Feature p14
Yohannes Tilahun talks about his lifefamily and careers
Innovation p29
The Android App for Environment Education
Style p18
Style up with and dress up with boots
wwwrizikimagcom
Africans
Empowering
Entertaining
Educating
Inspiring
ISSUE 3APRIL 2013
contents
13
8
6Tired of Bad habitsSelf
10Never too late or early to care about Breast cancer
Health
7The delicious easy to make KOKOTENDE
Recipe
17Nathan Apina at the park
Fashionista
Riziki LLc is the parent company of Riziki Magazine which was established July 2012
This digital publication reaches Africans worldwide and is published tri-monthly
Every day for us is an adventure full of exciting stories We want to showcase promote support inspire and educate others
wwwrizikimagcom
30
24
20
22
The African language Map
Africa A Continent not a country
28The young multi-lingual lea Neema Elizabeth
Inspire
26AfricaThe AfricanPoetry
25Chop your cable TV billYour Money
29EntventureEnvironment Education Android App
Innovation
Riziki LLc is the parent company of Riziki Magazine which was established July 2012
This digital publication reaches Africans worldwide and is published tri-monthly
Every day for us is an adventure full of exciting stories We want to showcase promote support inspire and educate others
18Style up and dress up with Boots
Style
wwwrizikimagcom
Not too long ago we were wishing each other a Happy New year and it looks like the year is speeding to its end Have you been able to keep
some if not all of the resolutions you made If not our main feature on Yohaness Tilahun should be able to inspire you to get back to the path you had set out for yourself even if you had veered off
We remember Chinua Achebe who placed African writing on the world literary map I encourage you to pick up one of the titles mentioned or both if you are so inclined in his memory even if you have read them before
On innovation we feature EntVenture a project by Chepkoilel University College in Kenya which will help you gain knowledge on the characteristics and benefits of forests
Also in this edition Learsquos adventures prove that at whatever age you can make a difference in fact the younger the better You may wish to make a difference on your monthly bills as well and we try to offer you some tips on how to do so painlessly
Happy Reading
Editorrsquos noteKaribu
Our TeamChristine Oduor
EDITOR
A freelance translator writer and blogger She holds advanced degrees in French and Journalism
Resides in Tunis Tunisia
Kawira Njeru
Aouthor of Coming Home
httpkawiratateauthorcom httpkawiracnblogspotcom
Resides in Germany
Joyce Mugun
Author of What a Kenyan felt
httpwwwbarnesandnoblecomwwhat-a-kenyan-felt-joyce-mugun1016531596ean=9781441502193
Resides in Alabama USA
Florence Chirchir
ldquoOther than teaching I am interested in personal growth and development I am largely involved in career guidance besides writing I teach French and Swahili and also holds training in Human Resource ManagementrdquoResides in Kenya
Yena Balekyani
High school student originally from Congo and now in Iowa Resides in Iowa
Eli Loltome
Illustrator and graphic designer Resides in Kenya
Joy Chelagat and Nehwoen Luogon
Contributing writers
Sammy Mwirotsi
Web design and develipment
Jim NJoroge
Layout and Design
Christine
COVER MODELDaphne Ngrsquoelechei Nelson mother of 2 (Soraya 22 months and Eli 4 months) United States Air Force Spouse and a graduate nurse
4 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
From the founderFrom the founderFrom the founder
Thank you thus far for your support of our magazine We are growing each day and in each day we are making a profound difference
From having an amazing team we also work with young adults encouraging and helping them nurture their young talent We are a lucky bunch for sure and excited on this amazing journey
Updates on what we are working on
We are partnering with Shoe4Africa as our Charity for year 2013 They are building the very first free children in East Africa YEAH We know that so many kids lives will be saved and you just canrsquot beat that Follow Shoe4Africa HERE
We are working on a Riziki Scholarship Fund We are hoping to offer a few scholarships to young deserving kids in African Check out our next issue for more details
Nancy Mwirotsi
We need to think
of the future and
the planet we are
going to leave to
our children and
their children
Kofi Annan
copy Copyright 2012 Riziki LLC All Rights Reserved Any copyingredistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of thisservice without the express written consent of Riziki LLC is
expressly prohibited
wwwrizikimagcomRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 5
ITrsquoS TIMEhellipBad habits have this magnetic pull
that makes breaking them an uphill task New Year resolutions target good habits we want to adopt and bad ones that we want to give up One may try to quit pouting control-ling anger overeating overspending or getting out of debt with different levels of success For the majority it is easier to live with the bad habits a little longer if only to try quitting later when strong enough to resist their pull
Bad habits rob you of peace You know you ought not to be engag-ing in it yet you end up doing it all the same You get the same results all the time you end up feeling bad and the cycle continues ldquoI just canrsquot help ithelliprdquo has become your com-mon refrain In his book First Things First Stephen Covey talks of some space between thought and action This space allows one to either go ahead with the conceived thought
or not to take any action all together Thoughts thus do not automatically translate into action Simply put what you end up with is what you decide on at that point so yes you can help it
Imagine for a moment that your mother takes you aside then at-tempts to breastfeed you at the age you are nowhellip Would you go ahead and suckle A resounding no Why then would you keep feeding a de-structive habit or a seemingly harm-less tendency that you have always wanted to quit By now you must have had enough of it so you need to be decisive Resolve to quit once and for all Forge ahead no matter the temptation to go back to it There is a whole lot more in the future to be explored than in the past that cannot be reclaimed
You will have to replace the old habit with a new one to fill the vacuum created in your life by its absence Figure out new things that you have
always wanted to do and put your heart and mind into them It could be spending more time with the family playing with your children exercising starting to put some money into a savings account or simply complain-ing less Start with small steps and gradually progress to higher levels Do not lose track of your goal You have to identify your objective and shun the side shows which come in the form of unsupportive friends and relatives low self esteem realities in life such as a poor economy ill health loss of loved ones and fatigue from having tried over and over Adapt to the reality of your situation and keep going for you will certainly get there someday It is time to create differ-ent satisfying experiences for you You always have a choice are you ready To paraphrase James Mich-ener may you have the courage to face temporary defeat and not lose forward motion
Happy and successful 2013
Tired of bad habits
SelfYou will have to
replace the old
habit with a new
one to fill the
vacuum created
in your life by its
absence Figure
out new things
that you have
always wanted to
do and put your
heart and mind
into them
Florence Chirchir
Recipe
6 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
contents
13
8
6Tired of Bad habitsSelf
10Never too late or early to care about Breast cancer
Health
7The delicious easy to make KOKOTENDE
Recipe
17Nathan Apina at the park
Fashionista
Riziki LLc is the parent company of Riziki Magazine which was established July 2012
This digital publication reaches Africans worldwide and is published tri-monthly
Every day for us is an adventure full of exciting stories We want to showcase promote support inspire and educate others
wwwrizikimagcom
30
24
20
22
The African language Map
Africa A Continent not a country
28The young multi-lingual lea Neema Elizabeth
Inspire
26AfricaThe AfricanPoetry
25Chop your cable TV billYour Money
29EntventureEnvironment Education Android App
Innovation
Riziki LLc is the parent company of Riziki Magazine which was established July 2012
This digital publication reaches Africans worldwide and is published tri-monthly
Every day for us is an adventure full of exciting stories We want to showcase promote support inspire and educate others
18Style up and dress up with Boots
Style
wwwrizikimagcom
Not too long ago we were wishing each other a Happy New year and it looks like the year is speeding to its end Have you been able to keep
some if not all of the resolutions you made If not our main feature on Yohaness Tilahun should be able to inspire you to get back to the path you had set out for yourself even if you had veered off
We remember Chinua Achebe who placed African writing on the world literary map I encourage you to pick up one of the titles mentioned or both if you are so inclined in his memory even if you have read them before
On innovation we feature EntVenture a project by Chepkoilel University College in Kenya which will help you gain knowledge on the characteristics and benefits of forests
Also in this edition Learsquos adventures prove that at whatever age you can make a difference in fact the younger the better You may wish to make a difference on your monthly bills as well and we try to offer you some tips on how to do so painlessly
Happy Reading
Editorrsquos noteKaribu
Our TeamChristine Oduor
EDITOR
A freelance translator writer and blogger She holds advanced degrees in French and Journalism
Resides in Tunis Tunisia
Kawira Njeru
Aouthor of Coming Home
httpkawiratateauthorcom httpkawiracnblogspotcom
Resides in Germany
Joyce Mugun
Author of What a Kenyan felt
httpwwwbarnesandnoblecomwwhat-a-kenyan-felt-joyce-mugun1016531596ean=9781441502193
Resides in Alabama USA
Florence Chirchir
ldquoOther than teaching I am interested in personal growth and development I am largely involved in career guidance besides writing I teach French and Swahili and also holds training in Human Resource ManagementrdquoResides in Kenya
Yena Balekyani
High school student originally from Congo and now in Iowa Resides in Iowa
Eli Loltome
Illustrator and graphic designer Resides in Kenya
Joy Chelagat and Nehwoen Luogon
Contributing writers
Sammy Mwirotsi
Web design and develipment
Jim NJoroge
Layout and Design
Christine
COVER MODELDaphne Ngrsquoelechei Nelson mother of 2 (Soraya 22 months and Eli 4 months) United States Air Force Spouse and a graduate nurse
4 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
From the founderFrom the founderFrom the founder
Thank you thus far for your support of our magazine We are growing each day and in each day we are making a profound difference
From having an amazing team we also work with young adults encouraging and helping them nurture their young talent We are a lucky bunch for sure and excited on this amazing journey
Updates on what we are working on
We are partnering with Shoe4Africa as our Charity for year 2013 They are building the very first free children in East Africa YEAH We know that so many kids lives will be saved and you just canrsquot beat that Follow Shoe4Africa HERE
We are working on a Riziki Scholarship Fund We are hoping to offer a few scholarships to young deserving kids in African Check out our next issue for more details
Nancy Mwirotsi
We need to think
of the future and
the planet we are
going to leave to
our children and
their children
Kofi Annan
copy Copyright 2012 Riziki LLC All Rights Reserved Any copyingredistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of thisservice without the express written consent of Riziki LLC is
expressly prohibited
wwwrizikimagcomRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 5
ITrsquoS TIMEhellipBad habits have this magnetic pull
that makes breaking them an uphill task New Year resolutions target good habits we want to adopt and bad ones that we want to give up One may try to quit pouting control-ling anger overeating overspending or getting out of debt with different levels of success For the majority it is easier to live with the bad habits a little longer if only to try quitting later when strong enough to resist their pull
Bad habits rob you of peace You know you ought not to be engag-ing in it yet you end up doing it all the same You get the same results all the time you end up feeling bad and the cycle continues ldquoI just canrsquot help ithelliprdquo has become your com-mon refrain In his book First Things First Stephen Covey talks of some space between thought and action This space allows one to either go ahead with the conceived thought
or not to take any action all together Thoughts thus do not automatically translate into action Simply put what you end up with is what you decide on at that point so yes you can help it
Imagine for a moment that your mother takes you aside then at-tempts to breastfeed you at the age you are nowhellip Would you go ahead and suckle A resounding no Why then would you keep feeding a de-structive habit or a seemingly harm-less tendency that you have always wanted to quit By now you must have had enough of it so you need to be decisive Resolve to quit once and for all Forge ahead no matter the temptation to go back to it There is a whole lot more in the future to be explored than in the past that cannot be reclaimed
You will have to replace the old habit with a new one to fill the vacuum created in your life by its absence Figure out new things that you have
always wanted to do and put your heart and mind into them It could be spending more time with the family playing with your children exercising starting to put some money into a savings account or simply complain-ing less Start with small steps and gradually progress to higher levels Do not lose track of your goal You have to identify your objective and shun the side shows which come in the form of unsupportive friends and relatives low self esteem realities in life such as a poor economy ill health loss of loved ones and fatigue from having tried over and over Adapt to the reality of your situation and keep going for you will certainly get there someday It is time to create differ-ent satisfying experiences for you You always have a choice are you ready To paraphrase James Mich-ener may you have the courage to face temporary defeat and not lose forward motion
Happy and successful 2013
Tired of bad habits
SelfYou will have to
replace the old
habit with a new
one to fill the
vacuum created
in your life by its
absence Figure
out new things
that you have
always wanted to
do and put your
heart and mind
into them
Florence Chirchir
Recipe
6 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
30
24
20
22
The African language Map
Africa A Continent not a country
28The young multi-lingual lea Neema Elizabeth
Inspire
26AfricaThe AfricanPoetry
25Chop your cable TV billYour Money
29EntventureEnvironment Education Android App
Innovation
Riziki LLc is the parent company of Riziki Magazine which was established July 2012
This digital publication reaches Africans worldwide and is published tri-monthly
Every day for us is an adventure full of exciting stories We want to showcase promote support inspire and educate others
18Style up and dress up with Boots
Style
wwwrizikimagcom
Not too long ago we were wishing each other a Happy New year and it looks like the year is speeding to its end Have you been able to keep
some if not all of the resolutions you made If not our main feature on Yohaness Tilahun should be able to inspire you to get back to the path you had set out for yourself even if you had veered off
We remember Chinua Achebe who placed African writing on the world literary map I encourage you to pick up one of the titles mentioned or both if you are so inclined in his memory even if you have read them before
On innovation we feature EntVenture a project by Chepkoilel University College in Kenya which will help you gain knowledge on the characteristics and benefits of forests
Also in this edition Learsquos adventures prove that at whatever age you can make a difference in fact the younger the better You may wish to make a difference on your monthly bills as well and we try to offer you some tips on how to do so painlessly
Happy Reading
Editorrsquos noteKaribu
Our TeamChristine Oduor
EDITOR
A freelance translator writer and blogger She holds advanced degrees in French and Journalism
Resides in Tunis Tunisia
Kawira Njeru
Aouthor of Coming Home
httpkawiratateauthorcom httpkawiracnblogspotcom
Resides in Germany
Joyce Mugun
Author of What a Kenyan felt
httpwwwbarnesandnoblecomwwhat-a-kenyan-felt-joyce-mugun1016531596ean=9781441502193
Resides in Alabama USA
Florence Chirchir
ldquoOther than teaching I am interested in personal growth and development I am largely involved in career guidance besides writing I teach French and Swahili and also holds training in Human Resource ManagementrdquoResides in Kenya
Yena Balekyani
High school student originally from Congo and now in Iowa Resides in Iowa
Eli Loltome
Illustrator and graphic designer Resides in Kenya
Joy Chelagat and Nehwoen Luogon
Contributing writers
Sammy Mwirotsi
Web design and develipment
Jim NJoroge
Layout and Design
Christine
COVER MODELDaphne Ngrsquoelechei Nelson mother of 2 (Soraya 22 months and Eli 4 months) United States Air Force Spouse and a graduate nurse
4 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
From the founderFrom the founderFrom the founder
Thank you thus far for your support of our magazine We are growing each day and in each day we are making a profound difference
From having an amazing team we also work with young adults encouraging and helping them nurture their young talent We are a lucky bunch for sure and excited on this amazing journey
Updates on what we are working on
We are partnering with Shoe4Africa as our Charity for year 2013 They are building the very first free children in East Africa YEAH We know that so many kids lives will be saved and you just canrsquot beat that Follow Shoe4Africa HERE
We are working on a Riziki Scholarship Fund We are hoping to offer a few scholarships to young deserving kids in African Check out our next issue for more details
Nancy Mwirotsi
We need to think
of the future and
the planet we are
going to leave to
our children and
their children
Kofi Annan
copy Copyright 2012 Riziki LLC All Rights Reserved Any copyingredistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of thisservice without the express written consent of Riziki LLC is
expressly prohibited
wwwrizikimagcomRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 5
ITrsquoS TIMEhellipBad habits have this magnetic pull
that makes breaking them an uphill task New Year resolutions target good habits we want to adopt and bad ones that we want to give up One may try to quit pouting control-ling anger overeating overspending or getting out of debt with different levels of success For the majority it is easier to live with the bad habits a little longer if only to try quitting later when strong enough to resist their pull
Bad habits rob you of peace You know you ought not to be engag-ing in it yet you end up doing it all the same You get the same results all the time you end up feeling bad and the cycle continues ldquoI just canrsquot help ithelliprdquo has become your com-mon refrain In his book First Things First Stephen Covey talks of some space between thought and action This space allows one to either go ahead with the conceived thought
or not to take any action all together Thoughts thus do not automatically translate into action Simply put what you end up with is what you decide on at that point so yes you can help it
Imagine for a moment that your mother takes you aside then at-tempts to breastfeed you at the age you are nowhellip Would you go ahead and suckle A resounding no Why then would you keep feeding a de-structive habit or a seemingly harm-less tendency that you have always wanted to quit By now you must have had enough of it so you need to be decisive Resolve to quit once and for all Forge ahead no matter the temptation to go back to it There is a whole lot more in the future to be explored than in the past that cannot be reclaimed
You will have to replace the old habit with a new one to fill the vacuum created in your life by its absence Figure out new things that you have
always wanted to do and put your heart and mind into them It could be spending more time with the family playing with your children exercising starting to put some money into a savings account or simply complain-ing less Start with small steps and gradually progress to higher levels Do not lose track of your goal You have to identify your objective and shun the side shows which come in the form of unsupportive friends and relatives low self esteem realities in life such as a poor economy ill health loss of loved ones and fatigue from having tried over and over Adapt to the reality of your situation and keep going for you will certainly get there someday It is time to create differ-ent satisfying experiences for you You always have a choice are you ready To paraphrase James Mich-ener may you have the courage to face temporary defeat and not lose forward motion
Happy and successful 2013
Tired of bad habits
SelfYou will have to
replace the old
habit with a new
one to fill the
vacuum created
in your life by its
absence Figure
out new things
that you have
always wanted to
do and put your
heart and mind
into them
Florence Chirchir
Recipe
6 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Not too long ago we were wishing each other a Happy New year and it looks like the year is speeding to its end Have you been able to keep
some if not all of the resolutions you made If not our main feature on Yohaness Tilahun should be able to inspire you to get back to the path you had set out for yourself even if you had veered off
We remember Chinua Achebe who placed African writing on the world literary map I encourage you to pick up one of the titles mentioned or both if you are so inclined in his memory even if you have read them before
On innovation we feature EntVenture a project by Chepkoilel University College in Kenya which will help you gain knowledge on the characteristics and benefits of forests
Also in this edition Learsquos adventures prove that at whatever age you can make a difference in fact the younger the better You may wish to make a difference on your monthly bills as well and we try to offer you some tips on how to do so painlessly
Happy Reading
Editorrsquos noteKaribu
Our TeamChristine Oduor
EDITOR
A freelance translator writer and blogger She holds advanced degrees in French and Journalism
Resides in Tunis Tunisia
Kawira Njeru
Aouthor of Coming Home
httpkawiratateauthorcom httpkawiracnblogspotcom
Resides in Germany
Joyce Mugun
Author of What a Kenyan felt
httpwwwbarnesandnoblecomwwhat-a-kenyan-felt-joyce-mugun1016531596ean=9781441502193
Resides in Alabama USA
Florence Chirchir
ldquoOther than teaching I am interested in personal growth and development I am largely involved in career guidance besides writing I teach French and Swahili and also holds training in Human Resource ManagementrdquoResides in Kenya
Yena Balekyani
High school student originally from Congo and now in Iowa Resides in Iowa
Eli Loltome
Illustrator and graphic designer Resides in Kenya
Joy Chelagat and Nehwoen Luogon
Contributing writers
Sammy Mwirotsi
Web design and develipment
Jim NJoroge
Layout and Design
Christine
COVER MODELDaphne Ngrsquoelechei Nelson mother of 2 (Soraya 22 months and Eli 4 months) United States Air Force Spouse and a graduate nurse
4 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
From the founderFrom the founderFrom the founder
Thank you thus far for your support of our magazine We are growing each day and in each day we are making a profound difference
From having an amazing team we also work with young adults encouraging and helping them nurture their young talent We are a lucky bunch for sure and excited on this amazing journey
Updates on what we are working on
We are partnering with Shoe4Africa as our Charity for year 2013 They are building the very first free children in East Africa YEAH We know that so many kids lives will be saved and you just canrsquot beat that Follow Shoe4Africa HERE
We are working on a Riziki Scholarship Fund We are hoping to offer a few scholarships to young deserving kids in African Check out our next issue for more details
Nancy Mwirotsi
We need to think
of the future and
the planet we are
going to leave to
our children and
their children
Kofi Annan
copy Copyright 2012 Riziki LLC All Rights Reserved Any copyingredistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of thisservice without the express written consent of Riziki LLC is
expressly prohibited
wwwrizikimagcomRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 5
ITrsquoS TIMEhellipBad habits have this magnetic pull
that makes breaking them an uphill task New Year resolutions target good habits we want to adopt and bad ones that we want to give up One may try to quit pouting control-ling anger overeating overspending or getting out of debt with different levels of success For the majority it is easier to live with the bad habits a little longer if only to try quitting later when strong enough to resist their pull
Bad habits rob you of peace You know you ought not to be engag-ing in it yet you end up doing it all the same You get the same results all the time you end up feeling bad and the cycle continues ldquoI just canrsquot help ithelliprdquo has become your com-mon refrain In his book First Things First Stephen Covey talks of some space between thought and action This space allows one to either go ahead with the conceived thought
or not to take any action all together Thoughts thus do not automatically translate into action Simply put what you end up with is what you decide on at that point so yes you can help it
Imagine for a moment that your mother takes you aside then at-tempts to breastfeed you at the age you are nowhellip Would you go ahead and suckle A resounding no Why then would you keep feeding a de-structive habit or a seemingly harm-less tendency that you have always wanted to quit By now you must have had enough of it so you need to be decisive Resolve to quit once and for all Forge ahead no matter the temptation to go back to it There is a whole lot more in the future to be explored than in the past that cannot be reclaimed
You will have to replace the old habit with a new one to fill the vacuum created in your life by its absence Figure out new things that you have
always wanted to do and put your heart and mind into them It could be spending more time with the family playing with your children exercising starting to put some money into a savings account or simply complain-ing less Start with small steps and gradually progress to higher levels Do not lose track of your goal You have to identify your objective and shun the side shows which come in the form of unsupportive friends and relatives low self esteem realities in life such as a poor economy ill health loss of loved ones and fatigue from having tried over and over Adapt to the reality of your situation and keep going for you will certainly get there someday It is time to create differ-ent satisfying experiences for you You always have a choice are you ready To paraphrase James Mich-ener may you have the courage to face temporary defeat and not lose forward motion
Happy and successful 2013
Tired of bad habits
SelfYou will have to
replace the old
habit with a new
one to fill the
vacuum created
in your life by its
absence Figure
out new things
that you have
always wanted to
do and put your
heart and mind
into them
Florence Chirchir
Recipe
6 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
From the founderFrom the founderFrom the founder
Thank you thus far for your support of our magazine We are growing each day and in each day we are making a profound difference
From having an amazing team we also work with young adults encouraging and helping them nurture their young talent We are a lucky bunch for sure and excited on this amazing journey
Updates on what we are working on
We are partnering with Shoe4Africa as our Charity for year 2013 They are building the very first free children in East Africa YEAH We know that so many kids lives will be saved and you just canrsquot beat that Follow Shoe4Africa HERE
We are working on a Riziki Scholarship Fund We are hoping to offer a few scholarships to young deserving kids in African Check out our next issue for more details
Nancy Mwirotsi
We need to think
of the future and
the planet we are
going to leave to
our children and
their children
Kofi Annan
copy Copyright 2012 Riziki LLC All Rights Reserved Any copyingredistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of thisservice without the express written consent of Riziki LLC is
expressly prohibited
wwwrizikimagcomRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 5
ITrsquoS TIMEhellipBad habits have this magnetic pull
that makes breaking them an uphill task New Year resolutions target good habits we want to adopt and bad ones that we want to give up One may try to quit pouting control-ling anger overeating overspending or getting out of debt with different levels of success For the majority it is easier to live with the bad habits a little longer if only to try quitting later when strong enough to resist their pull
Bad habits rob you of peace You know you ought not to be engag-ing in it yet you end up doing it all the same You get the same results all the time you end up feeling bad and the cycle continues ldquoI just canrsquot help ithelliprdquo has become your com-mon refrain In his book First Things First Stephen Covey talks of some space between thought and action This space allows one to either go ahead with the conceived thought
or not to take any action all together Thoughts thus do not automatically translate into action Simply put what you end up with is what you decide on at that point so yes you can help it
Imagine for a moment that your mother takes you aside then at-tempts to breastfeed you at the age you are nowhellip Would you go ahead and suckle A resounding no Why then would you keep feeding a de-structive habit or a seemingly harm-less tendency that you have always wanted to quit By now you must have had enough of it so you need to be decisive Resolve to quit once and for all Forge ahead no matter the temptation to go back to it There is a whole lot more in the future to be explored than in the past that cannot be reclaimed
You will have to replace the old habit with a new one to fill the vacuum created in your life by its absence Figure out new things that you have
always wanted to do and put your heart and mind into them It could be spending more time with the family playing with your children exercising starting to put some money into a savings account or simply complain-ing less Start with small steps and gradually progress to higher levels Do not lose track of your goal You have to identify your objective and shun the side shows which come in the form of unsupportive friends and relatives low self esteem realities in life such as a poor economy ill health loss of loved ones and fatigue from having tried over and over Adapt to the reality of your situation and keep going for you will certainly get there someday It is time to create differ-ent satisfying experiences for you You always have a choice are you ready To paraphrase James Mich-ener may you have the courage to face temporary defeat and not lose forward motion
Happy and successful 2013
Tired of bad habits
SelfYou will have to
replace the old
habit with a new
one to fill the
vacuum created
in your life by its
absence Figure
out new things
that you have
always wanted to
do and put your
heart and mind
into them
Florence Chirchir
Recipe
6 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
ITrsquoS TIMEhellipBad habits have this magnetic pull
that makes breaking them an uphill task New Year resolutions target good habits we want to adopt and bad ones that we want to give up One may try to quit pouting control-ling anger overeating overspending or getting out of debt with different levels of success For the majority it is easier to live with the bad habits a little longer if only to try quitting later when strong enough to resist their pull
Bad habits rob you of peace You know you ought not to be engag-ing in it yet you end up doing it all the same You get the same results all the time you end up feeling bad and the cycle continues ldquoI just canrsquot help ithelliprdquo has become your com-mon refrain In his book First Things First Stephen Covey talks of some space between thought and action This space allows one to either go ahead with the conceived thought
or not to take any action all together Thoughts thus do not automatically translate into action Simply put what you end up with is what you decide on at that point so yes you can help it
Imagine for a moment that your mother takes you aside then at-tempts to breastfeed you at the age you are nowhellip Would you go ahead and suckle A resounding no Why then would you keep feeding a de-structive habit or a seemingly harm-less tendency that you have always wanted to quit By now you must have had enough of it so you need to be decisive Resolve to quit once and for all Forge ahead no matter the temptation to go back to it There is a whole lot more in the future to be explored than in the past that cannot be reclaimed
You will have to replace the old habit with a new one to fill the vacuum created in your life by its absence Figure out new things that you have
always wanted to do and put your heart and mind into them It could be spending more time with the family playing with your children exercising starting to put some money into a savings account or simply complain-ing less Start with small steps and gradually progress to higher levels Do not lose track of your goal You have to identify your objective and shun the side shows which come in the form of unsupportive friends and relatives low self esteem realities in life such as a poor economy ill health loss of loved ones and fatigue from having tried over and over Adapt to the reality of your situation and keep going for you will certainly get there someday It is time to create differ-ent satisfying experiences for you You always have a choice are you ready To paraphrase James Mich-ener may you have the courage to face temporary defeat and not lose forward motion
Happy and successful 2013
Tired of bad habits
SelfYou will have to
replace the old
habit with a new
one to fill the
vacuum created
in your life by its
absence Figure
out new things
that you have
always wanted to
do and put your
heart and mind
into them
Florence Chirchir
Recipe
6 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
By Joyce Mugun
Originally pronounced Kokwe za tende but the name kokotende caught on as it was easy for everyone to pronounce
Ingredients2 cups flour4 tbsps fine semolina1 tspn baking powder12 tsp cardamon powder2 tbsps melted butter34 cup milkwater or coconutEgg white ( optional)Pinch of salt
KokotendeRecipe
Sheera sugar coating 1 cup sugar12 cup waterDrop of vanillaPinch of cardamomCombine all then boil until thick and stickyDip the kokothende in the syrup and place on a trayStore in an airtight container when completely cooled
INSTRUCTIONSKnead together the ingredients to a doughForm tiny balls put them on the side and shape one by one using a fork by pressing the tiny piece of dough on the back of a fork and rolling them away to give it a perfect seashell shapeFry on low heat until golden and crispy (Do not fry on very high heat)Drain and set asideMake the sugar coating
Food
photo-httpstellasmezablogspotcom201210kokotendehtmlRiziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 7
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Top ten thing to do in the
Dominican Republic
1 Santo Domingorsquos Zona Colo-
nial
2 Relaxing at Playa Rincoacuten
3 Leisurely Las Galeras
4 Bahiacutea de Las Aacuteguilas
5 Santo Domingo Nightlife amp
Dancing
6 Whale-watching
7 Descending the 27 water-
falls of Damajagua
8 White-water rafting
9 Winter Baseball
10 Mountain Vistas in Con-
stanza
Time to Globetrot
Enjoy the Dominican RepublicDominican republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola
part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean re-gion The western third of the island is occupied by the na-tion of Haiti making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands along with Saint Martin that are shared by two countries
Both by area and population the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba) with 48442 square kilometers (18704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people
The Dominican Republic is the most visited destination in the Caribbean
The Dominican Republic has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Carib-bean and Central American region
According to the CIA World Factbook the Dominican popula-tion is 73 multiracial 16 white and 11 black The multira-cial population is primarily a mixture of European and African but there is as well a minor Taiacuteno element in the population research published in 2010 showed that 15 of Dominicans have Taiacuteno ancestry and 70 have African genes
Source Wikipedia
Travel
8 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
phot
o co
urte
sy h
ttp
ww
wg
odom
inic
anre
publ
icc
om
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 9
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Never too late or
early to care about
breast cancer
Thank you Amy and Tom for letting us share your blog
About Amy and Tom Only days after her annual well-woman exam Amy Hauser discov-ered a lump This walnut-sized lump (stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma ndash breast cancer) would be only the first in a series of life altering events for Amy her family and the trajectory of
her lifeAmy and her husband Tom jour-
neyed through cancer with a bold-ness that is both inspiring and chal-lenging From Amyrsquos decision not to wear a wig so that her light would not be hidden to their commitment as a couple to devote their lives to launch-ing Made For More Ministries Tom and Amy are sharing the hope and healing extended to them
Top 6 Reactions Men Have to Their Wifersquos Cancer DiagnosisIN 2010 my wife Amy found a wal-nut-sized lump just a few days after her annual female exam It shocked us both because she had just been deemed ldquohealthyrdquo The doctors showed immediate concern ran tests and left us with five long days to wait for results results that would be life changing We spent those 5
Health
httpmadeformoreministriescomblog
photo-sxchu
10 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Hearing that your wife has cancer is
enough to rock any manrsquos world The
sudden earthquake of emotion is
overwhelming to say the least
Get the books here
days waiting worrying wondering but mainly we pre-pared for an inevitable fight
The results showed stage two invasive ductile carci-noma ndash breast cancer It had spread to Amyrsquos lymph nodes ndash (where she found the lump)
Hearing that your wife has cancer is enough to rock any manrsquos world The sudden earthquake of emotion is overwhelming to say the least Your reaction atti-tude and the path you take will have a huge impact on how well this battle is fought Your attitude is second only to hers and will significantly shape hers It may appear that your choices are minimal but you actually have several choices (and will most likely consider all of them at some point along the way) You can choose to
1 Bail Out ldquoI didnrsquot sign up for this Irsquom outta hererdquo2 Cop Out ldquoItrsquos her tough luck and Irsquom not gonna let
it change my comfortable well (self)-ordered worldhelliprdquo3 Check Out ldquoIf I ignoredeny it long enough it will
go awayrdquo4 Wimp Out ldquoNow I have this to deal with on top of
everything elserdquo5 Duke it Out (Superman Style) ldquoI will take care
of everything ndash the kids the house the wash I will be the chauffeur doctor pharmacist personal assistant masseur psychiatrist and spiritual advisor Wherersquos my caperdquo
6 Live it Out ndash Be Her mate ldquoTime to earn my man card fulfill my vows draw closer to her and get through this together ndash emerging stronger for itrdquo
Itrsquos your call A lot of guys take option 1 A blend of 2 through 5 is the chosen path for others (Notice 1-5 are all ldquoIrdquo focused) But if you want to put on your big boy pants and choose option 6 congratulations Yoursquoll earn your man card It wonrsquot be easy but as a guy who has been there done that got the t-shirt I learned some hard-knock lessons It is my prayer that by pass-ing them on your journey can be the best it can be
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 11
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Miriam was not only the first African to vocalist to put African Mu-sic on the map but a human rights campaigner
Makeba lived and sang in a divided time and spoke out in favor of equality and justice Through her music she was able to bring peo-ple together to enjoy the beauty of unique cultures and the shared human experience ldquoI donrsquot sing about politics I sing the truthrdquo she told her audiences
Her vocal denunciation of South African apartheid also resulted in the withdrawal of her passport by the South African government She lived in exile for 31 years until the end of apartheid saw the election of President Nelson Mandela
The Epoch Times
Our top Five Makeba songs
Pata PataMalaikaClick songTululuAfrica Is Where My Heart Lies
To our Beloved Mama Mama Africa Miriam Makeba
Music
photo-martjiecartercoza
12 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
I look at an ant
and I see myself a
native South African
endowed by nature
with a strength much
greater than my size
so I might cope with
the weight of a racism
that crushes my spirit
Miriam Makeba
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 13
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Feature
Fall downget back
up again
Nobody would have guessed that the young African cleaning tables at Bread and Chocolate in 1990 would someday be one of the top names on Wall Street Having been made home-less a few months earlier Yohannes Tilahun perhaps didnrsquot see the extent to which his drive to make something out of his life would amount to
Yohannes was born into a privileged family in Ethiopia and went for fur-
ther studies in the United States at the young age of 19 Like many young people immigrating to the US he got caught up in enjoying life and lost track of his education
ldquoMy privileged background had pre-pared me to be successful in life I come from a good family but once I came to the US I lost my focus and I got addicted to the life on the fast lane having fun and making moneyrdquo
admits Yohannes Five years after leaving his home in the Horn of Africa Yohannes was suspended from the university kicked out of his apartment and was facing the possibility of being deported by the immigration author-ities
At that time his mother came to visit and was dismayed to find her son sleeping on the streets of Washington DC The bleak circumstances coupled
By Joy Chelangrsquoat
14 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
by his familyrsquos disappointment put things back in perspective giving him the motivation to make a complete turnaround
ldquoI asked myself lsquoWhat I am taking back to Ethiopia I have nothing I have ashamed my family I have no degree no moneyrsquordquo he narrates
He made the decision to make some-thing out of his life He pleaded with the immigration judge hearing his case to give him another chance and he got a job cleaning tables at a bakery Yo-hannes re-enrolled in school and re-ceived a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1992 and an MBA in 1997 from the University of the District of Columbia
For the seven years that he was in school Yohannes worked at Bread and Chocolate rising up the ranks from a lowly bus boy to the manager of 16 restaurants The tough years of jug-gling education and work engrained in him persistence-a virtue that would give him a cutting edge in his next ven-ture-Wall Street Conquering Wall Street
Yohannes sent out applications to 149 firms seeking employment and eventually company 143 hired him Yo-hannes launched his career in finance together with 350 other recruits in 1999 at Morgan Stanley Smith Bar-ney as a junior broker At the end of his first year on Wall Street Yohannes had not only beaten the odds by keep-ing his job he had become the number two junior broker in the whole country For most people success of that cali-ber would have been the focus of their thoughts - not for Yohannes
ldquoI had a huge fascination why do most brokers fail in this business I realized that the way we train brokers is wrong Thatrsquos why eighty percent of them fail within the first two years rdquo Yohannes said
With that understanding Yohannes began to deliberate on how the train-ing process could be improved Even-tually he came up with an improved training program for the branch which
he tested for one year with great suc-cess The company was so impressed with his innovation that they awarded him with a Sales Manager position Not long after his appointment Mor-gan Stanley made him head of training for the companyrsquos worst performing region Within three years the region was first in the country
Yohannes then came up with yet an-other idea for improving work produc-tivity The company was however not as enthusiastic about the software so a friend advised him to pitch the idea to Wells Fargo instead Through creativity and diligence Yohannes carved a niche for himself in innovation and business intelligence Under his leadership the company beat its peers by being the first company to come up with a cen-tralized business plan
Amidst all his success Yohannes found himself battling with emptiness This drove him to reach out to charita-ble organizations where he could lend a helping hand Through a friend Yohan-nes met with the CEO of Big Brother Big Sister and struck a deal which saw him analyze data of troubled children that the organization was mentoring
ldquoThe most satisfaction I ever got was when I helped someone and they said thank you I just wanted to helprdquo re-members Yohannes
His successful track record landed him several accolades among them the Innovation Partner Award which was awarded to him by the Governor of Missouri for his role in the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation In 2010 Yohan-nes was voted one of the Top 100 ex-ecutive under 50 in the United StatesGoing back home
In 2012 an organization dedicated to the transformation of Ethiopiarsquos ag-riculture reached out to him seeking to have him join the team as a Senior Director The Agricultural Transforma-tion Agency which is funded by among many others by the Government of Ethiopia and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to increase produc-
Pictures of young Yohannes
photosCourtesy
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 15
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Feature
tion and productivity by removing systemic bottlenecks in the agricul-ture sector in areas that range from seed system to mechanization to post harvest handling to markets
Despite the significant pay cut and the challenge relocating posed Yo-hannes took a break from Wall Street and took the job Since February 2013 Yohannes has been working toward creating strategies to boost food se-curity and developing agriculture in Ethiopia
Moving back home has also given him an opportunity to give back to a cause that is close to his heart-educa-tion Yohannes recalls spending most his Saturdays in the library reading as a child -this is an opportunity that he would like to accord to children who are not fortunate to have libraries in
their communities Looking back at his life so far Yo-
hannes attributes his success to the virtues that were instilled in him as a child Yohannes who refers to his family as his foundation block at-tributes his strong work ethic to his father
ldquoEvery business deal everything he did-he used to take me with him I re-member my first board meeting was when I was seven years old And that became my passion for businessrdquo said Yohannes fondly
From his mother Yohannes learned perseverance ldquoShe never gives up on anything She is the most persistent woman I have ever met I inherited that from her and thatrsquos why no mat-ter what hardship I go through I never give uprdquo he says of her
So what does Yohannes have to say to the younger generation
ldquoIf you are not sure about you want out of life just do the best with what you have in your hands Be positive and have the right attituderdquo
ldquoAlways meet new people Network network networkrdquo
ldquo If you are the smartest person in your group-you are in the wrong grouprdquo
ldquoBe disciplined-this means have a goal and never deviate from itrdquo
ldquoNever give up Along the way you will have hurdles Instead of com-plaining learn from it
ldquoLearn to give back to society If you give something to someone who is less fortunate than you are without expecting anything in return eventu-ally success will come back to yourdquo
16 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
F
a
sh
io
n
ista
Nathan Apina enjoying the
day at the park
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 17
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Style
Style up and Dress up with boots
Style
By Nehwoen Luogon
httpstylepantrycom20130124white-button-up-school-girl-dress-rain-bootsPHOTOS
httpstylepantrycom20121203cable-knit-cardigan-skinnies-rain-boots
18 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Styleht
tp
ww
wa
liexp
ress
com
http
w
ww
net
-a-p
orte
rcom
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
mht
tp
ww
wp
olyv
ore
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
lyst
com
http
w
ww
joul
esus
aco
m
http
w
ww
pol
yvor
eco
m
http
w
ww
theb
eaut
yofli
febl
ogco
m
http
w
ww
loef
flerra
ndal
lcom
http
sh
opn
ords
trom
com
http
th
edev
ilwea
rsba
lletfl
ats
wor
dpre
ssco
m
Rockfish Gold Wellington Rainboots
Hunter brand rainboots ndash Hunter Earlham shearing
trimmed rain boots
Jeffrey Campbell Marsha Over the Knee Rainboot
Sergio Rossi Wedge Rain boot Pollini - Tall Leather Trim Buckle Rain Boots
Hunter brand - Hunter Gabby Rain Boots
Joules Brand ndash Evedon Rain boot
Hunter Brand ndash Hunter Interlaken Rain Boots
Loeffler Randall Brand Rainboots ndash LR rain bootie
Loeffler Randall Brand - LR Rain slip-on
Hunter Brand RainbootsJimmy Choo for Hunter
Loeffler Randall Matilde Rain Boots
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 19
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
photo-nytimescom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Read
Born in Nigeria in 1930 Chinua Achebe attended the University of Ibadan In 1958 his groundbreaking novel Things Fall Apart was published It went on to sell more than 12 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages He died on March 21 2013 at age 82 in Boston Massachusetts
Books
Things Fall Apart
The concubine
Chinua Achebe
ldquoWhen suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stoolrdquo
ndash Chinua Achebe
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
AFRICA
NOTA CONTINENT
A COUNTRY
22 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
A CONTINENT
Africa
There are four major groups of African languages Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharian Niger-Saharian (Niger-Congo) and Khoi-san on the map you see the distribution of language families and some major African languagesList of official national and spoken lan-guages of Africa
Africa is a continent with a very high lin-guistic diversity there are an estimated 1500-2000 African languagesOf these languages four main groupings can be distinguishedAfro-Asiatic(appoximately 200 languages) covering nearly Northern Africa (including the horn of Africa Central Sahara et the top Nile)
Nilo-Saharian gathering appoximately 140 languages with some eleven millions speakers scat-tered in Central and Eastern AfricaNiger-Saharian (Niger-Congo)covering the two third of Africa with as a principal branch the Niger-Congo which gathers more than 1000 languages with some 200 millions speakers The Bantu languages of Central Southern and East-ern Africa form a sub-group of the Niger Congo branch
Khoisan gathering about thirty languages in West-ern part of Southern AfricaAll African languages are considered offi-cial languages of the African Union
Official and Spoken
Languages of African
Countries
httpwwwnationsonlineorgoneworldafrican_languageshtm
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 23
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Home
photo-httpwwwikeahackersnet201302give-little-chic-storage-to-pallbohtml
Foot stool by
Give a little chic
storage to the
Pallbo footstool
MaterialsSOLSTA PALLBO footstool candle
holders (4) screws (4) jigsaw polisher plywood upholstery foam
lining stapler textile sewing machine
Description I took the footstool apart and turned
it upside down I drilled four holes on the bottom and screwed in the
candle holders I sawed the new top from plywood and I polished the
edges a bit
I covered the sides and the top separately with the foam and the
lining fixing them with a stapler
Then I upholstered these items with textile with the stapler again and sewed where needed (eg at the
sides)
Now the new footstool doubles as a storage item for magazines or a soft
throw
24 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Money
Chop
your cable billCable TV can make a huge chunk of your monthly expenses that can add up really quick On av-erage most people spend about $950 per year on their cable bills Here are some things to consider to lower that
1 Free TV from your antenna Antenna could be something from the past
but at least guarantees you some free shows
2 Pay services Services that stream online like Hulu Plus ($7 Month)
Netflix ($9Month) MLBtv ($80year) provide a cheaper option for watching movies and some shows
3 Websites Some companies do offer full episodes of their shows online
4 Connecting your tv With de-vices like Roku Xbox 360 HDMI cable
Apple Tv and others help you get media content directly to your TV
With the above options you can cut your bills to over 90
photo-onarchitecturesitecom
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 25
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
AfricaThe african
Poetry
Dr Ahmadu A Baba-Singhri26 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Dedicated to my beloved late brother
Alhaji Ababakar Barau-Singhri
To have pride but lacking dignity
To have creativity but lacking initiative
To have resources without being resourceful
To have plenty but have none
To have food but be hungry
To have riches but be poor
To have home but be homeless
To be fertile but be unproductive
To be full but be empty
To be natural but be unconscious
To be a genius but be unintelligent
To be tall but be short
To be beautiful but be ugly
To be exciting but be dull
To be happy but be angry
To be joyful but be saddened
To be first but be last
To be king but be subject
To be queen but be maid
To be master but be slave
To be generous but be ungiving
To be altruistic but be greedyTo have power but be powerless
To be educated but be ignorant
To be wise but be foolish
To be kind but be cruel
To be democratic but be oligarchic
To be monarchic but be tyrannical
To be peaceful but be violent
To be one but be alone
To be a warrior but a be a coward
To be humble but be arrogant
To have villages but be villagers
To be African but be African
photo-sxchu
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 27
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Lea Neema Elizabeth Kipendo orig-inally from the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought a smile to the people in her community She is the fourth child in a family of 6 broth-ers and 3 sisters who all now live in Iowa USA Learsquos family relocated to Arizona USA in 2011 from Mozam-bique Her family had earlier fled to Tanzania from Congo but because of the violence that followed them they were placed in a refugee camp in Mozambique
Even though they were a little safer from the raging war in the Congo life at the camp was restricted in mobility enforced inertia and de-pendency For them it felt like a hu-man warehouse where lives were on a doubtful hold a prison but with the added injustice of never committing a crime You never had good sleep because of fear that had settled in peoplersquos mind It was a life lived but survived on charity All that truly belonged to you was your family and everything else was from someonersquos charitable
hands The clothes shoes water house it was all just temporary Even the food they ate everyday was a depended on the good will of someone else
During the interview Lea was as-tonished to see that someone thought of her special enough to merit being in a magazine but added you know ldquoMy life here in America is a good thing even though my mom does not currently have a job we are fine because my dad provides for my family rdquo
Lea is involved in several activi-ties and plans to help unite her community Although she only 13 years old Lea has a vision of reach-ing out to others teaching them and spreading love Lea hopes that she does well in school so that she may fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and travel the world helping people through the medical field She speaks Swahili Kibembe En-glish Portuguese some French and is currently learning Spanish
Only 13 but can speak 4 languages fluently
Inspire
By Yena Balekyani
Although
she only 13
years old Lea
has a vision
of reaching
out to others
teaching them
and spreading
love
photo-courtesy
28 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
By Marcus DuveskogEducational game on Forestry developed by Kenyan students in collaboration between Chep-koilel University College(Now University Of Eldoret) Eldoret Kenya and University of Eastern Finland
Apart from answering questions the application also has mini games that needs to be solved such as a word find game picture puzzle and a balancing game
EntventureInnovation
Game Link
photo-httpwwwsxchu
httpsplaygooglecomstoreappsdetailsid=frchepentVentureampfeature=search_result23t=W-251bGwsMSwyLDEsImZyLmNoZXAuZW50VmVudHVyZSJd
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 29
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Short Story
The cooking potSo I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the
hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation
schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I
pray that some day no child and mother will have to
watch a vulture in their last moments of life
photo-httpearthafricacuriocom
By Karue Njeru
30 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Short StoryThe earthen cooking potsits lonely in the dark cornerof the now crumbling mud walled huther mouth is long dryno home for fliesnowthey quench their thirston the weak and sully boywhose energy is long wornhe fights them no morehis arms wonrsquot movelying in the scorching sunbaked dry under the noon day heat
His motherrsquos scary figure sitsleaning on the once homely shelterher arms seemingly longer as the bonethreatens to tear out of the thin and dry skinshe wears no expression on her faceher heart seems to have sentall feelings back from where they had comea place she remembers no morefor her brains have left toocompletely detached from the present worlda world in which she had had dreamshopes and prayers for her flesh and bloodher empty gaze follows the giant vulturesfor now they are keeping a distance from herthey see a mask and await patientlyfor its lifting- it wonrsquot be long nowman and beast know itthey will pounce on their next mealtheir animal carcasses are long done with
This is the picture proudly presentedon my television screenI watch it in the warm havenand safety of my home lying lazily after another quiet dayon my comfortable couch
my children well fedthey lie safely in their cosy bedsmy dust bins laden with the leftovers of the last mealno flies or insects attack themthey have been relinquishedand kept off by the chemicalI can so easily acquire
I am scuttled back to the earththe screen is yelling at my brainsmy heart is bleeding with passionbutmost of allI am bitter I am angryraving and puffing angerstinking mad-crazy crazy crazy
For it is that time againthe season for the well fed politiciansto campaign for yet another chanceto get into the house of decisionsdecisions they should make on behalfof their fellow country menbut the scary and real drama of theunfortunate is their big motion pictureto fatten their bank accountstheir wallet seams are bursting the expensiveand rare leather that is filledwith begged notesnotes given on behalf of thevulture attacked peoples of his land
The earthen cooking potshall one day tell the talewhen its users have long been forgottenit will bear their historyfor the coming generationwhen they shall try to figure outwhy mankind was wiped offfrom a region with potentialto harbour generations for a lifetimea region where a fresh water lake sits quietly-elegantly promising life for very many decades
For it is that
time again
the season for
the well fed
politicians
to campaign
for yet another
chance
to get into
the house of
decisions
decisions they
should make on
behalf
of their fellow
country men
but the scary
and real drama
of the
unfortunate is
their big motion
picture
to fatten their
bank accounts
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 31
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
The gates open a beehive of activ-ity once again It is evening and the aspiring senator is on his way home His day has been spent shuttling be-tween media houses luncheons and press conferences The best writers and marketers have gone through all that is written about him with a fine comb Only that which attracts ad-miration from his folks praise from the foreign lands and recognition by businessmen who would fund his campaign will pass through All that part with the big fat checks will re-main hopeful that someday soon the favour will be returned in form of a well needed and somewhat deserved signature a return on investment
One hand washing the otherHis home is surrounded by a wall
made of the hardest bricks topped up with the thickest electro wiring pow-erful enough to instantly roast the biggest of the male elephants that freely roam in the wild The guards working in shifts around the home bringing him home safely are well paid to do their job efficiently Roam-ing in the compound are herds of the German shepherds so well fed and trained they would pounce on any stranger and kill him instantly
Honourable Kamankuku is home safe and he has a few minutes to greet his dogs for he must keep in touch with them they are wild and could turn against him if he stopped treating them well Later he will sit around the dining table and pass a few polite gestures to his children and the few visiting relatives Few be-
cause anyone coming into his home must be invited and issued with a special pass that is hard to come by even for the many people who boast that they are related to him or that they went to the same school
Tonight just like most other nights he will sit on the gold-rimmed couches watching as the TV screen airs his activities for the day yet again He is frequently in the news now it is campaign time He watches a big cloud of dust is blowing as a gov-ernment helicopter lands then out of this cloudy dust come the security guards one even wonders what they are needed here for the very few folks who have walked the last few days
from far and wide are weary and so weak none of them can even raise a hand to greet the visitors let alone cast a stone to harm the Honourable guest
The news came in a few days ago they have been summoned to ap-pear enticed with promises there will be lots of goodies for them meaning they gather their last energyhellip itrsquos all they have left They gather their old tins and walk treading the dry stony land to the meeting point Only a few will make it to the meeting most fall-ing down along the way Someday their bones will lead historians to a place where there was once a settle-ment
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a tongue that no one in the audi-ence understands promising heaven and earth He does not notice a few of
his spectators dropping from fatigue He scoops the dry genetically-mod-ified corn that has been generously airlifted from countries afar
My reaction at the news was very different from all those neighbours who will quickly grab their telephones and unthinkingly dial the number that is now on the screen Their calls will automatically charge them a few pennies to save the lot that the Hon Kamankuku has highlighted
I quickly scribble in something that will give me some history and back-ground of this unfortunate news on hunger I keep with the news from my motherland but so far this had not been mentioned It will later dawn on us that even as I earlier shopped at my local supermarket buying veg-etables fruits and flowers from the land of my birth the producers have been plagued by drought for over two years
I canrsquot help wondering why HonKamankuku and his ilk donrsquot think of an irrigation scheme in this region therersquos this huge fresh water lake why wouldnrsquot they persuade other countries that so readily support their cause to enable growth here with some worthwhile project
HonKamankuku quickly hands out the rations and leaves the few bags behind the weary lot are now pounc-ing on the fallen grain that scattered as they all tried to get to it now they peck on the hard ground picking with their fingers for a couple of grains how they will prepare it is unknown for therersquos no water in the vicinity They might use stone to grind some to flour The news does not show what happens after the helicopter takes off back into the air
Well politics is a fact of our lives even before the new form of gover-nance came When I recall the stories of my grandfather the old and wise were well respected and handled the governance of their folks and at the same time were the holy ones who
Hon Kamankuku speaks eloquently in a
tongue that no one in the audience under-
stands promising heaven and earth He does
not notice a few of his spectators dropping
from fatigue He scoops the dry genetic-
ally-modified corn that has been generously
airlifted from countries afar
Short story
32 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
made decisions on the law for their people to live in harmony they were the judges who handed out punishment or banish-ment they called on their people if rains had failed or if a down-pour had wiped out some of them they alone could decide what remedy would be accorded their God to appease him They had lived in great harmony and had faced a lot of challenges
So I rest the ugly ghosts to slumber and awaken the hope that this dry region will one day know irrigation schemes a constant supply of fresh organic food I pray that some day no child and mother will have to watch a vulture in their last moments of life
The ghosts of the vultures slowly fade awayI set them free back into the wild where they belongthat they too may live in nature as was plannedI lay my head on the pillow knowing in my hearthopeI fill my dreams with lovefor all the selflessnessof the few teachersin the classroomin the house of worshipin the street cornerin the fields through radio stations andI pray someday soonthe screens willbe proudly presentingthe now valuable educationthat every singlecountryman holds the keythey make the decisionsknowingly responsiblyfor all generations ensuring that the cooking potdoes not go down to marka chapter of sadness in historybut the generation nowand generations to comewill make the history of this landa worthwhile read of chaptersa well educated lotknowledgeable and wisemaking the right decisionsliving in good provisionfor all their daysas was intendedby the great mastertheir maker
Short Story
His home is sur-
rounded by a wall
made of the hard-
est bricks topped up
with the thickest elec-
tro wiring powerful
enough to instantly
roast the biggest of the
male elephants that
freely roam in the
wild
Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013 33
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
Cartoon
34 Riziki Magazine Issue 3 April 2013
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
LoveMothersrsquo
Agatha Christie
lovefor her child is like nothing else in the worldIt knows no
lawno pityit dares all thingsand crushes down
remorselessly all that stand in its path
A
Happy Mothersrsquo Day
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom
THE BASE PROJECT
The Base Project serves as a bridge for artisans in the developing world to access global markets while building
their business skillsThe entrepreneurs we partner with learn invaluable communicationoperationsbasic finance and
marketing skills that provide a means to improve their lives and their community
wwwthebaseprojectcom