What if God.....

What if God had created a ‘COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT’; a designated unit where we can ‘bodily’ go and put forward our pains and dilemmas from everyday life; from the evilness of man, unequal equal opportunities, blatantly sneaky humanitarian situations, ballooning helplessness and neediness, shameless pollution of goodness… et cetera?

Perhaps that kind of prerogative wouldn't make much sense; but what if He had created a ‘REAL-TIME DISCIPLINARY UNIT’, where our intentions and dealings [good or bad] will be reciprocated instantaneously, like ‘Karma without delay’? BUT that will also defeat the whole purpose of  reckoning

Maybe resting solely on divine backing is a hopeless case unless it is in harmony with personal and collective initiative, resolve and mindfulness; so maybe the best approach is to chuck out our infected ways of life, stop walking through each other’s minds with unclean feet and put into action a kind of change that will gratify God…

Allah is able  – with prayer and effort, we can together render toothless every brand of disunity, all our senseless rivalries, unreasonable criticisms, insincere tongues, poverty, fear, arrogance, hostility, bitterness, ill will and ill feeling, slander, greediness and the rest…. May we refuse to accept the evil of the devil, Amen!

'Fakelanthropists!'

...this was provoked by a flyer I read, and it made me shake my damn head (SMDH) at how philanthropy is now gracelessly taken to mean a situation where any 'Merchant-of-Venus-Like' person can impersonate 'Mother-Teresa-Like' temperaments, but turn away from her noble and selfless mission completely

it is about damn time people start reading through all fundraisers and charity performances, to certify genuineness so that what is being raised [minus overheads] will at the end of the day honestly go to satisfy the needs of target people...

Me, I do that all the time; before jumping into the wagon of psychologically blackmailed patrons, I check the whole thing clean including the organisers, I make certain that they’re not just hustlers and broke university students looking for ways to augment their lunch money and/or looking for a chance to have a good time without spending a dime from their own cash

I know people don’t have to be rich to be able to help, that we can conveniently do charity work and be called philanthropists, but if your charitable exploits are just a front, self-interestedly intended for personal boon and reputation, if you gladly take the rewards without reference to your broad plan or moral principle, then you’re as good as a racketeer; a 40feet Fraud!

I got this from ‘shortstoriesshort.com’

“…here was a certain cat that was troubling the mice and had killed many of them. All the mice met to talk about this big problem. The mice wanted to get rid of the cat and decided to make a plan. The mice sat and talked for a very long time but could not come to any conclusion.

An old mouse stood up and said, “I know what we should do! We should tie a bell around the cat’s neck. When the bell tinkles, we will know where the cat is!” All the other mice liked the idea.

But one young mouse stood up and asked, “That is a good idea, but may I ask who will bell the cat?” None of the mice wanted to do that. The young mouse then said, “It is easy to sit and have big ideas. But it is never easy to carry them out.”

These questions are not meant to be answered....!

If you think people don’t like you, isn’t it natural that not everybody can get on with everyone every time? If someone talks to you today about business, should you take it that y’all are now sociably coming along? What if tomorrow he is not that friendly, will you call him a hater?

If you’re at a hangout, isn’t it normal for certain issues to arise that do not concern everyone? Should that mean that the ones concerned are being choosy and picky? If someone you always chat with, today doesn't react well, should you conclude on his arrogance? Couldn’t he not just be in the mood to chat? Couldn’t he be dealing with a personal trouble that you cannot be solution to?

If you had sent someone an SMS or called him, and he didn’t pick, call or text back at that instant, odds are he may have been so busy and perhaps forgot to call back; wouldn’t you be stupid to conclude that he didn’t want to talk to you?... if you attempt to stop someone in a speeding traffic for a lift and he didn’t/couldn’t stop; couldn’t it be that he didn’t see you or it was perhaps not convenient to stop? Why will you decide on being in his bad books?

If someone didn’t make it to your ‘Ngainteh’ or whatever programme, but said sorry for not making it because of some exigency, shouldn’t that suffice? Will you still tag him ‘Nyaka Ajor’? Couldn’t you have also measured your programme to coincide with his spare time; what if he also labels you ’Nyaka-Timing’?

SEE, times are too serious man, everyone is too busy with their own lives and struggles; it will be silly of me or anyone to quickly take every vague act by another person to mean lack of enthusiasm or hatred? It is foolishness to get overly downhearted because you think people are not keen on you; when in point of fact, people have a lot more important stuff to take care of…

I can't title this.....o.O

Sometimes it occurs that you’re absentmindedly eating your favourite sandwich or drinking a favourite beverage…Me, mostly ‘Warga’, so you relaxingly take a bite or sip thinking that’s perhaps the last but one, only to detect that that one before the last was in effect the last and the finishing one that you were probably keenly raring to take …what do you do to atone for the lack of preferred closure?

Worse is when you inefficiently spend costly time procrastinating on imperative matters, possibly on the internet uploading ‘Selfies’, looking at random photos that your ‘rival(s)’ took at some party, or perhaps acting ‘thinker’, ‘Googling’ definitions of matters without cause, but you do because you’re arguing about them on social media…. now after all that madness, you probably take a look at your clock, only to detect that the time is already Quarter-Past-Success or maybe You-Are-On-Your-Own O’clock…. what do you do to compensate for the time thrown away? Sadly absolutely nothing!

World of .......!

Sometimes you can’t but envy the dead [yeah I know that’s weird SMH]…sometimes you just want to resign on your stake in trying to fix this world of chronic uncertainties, of structured acts of ill will; of philosophers with philosophical mis-philosophies; preachers preaching love yet practically go to blows over headship of their various Holy Houses; a world where selfishness has turned out to be ‘The Virtue’; a world of third-degree schadenfreude [you know, pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune]; of wannabe gorgons and thugs…

…all the time-consuming jobs in cooperation with heavily built liabilities and constant worries; purposeless obsessions and materialistic people speeding up for nothing but private riches and reputation, making it look as if the Most High didn’t create enough already; me, I only do that kinda rush at 5 minutes to Jummah Prayer

I don’t know, perhaps God had shifted attention to planet Mars a long time ago and we don’t know it, at least if I should go by science fiction adventures…

It seems that the only thing that motivates the will of men these days is gain; almost everyone wants to be the only thing that matters… sometimes you wonder if we will have the luxury of God’s forgiveness for the things we do/have done/are doing to each other [but that is if you’re bothered]?

Adulthood!

Do you know when to know you’re grown up and not necessarily in dimension, but in your attitude and general feeling? Now in case you don’t, listen then let me tell you:

When you start to get disappointed by the interminable childlike banters and juvenile hobbies of fools around you; when you demand respect and your level of consideration and selflessness towards others similarly redoubles; when your elders, your parents and community who used to give you guidance now develop interest in listening to you; when they really appreciate your strength of will… stuff like that!

Equally, you know you’re screwed up when you’re seemingly stuck between childhood and adulthood, when you still do and find your nursery school perspectives and excitements enjoyable; when your sense of playfulness and inconsequentiality get in the way of your take on serious mature issues; when your way of thinking cannot seem to keep pace with that of your equally adult buddies.

I overstand we cannot be serious and uptight about everything every time, we sometimes need time to have fun. I am particularly kid at heart sometimes, especially with friends and equals; I know it is fun to relive our cool memories and let our silly nature out occasionally.

 ….but there is a ‘bloody’ time and place for every-bloodclaat-thing, SEEN! There is a time to be playful and a time to get serious, but most importantly, one has to overstand when to build character and ripeness, and caution; excess of foolishness is thoughtlessness…Me, I believe that one can be humorous without being a moron, ain’t nobody got time for fools, times are so damn serious! 

International Women's Day 2014

It is Saturday, March 8 [International Women's Day 2014], but will you once more just wear your activist T-shirts and slim fit jeans, chant the slogans, organise series of parades and round tables to discuss the usual list of women's issues and then draw everything to a close till 2015?

Or will you more willingly live the wonderful theme: “Equality for women is progress for all”...because that's the essence

I know we still have idiots who see women as mere belongings and longings even in the face of the femaleness of their mothers, sisters, aunts and nieces, but should that put y’all off, don't y’all have others who are not troubled by your strength, who have always signed up to celebrate you, see y’all as contemporaries to be valued and not just tolerated.

Happy International Women's Day to women all around the world, but particularly my beautiful women friends! Stay tough, stay gorgeous, stay brilliant and practical, don’t let your dedication fritter away, remain classy and fabulous; take all your detractors and their disbelieves as springboards to your advantage

Diversity of opinion

Be it in corporate or legal terms, you’ll very regularly hear phrases like unanimous consent, unanimous verdict, unanimous resolution, unanimous decision or consensus, but do you know that in all these ‘unanimous’ instances, there is naturally a dissenting voice that is suppressed?...Yes! Some will differ only to chastise and others will disagree with soundly held opinions.

That's what's up… so long as we remain human, diversity of opinion and thought will always exist; it is up to us as individuals, communities or corporations to either be sickened by them or see them as 'kindlers' of careful consideration and help better our actions and decisions…

As a token of reminder, let he who dissents or criticises be positive in manner and focus on promoting only positive growth, and let the one being constructively criticised see such criticisms as honest feedback from a different perspective…No ‘Wahala’! No Vex! No Stress and no protracted bad blood. SEEN!

Discipline!

When you take people to task for their undisciplined state of mind, or when they have their upsetting manners called to order, they tend to pick up the wrong end of it; in fact the one who sets out to correct their waywardness is labeled disrespectful

Me, no matter how old you are, if you do not have that sense of obedience and respect for expected values, I will demand it from you and that’s no disrespect. Discipline is all about being able to truly care about others around you; it is about respecting yourself and polishing your ability to tell your ego “NO! That’s not right”.

Wherever you are and in whatever you are in, your ability to operate by principle rather than desire is of great consequence. Never let your excitements hinder your restraint; if you’re in quest of a service and you’re supposed to stand in line to be served, then queue like everyone else; if you borrow don’t keep it; say please and thank you even if you’re someone of authority…

…If you engage in things of public interest, you may have your choice, but also respect the choices of others; don’t leave the toilet unflushed; uphold good eating manners and when you use up that which is for everyone, replenish it; when you open the door to go in, shut the one behind you; don’t litter when you can appropriately get rid of it….

….as a matter of fact, the list can’t end, but all I want to say is that ‘Jolof’ would’ve been even more wonderful if each of us can stop going up against the ideals of etiquette, good manners, comportment and protocol…

I break anything and everything...

People rejoice whenever they have new gadgets; well me, I don’t because I know I’ll break them the next minute; I think I'm just the reckless type who breaks anything and everything. I don’t know, maybe I am the byword of that imaginary tale of ‘INCREDIBLE HULK’ or Wesley Snipes in ‘DEMOLITION MAN’…


See, when I was young I was kinda possessed with toys, but anytime my mom [God bless her soul] bought me one, she will say “Bena Dimanche” [that I won’t have ‘em beyond a Sunday]. Now I’m older and don’t do ‘toys’ , instead cutting edge gadgets make me drool in desire, but it seems I can’t live with them nether live without them.


Today I am about to send my proposal to the ‘Guinness World Records’ as potential holder of the best record for gadget splintering in the whole world, but before that, I want to ask if this is normal; is it a peculiar type of personality disorder? You may say cut the crap, they’re just gadgets, but it ain’t about the stuffs, it is about WTF is wrong with me?



Here is my record, and the list is exclusive of shattered tableware, smashed cars and railings:


1. My first mobile phone was an Ericsson T28, I broke the compact flip
2. I had a Nokia E66 and an iphone, both broken out of rage
3. I had a Galaxy Tab P1000, broke it, fixed it and broke it again, I won’t tell you how
4. I sat on and cracked my Galaxy S4’s Digitiser even before going to Africell to resize my SIM
5. Now from an incident last night, my new tablet 10.1” is cracked with a very impressive NIKE symbol

Wife!

I sourced this from Page Senegal; originally in French and translated using Google:

She changed her name to yours, she changed home to live with you, and she left her parents and friends to come live with you. She cooks for you, cleans your room and washes your clothes. She becomes pregnant to give you children and suffers a heavy burden for nine months, alienating her beauty and accelerating her age. She stoically stands the pain of childbirth and continues to faithfully serve thee. And you dare not respect your wife.

Pac Paraphrased!

“Time to question our lifestyle, look how we live” 2pac (Better Dayz)...

...by the same token, I think some of our excitements, anticipations and dedications are certainly devoid of the concept of reality….I think some need total revamp.

if you’re doing one thing for too long, and you've all the while been really into it, sometimes more than usual and you can’t seem to win through, then something is not ringing true....

if it is an act, refrain from it; if a habit it is, quit; if companionship is what it is, renounce it; if it is your spot ‘Vous or Campeh’, walk out and don’t give notice; if a job is what it is, resign and find a career; if foreign is where you are, relocate; if it is a responsibility, relinquish and give the hell up…List goes on man, if y'all know what I mean

... at the end of the day, you do not want to invest your time and effort on something that ain’t gonna get you jack; only a broken credibility

What....LOL?

If you have a sweetheart; matter of fact why will you call him a ‘sweetheart’ sah?

REMIX!….

If you have a nuisance of a boyfriend, who is forever and a day satisfied with being mediocre, one who will always turn away from fineness and quality, who’ll always be like: ‘Dear Lorlu Yarha La’ (that’s a waste dear) with reference to everything; take my stupid advice and dump his patchy ass…

It is almost a New Year (2014) people; never again underrate yourself; always try to set yourself apart from the rest; and except if y’all (him and you) are like peas in a pod or you perhaps know you can change his frame of mind; then you can stay, take the union to another level, but never say no one tipped you off...

Happy New Year!

If you’re around on holiday to celebrate the International party season, do it merrily BUT not just lustfully in quest of doing a right thing on a wrong day or in a wrong way; unless you want to be summoned back around the end of September or the start of October for a naming ceremony(ies).

On a more serious note, since the Gregorian calendar is the civil calendar that The Gambia draws on, I can’t but join y’all in wishing and praying that the Good Lord gives us the wisdom and overstanding to appraise ourselves, see who we still are, where we have been and where we intend to be come 2014 and beyond, to help us create that desired foresight for us and for our children…

With God, nothing is unachievable and I am particularly glad that almost every Gambian is religious; so even supposing you think you're doing so well and have everything figured out, you still must have room for desires, wishes and hopes; let us pray:

May there be enough for the needy and the neglected, and even extra for those who already have pretty sufficient amounts, so that helpfulness may be at a free-range; may all our groundless disagreements bring forth favourable conclusions; may every messiness in our dealings turn to order, all misunderstandings to comprehensibility, contentions into responsiveness; may the chances we had forgone in the past years not despair our resolve to be successes in other ways….

That said, let’s do it… 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 BOOOOOOOOM! Happy New Year!

Tact, tact and more tact!

I think is about damn time some of us look into our dealings with others; stop living lifestyle of being stinking broke yet so high and mighty. See, from classic literature to religious hardbacks, even on legit streets and hoods, the positive rule has always been:

“One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.”
"That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another."
“Do unto others as you would have them do to you”
“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you” …et cetera

BUT is like some of us can’t identify with the rule still; especially in our dealings with sales and service people; sometimes I just think some customers (not even regulars) read this whole "…customer is always right" slogan from organs that I don’t want to mention..

..or maybe they’re just not up to snuff, to appreciate that the ‘customer being always right' only connotes that service staff should give primacy to customer satisfaction, BUT NOT of necessity having to compromise their dignity to the point of taking abuses, name-calling and insults.

I have being ‘Robin Hood’ of sales and service people from ever since, because I was in their shoes and I will continue to price them even higher; I find it annoying when very bad-mannered and unprincipled ‘ballerz’ go into shops, supermarkets or restaurants only to showcase arrogance, treating shopkeepers, attendants, waiters and waitresses with so much loftiness.

You see; like me, you and everyone, no one wants to be talked down to…and just like you the customers have the right to your cash, let it be known that every sales or service provider also reserve the right to refuse service to anyone; that is why when I used to help my mom (God Bless Her Soul) at her shop, I made sure I give great service, but when I know my nice and gentle words can’t turn away your rage, I am always glad that we didn't do business…’cause I can Whoopass too.

I am not profiling...!

If this is going to be construed as ‘profiling’ people or being ‘judgmental’ (as it is the limiting factor these day), then I am sorry; I acknowledge I am in no place to decide how someone else should choose to spend his or her money; it is none of my damn business to judge anyone.

...but on my mind this morning is how apparently some of us have totally forgotten about our humble beginnings and that really throws me off balance; I don’t know, perhaps this is a hopeless one, but I feel we all need to be evocative in our talking with each other; remind one another about things that are too often left unsaid.

AND one of those things is how engrossed our society has become as regards our adamant desire for worthless status emblems; and sometimes some of these things that we covet or spend our very lasts on, could in fact have being the things we should absolutely forgo in order to unshackle our lifestyles

YES; we all have our freedom to spend on whatever we want; be they needless social celebrations, exorbitant parties, high-priced ‘galas’ and unreasonable dances et cetera, but in my (perhaps) obtuse opinion, that freedom of privileged spending should be for those who can afford it. If you fritter and wind up just to fit in or feel good, you’ll only end up very broke and at a loss concerning the necessities of the next day that you were not bothered with.

LISTEN! You can sell your 'whatever' to do the things that someone you desire to be like does, but you cannot buy your way into his or her status; so it is only wise to do your own and go well with it.

Get your own - Fool!

‘Wolof Njie Dan Na Wax Naan, Dona Sa Baay, Don Sa Baay A’ko Gen…Di Titarror Sa Wajurr, Sa Wajurr Dila Titarror Ko Gen’ – Youssou N'Dour
Let me try to paraphrase this in English:
In preference to sitting inactive like an apartment, waiting for some legacy, birthright or inheritance from your Dad; it is better to be reminiscent of him and harness your own successes and credence … [i.e. if the father is not a hopeless one ]
Instead of being full of pride as regards the accomplishments of your parents; it will be healthier if you seek with sincere resolve and serious hard work to be a success at your own thing and make your parents feel good and proud of you....

Success

I think I have now grown to realise that there is no ultimate yardstick for success; I have come to overstand that sometimes we have a tendency to overlook the prospects of/in certain jobs and enterprises because we concentrate so much on their ‘low esteem’ and harsh conditions..[If low esteem is in fact the right phrase to use].

Having had the opportunity to work for a ‘Vocational Education Management Group’, I have become conscious of the fact that whilst there are undoubtedly competent people without jobs, there are in the same way jobs without people; and perhaps we only need to stop being choosy and picky; you know, see how resourcefully we can circumvent the log jam in our labour market.

…I don’t know; perhaps I am so famished for success that I spend half of my spare time reading success stories; and if y’all should just take some time and Google BIG names like: Hong kong’s Li Ka Shing; Ray Kroc, Debbi Fields, Nigeria’s Cosmos Maduka; Carl Lindner; Mary Kay Ash; Coco Chanel; Andrew Carnegie and so many on, you’ll overstand what I mean…

P.S…‘Maan’ I think ‘Affair Bi’ is just a matter of ‘Fas Jorm Rek’; because some of these people ‘Musunj Nyor Dem Iskool, Saka Di Dropout; Y Tey Nyungi Ni Teki Nanj’

Judas...BUM!

[Contemporary Judas Iscariot(s)]…. they’ll never learn from those earlier than them; from those who acted upon the same demonic rituals, but finished up reaping nothing but disgrace and dishonour….

If you’re wondering who these shitty ‘Judas’ of our age are; I am talking about the ‘beg-friends’; those who'll force social contact on you or put on front as if they like you, only to become lavish of fabrications behind you. They’ll perpetrate unfaithfulness and deceit against you without a speck of fear or guilt.

For a hint, they’re usually overfriendly, (don’t mistake them for the regular friendly people); these ones are always more than usually pleasant; they’ll kiss ‘arse’, add sugar to their tongues, with the intention of callously sowing their seeds of deception; their only covet is to swindle peoples’ best out of them…BUT if you’re ordained to be great, no ‘multiple-sider’ can impair that...

Mockery!

It is wrong to enjoy being mocking and sneering, but even more horrible not to be audacious enough to openly do it...Sometimes we have friends like that; who’ll act out to be the coolest beings ever created, yet in very cunningly ways, they’ll pull you to pieces by undercutting your authenticity; and you’ve to be very sharp-witted to even be aware of it…

Hold on; perhaps I’m not too expressive above, let me give an example:

A young lady comes into the crowd, with an outfit so fresh; very attractive curves, good-looking and up to date; the gathering couldn’t but show the sister some love and respect.

…then this insensitive green-eye of a best friend now wants to taint that warm approval; so she enviously whispered, but deliberately so loud that members of the crowd could overhear; She said:

"Babes I told you, all that bump at your lower stomach is gone, no one will realise you had an abortion"... and like a bitch, she keeps on “Heheey! What a backside if they knew you’re wearing a padded panty”…

WTF; was that supposed to be a flattering remark or ridicule?

Education...

Do not twist the sense of this quote: “If you think education is expensive, try the cost of ignorance”; the key to the cipher of this quotation is EDUCATION not SCHOOL; you and I certainly need the former to stand out, but I’m not too sure about the latter, perhaps that is but a well-formed convention of ‘grade-worms’ and illusionary IQ bores
Tell me; how can forcing someone to conform to somebody’s thinking for 18plus years; be the ONLY; LONE; SINGLE plan for his (her) future? Don’t count your fingers, I did the math, it is eighteen+; let me break it down for you: 2 years at nursery, 6 at primary, 3 at junior high, 3 at high school and 4 at college and counting…..the waste of time doesn’t stop
Look; if ALL what our teachers taught us, especially about success were for real, why are most of them still queuing for 1-by-6 advances and bank overdrafts …? [Puzzled]
I guess they were not so ‘educated’ to overstand that the be all and end all of life is not just about owning a transistor radio and listening to BBC or the dream to wear well-cut suits; some of us will need to learn to cut the suits well as an alternative … Mr. Guccio Gucci was an Italian ‘craftsman’ before he owned GUCCI; now we wear GUCCI to build a reputation; how many of our own PhDs are this groundbreaking????
…and my friend if you want to tell me ‘it’s not all about the riches’, just discount ‘wealth’ from the definition of today’s success and show me what’s left. Be practical and peek at our lives today; put everyone on the scale and tell me who’s having the benefit of the towering reputations, privileged circumstances and honour; the ones who spent 18plus years learning useless and incredibly boring stuff OR the ones who refused to give in to the conspiracy by placing their confidence in alternatives… answer to me?


I remember how very frightened I used to be back in basic school, because Mr. Kanyi will be coming to our class in the morning with his bamboo for another mental monotony, an exercise that left me nothing but cerebral agony…and then comes Mr. Ceesay’s history class; one that forces you to memorise dates of gone-off incidents like the slave trade or the Nigerian–Biafran War; to stir up hate and extreme dislike for the sons and daughters of perpetrators that gave up the ghost donkey’s years ago…. 


I could’ve written more, but it is a long piece already and I’m tired! TO BE CONTINUED…. 





P.S …but just to hearten y’all, you don’t have to waste your existence on something you don’t like, particularly not at any concentration camp. By the brains and freewill vested in you, do not use someone else’s thinking as benchmark for your own; even if that means rubbishing what I am saying on this piece; so be it.

Poverty

If one and all of us could share the blessings, stop exploiting and manipulating and taking advantage of the next man, you will be surprised that ‘ndekeh’ poverty is not essentially a test of anyone’s faith, but a mess that the evil and greedy of us created and allowed to exist.

...BUT instead of blaming it on our social evils, preacher men will decorate their sermons trying to justify poverty as the will of God; and the pen-pushers keep stage-managing its alleviation through recurring but unfulfilling concepts, papers and strategies…

…and now everyone is confused, but the (bad) news still is that unless our various interest groups and charities, our cold compassion and biased sympathies are really and truly done up; unless we cut the rhetoric and better our humanity to conquer the misery of the unfortunate, there will always be poverty; no uncertainties about that.

Should I tell you about life?

Your life and your struggles to live to tell the tale of it, is like one on a highway; a way freely available for all to use, but as you embark on your ride, be ready to come across all sorts of drivers...

...from very reckless ones to those who’ll act like they are the only ones paying road tax; others will be acting like the fast lane is their birthright; you may even bump into novice drivers who do not have sufficient practical experience, but will still want to trail or tag along; excuse yourself from them, they’re time wasters.

Nevertheless, you still got to set your purpose, your target and pace your ride towards your goals... BUT make sure your licenses and registration are all right, steer clear from the reckless drivers and be heedful of every traffic sign; avoid unnecessary confrontation with law enforcement and be sure to have a celebrated arrival at your destination…

Why Black!

I still wonder why ‘I keep wondering why’ everything that is mysterious, awful, unpleasant or evil is labeled black; from black animals being termed as symbols of bad luck; anyone regarded as a disgrace to a family is tagged the black-sheep; illusions involving the supposed invocation of evil spirits for evil purposes are termed black magic; some of us wear black to funerals to show mourning…
I have even seen cruel and wicked people being said to be black-hearted; you’re black-and-blue when you’re emotionally hurt; it is a black-day when something very unpleasant or sad happens; you’ll be black-booked or black-marked when you've done something bad that someone wants to remember in future and so on
Heard expressions like blackmail, blacklist, black-rain, Black-market, blackout, black-hole, black-eye, and even in movies, angels will be costumed in white and wicked witches will be dressed in black et cetera, et cetera…
Perhaps some of them are senseless superstitions, but shit sometimes rubs me the wrong way and I don’t want to make it a race thing or an attack on the dignity of blacks, because in my opinion, it will be racist to think that this is racist..... so I need closure like yesterday; no distorted tales though ….?

Does it add up?

If one continues being perfectly poor and can’t manage to move a bit up the economic ladder whilst living amongst very wealthy folks or in a community where everyone has the benefit of an economically gainful position.
Correspondingly, whilst living in a totally broke community (one inhabited by very-very poor people), if one manages to be enormously affluent or happen to get his (her) hands on all the goodies like one born with a silver spoon and he(she) doesn’t illustrate evidence of any prior meaningful hard work
IMHO…there’s something about both circumstances that do not add up.

The Paradoxical Commandments - by Dr. Kent M. Keith

“People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.”

Faith...I mean true Faith!

If we as Muslims do not want to give the devil a trouble-free ride to do us harm, we should bring the senseless rivalry within us to a close; and for an entrée, let some of us who do not know ‘book’ about religion; about its tradition and teachings overcome the petty prejudices by shutting up and let those on their toes with it to truthfully speak.
Personally, I do not think any Islamic assembly (I prefer not to call it sect) was initiated to be in any unceasing tussle for predominance or command over one another. I believe it is only healthy that we sometimes have honest differences of views and honest debates, to help re-brand or re-establish the true standards of any matter under debate.
I may be dead wrong, but I thought the ‘nomenclatures’ of our various assemblies are just parallel means to the same purpose? Meaning; the truth is what all the various assemblies [I presume] are set out to develop. Why then will some of us owe our ultimate allegiance to just 'a group', so much so that it gets in the way of our devotion to the larger ‘Truth’?
Why will some of us use honest religious debates as platform to mislead and misinform people or to excite disunity? Isn’t it a shame that each time we debate about faith, we tend to be devoid of the spirit of bringing out the best in ourselves and in others? Haven’t we done enough harm to religion already? Why should we keep weakening the discipline and wise conduct that true doctrine was [I’m sure] set to infuse?
Isn’t it a big disgrace that there is always some graceless degree of dispute between our various assemblies concerning the maintenance of very simple matters of the same statement of belief? Arguments and contretemps so insensitive that genuine listeners and truth-seekers like me are in total disorientation about the legitimacy of certain standpoints we were made to have faith in; and how can we serve with assurance if there is so much disunity among us? ‪#‎WontWeReason‬?
P.S...In one of Haile Selassie’s speeches on Faith, he was quoted to have said: "No one should question the faith of others, for no human being can judge the ways of God.”

Proverb!

#‎Wolof‬ …’Du Man Rek, Nel Borkuma Sii Kor Gen….’
‪#‎Mandinka‬…’N’dang Mang Nteh, Afor Ndar Teh Jay; Woleh Feesayaata…’

‪#‎RoughParaphrase‬... Rather than saying you're not the only one after you're busted, it is more honourable to say you were not a part of 'it' (particularly something shameful)

True Enjoyment!

You’ll be missing the whole point about real life enjoyment if you're exceedingly caught up doing things you do not enjoy; if you’re caught up living a life you can’t sustain, but you still do it to appear to be sophisticated....
At the end of the day, even if you’re seen getting up in well-made clothes, partying at matchless banquets, sharing photos and contacts with the 'finest' and so on; if you’re not feeling the bliss and warmth of all the above, if you can’t stop worrying about the demands of such a ‘make-believe’ lifestyle; if you keep feeling uncomfortable inside you, then your enjoyment is yet to be in its honest spirits; you’re only leading it astray by false happiness.
If you’re disadvantaged, why not work hard to break out, rather than acting as if you’ve had it good your entire life? If you in fact love it simple, why not be one who represents the awesomeness in simple moments, in preference to acting so complicated and polished in order to fit in someone's condescending circle? If in fact you love being straight up ghetto, why will you pretend to be all formal?
The point is, if you do not have unnecessary bills to pay; if your way of life is not a freaking-dead-end, if you’re cool with your friends and family, then my friend you’re really cool, because the rest is secondary.

Stay Crazy!

All things considered, not everything about madness is bad. I was told it can initiate one to do the same thing time and again, even in the face of risks; in perhaps an attempt to find a perceived solution, to bring about a difference or to change things…

Now ain’t that ‘unflinching determination’ right there?

For my part, I don’t want to be innocent if I happen to be guilty of this trait. I don’t want to be a part of those who’ll lose their sense of confidence and resolve after a few ineffective tryouts; those who cannot carry on for too long or get back up to stubbornly take hold of what they want; for they will almost never find solutions

......do stay crazy; maybe that is why Lucky Dube (RIP) called it the ‘crazy-world’

Rash Talk!

#‎WOLOF‬ - Kumpa Defa Fekon Wax Di Joye, Mu Larjteh kor Naykor “Wax Loye Joye?” Wax Nay Kor “Denj Ma Wax Tay Suma Waxtu Wax Jort’angut”
‪#‎RoughTranslation‬ - ‘Nosy’ found ‘Talk’ crying and she asked why ‘Talk’ was crying. ‘Talk’ replied: “I am crying because I was talked at the untimely time”
DON’T volunteer premature information just for the hell of it or just because you always want to be the first to make it known. ‘Okra –Mouthed-Ness’ can cause inappropriateness and perhaps lead to serious inconveniences.
...even professional broadcasters do not always miss the chance to shut up…‪#‎JustSaying‬!

My Friday Prayers!

Thank Goodness it's Friday and for every other Friday I pray...:

May the Good Lord bestow on us the promised blessings of ‪#‎Jummah‬, may He ease our every difficulty, lessen for us our sins and accept our requests for forgiveness. May the Satan not have any means over us, even as it tries to dominate us through meaningless obsessions, through hypocrisy and deceitfulness.

May the Lord send into our hearts a sense of harmony and make us a nation of humble people, of people who will hold fast to sameness, truth and balance.
.

Scandal!

Know that you’re now keeping it real the minute you refuse to be drawn into your circle’s ridiculous hearsays and scandal mongering; the instant you begin to rise above gibberish and appreciate that you personally have loads of mistakes and flaws to deal with.
know that you aren't weak to any further extent the moment you overstand that you no longer have to pay too much attention to straight up pessimism, to anyone’s absolute lack of interest at what you do or anybody’s groundless distress at how, why and when you do what you do.
Know that you aren't foolish anymore as soon as you have your fingers on the fact that you no longer have to surrender to any pretense or cheap manipulation, to mean smiles of incoming hostility against every knack you may be gifted with
Know that you aren't fragile any longer the second you become conscious of the fact that you no longer have to allow the essence of your soul to be assembled on the opinion of anyone; particularly not on the opinion of those who’ll no doubt find it pleasant that your state of mind is constantly impaired.
…and if you think this status update is seeking to take shape of your outlook, which you may not need, please don’t hesitate to spit in this coffee that I’m sipping right now and ignore my **s.

Listen!

#‎Wolof‬ - ‘Boppa Bu Nareh Am Jaama, Am Njering Ak Barrkeh, YaAllah Def Chay Saxal Nopa Yuye Dayga’

To the HEAD that is more than likely to achieve something, God will affix EARS that will listen; ears that will heed to advice and accept corrections.

Never miss the opportunity to take heed when you need guidance

Cyaan Deal With Di Bad Mind...Seen!

Abraham Lincoln was quoted to have said: “Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.”

See, no matter what you may conquer or progress to, if there is nothing at the bottom of it except straight up betrayal of the interest of others, be clear in your mind that all you have is but a camel’s tail; it can neither cover your rear nor chase away flies.

I have devotedly observed that real go-getters don’t do that; they don’t struggle to outclass or outshine anyone by pulling them down; they don’t try to melt away the progress of others in order to stand out. They self-start, do and achieve.

...and if you ask me, I’ll say they best be left alone, ‘cause not even your ‘three-thirty-ten’ attempts to make them not as much of what they truly are will ever be successful.

Jaundiced Eyes!

Certain people have ‘jaundiced eyes’.... [I'll use jaundiced for want of a better portrayal]

…and not ‘jaundice’ as in the medical condition (icterus). I am talking about some of us who can act gracious and sociable only when we’re nobody’s choice, when we’re weirdly determined to penetrate some prominence.

...but give some of us a ‘slice’ of that ‘cake’ that we’re always complaining about and see how wretchedly blind we can become; at how quickly we'll not be able to remember all the change that we had wished to see; at how less of a pain in the neck we can become… [What a fat Irony :-P]

As a matter of fact, some of us can even become the worst of what we used to frown on.

P.S…. Generally, people with this kind of 'jaundiced eyes' will pretend to tilt towards the humble people because they ain’t affluent yet; whatever is well-heeled, which they’re not along with is at risk of appearing unconstructive in their eyes.

Some will demonstrate bitterness, cynicism and prejudice against everything seemingly VIP or even knit their brows at the abilities of every TOP-NAME because they ain’t BIGWIGS yet…

Hate!

Now can we get this straight...
I am not saying hate doesn’t exist because the word wouldn’t have existed, but IMO, the best part of all the hate bashing going on these days are purely prompted by one class of haters hating on another class of haters; nothing but illusions sparked out of discontent and manifest identity crisis, of people incurably yearning for praises and approval, to the degree that they can no longer stand simple civil and helpful criticisms.

It is brought about by some of us who now prefer deception and flattery over realistically considered opinions; by some of us who cannot appreciate that we do not have to be of the same mind all the time to be friends; by some of us who see nothing but hate anytime someone differs in opinion with us; anytime someone falls short in meeting our foolish desires and expectations.

I have even observed that some of us will voluntarily solicit opinions regarding us; regarding perhaps our new-look, new outfit or opinion on what we do, but painfully expect such opinions to modify reality and anything less than affirmative is hate.

Me; as much as I know, God never did and never will send down a memo that everybody must absolutely agree with everyone every time. So far as I know, ‘to like someone’ will never translate to 'always doing or saying what that person expects’; and there is absolutely no commandment that everyone’s opinion is obliged to suit anyone’s anticipation; we all reserve the privilege to see and say things the way we see them.

This Obama can Talk!

Hate him like sin for his political agenda; disagree with his moral fervency if you like, but an eminence no one can deny Barack Obama is that he remains our age’s standard by which oratory fineness is measured.

I think God must have been working late on the final day of the creation of this man, to be able to pay singular attention in assembling such an admirable masterpiece... [and if that remark is considered blasphemous, then ‘Astaghfirullah’]

…but in my opinion and in perhaps the closet opinion of even his “divided Congress”, Obama’s persuasiveness is a seamless stunning success; his articulacy and unbeatable tongue can submerge into your heart and make you eat your words or even love what you hate….

My ‘Not-So-Distant-Cousin’ is not just any regular president ...I just pray that God will increase his type ‪#‎AMEN‬

IT Rocks....!

Hey! The true story is that IT has already changed the world - positively Man. ‘Cyaan’ believe I just completed in less than an hour a transaction that would have physically taken me donkey’s time and effort.

I must own up that no matter how hard I poke fun at nerds and IT geeks, it is an incontestable fact that they run things in this new world; SEEN! No wonder they keep amassing unthinkable amounts of wealth and prestige

RESPECT CONCRETE TO ALL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GEEKS DEM!

…BUT lemme clarify that I am not talking about the wannabe-nerds who’ll wear fake 45 Dalasi Steve Urkel glasses fronting that they are geeks, when all what they hold is a 3 months certificate, 3 months diploma and 3 months advance diploma; making it 9 months basic IT application qualification from some institute along Kairaba Avenue; I swear to God I can outdo that cargo of ‘hoo-hoos’ in IT anytime…. and do excuse my French!

I am too Emotional! Perhaps.....

...Just woken up, watched a short video online and it has changed my entire Friday morning mood...

Can you believe at my age and as a man, I still have this inability to contain my emotions; I shed tears at almost every touching thing. Ah! that’s why I am not even keen on certain Nigerian movies, because I end up crying my eyes out.

I don’t know, perhaps I care too much about everything, from tender stories of people I don’t even know, to seeing people cry as they receive awards or even when families are brought back together after some distressing occurrence….you know, things like that..

….but most especially when I see people and their mothers going through things together, be they achievements or troubles; through the thick and the thin. Perhaps I just miss my 'own' or maybe I've just never gotten over losing her. May Allah have mercy upon her, forgive her sins and admit her into Jannah….Amen!

Parent!

‘Do as I say, not as I do’ is some piece of crap; to hell with it …. George Carlin said “If your kid needs a role model and you ain't it, you're both fucked.”

Maybe that is why we have scores of screwed-up kids these days…because kids take off; they try to be like; they emulate what they see - good or bad.

You see, nobody said parenting is going to be an easy job, one needs to be all set for it; your own manners and conduct need to be evidence for what you want your kids to become.

...I may agree that for some kids, no matter what you do, tell or show them, they’ll never seem to want to be worthy of their privileges, but positive influence is paramount anyway.

if you’re a parent and you lead by the example of been consumed by an addiction, you may never be able to stop your kid from being a junkie; if you have that irrational urge to steal everything you find charming, you shouldn't be stunned that your kid is light-fingered; if you are a busybody, the likelihood of your child becoming a blabbermouth is 99.999 over 100.

…I can go on with examples, but the ultimate point is, before you end up blaming the ludicrousness of your kid on voodoo, on wicked people and stuff, look within and see if your child ain’t in fact doing exactly YOU…and see if you’re satisfied with that YOU being mimicked

Fate!

Maybe it is only me, but i am thinking some of us need some explanation on the topic of ‘God’s Will’, especially regarding the occurrences that he ‘Directs’ and those that he ‘Permits’ due to our choices…

…because it is funny how none of us will want to be made scapegoats, but each of us can make God the victim of our responsibilities by unfairly laying every blame on ‘His Will’. I just can’t get it, to me; it feels like ‘His Will’ has become a dumping ground for even failures resulting from personal errors.

Like my dull friend from junior school; dude was so dumb that he goes to the library to prepare for a malaria test; can you imagine; but he’ll for all time blame the teachers for his bad grades; or like my team will always hold referees responsible anytime they perform less well than expected

In my opinion, humankind has two options to choose from; either to sit stiff in prayer expecting that God will soon stop allowing bad things to happen to us; or to use our God given will and freedom of choice to pull ourselves out of the evils that we always create with our own hands

The Senegalese singer; ‘Cheikh N'Digel Lo’ if I remember right said: ‘Yaina Yi Du Ngogal’ [certain things ain’t fate, they’re as a result of poor choices]…and it will be unreasonable to make God the catchall for all our individual boo-boos….‪#‎MyOpinion‬

Wake Up!

If you’re a bit comfortable, you got to be careful of the prickly idiots who will do anything just to get close to you; 'cause the fact is, no one is out to hurt you more than their two-faced selves..

I mean folks who’ll make your hobby their hobby as if y’all have some interests in common, scrounge cash to support your cause, fake smiles, crack jokes or even fabricate lies about your best of friends, just so they can be in your nice books

If you cannot make them shut up, then be careful not to believe everything they tell you. They want to be your only buddy, so they’ll kill your allegiance with everybody.

They’ll take advantage of your good heart, use you, damage your social life and dump you when they find someone better; and before your naive self knows it, they’ll start talking evil behind your back without an iota of regret…. ‘Chum Lakat!’

Forced friendships and snake oil acquaintances MUST be vacated; wake up they don't like you they NEED you.

You’ve got to give it to take it

Growing up, I am sure most of us have also been through our periods of distress or perhaps confusion regarding our sense of personality, but one great advice I had back then, which I will unselfishly pass on is that; you cannot get the better of your youthful chapter through discourtesy and needless effrontery…

…because at the end of the day, people, especially in whom you seek support and comfort, will see you not in how you feel about them, because that could be concealed, but in the way you conduct yourself towards them.

That said, just because you feel you’re too ambitious, too spirited, and overly dedicated to a job that you do NOT YET hold doesn’t warrant you to label everyone a “square peg in a round hole”.

Just because you commit few quotations about life, religion or the destiny of humanity from Einstein, Mandela or Lincoln to memory doesn’t make you more intellectual than anyone; it doesn’t establish the cliche: “not what you know, but whom you know”

Everyone can pretend to have an opinion about anything or even regularly aim at going against common thought even in needless circumstances; it could be true to you, it could as well just be a silly attempt to appear more intelligent, contemptuous or ‘whatever’ than everyone.

…but whatever it is, know that it is just your opinion; one that you can even use in defense to being told you’re wrong, but take heed, your defense becomes an offense the moment you use it to disrespect others.

You’ve got to give it to take it…‪#‎PEACE‬

Affluence!

Have you ever been a holder of an obese wallet, that which you imprudently used up on things you never needed, with no thought of up comings; one that you washed-out because you think you have it, because in your thoughts, the manifestation of affluence is by being showy?
Have you ever been privileged to means and luxury that you lost thanks to the fullness of your open and caring heart, and sadly the same people you had been a great buddy and helper to, unpredictably let you down, hurt your feelings, and even turned against you; and now you’re there thinking there's no one on your side; not even God?
Now if those means, luxury or fat wallet was a consequence of a hustle you once legitimately endured, then YOU HAVE LOST NOTHING! Take it to be a productive breakdown and turn it into a learning break.
God doesn’t turn His back on a determined spirit. What happened to you was just one of those fated adversities and trials you had to stand,
...BUT my friend you’ll lose everything if you fail to take life on, if you fail to take advantage of every coming opportunity to stir up your ambition for a rehabilitated success. Opportunities will surely come again, that is why the 'Mandinkas' call possessions “NAFULOR” [that which comes twice]
…and just in case levels change all over again and the same shitty folks or worthless stuff try to turn to you, you know what to do; wish them a ‘Merry Kiss My Arse and a Crappy New Year!’....! No, that's a joke; I know you can’t turn a good heart bad. May Allah give us prosperity in all aspects of our lives…Amen!

Maa Nyoor!

In Mandinka, when people marry a second, third or fourth wife, it is said that they've married a ‘MAA-NYOOR’; now on my Facebook status update, a brotha and I looked at some native words, trying to empty out the implicit; like ‘NAFULOR’ [Wealth] was unfolded as something that comes twice..

….and then the ‘MAA-NYOOR’ thing emerged as literally meaning: a ‘Lovemaking-Partner’; given that ‘MAA’ implies LOVEMAKING and ‘NYOOR’ means MATE or PARTNER.

Now going by this explication, it seems to me that conventionally, it must have been assumed that the lead motivator (if there is in fact any other) for marrying additional wives was attributed to LUST…It could be a wrong assumption, but I do not disagree...