Harriet Jacobs in Life of a Slave Girl.

Movies!
Everything is Illuminated.
Volver

illumination
written by emmo opoti , December 16, 2006

Everything is Illuminated is hilarious.

I have not yet read Half of a Yellow Sun, is it as good as Purple Hibiscus.

I liked the Clooney Movies from early this year, Syriana especially. Capote was great too.

I am going to get President Carter's new book on Palestine, Peace not Apartheid.

May also get Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion

Musicwise,
I have rediscovered Salif Keita and Youssou N'dour, and a lot of Zouk, Christinne Rosette, Pascal Obispo.
Also rediscovered Werrason, Wenge Musica and Koffi Olomide.

Santa can you handle this?
written by Mocha , December 17, 2006

Dear Santa,
All I want is a two way ticket home so I can enjoy a two month paid vacation and an assuarance that I will be allowed back.

I know I've been a good girl.

...
written by Nekessa , December 19, 2006

As I sit through traffic watching folks dash to make their last christmas shopping, I am saddened by all the money that is spent on what has now become one of the most international commercial thought (ahhh, :idea: and an article was born!!)

...
written by kendirangu , December 19, 2006

:roll: I'm going to count my money and reduce the size of my Amazon Wishlist

@Tichayana
written by athush , December 20, 2006

Me too! Am rediscovering the exact same music.....am busy downloading the songs....kina jade, bel biv devoe etc....pia!

@Santa,

you will never manage to grant me my wish.....thus; i won't even bother asking!

happy holidays @all!

...
written by pndiangui , December 21, 2006

Currently on the books front am reading
'The speed of Trust' , just finished reading 'Seeing what's Next' and 'E-myth' and 'Roaring 2000's'.
My next tittles should be something on the lines of 'The soul of Economies' and the history of commerce and capitalism, detailing the innovations that have occured and how they have transformed lives. Anyone with an idea of the best titles to gain those insights?
'First things First by Covey Steve is also a powerful reading that I enjoyed a month a go.

...
written by Nekessa , December 21, 2006

Great Idea!!
Emmo, our music is all the same!! Hmm!! John Legend's Save Room is great. I can't stop listening to Corrine Rae Bailey.

Books
I just finished Purple Hibiscus. I met Ngozi Adichiye a couple of months ago.

Movies
Unfortunately, everything.

Ndirangu
written by emmo , December 21, 2006

Your list is very long, I managed all of three pages of it. You are quite the eclectic reader, but though I fancy I am one too, there's few titles or authors there I have come across!!

I noticed though that you say you have Alex's favourite writer :twisted:, Noam Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance (The American Empire Project) in soft copy? Would you send it to me via email? In return, I will get you a single one of your other 15 million choices in January.

Nekessa what was the nature of your meeting with Ngozi? What was she like? Her second book is not nearly as good as her first, but that is to be expected I guess.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
written by Nekessa , December 21, 2006

How does one post images here? And the hyperlinks too!!! :roll:

Anyway Emmo, I was at a bookfair in Mpls, and I saw someone familiar. I had known she would be there for a book signing, but I imagined she would be sitting in some special place BUT there she was-- larger than life. I timidly approached her, I did have a copy of her Purple Hibiscus which she autographed. Had a chat for a bit. She asked if I knew Binyavanga (who btw is on Wikipedia... if only I can figure out these hyperlinks!!)... well, I don't, but I own a couple of Kwani?s.

Later she read from Half a Yellow Sun, ahh, she has a charming accent and voice, and like her writing, her voice and tone were very descriptive, firm, yet gentle.

She talked about the challenges of writing on the Biafra war as it is a taboo subject in Nigeria. She is now collecting excerpts from people who remember the war, people who experienced it. Chilling....

She also talked about the concept of religion and corruption in Nigeria, and a to larger aspect Africa. The intertwining of religion and culture in an African is intense, so much so that noone recognizes the contradiction in their lifestyle... for instance accruing immense wealth at the expense of the masses while still "holding real" religious beliefs.

I dont remember everything, but it was a deep conversation we had. And then I remembered, I used to write fiction... Have I lost my imagination or creativity?

I am also reading the floods by John Ruganda. My boss tells me it was a set book in the eighties. Interesting how some of these old books have timeless themes.

...
written by kendirangu , December 22, 2006

Emmo. Just tell me the mailbox and I will send you the Chomsky book.

Ndiangui, You may want to try Guns, germs and steel by Jared Diamond, Collapse is also one hell of a book.
On an econ perspective, The wealth and povety of nations by Landes is what you look for.
I'm currently reading 3 books.
-The hinge of battle by Durschmied
-Globalizations and it's discontents by Stiglitz
-Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

...
written by emmo , December 24, 2006

Ndirangu,
the gmail one, oh bother, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it '>o This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , happy holidays brother.

aketch/ogwal/ouko
written by emmo , December 24, 2006

Happy Holidays Jogi,
An, atiyo still.

Please do not offend other people's superstitious beliefs.

I am listening to L'Union by Bisso na Biso and Werrason's Nostalgie and thinking of the breeze on the lake and why I love my people so much. Aketch would likely sympathise. Also Youssou N'dour's immensely powerful 'She doesn't need to Fall.', or Tijanniya.

The waves gently lapping the rocks at Dunga Beach, the shouts of the fish being brought onto shore in the morning and the sounds of Zainabu playing over the din and bustle of the market, the rushing boda boda's ringing bells and the hoot-hoot of the nyamburgos of Kakamega road. The bright red tomatoes of Oile Park juxtaposed against the golden brown of Obambla. The smell of fried fish , spices and dhania in Jubilee Market and the hips gyrating at Ohangla fests, and I will be on the lake soon.

Courier services of the sacred waters of Nam Lolwe to all who would like them.

P.S Have you heard of Apoc Complex?

P.S Aketch, when I read about Igbo worship practices in Ngozi Adichiyie's Purple Hibiscus ( that book could make you cry), I am reminded of the similarities with Carl Gustav Jung's records of traditional practices of our people in relation to the Chieng' at sunrise.

x-mas wishes
written by amollous , December 26, 2006

i realise it's a bit late for such but maybe Santa gives second chances too.. like new-year-wishes??? Or i could argue that some cultures celebrate x-mas in January That "chomsky" book sounds interesting for starters... on the topic related to mismanagement of charity organisations, Graham Hancook's "Lords of poverty" is a must-read... it made me teary (but then again that could have been due to the fact that i was ... ahem... feeling "a bit" emotional at the time )... music-wise... discovered Salif Keita through a fellow forumer... Youssour N'dour has always been one of my favourites... akina Madaba & co. - i'm rediscovering Petit Paye, Makossa at the moment... lovely ... errr... not forgetting Tony Nyadundo... Ohangla at it's best!

Chomsky and Alex
written by emmo opoti , December 28, 2006

First off thanks very much Ken! The book has started well. What on your wish list can I revenge with?

J, I could forward the book to you by email if you like. I have heard of Lords of Poverty, will see if I can find it.

Your presents can also come with the New Year and January Sales, so keep waiting!! I got Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion on discount. It starts really well, but there's all these other books I got and that I have to finish soon because I will be returning them!! Does anyone else do this?

Peter, I have First things First, I have not gone too far with it though. I am being a little greedy.

I also got Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children and Simon Schama's Rough Crossings. I am so not buying that one. I esteemed him once, then I read an article he wrote on Israel and I threw up. So I am sure I will return it soon.

J, do you have any Ohangla on you? Salif Keita just rules, as does Youssou although I prefer their older more authentic stuff, before the collaborations.

emmo/chomsky
written by amollous , December 29, 2006

please do! This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - i'm a bit swamped at the moment with school work [exams, exams ] but i'll be thru by end Jan. Looking forward to "rediscovering" books.. unfortunately i only have Ohangla from Tonny Nyadundo. Daddy dearest gave me Emily Nyaimbo and Atomy Sifa (special dedication to me - he said (due to the song - Achieng Painkiller ) eh.. bwana that guy can shake his waist... puts me to shame.. *grin* ... if you like Youssou, you'll probably like Madaba and Fatou Laobe... i have a bit of senegalese music somewhere in this comp.