POOR MATHEMATICIAN to "SUPERHUMAN" Be inspired by RUDIGER GAMM...

If someone asked you to calculate a two-digit number to the power of eight, chances are you’d hand them a scientific calculator and ask them to do the math. But when that question was thrown at 40-year-old Rudiger Gamm during an onstage demonstration at this year’s BOLDtalks community event, he simply stood still for a moment — eyes closed, feet apart, fingers dancing like they were crunching numbers in the air — and then returned the 16-digit answer almost instantly.

This is an inspiring case of RUDIGER GAMM who went from being poor in mathematics to a Genius;  In the 2008 Mental Calculation World Cup in Leipzig, he recited 81°100 (81 to the power of 100), which took approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

He clarifies anything to do with numbers back then as absolute nightmare. “It was terrible,” Rudiger recalls. “I failed school very often because of either Physics or Math". I’ve actually had a good memory for numbers since I was a child but interestingly, He only discovered his ability for mental calculations only at the age of 21 — exactly two weeks after He left school.

For Rudiger, it all started with a table of squared and cubed numbers that he came across in a book of history. The next day, he realised he was still able to recall all the numbers in that table. It was, as he says, the beginning of everything. He began training hard till he could calculate powers up to the power of 20 and higher. A few years ago, he says, he was able to memorise about 10,000 digits of Pi as well. He went from ranking at the bottom of his Math class to being called back to teach by the very same headmaster who had expelled him 45 years before. Apart from his numerical abilities, Rudiger can also speak backwards (in German) and calculate calendars with total ease. “If you ask him what the fourth of March 1834 was, for example, He will tell you it was a Tuesday,” 

It has been proven he is not to be a savant neither did he suffer from the savant syndrome.  “Most people in Germany respect what I do but there are people who are scared of me,” he reveals, adding there’s even a sect in his home country that “prays against” him because they believe his extraordinary abilities “come from the devil”. 

His greatest ambition in life” — is to become famous around the world for his unique capabilities. “Everybody wants to do something special in this life,” he says. “Most people forget their dreams eventually — but I’m going to keep on reaching for mine.

This is to say that "our minds are capable of doing incredible things. If only we can figure out the strategies to tap into these mental capabilities" 

TIPS--- When we do something and when we simple imagine doing the same action, similar parts of our brains are activated. Activating neuronal connections strengthens them, therefore visualizing actually helps to improve performance.

DO YOU THINK WE HAVE SUPERHUMANS IN AFRICA OR NIGERIA? Let us know...

"CHARISMA" Pizzazz of Magnetism!

Ever noticed how some people have the ability to captivate absolutely anyone? No matter what they look like or how much money they have, these people can just walk into a room and instantly be the centre of attention. That's charisma 

an easy way to make the word charisma understandable is "Sophisticated Confidence"  knowing when to speak, and what to say when you speak, knowing when not to speak, and knowing how to carry yourself throughout, this usually takes place with self-discipline, which is acquired with practice

Charisma has it applies to social scene and women involved in the social scene, is all about diplomacy

The first element of charisma is "PRESENCE." Presence, as used here, refers to the quality of commanding respectful attention.

These usually entails dressing in a style considered fashionable & considering your target e.g  a way as to impress the women you're targeting. Biker girls like tattooed-up bikers. Thug girls like thug guys. Punk rock girls like punk rock guys, Cowgirls like cowboys, how you walk, body language, a friendly smile, knowing when to speak, and what to say when you speak, knowing when not to speak, and knowing how to carry yourself.

BEARING: The manner in which one carries or conducts oneself it applies to both physical posture and general conduct. The way you carry yourself will often determine how you are treated. If you carry yourself as if you're a person aware of social graces, and if you carry yourself as if you're a person of prestige (you're used to having respect), for the most part you will be regarded in the same fashion. Act like an important person to be treated like one.

MANNER: way of acting or behaving. You put thought into your words and actions - you base what you do and say on how the other person will most likely react. Constantly thinking of reactions as regards your target before altering words. Be witty 

A charismatic persona is thought of as being a good conversationalist, among other things, and for you to continue to give off the aura of charisma that you initially gave off with your presence and regal bearing, then you need to be good at conversation

FINESSE:  Refinement and delicacy of performance, execution, or artisanship. Suave, Smooth, Finesse, Swag This is how you want to go about your act. You will need to think along these lines when focusing on presence, on bearing, on manner. You shouldn't be able to tell where one ends and the other begins. They should all merge into one, each small bodies coming together to form a smooth liquid unity.

ENIGMA: An action, mode of action, or thing, which cannot be satisfactorily explained.

An air of enigma heightens your presence; it also creates anticipation - everyone will be watching you to see what you do next. Enigma is an interesting element because it carries over into both arts : It is used in Charisma. And It is used in Seduction. So make yourself familiar with enigma. Start practicing it on a daily basis with anyone you're in contact with. Then stand back and watch the results - you'll notice people paying you a lot more attention when you're around. Never make it too clear what you are doing or about to do. Never reveal your intentions.

DIPLOMACY :  Tact and skill in dealing with people; subtly skilful handling of a situation involving others. Diplomacy represents a mastery of social skills. In the art of charisma, having it will make you, and not having it will break you. It is the ability to relate with anyone and everyone that you meet on their level. You must change your style and your way of speaking to suit each person and each situation Learn to be sensitive to the other person, listening for what they're really saying.

ALLURE: the power to entice or attract through personal charm. Ah, the last of the elements. It is the essence of charisma. But without the other elements, it would never be reached. When we've mentioned "aura" as a part of charisma, allure is that aura. It is infective. Women and guys alike are drawn in. Suddenly you find yourself surrounded by many friends and girlfriends ("groupies"). And once in your presence (The First Element), it's hard for them to distance themselves - as long as you continue to pay attention to each individual element. For example, diplomacy: When you excel in diplomacy (The Sixth Element), you learn to make others feel better about themselves, becoming a source of pleasure to them. In fact, they grow dependent on your manner (The Third Element) to feel good about themselves. You may call them friends, but psychologically they become your followers. Other people read this - and enigma kicks in and heightens the effect: these other people start to wonder subconsciously: There must be something exceptional ("cool" or "charming") about you that's making people want to be around you. . . What is it? Imaginations start to race.

 

Benjamin Franklin once said:

"If rascals knew the value of virtue, they would become virtuous out of sheer rascality."

Charisma doesn't happen overnight. It has to be developed. Your goal then is to focus on each individual element, like "Presence" and "Diplomacy", PRACTICING these elements until you have all seven down. Confidence comes in knowing what women respond to. It is up to you then to perfect your skills in charisma with the people around you and eventually charisma will come naturally.

Read up full article http://westsidetoastmasters.com/article_reference/seven_elements_of_charisma.html

A heart-warming Christmas story to brighten your holidays

Coppied!!!

Late last week, I was rushing around trying to get some last minute shopping

done. I was stressed out and not thinking very fondly of the Christmas

season right then. It was dark, cold, and wet in the parking lot as I was

loading my car up with gifts that I felt obligated to buy. I noticed that I

was missing a receipt that I might need later. So mumbling under my breath,

I retraced my steps to the mall entrance.

As I was searching the wet pavement for the lost receipt, I heard a quiet

sobbing. The crying was coming from a poorly dressed boy of about 12 years

old. He was short and thin. He had no coat. He was just wearing a ragged

flannel shirt to protect him from the cold night's chill. Oddly enough, he

was holding a hundred dollar bill in his hand. Thinking that he had gotten

lost from his parents, I asked him what was wrong.

He told me his sad story. He said that he came from a large family. He had

three brothers and two sisters. His father had died when he was nine years

old. His mother was poorly educated and worked two full time jobs. She made

very little to support her large family. Nevertheless, she had managed to

save two hundred dollars to buy her children Christmas presents. The young

boy had been dropped off on the way to her second job. He was to use the

money to buy presents for all his siblings and save just enough to take

the bus home.

He had not even entered the mall, when an older boy grabbed one of the

hundred dollar bills and disappeared into the night.

"Why didn't you scream for help?" I asked. The boy said, "I did." "And

nobody came to help you?" I wondered. The boy stared at the sidewalk and

sadly shook his head. "How loud did you scream?" I inquired. The soft-spoken

boy looked up and meekly whispered, "Help me!"

I realized that absolutely no one could have heard that poor boy cry

for help.

So, I grabbed his other hundred and ran to my car.

WHAT A JOKE!!! Please be kind and helpful this Festive season. 

When "OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION" Luck or Hardwork

This quote, by Roman philosopher Seneca, reminds us that we make our own luck. The difference between lucky and unlucky people, we have seen before, is all in our perspective.

I believe in this statement and that “luck” will come your way more often when you are prepared for multiple situations; reversely “bad luck” will be there when you are not prepared. It’s all a matter of probability.

*opportunity* present itself as luck! It may look like luck... but it's not. It's because of careful planning or could it be vice versa? *luck* presents itself as Opportunity.

Being prepared to take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself to help you obtain/further your goal. i.e  your Luck--> the Opportunity--> Readiness. Many believe luck exists only in the mind of the 'lucky' person while to some, Preparation creates luck.

At first, we consider ourself to be lucky, but then you will that                You were more prepared than lucky. The hard work you put into something/activity granted you the   opportunity you now consider as luck.

            "Unlucky people miss chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for           something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner, and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through the newspaper determined to find certain job advertisements and, as a result, miss other types of jobs. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there, rather than just what they are looking for."

            "Lucky people generate their own good fortune via four basic principles. They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good." 

The question is Do you think it is just "Luck or Preparation" 

Surpassing the Life Expectancy Ratio with "MIRACLE TREE" MORINGA

One of the beautiful things I love about Nigeria is the abundance of natural vegetation especially in the rural settings. It’s like what those in the rural areas lack in terms of luxuries and infrastructures, they gain with the abundance of natural resources which is limited to those in the urban settings.

Most people have got a variety of trees right at the back of their houses. My next door neighbors for example have the pawpaw, Lemon, Scotch bonnet, Mango, Coconut and Avocado trees. To cap it all, they’ve got moringa trees which they actually used as a “fence” for their large country home. The funny thing is, their livestock which feed on these trees occasionally get fatter every day while us humans (mostly ignorant though) look for foreign remedies to ailments whereas what we actually need is closer than we think. I really don’t know how this tree lost its fame but I think it has to do with the fact that science got more experimental leading to its remoteness in nature. But today, the world is being plagued with various degenerating health problems and many concerned scientists are going back in time to employ the natural traditional wisdom used by our forefathers in combating ailments. 

Pic. Courtesy of Dobby signature.

What is moringa. 
Moringa popularly known as "The miracle tree" is a Nutritional power house of minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. In the Ancient world, they regarded the tree as a “Cure all tree”, An “Elixir of long life”, “The tree of life”e.t.c. It is a multipurpose plant as the Roots, leaves, Pods, flowers, fruits, seeds and even the bark of the tree can be utilized and used to cure various diseases. Scientifically, it is known as Moringa Oleifera . In Nigeria especially in the north where it is commonly grown, the Hausa people call it Zogale. Other common names are; Ben-oil tree, horse radish tree, Drumstick tree (referring to the large pods).It is mostly planted around local houses and used as a fence. It can grow up to 36feet in height and can live as long as 20 years if undisturbed. Due to its nutritional, therapeutic and prophylactic benefits, it is widely promoted in poverty stricken areas to counter malnutrition and the effects can be seen within a few days of including it in the diet. The leaves can also be dried, ground into powder and stored for many months without any significant loss of nutritional or therapeutic values. There are no side-effects of moringa tree leaves which have been proved till date. At the same time it can be consumed by small children and adults alike. Therefore, many people have started using it as tea, in salads, porridge, pastas, breads, etc., to reap the everlasting health benefits. 

Nutritional properties 

Moringa……………. 

• Is rich in Vitamin A. It contains four times more Vitamin A or beta-carotene than carrots. Hence, it is a weapon against blindness.

• Is a rich source of Vitamin C. It contains seven times more Vitamin C than oranges. 

• Is a rich source of Calcium. It contains four times more calcium than milk. 

• Is a rich source of Protein. The moringa leaves are said to contain twice the protein present in milk. 

• Is a rich source of Potassium. It contains seven times more potassium than bananas. 

• Is a rich source of Iron. it contains thrice more iron than spinach. 

The leaves of Moringa oleifera are rich sources of dietary fibers, starch, beta-carotene, minerals (zinc, magnesium, and selenium), iodine, lutein, zeatin, etc. 

Known Health Benefits 
• Moringa is an effective natural immune system booster and therefore helps your body heal faster. It also contains powerful antioxidants that can naturally supplement and maintain the smooth functioning of the body’s immune system. 

• Moringa helps in regulating sleep cycles. People suffering from insomnia find the use of moringa beneficial 

• It is known to nourish the eyes, therefore, people suffering from poor eyesight should include moringa in their diet. 

•The immature pods are highly nutritious, containing all the essential amino acids together with other vital nutrients. The immature pod contains green peas that can be eaten raw together with salad. 

• Moringa leaves are often used as a nutritional food supplement for both weight loss and weight gain. This is due to the exceptional content of all the essential macro- and micro-nutrients. By consuming moringa, you would be taking in most of the nutrients your body needs. 

• Moringa can be taken to naturally increase male and female libido. In fact, it’s long been used to treat sexual dysfunction as well as a natural way to boost sex drive. For libido get the tender stem of moringa which is very green in color remove skin and chew. The seeds are also potent in this aspect. 

• Moringa is also said to balance sugar levels, hence it is helpful in the fight against diabetes. It also contains omega-9 fatty acids, which have been proven to reduce the body’s resistance to insulin and severity of symptoms of diabetes. Overall, it can alleviate the symptoms of diabetes and reduce the severity of the body’s reaction to diabetes 

• It helps in combating and preventing anemia as it contains thrice more iron than spinach. 

• Moringa helps in balancing and lowering cholesterol levels in the body as well as improving the ratio of good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) to Bad cholesterol (Low density lipoprotein)

• The body's natural defense mechanism increases with the consumption of moringa in the daily diet pattern. Since it is an immunity-stimulant, it is prescribed for AIDS afflicted patients. 

• It is a nutrition booster and is known to promote a feeling of well-being in people. Therefore it can be used to counter Anxiety and depression. 

• It is especially useful for lactating mothers. The consumption of moringa has shown dramatic increase in the quantity of breast milk produced. 

• Researchers  recently concluded that a compound in moringa  inhibits the growth of cancer cells. The secret lies in the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is a powerful antioxidant. Besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissues. 

• It can help in preventing tooth decay due to its bacteria destroying abilities.

For Beauty
The flowers and oil from the pods (Ben oil) are used to produce soaps and body creams. Some people Say it has anti-aging properties (It may be beyond that though) 

Method of preservation 
The Moringa leaves can be either freeze dried or dried at room temperature. Once it is completely dried, it can now be ground into powder and stored for many months without any significant loss of nutritional or therapeutic values. 

Step 1: Get the fresh moringa leaves and remove them from the stem. 

Step 2: Spread them out and leave to dry at room temperature (Away from sunlight) 

Step 3: Ground into powdered form and Store in an airtight container.

Go beyond the norm life expectancy ratio with MORINGA

The Cry of an African Child(Part2)

by Oluwaseyi Tomosori Catherine

https://www.facebook.com/oluwaseyi.t.catherine


If you missed part1 Click here

We walked the mountain terrain during the day and slept in the caves at night.The cold came,drought came,many died but i kept going...I wondered why..What other life could be out there for me other than this which i'm living at the moment?

I was trained to carry guns,to kill,to survive!I endured bites frm mosquitoes,the cold and the heat..i found succour in d rocks which had become my bed and pillow,raw meat at times was all i could eat,the water from the rocks,an ambrosia to my lips.

Today we march on to conquer a village so small...Orders are being given,I've been assigned to the fifth division..we march at sunset..I'm so scared,so terrified...i'm going to kill once again this evening..this time around,is it gonna be an adult or a child?a man or a woman?...I can hear the soldiers making their rounds,giving the usual dose of morphine..They barge into my room as usual,drag me down and inject me..Now i'm strong,my emotions are gone,i'm ready to hunt and kill.

At sunset,we marched...we entered the village,killed every adult,took every supply in sight,put each child in manacles and set the village ablaze...We left and got to a point ontop of a hill n here we made the children watch as their once cherished home and family burn to the ground...we destroyed and erased a part of the human race within 2 hours.

Tonight is the night of celebration and as usual,two children or rather captives are made to fight each other to the death..The effect of the morphine has worn off..I just can't watch this..i must return to my room...i turned and left for my room...i entered and laid on my rock of a bed and then drifted off to dreamland...

..."someone is here with me,he is trying to part my thighs..i can't feel my hands..is this another nightmare?"
Suddenly,my eyes are open..this is certainly not a joke..there is a man standing over me..it's Mohammed...i'm tryna scream but i can't; i've been gagged and tied up...Mohammed came down on me,tore that tiny veil; 

he stole my innocence!!!

I've accepted my fate...and now, i patiently await the day i would have the pleasure of driving my dagger right through his heart and take my revenge on my captors,set the captives free as we all sing and chant "Freedom at last"



I am that African Child whose cries await discovery......

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AWAKEN!!! "You Lazy (Intellectual) African Scum"

PLEASE SHARE! & Together we can awaken the #AFRICAN "can do spirit"

it is long but trust me this is the best piece you ever stumble upon this year!!!

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They call the Third World the lazy man’s purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent—totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished. In this demesne, as they call it, there are hardly any discoveries, inventions, and innovations. Africa is the trailblazer. Some still call it “the dark continent” for the light that flickers under the tunnel is not that of hope, but an approaching train. And because countless keep waiting in the way of the train, millions die and many more remain decapitated by the day.

“It’s amazing how you all sit there and watch yourselves die,” the man next to me said. “Get up and do something about it.”

Brawny, fully bald-headed, with intense, steely eyes, he was as cold as they come. When I first discovered I was going to spend my New Year’s Eve next to him on a non-stop JetBlue flight from Los Angeles to Boston I was angst-ridden. I associate marble-shaven Caucasians with iconoclastic skin-heads, most of who are racist.

“My name is Walter,” he extended his hand as soon as I settled in my seat.

I told him mine with a precautious smile.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“Zambia.”

“Zambia!” he exclaimed, “Kaunda’s country.”

“Yes,” I said, “Now Sata’s.”

“But of course,” he responded. “You just elected King Cobra as your president.”

My face lit up at the mention of Sata’s moniker. Walter smiled, and in those cold eyes I saw an amenable fellow, one of those American highbrows who shuttle between Africa and the U.S.

“I spent three years in Zambia in the 1980s,” he continued. “I wined and dined with Luke Mwananshiku, Willa Mungomba, Dr. Siteke Mwale, and many other highly intelligent Zambians.” He lowered his voice. “I was part of the IMF group that came to rip you guys off.” He smirked. “Your government put me in a million dollar mansion overlooking a shanty called Kalingalinga. From my patio I saw it all—the rich and the poor, the ailing, the dead, and the healthy.”

“Are you still with the IMF?” I asked.

“I have since moved to yet another group with similar intentions. In the next few months my colleagues and I will be in Lusaka to hypnotize the cobra. I work for the broker that has acquired a chunk of your debt. Your government owes not the World Bank, but us millions of dollars. We’ll be in Lusaka to offer your president a couple of millions and fly back with a check twenty times greater.”

“No, you won’t,” I said. “King Cobra is incorruptible. He is …”

He was laughing. “Says who? Give me an African president, just one, who has not fallen for the carrot and stick.”

Quett Masire’s name popped up.

“Oh, him, well, we never got to him because he turned down the IMF and the World Bank. It was perhaps the smartest thing for him to do.”

At midnight we were airborne. The captain wished us a happy 2012 and urged us to watch the fireworks across Los Angeles.

“Isn’t that beautiful,” Walter said looking down.

From my middle seat, I took a glance and nodded admirably.

“That’s white man’s country,” he said. “We came here on Mayflower and turned Indian land into a paradise and now the most powerful nation on earth. We discovered the bulb, and built this aircraft to fly us to pleasure resorts like Lake Zambia.”

I grinned. “There is no Lake Zambia.”

He curled his lips into a smug smile. “That’s what we call your country. You guys are as stagnant as the water in the lake. We come in with our large boats and fish your minerals and your wildlife and leave morsels—crumbs. That’s your staple food, crumbs. That corn-meal you eat, that’s crumbs, the small Tilapia fish you call Kapenta is crumbs. We the Bwanas (whites) take the cat fish. I am the Bwana and you are the Muntu. I get what I want and you get what you deserve, crumbs. That’s what lazy people get—Zambians, Africans, the entire Third World.”

The smile vanished from my face.

“I see you are getting pissed off,” Walter said and lowered his voice. “You are thinking this Bwana is a racist. That’s how most Zambians respond when I tell them the truth. They go ballistic. Okay. Let’s for a moment put our skin pigmentations, this black and white crap, aside. Tell me, my friend, what is the difference between you and me?”

“There’s no difference.”

“Absolutely none,” he exclaimed. “Scientists in the Human Genome Project have proved that. It took them thirteen years to determine the complete sequence of the three billion DNA subunits. After they

were all done it was clear that 99.9% nucleotide bases were exactly the same in you and me. We are the same people. All white, Asian, Latino, and black people on this aircraft are the same.”

I gladly nodded.

“And yet I feel superior,” he smiled fatalistically. “Every white person on this plane feels superior to a black person. The white guy who picks up garbage, the homeless white trash on drugs, feels superior to you no matter his status or education. I can pick up a nincompoop from the New York streets, clean him up, and take him to Lusaka and you all be crowding around him chanting muzungu, muzungu and yet he’s a riffraff. Tell me why my angry friend.”

For a moment I was wordless.

“Please don’t blame it on slavery like the African Americans do, or colonialism, or some psychological impact or some kind of stigmatization. And don’t give me the brainwash poppycock. Give me a better answer.”

I was thinking.

He continued. “Excuse what I am about to say. Please do not take offense.”

I felt a slap of blood rush to my head and prepared for the worst.

“You my friend flying with me and all your kind are lazy,” he said. “When you rest your head on the pillow you don’t dream big. You and other so-called African intellectuals are damn lazy, each one of you. It is you, and not those poor starving people, who is the reason Africa is in such a deplorable state.”

“That’s not a nice thing to say,” I protested.

He was implacable. “Oh yes it is and I will say it again, you are lazy. Poor and uneducated Africans are the most hardworking people on earth. I saw them in the Lusaka markets and on the street selling merchandise. I saw them in villages toiling away. I saw women on Kafue Road crushing stones for sell and I wept. I said to myself where are the Zambian intellectuals? Are the Zambian engineers so imperceptive they cannot invent a simple stone crusher, or a simple water filter to purify well water for those poor villagers? Are you telling me that after thirty-seven years of independence your university school of engineering has not produced a scientist or an engineer who can make simple small machines for mass use? What is the school there for?”

I held my breath.

“Do you know where I found your intellectuals? They were in bars quaffing. They were at the Lusaka Golf Club, Lusaka Central Club, Lusaka Playhouse, and Lusaka Flying Club. I saw with my own eyes a bunch of alcoholic graduates. Zambian intellectuals work from eight to five and spend the evening drinking. We don’t. We reserve the evening for brainstorming.”

He looked me in the eye.

“And you flying to Boston and all of you Zambians in the Diaspora are just as lazy and apathetic to your country. You don’t care about your country and yet your very own parents, brothers and sisters are in Mtendere, Chawama, and in villages, all of them living in squalor. Many have died or are dying of neglect by you. They are dying of AIDS because you cannot come up with your own cure. You are here calling yourselves graduates, researchers and scientists and are fast at articulating your credentials once asked—oh, I have a PhD in this and that—PhD my foot!”

I was deflated.

“Wake up you all!” he exclaimed, attracting the attention of nearby passengers. “You should be busy lifting ideas, formulae, recipes, and diagrams from American manufacturing factories and sending them to your own factories. All those research findings and dissertation papers you compile should be your country’s treasure. Why do you think the Asians are a force to reckon with? They stole our ideas and turned them into their own. Look at Japan, China, India, just look at them.”

He paused. “The Bwana has spoken,” he said and grinned. “As long as you are dependent on my plane, I shall feel superior and you my friend shall remain inferior, how about that? The Chinese, Japanese, Indians, even Latinos are a notch better. You Africans are at the bottom of the totem pole.”

He tempered his voice. “Get over this white skin syndrome and begin to feel confident. Become innovative and make your own stuff for god’s sake.”

At 8 a.m. the plane touched down at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Walter reached for my hand.

“I know I was too strong, but I don’t give it a damn. I have been to Zambia and have seen too much poverty.” He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something. “Here, read this. It was written by a friend.”

He had written only the title: “Lords of Poverty.”

Thunderstruck, I had a sinking feeling. I watched Walter walk through the airport doors to a waiting car. He had left a huge dust devil twirling in my mind, stirring up sad memories of home. I could see Zambia’s literati—the cognoscente, intelligentsia, academics, highbrows, and scholars in the places he had mentioned guzzling and talking irrelevancies. I remembered some who have since passed—how they got the highest grades in mathematics and the sciences and attained the highest education on the planet. They had been to Harvard, Oxford, Yale, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), only to leave us with not a single invention or discovery. I knew some by name and drunk with them at the Lusaka Playhouse and Central Sports.

Walter is right. It is true that since independence we have failed to nurture creativity and collective orientations. We as a nation lack a workhorse mentality and behave like 13 million civil servants dependent on a government pay cheque. We believe that development is generated 8-to-5 behind a desk wearing a tie with our degrees hanging on the wall. Such a working environment does not offer the opportunity for fellowship, the excitement of competition, and the spectacle of innovative rituals.

But the intelligentsia is not solely, or even mainly, to blame. The larger failure is due to political circumstances over which they have had little control. The past governments failed to create an environment of possibility that fosters camaraderie, rewards innovative ideas and encourages resilience. KK, Chiluba, Mwanawasa, and Banda embraced orthodox ideas and therefore failed to offer many opportunities for drawing outside the line.

I believe King Cobra’s reset has been cast in the same faculties as those of his predecessors. If today I told him that we can build our own car, he would throw me out.

“Naupena? Fuma apa.” (Are you mad? Get out of here)

Knowing well that King Cobra will not embody innovation at Walter’s level let’s begin to look for a technologically active-positive leader who can succeed him after a term or two. That way we can make our own stone crushers, water filters, water pumps, razor blades, and harvesters. Let’s dream big and make tractors, cars, and planes, or, like Walter said, forever remain inferior.

A fundamental transformation of our country from what is essentially non-innovative to a strategic superior African country requires a bold risk-taking educated leader with a triumphalist attitude and we have one in YOU. Don’t be highly strung and feel insulted by Walter. Take a moment and think about our country. Our journey from 1964 has been marked by tears. It has been an emotionally overwhelming experience. Each one of us has lost a loved one to poverty, hunger, and disease. The number of graves is catching up with the population. It’s time to change our political culture. It’s time for Zambian intellectuals to cultivate an active-positive progressive movement that will change our lives forever. Don’t be afraid or dispirited, rise to the challenge and salvage the remaining few of your beloved ones.

Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner and author. He is a PhD candidate with a B.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism, and an M.A. in History.

http://mindofmalaka.com/2012/01/18/you-lazy-intellectual-african-scum/

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The Cry of an African Child (Part 1)

BY Oluwaseyi Tomosori Catherine

https://www.facebook.com/oluwaseyi.t.catherine

Fire!Fire!!Fire!!!...the voices kept clamoring,the footsteps were closing up,the noise was coming near..Now what is happening?i keep wondering...is the time for the festival near?maybe it has begun already..No!that isn't it,a voice keeps telling me something dangerous is happening...I stand up from my mat,move closer to the door,throw it open only to see soldiers beating helpless children,shooting every male in sight..Oh!I can see one of them struggling with my friend Halima...What is really happening?

Oh!it seems the war is finally here!..Yes it definitely is!!!I can feel the sweat trickling down my face,my heart pounding fast...I have to make an escape,run for my dear life but where is mother,my sisters?
Mama!Mama!!Chioma!!!Tochi!!!Nneka!!!Where are you?The war is here!we have to run....They aren't answering,the panic sets in. Have they been killed?Perhaps they have escaped and must have forgotten to wake me up!Oh why did i fall asleep?why does this have to happen now?I've got to go,I need to hurry....Suddenly,the pictures become hazy,it's all becoming blurry!flashes everywhere...why i'm i going in circles?Somebody Please Help!Draw me out of this labyrinth.

Now the pictures are suddenly brighter,the flashes are gone,the images,clearer...I look around,mama is right here,my sisters are snoring softly..Alas,'twas all a dream!
I really should go back to bed now,'tis too early to be awake..Surprisingly,i can hear the noise again,it is clearer this time,there is someone banging hard on the door,we all jump almost at the same time..Suddenly,they barged in..we shrieked and cried...Clubs,rods,iron rammed on us n everything went blank.

I'm cold,I'm shivering,why can't i feel ma hands nor my legs?i'm so wet and all tied up..Slowly i open my eyes,i'm surrounded by men,they are laughing and drinking,eyes so red and bloodshot..who are this men?the memories are coming back..yeah,they are the same soldiers who raided our village!and now it's all glaring..i was actually captured and separated from my loved ones.


Day after day we matched,memories of my loved ones haunted me,knowing that i might never get to see them again scared me.....(to be cont'd)....