The most fun

Of the occasions in life for being happy, playing at the beach perhaps tops the list when you're young.

In the distance, tiny silhouettes... the kids have the beach pretty much to themselves today.  Big sister and grandma are watching from the shore, in case you were wondering. 






In an as yet undiscovered country, smaller than most actually, the beaches are rarely crowded and then, not with tourists.  

Local folks enjoy the beauty and moderate weather of the equatorial climate.  Sao Tome & Principe is a tiny island country in the Gulf of Guinea on the western side of Africa.

It used to be a Portuguese colony, but has been independent since the seventies.  Among the world's nicest folks.  No significant violence or crime, no really dangerous animals, and no reason to rush.

Click on the pictures; they're hi-rez.

It's a rare blessing to visit such a place.   

It's Friday afternoon, and all things considered, I'd rather be in Africa.

(just some photos from a recent trip; reminders in this cold February of what it's like to be warm)

African harvest!

Dad and daughters at the family farm;
this is what successful business looks like!
Sao Tome & Principe, West Africa

OKRA!

Our friends show off the okra on their farm. Apparently, this stuff is prolific in the right climate. Dad and daughters say they walk through the okra section about once a week to pull down a fair number of pods; more than enough to eat and to sell. It's healthy stuff, of course.

This year's upgrade to the farm; they've run a water line to the northern edge. It lets them water the plants that are sensitive to the need. The climate is fairly polite about raining when you need it, but having a water line means you can maximize the return from your work.
Okra, beans, corn (maize), manioc, and a lot of things I don't recognize. Palm oil too. My friends are hard workers, and it was entertaining for us all to walk the farm; they're justifiably proud of their success. 
Mom and baby boy (left); he's grown a bit, we notice; about 6 feet tall now.  

They live maybe two miles from the ocean. Beautiful and still undiscovered by most of the world.

I don't take most of the photos you see, by the way. The kids do, usually, and sometimes their folks get in on the fun.

Mom and girls on an unoccupied beach; if it was anywhere near my house, I'd be here instead of home most days.

 

Little hands

A child's hand prints; she politely asked for help.

A precious young lady, perhaps ten years old, came to my window as I waited at a gas station. Under-nourished like so many, she simply and politely asked for money, as children here often do. I gave her what I had and wept as she disappeared into the slums. Her dusty little hands left their mark on the window sill. That's the picture I could bring myself to take, but I can still see her face, and I can still hear her voice. It's been two years, and I guess I've chosen not to forget.

Among the places one might go, there are

some where they perhaps shouldn't.

In Africa, there are many pictures that I can't take.  The  weak and fragile are not a photo opportunity for me. I find it difficult just to meet them. The first time was a shattering experience; and afterwards, you can't just walk away.

Elsewhere, gracious folks are glad to be part of your photos. Here, cautious but friendly kids; a couple of them have the courage to wave at their visitor. This is Balbala, the largest slum in their country, and a somewhat dangerous place, we discovered. Should have paid closer attention to the area security info online, I guess.

With friends watching TV

Elsewhere in Africa with friends one evening, sitting on the floor and watching television; there's just the one TV channel in this country.  One of the kids took this picture of us. Among the world's nicest folks, they are gracious and willing to make a place for a clumsy foreigner in their midst.







Below with my adoptive family, little children enjoy an incredibly perfect afternoon at the beach; they as yet have no idea about the years ahead or the difficulties they will face. For today, sunshine and ocean, family and time to play.

In Sao Tome & Principe, a beautiful island country in Africa, 

kids bounce in the surf.

Wise Child

Kids from the rowdy neighborhood.

Not-so-old friends,

West Africa.

Africa teaches.

In some ways, children are wiser than adults, it seems.

A child can be happy in the moment, provided just a few things are satisfied.  If they're loved and fed, clothed and healthy, it's easy for them to relax and enjoy the moment.

Life is much more difficult than that for most folks, of course, and not every day is joyful, yet the children ... well, in a given moment, it seems they're able to enjoy themselves and each other.

Showing off, just for fun. 
Ethiopia.

Perhaps the secret is in a child's trusting heart.  They're cared for.  Mom and dad are watching out for them.  The community watches over them, too.  It's safe and secure.

Except you become as a little child, you'll not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Now that's an odd statement.  Is it just pretty words, or is there something of substance there?

Samuel and the kids clowning around

for the camera.  Kenya.

Dear friends on the desert's

edge.  Djibouti.

What might there be in the willingness of a child, the quick openness of their young hearts and minds, that would commend them to all the rest of us as role models?

If we asked, would they tell us?  :)

Mister, take my picture!

Mister, mister!  Take our picture, mister; this is my brother and my cousin.  Just for fun. 

It was five years ago this week that I met these young fellows.  Five years and maybe 25,000 pictures ago; and everything has changed.

This is Felicia in the middle of her daddy's field.  There's okra and corn, tomatoes and cassava, and other mystery plants.  Her family is a part of ours now, along with several dozen others here.  More in Ethiopia, precious friends.  More in Djibouti and many more in Kenya, and they're such a joy.

2012

2007

Who'd think five years could unveil such a change.

This is a youngster from a rowdy community of delightful people.  Hard working, tough minded, and graciously tolerant of the visiting white guy.  Over the years, we've become friends, sort of.  I'm the semi-official photographer for the community.  We print hundreds of photos for the various communities and families.


Go, see for yourself.
Or lend a hand!

No Two Places

No two African places are the same, of course, and the peoples are broadly diverse.

Joseph and his family
are Mijikenda.

Barack Obama's family comes
from the Luo tribe. 
I've met some of them.  When they find
out I'm American, they ask if I know
Obama, and they're a bit surprised
that I haven't met him in person. 

The 40 million folks of Kenya, for example, are variously Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, Luo, Kamba, Kisii, Mijikenda, Meru, Turkana, and Maasai. A few from other ethnic groups (Arabs, Indians, and Europeans) are there as well.


Are there differences? Why, yes there are.  (And there are between 40 and 70 tribes, depending on how you count, they tell us.)

The Mijikenda (Swahili for 'nine homes') are a group of nine sub-tribes.  They settled in Kenya in the 16th century, and now spread along the coast from Somalia in the north to Tanzania.  The Mijikenda are considered the best cooks among the Kenyan tribes, by the way.  Rice cooked in coconut milk is a specialty down south among the Digo sub-tribe.  Not bad, really.

Ask them. They'll tell you all kinds of stories about their history and culture.

Abdul and his family are Arab.

Isaac, my friend and personal
adviser, is Maasai.  He tells
me which of the local
vendors are crooks.

As varied as they are culturally, they all get along quite well together. At least regular folks do. The crooks and the politicians (but I repeat myself) seem to be the annoying exception.

Mijikenda kids in Shanzu.

East of Mombasa, children play jump rope with a vine they found.

Oh, the young lady in the 'AFRICA' photo up top is from Djibouti and a nice family.  They're friends of ours too, and from Somalia, I think.

You should go and see for yourself.  Coastal Kenya and the highlands are wonderful.