PORN maybe?

Recently came accross this picture, of Actor and Dancing on Ice contestant Danny Young on the internet for a recent photoshoot that he had for cosmopolitan about some feature that they are running on men in the morning or something.

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about it, if it ain't porn then I do not know what it is. And no I'm not anti porn, but just that I think Cosmo should... ey ay I dont know.

See for yourself:

You had better feel it - because it here!

I had the most beautiful day today. Words are just beyond me. I’m inspired beyond words right now. In awe of all the great things that the Mighty God does for us. I spent the day with the wonderful people at FIFA today in PE as part of my internship with them.

The walkabout the stadium just sealed it for me. I think it’s only now that it has finally hit me that the world cup is actually here and that we ARE INDEED READY TO PROVE THE WORLD WRONG.

I’m in inspired words right now, can’t fully reflect on the day  will write soon.

Two weeks to go – and then we rock!

Feel it – it is here !!!

Please note that this picture was taken at: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/destination/stadiums/stadium=5007768/photo/photolist.html#1192579

Lets praise God guys; life is good - despite it all!

How Rhodes University students play with people's lives – a call for an end to community engagement?

For the past two years I have had the pleasure of taking the annual “Township walks” with Rhodes Lecturer, Joy Owen as part of her Anthropology 2 “Power and Wealth” course. Every year the walks are always emotionally and physically taxing and further exacerbated by feelings of powerlessness at the poverty and spirit of most of the people in the township. More disturbing is the fact that most townships always have some form of apprehension towards Rhodes University students.

Oh Yes – They have seen Rhodes University students, they have seen them all too well, because Rhodes, oh Dear Rhodes - is a university that prides itself on being engaged with the community in the townships. The students pride themselves in forming societies and even having “Community Engagement Representatives” all in the name of helping the people in the location – and they in turn earn the right to call themselves “Activists” (*I start puking*).

However very few students stay at Rhodes University for over four years – and while some societies are able to maintain effective “community engagement activities” more often than not these societies and activities disintegrate when the students disperse and then what happens? mnnnn.

I recently attended an interview with the Rhodes University’s Business Society (RBS) – A society aiming to equip students with critical business skills. During the interview I got into a debate with one of the committee members (*not a good thing*) as he was asking why I was saying there can ever be enough “community engagement.”

I think while most students have good intentions in starting up all these great initiatives – the question of community engagement should really be given more thought, because I believe NOT that students should NOT engage with the community – BUT RATHER THAT STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE DOING WHAT IS LARGLY THE UNIVERSITY’S JOB.

This allows them to be able to get away with murder really – literally. Rhodes should have a proper community engagement policy that the students can feed into – which would be more permanent than student societies and furthermore – the people in the township would have proper structures that they can hold accountable for broken promises or incomplete projects.

If the University does not do this – then the students will continue to play with the lives of the people in the township. I leave you all with a beautiful post by Kojo Baffoe - he said: “I live in Africa. It isn't a cause, it is our lives.” And both Rhodes and its students should keep this in mind – people’s lives can NEVER be used as a cause – they live!

Trust - Like A Stream Of Water?

A lesson learnt? What a hard one...

I am so disappointed right now... I just spent the past six hours doing work that is not even mine – all in the work of covering people misdoings. I have always know this thing called “growing up” would be hard... but I never thought it would THIS hard.

The past few months have shown me a lot about people, especially black people at that - and their true nature.

A few months ago; being the kind person that I am (and yes I’m feeling sorry for myself right now) I vouched for someone – even though I was told the person would be incompetent – I held my head high and fought for the person to get the post.

Three months down the line – what do I hear? The person in incompetent – instead of proving THEMSELVES worthy of the post – they chose to prove THEM right - that SHE indeed should have never been hired for she is – INCOMPETENT.

I once heard an adage that life was like a stream of water – once it has passed – it never returns in the same form.

Trust and belief in people are like that too – when people take them for granted. They NEVER return in the same form again – I wish people would get that!

The Sneaky God We Serve

A few days ago I had the most surreal experience. It is hard to explain in words without deflating the profound nature of the event. God gave me a song – in a dream – and I woke up – and sang it.

What is profound about this? I haven’t written music since my St Mary Boys Choir days in Port Elizabeth – and that was in the early 2000’s. So why is God giving me this song now?

I woke up, sang the song and recorded it. What a beautiful song! I named it “with this tear.” Not tears of sadness, not tears of happiness – tears of contentness – keeping on with the keeping on.

I know think God gave me the song to remind me that no matter how busy life gets – I must NEVER forget to do the things that make me happy. Right now I have been focusing on one part of my love – writing; ignoring the other love of my life – music (singing; writing it; dancing to it etc).

Thank you Lord. Thank you for the epiphany! Thank you for your wonders – thank you for the love!

I choose this picture because it shows clearly what God can do - Look at the wonder. Look at the beauty! #what a mighty God!

got it at: http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/landscape-wallpapers-pictures/waterfall-landscape-wallpaper.jpg

The Sadly Ignored Political Dimension of Rape

By: Gcobani Qambela (as appered in the Oppidan Press)

Rape is no doubt a serious issue not only in South Africa, but society in general. Rape in South Africa however, is a largely political issue. It is inextricably linked with (the black) race and poverty. The fact that this is not taken into account rattles the hell out of me. We recently had the “Silent protest” at Rhodes University on the 23rd of April to “protest the sexual violence in our communities and a social environment which makes it difficult to speak out” as one participant stated.

Effectiveness of student protest, especially those done with within the confines of University campuses cannot continue to go unquestioned. It is important that we start questioning the success of the protests in properly addressing the issues that they proclaim to address. We further need to carefully examine who excluded and included in these protests.

I have great respect for the “Silent Protest” initiative; I think it is a wonderful initiative that aims educate society about a serious and rampant societal problem. However I still have a number of problems with the initiative. The first being the fact that it ignores the political nature of rape in South Africa. While not denying the fact that rape affects all races - in South Africa black women, living in extremely impoverished conditions are the most affected by this, and yet the initiative takes place within areas (Rhodes and main town) where rape is not so rampant and residents of which are generally aware of how to exercise and enforce their rights.

Secondly, the space in which the protest takes place also needs to be scrutinised. I fail to see how a protest taking place within the confines of Rhodes University contributes helping a woman in a township who cannot “speak” because she has been subjected to sexual violence. The initiative places high emphasis on not speaking for the women that are silenced and yet ironically seems to do exactly this by not involving them and giving them the change to speak for themselves.

Lastly although I think the “Silent protest” has been very effective in raising awareness about rape within Rhodes University. I would contend the glass is still half full if the protest is still exclusive to Rhodes and does not reach the places where rape is most rampant – i.e. the places where the economically-marginal and oppressed live.

Please see the original paper at: http://www.theoppidanpress.com/

Published Papers (elsewhere)

Recently wrote two papers for the Bokamoso Leadership Forum.

Please vist their website at: http://www.bokamosoafrica.blogspot.com/

The papers raise very important issues currently affecting Africa. Please read AND comment and lets dialogue!

The first one relates to ambivalent hegemonic masculinities and the second one relates to homophobia and homosexality in Africa.