Simbarashe msasanuri (Bongoblast)
IT never dawned in Charles Goodyear's mind that one of his inventions, a soccer ball, will one day turn the world up side down. Never did he imagine that his efforts were to catapult football into being one of the richest sports on earth that does not only offer employment but bring with it entertainment, laughter, grief and tears.
Though the actual origins of a soccer ball are shrouded in obscurity, footballs have gone through a dramatic change over time. During medieval times balls were normally made from an outer shell of leather filled with cork shavings. Another method of creating a ball was using animal bladders for the inside of the ball making it inflatable. However, these two styles of creating footballs made it easy for the ball to puncture and were inadequate for kicking. It was not until the 19th century that footballs developed into what a football looks like today.
In 1838, Charles Goodyear introduced the use of rubber and his discoveries of Vulcanization, which dramatically improved the football. Vulcanization is the treatment of rubber to give it certain qualities such as strength, elasticity, and resistance to solvents. Vulcanization of rubber also helps the football resist moderate heat and cold. Vulcanization helped create inflatable bladders that pressurize the outer panel arrangement of the football.
Charles Goodyear's innovation increased the bounce ability of the ball and made it easier to kick. Most of the balls of this time had tanned leather with eighteen sections stitched together. These were arranged in six panels of three strips each. This gentleman's invention marked a turning point in the history of football.
Just like I mentioned before, it never dawned on him that his work could help the sport develop into arguably the most followed after game in the world. So many people love the game with all their hearts, bodies and souls to such an extent that when their teams are playing, they are glued to their television sets -- that is if they fail to be in the stadium -- concentrating so much that they don't want to be disturbed.
This usually brings a lot of conflicts within families especially between husband and wife. It is a well known fact that when major soccer tournaments such as the World Cup, African Cup of Nations, Champions League and so on starts, relationships are usually strained as many husbands tend to neglect their wives only to watch football. This is usually fueled by the fact that some women find nothing interesting in football rather than 22 insane men chasing a small rubber ball, kicking it for 90 minutes.
With the 2010 World Cup being around the corner, I think I need not to tell you what most women are feeling right now. To make matters worse, the games will be held a stone's throw away from Bongoland for the first time and this definitely makes it a must watch if not a must attend. To add insult to an injury the games will be played in June and it will be winter, a reason that will make women hate soccer more because they can't stomach the idea of being alone in bed while its cold because someone is waiting to watch a late night match.
Soccer does not only bring grief to women who become temporary widows when major soccer tournaments are staged but even players themselves are often seen crying after losing a match. No one wants to lose be they players, supporters or team owners. As a supporter of my favourite team, I usually fail to stomach defeat. This reminds me of a certain teacher of mine. He used to support one of the biggest clubs in the country and whenever his team was beaten, we all knew that for the rest of that week we would be in for a high jump. He could come and beat the lights out of everyone for no apparent reason. I did not understand it then but now I think I do.
The Dar derby featuring Simba and Yanga last week left a lot of broken hearts. The events last Sunday revealed a true reflection of what Goodyear's invention can do to a nation, especially a football crazy nation like Bongo. I did nothing but to enjoy the events as I am a neutral supporter. In other words, I don't support either of the two teams.
What I saw especially in some high density suburbs of Dar es Salaam was something out of this world. The place I stay did not have electricity so I couldn't follow the proceedings from the National Stadium, but that did not deter football-hungry and die hard fans from knowing what was happening. Most of them gathered around houses or places where there were radios that were connected to batteries.
There was no need for someone like me to ask the score line because I could tell the number of scores due to the fact that every time a team scored, commotion ensured as people shouted, running around and doing all sorts of weird things in the name of celebration. I remember seeing someone who became so ecstatic that he threw himself in a pool of muddy rainy water. When he picked himself up, he was nothing less than a vagabond.
The celebrations were so wild that some people threw away reason and dignity. What surprised me was that even women joined the fray. Some women could be seen running around, shouting and dancing ecstatically. They never cared about the presence of males near them to such an extent that their dancing left a lot of questions than answers especially to many people who were sober and watching the happenings from afar.
Some of these women never cared sending wrong messages as their dances turned suggestive. I remember seeing one lady dancing to an extent that her khanga, the only thing she was wrapping on herself, fell. What surprised me is that she never cared less, rather, she picked her khanga, covered herself and continued celebrating.
I think even the biblical King David, who is well known for dancing, could have witnessed this event then definitely he was going to surrender.
Some touts were carried away to an extent that they ended up exchanging blows. Some were supporters of Yanga while others were supporting Simba. The argument was kindled by some fans accusing the referee of favoritism while others were trying to justify their victory. I didn't know that Tanzania is awash with boxing talent to that extent. What I saw was talent that is being wasted as these guys are really talented when it comes to this game.
When the match finally ended, there was more drama now as Simba supporters were running around the dusty and narrow streets carrying their flags while singing and shouting. Traffic came to a halt as these guys blocked the streets, celebrating as if there was no tomorrow.
The Simba-Yanga matches always bring with them fireworks in this country. Die hard supporters are usually seen with flags or regalia even if their teams lose. This is a sign allegiance and shows maturity because when it comes to football, you either win or lose and life goes on.
Difficulties are however, faced when in a family the husband and wife support different teams. A story is told of a certain couple in Dar es Salaam. The husband supports Simba while the wife supports Yanga. So what happens is that, every time Yanga is beaten, the wife refuses to prepare supper and the husband will have to run around to make sure that the family doesn't sleep on empty stomachs. And, when Simba is beaten then the wife knows very well that that night she will have to spend it alone. The husband doesn't come home. It might seem stranger than fiction but dear reader this is no fiction, it's real. There are many stories we have heard of how couples deal with the situation in this case and we can share them.
What is important, however, is to note that though football brings with it wild celebrations, joy, grief, and broken hearts, it is a game that unites people. Whether the team you support wins or loses, it's game on and mpira ni mchezo, life goes on. God bless you.
bongoblast@thisday.co.tz
Thursday, April 29, 2010
When mothers' love is eroded, children suffer the consequences
Simbarashe Msasanuri (Bongoblast)
AFRICAN movies are undoubtedly taking Africa by storm, gaining popularity and winning the hearts of many viewers, especially women. Most of them are so touching to an extent that viewers are left without a choice but to follow them up to the end.
These movies have offered an alternative for viewers who for a long time had been exposed to high-budget films that are full of fiction and violence. In fact, many fingers were beginning to point at these Hollywood-made films as the major cause of moral disintegration, cultural imperialism and the ever increasing cases of deviance within our society.
These are the same movies that are also blamed for having our women walk along the streets half naked in the name of fashion. As if this was not enough, the films have also been blamed for the increase in teenage pregnancies as they are said to encourage sex among youth because they show the act live in some of the scenes. The list is endless.
So, that is why the coming in of these African movies was a relief as most of them observe African traditions, norms and values. Most of them can be viewed by the whole family without someone feeling uncomfortable.
I have watched an ad-infinitum number of these movies, most of them with respectable people, but I don’t remember feeling out of place because of an uncomfortable scene. Don’t get me wrong, not all are perfect as we have some that are just replicas of the western films. Never mind them because today we are not dealing with those.
What made these films so popular are the touching themes that revolve around witchcraft, hatred, love, child abuse, Christianity and riches just but to mention a few. Amongst a barrage of criticisms on these movies is them possessing a predictable ending. If you watch one movie and if you happen to come across another one with the same theme, it is very easy to predict the ending and in most cases your prediction will be correct. The industry seems to be battling to deal with monotony and creativity when it comes to films.
Besides these criticisms, the industry managed to produce a lot of actors who are now famous. I don’t know whether they are rich or not but notable names from Nollywood are Ramsey Noah, Emeka Ike, the notorious midgets Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, Frances Nsokwu and Amaechi Muonagor, just but to mention a few. Forgive me dear reader, these are some of the names that just came into mind, in case I left one of your favourite actors.
Among these actors is one that I like to hate. This woman plays her role so well that you won’t have any option but to hate her. Her real name is Patience Ozokwor, known by her name as Mama Azuka in one of the films. She is always good when it comes to acting as a ruthless, evil and greedy woman.
Mrs Uzokwor is a popular actress who plays the role of a wicked woman so well. In fact, many people find it difficult to separate her role in drama from her actions in real life
She is so popular when it comes to child abuse, especially her step children while pampering her own. Step children are made to suffer and labour by tilling land, doing all the donkey work while her children are enjoying.
To be frank, I am still to come across a film where a mother mistreats her own children. We all know that, even if these films are based on fictitious stories, they reflect the way of life of a society and its people.
It is unfortunate that besides being fed up with these African movies, we continue experiencing and witnessing stranger than fiction scripts that are being written by some of our women today.
I really don’t know what is happening to humanity but what ever it is then we have been bewitched by the dead. Whatever is eroding mother’s love from most women in this country should be too powerful and seems to be irresistible as our media are awash with a lot of awkward and bizarre stories of mothers ill-treating or even killing their own children because of something as little as 1000/-.
A Dar es Salaam woman recently was nabbed by the police for causing grievous bodily harm to her child after accusing him of stealing 1 000/-. The woman thought of the best and deterrent way of punishing the child, grabbed the nearby razor blade and cut the child’s hands.
The cuts were so deep and many that the child’s hands were greatly affected. Asked why she did it, the woman blamed it on anger. The visibly ashamed mother who had to hide her face by covering her head using a khanga said she could not control her anger.
However, after doing the hideous act, the woman failed to atone for her sins by helping the boy get medical treatment. She was dilly-dallying about the case until an alert teacher reported the case to the responsible authorities, leading to the mother’s arrest.
This is not the only case, they are too many to mention. The love for money is fast driving our women into mama Azukas, who stop at nothing as long as they get what they want.
Most people forget that children have rights too. Carrying a child in your womb for nine months does not give a person the right to ill-treat him. Just like in the African movies, the good will always prevail over the evil and the law usually takes it’s course. Woe to those who treat their own children, as if they were forced to have them, as they will face the music.
Whatever happened to the long-held belief that mlee mtoto atakulea kesho? How do today’s parents expect their children to look after them in their old age when they are mistreating them now. Children are gifts from God and they need love and protection.
Parents should know that there is always a better way of disciplining a child. If we over do it, then we will be merely digging our own graves as that will have a negative impact on our children, who in most cases are left without choice but become thugs.
Though the law usually takes its own course, with the perpetrators facing the music, it remains sad, however, that by ill-treating a child, we are inflicting permanent scars that usually will have a direct bearing to their characters and behaviours.
The society should not fold hands and watch children being abused. They should confront those devious parents and rescue these innocent and defenseless children. It is everyone’s duty to make a better Tanzania by protecting children, who are leaders of tomorrow. God bless you.
bongoblast@thisday.co.tz
AFRICAN movies are undoubtedly taking Africa by storm, gaining popularity and winning the hearts of many viewers, especially women. Most of them are so touching to an extent that viewers are left without a choice but to follow them up to the end.
These movies have offered an alternative for viewers who for a long time had been exposed to high-budget films that are full of fiction and violence. In fact, many fingers were beginning to point at these Hollywood-made films as the major cause of moral disintegration, cultural imperialism and the ever increasing cases of deviance within our society.
These are the same movies that are also blamed for having our women walk along the streets half naked in the name of fashion. As if this was not enough, the films have also been blamed for the increase in teenage pregnancies as they are said to encourage sex among youth because they show the act live in some of the scenes. The list is endless.
So, that is why the coming in of these African movies was a relief as most of them observe African traditions, norms and values. Most of them can be viewed by the whole family without someone feeling uncomfortable.
I have watched an ad-infinitum number of these movies, most of them with respectable people, but I don’t remember feeling out of place because of an uncomfortable scene. Don’t get me wrong, not all are perfect as we have some that are just replicas of the western films. Never mind them because today we are not dealing with those.
What made these films so popular are the touching themes that revolve around witchcraft, hatred, love, child abuse, Christianity and riches just but to mention a few. Amongst a barrage of criticisms on these movies is them possessing a predictable ending. If you watch one movie and if you happen to come across another one with the same theme, it is very easy to predict the ending and in most cases your prediction will be correct. The industry seems to be battling to deal with monotony and creativity when it comes to films.
Besides these criticisms, the industry managed to produce a lot of actors who are now famous. I don’t know whether they are rich or not but notable names from Nollywood are Ramsey Noah, Emeka Ike, the notorious midgets Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, Frances Nsokwu and Amaechi Muonagor, just but to mention a few. Forgive me dear reader, these are some of the names that just came into mind, in case I left one of your favourite actors.
Among these actors is one that I like to hate. This woman plays her role so well that you won’t have any option but to hate her. Her real name is Patience Ozokwor, known by her name as Mama Azuka in one of the films. She is always good when it comes to acting as a ruthless, evil and greedy woman.
Mrs Uzokwor is a popular actress who plays the role of a wicked woman so well. In fact, many people find it difficult to separate her role in drama from her actions in real life
She is so popular when it comes to child abuse, especially her step children while pampering her own. Step children are made to suffer and labour by tilling land, doing all the donkey work while her children are enjoying.
To be frank, I am still to come across a film where a mother mistreats her own children. We all know that, even if these films are based on fictitious stories, they reflect the way of life of a society and its people.
It is unfortunate that besides being fed up with these African movies, we continue experiencing and witnessing stranger than fiction scripts that are being written by some of our women today.
I really don’t know what is happening to humanity but what ever it is then we have been bewitched by the dead. Whatever is eroding mother’s love from most women in this country should be too powerful and seems to be irresistible as our media are awash with a lot of awkward and bizarre stories of mothers ill-treating or even killing their own children because of something as little as 1000/-.
A Dar es Salaam woman recently was nabbed by the police for causing grievous bodily harm to her child after accusing him of stealing 1 000/-. The woman thought of the best and deterrent way of punishing the child, grabbed the nearby razor blade and cut the child’s hands.
The cuts were so deep and many that the child’s hands were greatly affected. Asked why she did it, the woman blamed it on anger. The visibly ashamed mother who had to hide her face by covering her head using a khanga said she could not control her anger.
However, after doing the hideous act, the woman failed to atone for her sins by helping the boy get medical treatment. She was dilly-dallying about the case until an alert teacher reported the case to the responsible authorities, leading to the mother’s arrest.
This is not the only case, they are too many to mention. The love for money is fast driving our women into mama Azukas, who stop at nothing as long as they get what they want.
Most people forget that children have rights too. Carrying a child in your womb for nine months does not give a person the right to ill-treat him. Just like in the African movies, the good will always prevail over the evil and the law usually takes it’s course. Woe to those who treat their own children, as if they were forced to have them, as they will face the music.
Whatever happened to the long-held belief that mlee mtoto atakulea kesho? How do today’s parents expect their children to look after them in their old age when they are mistreating them now. Children are gifts from God and they need love and protection.
Parents should know that there is always a better way of disciplining a child. If we over do it, then we will be merely digging our own graves as that will have a negative impact on our children, who in most cases are left without choice but become thugs.
Though the law usually takes its own course, with the perpetrators facing the music, it remains sad, however, that by ill-treating a child, we are inflicting permanent scars that usually will have a direct bearing to their characters and behaviours.
The society should not fold hands and watch children being abused. They should confront those devious parents and rescue these innocent and defenseless children. It is everyone’s duty to make a better Tanzania by protecting children, who are leaders of tomorrow. God bless you.
bongoblast@thisday.co.tz
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