I would like to think I have a creative mind. Even a little. That being said, it is my desire to bring to light other issues of life and not the same old song about change in attitude, culture and mindset. Despite my desire to move away from that, there are current events in Bongoland that just proves me right. So just go ahead and kill me. I am going to call for a change in mindset, if Tanzanians truly want to see the light at the end of the tunnel.I know this is all general talk, so if you have gotten what I am talking about and have made the necessary change in your attitude, please bear with me. As I am talking in generalities, don’t be offended if what I am talking about does not really apply to you.
Last week the new, ultramodern soccer stadium was opened. Thanks to a helping hand from the Chinese, Tanzanian can now boast of a good soccer stadium. And for all y’all who are thinking that this is the first stadium in Tanzania to have night-lights, you are wrong. Lights were installed at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma way back in 1987. Only to be stolen (or sold) immediately after the celebrations to mark the 10th year of CCM.
Given the fact that Taifa Stars are performing well relative the recent past (which I am personally proud of, as we are climbing the FIFA world ranking charts), such a facility should have not come at the best time ever. I am mean, picture this: if our soccer standard is improving, there are possibilities that we could secure international friendlies with other African soccer powerhouses such as Ghana and Nigeria. And given the standard of the stadium, most giant African national soccer teams would be more than willing to play Tanzania.
Even better, what about the possibility of using the stadium to lure European, American and Asian teams to train in Tanzania for their World Cup preparations to be held in South Africa come 2010?
While there are such possibilities, it seems that our main adversary – awful culture and mental attitudes – will definitely stand on our way. Just read this story.
The truth of the matter is this: we have idiots in every country and in every continent. God has endowed mental capacity differently to each individual. Nonetheless, the level of idiocy demonstrated in other countries is due to the fact that folks take things for granted. You trash the streets and you know for sure the city will clean it up. This is my biggest question: given the fact that we don’t have much in Tanzania, wouldn’t it be expected that we would die for the little that we have?
I cannot imagine that a person would go to a new, ultramodern soccer stadium and instead of concentrating on the game, take his time to poop, take his own remains and wipe it all over he wall! And then this person can actually go home to his wife and kids or friends and boast about the fun they had at the new stadium?
See, whether we like it or not, these are the same things that makes on wonder if truly anything good can come out of Tanzania. It is seems like quality thinking is so scarce and stupidity is abound. If this is a sample of “exposed” Tanzanians (I’m riding on the general belief that folks residing in Dar are more “educated” than the rest of the country), then what you get when you extrapolate and conclude about the entire population, what you get is not pretty.
I wonder how the President gets up every morning motivated. Watu wenyewe ndio hawa? It is tempting to just take care of one's family and leave the rest to rot. It is so infuriating.
It is not just this stadium issue that is disheartening. We all know about the transportation problems that southern Tanzania experienced for ions. Well, finally the Mkapa Bridge was constructed for them. Guess what? It didn’t take long for these folks to start vandalizing the bridge. Seriously, who cuts off the hands that feed them? I guess you can only find this level of stupidity in Tanzania.
Just go ahead and kill me, but I will repeat this again. I strongly believe that most of problems in Tanzania are not due to lack of resources. They are just rooted in awful culture and mindset. Unless we address those, no amount of money will make that country better. Yeah, money can build stadiums and construct roads, but we know that the stinking culture will tear them down.
Tanzania as a society needs to take a very hard look at itself. We stink and the National Stadium story couldn’t prove me more right. Unless we change our mindset as a people, we will just continue to admire the British soccer and other “good" things happening majuu. And then we wonder why.
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Photo Credit: Michuzi
11 comments:
Metty,
I hear your frustration & disgust with what has happened.
However, Tanzania is not the only place where this kind of mindless thing happens. Soccer hooligans in the UK and other parts of Majuu are but one example of the universality of this kind of behavior. This does not excuse this behavior, just puts it in a more universal context. Watu ni Watu.
Maybe (don't know for sure - just thinking out loud here) part of this stems back to an earlier issue you raised (or maybe someone else raised) about the tendency for less developed countries to accept "free gifts" (soccer stadium, kwa mfano) and that then lends itself for the mindset to develop wherein people take the attitude; "what the heck, I didn't pay for it, either directly or indirectly, therefore it doesn't matter what I do to it or with it - someone else will be responsible for fixing it". Perhaps if the stadium had been paid for with tax money, the government would have been more diligent in matters of providing security or a stronger police presence, perhaps preventing this sort of thing from happening.
However, I think it needs to be pointed out that this is not a uniquely Tz or even African thing. Many soccer stadiums have had major damage caused by hooligans (in Europe) who simply go into a type of mob mentality for any reason they can think up, or American sports fans who riot and destroy entire neighborhoods after their home team wins some sort of championship, etc... - sad state of affairs for watu wote, sio wa Africa tu.
Never the less - very sad commentary on the state of affairs.
@Wayne,
I hear you. That's why I said we have idiots everywhere. On the other hand, hooliganism in Europe is pushed by extreme fanatism. In this particular case - there was only one team that 99.99% of the fans were cheering for - national team!
Plus, this was just a friendly match and not as if Taifa Stars qualified for the World Cup causing every fan to go crazy.
Nonetheless, I think you touched on a serious issue there - and that is the issue of free riding.
Seriously, how many people would buy and then distroy their own couch, for instance?
Speaking of free ride, Bwana Wayne what is the motivating factor when you go from your comfort zone and go all the way to help people in Mtwara. I see alot of US citizen going to third world countries too but never knew any one personally so I could ask them what is that is pushing them to do that and if they think what they are doing is good for both parties.
After staying there for six long years, do you have plans to go back again? do you feel any sense of accomplishment or frustrations?
I am just curious Mzee Wayne, no hidden ajenda.
@maricha,
I would like to share with you my motives, intentions, frustrations, successes and any future plans to return to Tanzania, but I feel I need to ask the jaduong permission to use his blog space for purposes other than his intended purposes. I am willing to swap email addresses with you and share some of that in some detail via email, or if Metty allows I can post somewhere on a past posting of his. Out of respect for Metty, however, I am reluctant to get to far "off topic" here in a current topic. I will email Metty and give him the email address you can use to contact me - if you want to do that - then just email Metty and ask for my email address
@Wayne,
You are free to communicate with Maricha through this blog. If you want to use me as a conduit of your email addresses, I will be more than willing to do that.
No Metty, No body will kill you, but I want to say something on your commentary on issue of Stadium and Tanzanian Mindset, it seems to go too far now, in such a way that, you are not helping anyone here than you Ego.
Mind you that, you don't see progress and advancement in Tanzania, but rather stupidity and ignorance, yes I just say that, You are now calling majority of Tanzanians Stupid. I believe that is pretty harsh for anyone who you think, you want to change their mindset???""..Is that a Solution to the problem ??
That's what I have said before and I am saying it again you are part of the problem, you will never become a solutions until you realize your mentality on Tanzanians.
Be sure that, Tanzanians will progress without your ill thoughts solutions/ideas of yours. Talking about Solutions.. What solutions??.. Calling People Stupids...
We need role models, not Zealots.
By Mchangiaji.
@Mchangiaji
Would you kindly revisit the following line from my post?
"As I am talking in generalities, don’t be offended if what I am talking about does not really apply to you "
That was right there in my reflection,and unfortunately you miss that, hence charging like a wounded bull. I am begging you again - please try to read carefully what I write. If you miss that, you will continue to regard me as this egocentric dude who think he's better than the rest of Tanzanians.
Quite to the contrary.
Again, I am sorry that you are missing my message or the spirit of this blog. But I'm glad you are still visiting.
I want you to look at this article, VERY VERY INTERESTING... What do you say about this.. I preserved my comment for now...
BLACK PEOPLE READING IS A METHOD OF CRUCIFYING THE
MIND WHICH PARALYZE THE SPIRIT.
By Chief Elder Osiris
I know that Black people have been brain condition to equate reading with becoming educated and that all among us claiming to be educated Black People and some claiming to be leaders of black People, do so twenty Four Hours a Day, seven days a week, brain washing all Black people and especially our children to constantly Read, well I am here to inform you black People that we have fallen for the most damaging trap ever set in our Mental Path and many of us Black People have fallen victim to the evil of Reading.
All Black People should be prohibited from reading any book that does not compel you to Think, and such books should be with clear encouragement, to disavow all that those people who are now in control of the world has written, they with a history of abusing, lying and deceiving Black people, using their books and encouraging Black People to Read as many of them as we can and in doing so, Black people become entangled and in possession of the Mind that control the world, a Mind that through reading, teach Black People how to become and remain a slave to the higher authority in the world, an authority that encourage Black People to Read and not Think.
As of this moment, all books read, either are by authors of those people that oppress Black People, and / or their Mind is present in most of those Books written by so call Black People, of all Mental persuasion except our own.
Here in our present Black folks world condition, there is never to the level Black people are encouraged to read, with the same emphasis put at the same needing to read intensity, there are no Black People encouraging Black People to THINK, as a matter of fact it is down right social condemning to Think independently of that you Read.
Black Thinking is not a popular social need, but reading is taught to be an educated want, and to read without the ability to Think, render to the Black world a Mental condition that is under the control and dictate of those people referring to themselves as Human Being, the oppressors of Black People.
I am here to share with you Black People that the greatest Learning tool is the Mind, therefore, the quality of that Mind can mean either Death or Freedom to the Black world and a Mind that is not Divinely of the Black World, will in fact cause the Black world to believe all that is read by us, without THINKING, and the penalty for such a Mental neglect, happen to be the present Mental condition of a now only Reading Black World.
It is commonly stated that if you want to keep something hid from Black People, put it in a book, with the implication being, that Black People do not Read, I beg to differ with that statement and the evidence that Black people do read, is the attitude and behavior of Black People in the world today and it is as such, the Black world do not control one thing in this world and neither do we have authority over anything, not even our Black Life and I say, the present Mental Condition of Black People is that we Read to much and Think not at all and a None Thinking Black Nation become a Self hostile Reading Black Nation, a method that serve to the detriment of the Intelligence of Black People.
Reading only breed a well structure educated reader but to a Thinker, there is produced a well balanced Learned Intelligent person, so today within the confine of the Black World, there are far more well read educated Black People than there are well Learned Thinking Intelligent Black People and the penalty for such a gross discrepancy among Black People, as for as we being well educated as opposed to being well Learned Thinkers, is the lack of intelligence among the educated reader and it be they that have caused the Black World to Worship Reading rather than to honor the Thinkers that are of the black World and because of such a lack of intelligence among Black People, we end up being considered as educated Fools and the proof is that there is a Black World today that do not Know Whom we are, which prompt us to not know what God is, nor do we know the Meaning of the Universe.
Yet we serve God in according to what we have Read about God and from such reading we have generated a belief about God that has the Black world in a state of physical Misery, anchored in Faith and Hope, that which crucify the process of Thought, which cause the Black World to have not the inclination to THINK, with the penalty being the Death of a Black Nation that once was endowed with a Divine Mind and with the process of Thought, we are qualified to Know the Black Place within the Trilogy of GOD, Universe, and the Black Divine Being, such serving as the ecology of the Perfect Night, It being the Shadow of the Divine Eternal Infinite Essence, the Reveler of All That IS And IS Not.
A Believing well read Nation is no match with a Thinking well Learned Nation. one is moved and motivated by what is read and told, and the other is assured based on what is known from the process of Thought, one seek a Heavenly Home, while the other seek a earthly Home of a Divine Nature, one is told by reading, seek to save thou Soul, while the other know to act to save the Black Life, one is based on the belief through reading and the other is based on the Knowledge arrived from Thinking, which cause you to Know, by Learning of the Divine Truth and Reality of which the Black Life must be engaged in, so that we may become intelligent in determining What God is and the Meaning Of Life on the Physical Dimensional Level of Life.
Reading Educate you about the Thoughts of the Author, but Thinking give you cause to know of that the author is conveying, and Learn of that which exceed the Author Intent, qualifying you to know material that is Profane and deceptive, and to Know of Thoughts that are Divine.
A Nation that Read without Thinking is a Nation that set itself up to become a Slave, but a Nation that Think, is a Nation that Know the Evil of those that want to deceive.
Our Young, now has chosen to Think rather that Read and now they live a daring Life because they know that the Black life is not respected nor is it given an opportunity to Justice, so they have made a decision based on what they have Thought of and now see and they have made a decision to Die rather than be a reading only Slave and you wonder why the Young amongst us are so angry and fearless? well I will tell you why, rather than they read, they have chosen to think and what they Mentally See of the Black World, their decision in Life you now are witnessing and you educated Negroes have no clue why our Children are doing what they are doing,which is choosing Life over death and in the Life they choose they Die, but as A Thinker and not a Reader, the making of a slave.
You Can Take This Or Leave It Alone, The Divine Truth Remain Unbroken, Such Is What Our Children now Represent, The Divine Truth.
Here Is Loving you
Hoteph
Osiris
Chief Elder
www.myspace. com/osirisakkeba la
www.fwiamsrm. com
o_akkebala2002@ yahoo.com
Copyright@2007
Quote
See, whether we like it or not, these are the same things that makes on wonder if truly anything good can come out of Tanzania. It is seems like quality thinking is so scarce and stupidity is abound. If this is a sample of “exposed” Tanzanians (I’m riding on the general belief that folks residing in Dar are more “educated” than the rest of the country), then what you get when you extrapolate and conclude about the entire population, what you get is not pretty.
From the above quote Metty, Agree with me or not, It underlines the general mentality of yours on Tanzanians. Try to understand me on this, I am not with the disagreement about some other stupid folks with their ill actions mentioned on your article, but that would happen anywhere around the Globe including the US..
The language you use to bring changes, do not help anyone, it is a rather an insult to everyone, including yourself, relatives and old friends of yours back home. TRUST ME on this...I bet you wont stop short of offending your relatives back home, I ask one simple question. Would that bring a change to the intended subject or make you a better person or rather distance yourself from realities.
I understand, you have good/sincere intentions but that not the way to go about it, and don't ask what way, because I have already mentioned that before..
Your reflexions and generalization of mental attitude of Tanzanians is hypocritical, I bet every Tanzanians who read your comments will feel offended.
With me is that, I can see your frustrations, But What I see is just a frustrations and Ego, until you adjust them, you will become a good advocate of the goods and changes your are thinking of bringing to our folks back home.
By Mchangiaji.
@Mchangiaji
1. On the article - the author is just stating the obvious on reading - which I agree with. It is useless to be "educated" if you can't critically think.
That is a universal truth that does not only apply to black people - but the entire human race.
What I'm gathering from the author is that he wants to put black people in a special category. I'm not personally fond of the "black power" type of thinking that is not balanced or realistic enough to accept certain universal principles.
2. On my post - I have succeeded as a writer to invoke a reaction from you. And that is done through deliberately choosing certain "trigger" words. My job is done.
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