Thursday, September 17, 2009

Walezi na walevi, uchungaji au uchongaji?

Date::9/12/2009

SIJUI nifanye nini? Upande mmoja nataka watu wa dini wasinione duni , wasione ni sumu kunisoma. Upande mwingine, ni kazi ya Makengeza kusema ukweli hata kama ni ukweli uliopindwa na macho yasiyo na ushirikiano.

Ah! Potelea mbali. Mbona wanadini wengi ni duni pia! Huko Marekani kwa sasa wenye dini duni wanakanyagana kuonesha kwamba sera ya kuhakikisha kwamba, kila Mmarekani ana haki ya kupata matibabu bila kufiilisika ni usoshashalisti na usoshashalisti ni sawa na ibilisi!

Wamarekani Bwana! Kila nchi yenye uwezo ina mfumo wa utoaji afya unaofanya hivyo na hatujaona mapembe ya ibilisi vichwani mwao. Lakini Wamarekani wenye utajiri na ufisadi wa kupindukia wanashindwa kuvumilia kupunguzwa kwa faida zisizohesabika za makampuni ya bima, na hospitali n.k. ili watu wawe na haki ya afya. Hapo kweli itabidi kujiuliza ibilisi yuko upande gani.

Ingawa siwasemi Wamarekani tu. Mafisadi wa hapa wana mawazo sawa kabisa. Wenye uwezo walipie matibabu safi kabisa, wasio na uwezo wafe na Panadol mbili ya zahanati. Wakiambiwa walipe kodi ya ufisadi ili wananchi waweze kupata matibabu bora, watapiga yowe na mawe kwa pamoja.

Ni hapo sasa. Wenye midomo ya ulafi wanaogopa usoshalisti kama nini. Kwingineko walifurahi sana kuona nchi za kisoshalisti zikisambaratika mojamoja, maana waliachiwa kulafi na kufisi wapendavyo. Na hapa walijua sana kumtukuza baba wa taifa huku wakibomoa misingi ya siasa yake ya haki sawa. Lakini ukweli unabaki ukweli. Hebu soma haya maneno kwanza kisha niwaambie nani kasema.

“Wanaomiliki rasilimali watawahimiza watu wa tabaka la chini kununua zaidi na zaidi bidhaa, na nyumba, na teknolojia za bei mbaya, wakiwasukuma kuchukua mikopo mikubwa zaidi na zaidi hadi madeni yao hayastahimiliki. Madeni yasiyolipika yatasababisha kufilisika kwa mabenki, ambayo itabidi yataifishwe ...”

Kwani hii zahama ya uchumi ilisababishwa na nini? Lakini hayo yalisemwa miaka mia moja arobaini iliyopita na muasisi wa usoshalisti, Karl Marx. Na alimalizia kusema: “…mwisho wake dola italazimika kufuata barabara inayoishia kwenye ukomunisti”.

Haya nyinyi washambenga mtasemaje huko? Mfumo wa ulaji tu si endelevu hata kidogo. Ni kama askofu mmoja wa Amerika ya Kusini aliyesema: “Nikiwalisha wenye njaa wananiita mtakatifu. Nikitaka kuchambua kwa nini wana njaa wananiita mkomunisti”.

Kweli. Ibilisi tena! Atafichua kwamba watu hawawezi kula kwa sababu wanaliwa.

Kwa hiyo mtu akiwa mkomunisti sina shida naye. Akiona kwamba ubepari tunaoutukuza utatumaliza, hajakosea. Lakini mkomunisti akitumia uchambuzi wake wa ukomunisti kutetea ubepari unaojificha hapo kweli nitamwona msaliti au amefilisika kimawazo.

Vivyo hivyo kuhusu dini. Mwasisi huyohuyo wa usoshalisti alisema dini ni bangi. Ni dawa ya kulevya. Inampumbaza mtu, inamfanya mbuzi asiye na uchambuzi. Kwani alikosea? Angalia watu wanavyoamini kwamba wakipiga magoti tu, watashushiwa magari na nyumba za fahari. Angalia watu walivyojipeleka wenyewe 'kuDECIwa' hata baada ya kuonyeshwa waziwazi kwamba ni utapeli.

Lakini mimi napenda zaidi msemo wa Chinua Achebe aliyesema dini ni kama pombe. Pombe si haramu bali vitendo vinavyotokana na pombe vyaweza kuwa haramu. Ndiyo. Pombe inalevya pia lakini si wote wanaolewa.

Wako wanaokunywa pombe na inawachangamsha tu. Na katika maisha, watu wa aina hiyo wanatumia misingi na maadili ya dini kuwaongoza wawe na tabia njema kwa wenzao na kujaribu kupunguza hali ya mateso kwenye dunia hii.

Sote tunawafahamu, wawe ni majirani zetu au hata viongozi wengine. Ni waadilifu na hata kama sikubaliani na dini yao, nawaheshimu na naiheshimu dini inayowaongoza kutenda mema.

Lakini wako ambao hawana simile. Wanalewa, wanalewa, wanafanya fujo na mwisho akili inaharibika moja kwa moja.

Na hapo pia ningependa kuongeza makundi mawili zaidi. Wauza pombe (viongozi wa dini zao) tuwaoneje pia. Wanachanganya vitu vingine ndani ya pombe yao ili watuleweshe vibaya au wanatengeneza pombe safi?

Na mwisho wako wale wanaojifanya kunywa pombe na watu kumbe lengo ni kuwalewesha ili kuwapora tu. Hayo ndiyo mazingira ya pombe.

Lakini ni dini tu? Kuna tofauti gani kati ya dini na siasa? Wako wanaoweza kunywa siasa na bado wanabaki na akili timamu. Na wako wanaolewa siasa hadi wanajisahau kabisa na kujikojolea huko wanatamba bila kujitambua.

Wako wauza pombe ya siasa wanaotengeneza pombe safi na wako wanaotia vitu vya ajabu kama vidonge vya rangi mbili au kiwi ili kutulewesha na kutupofusha. Kwa hiyo tunaweza kufananisha huu ugomvi kati ya dini na siasa kama ugomvi kati ya vilabu viwili vya pombe. Kila mwenye kilabu anatangaza pombe yake ni safi na kumlaani mwenzie kwamba pombe yake ni haramu.

Kwa hiyo, iwapo nchi ni kama vilabu vya pombe, sisi wenye kiu tufanye nini? Kusema dini isiingilie siasa ni ujinga. Dini inaingilia siasa kila siku, na siasa inaingilia dini pia maana pande zote mbili wanadai kutengeneza maisha bora ya binadamu. Pande zote mbili zinatoa ahadi za kufikia mbinguni ili mradi uwafuate wao, iwe mbingu hapa duniani (maisha bora kwa kila Mtanzania) iwe mbingu isiyoonekana hadi tuachane na mateso yetu hapa duniani.

Ndiyo. Unapotangaza mpango mkubwa wa kuwakomboa watu kwa mikopo rahisirahisi ni siasa pia, lakini hadi walipogundua ni utapeli sikumsikia mwanasiasa akilaani kitendo hiki, eti wameiingilia siasa. Kuwatangazia watu kwamba ukisali kwao utapata utajiri uso kifani, ni siasa pia, ndiyo maana sishangai kwamba, wengine tayari ni waheshimiwa pia.

Lakini sijasikia wakituhumiwa kuharibu mambo. Na tusimsahau yule aliyesema kwamba hatahubiri tena hadi mtu fulani aingie Ikulu. Na upande wa pili, wangapi wanasisitiza masuala ya dini wakati wanaomba kura za kula? Lakini ukitolewa waraka wa kulaani ufisadi na kuhimiza utawala bora, hapo umeingilia siasa.

Ndiyo maana, mbele ya mashindano hayo ya pombe, inabidi tutumie mtindo wa kuonja kidogokidogo ili kujua kama pombe ni safi au la. Haifai kulaani bila kuonja na haifai kuagiza madumu bila kuonja pia. Bila uchambuzi tutakuwa mbuzi. Kwa hiyo katika malumbano ya sasa hivi, dhehebu fulani wakitoa waraka tuonje. Tuonje na kupima. Waraka huu unasema ukweli au la.

Kwa vyovyote vile utavutia upande wake kidogo kama ambavyo watu wa vyama vya siasa wanavutia upande wao kila siku, lakini unatulevya au unatuchangamsha akili? Unatupofusha au unafumbua macho? Unataka haki zaidi kwa watu wote au unapigania haki za wafuasi wao tu? Na unasema ukweli au la?

Vivyohivyo, tuonje waraka wa wasiotaka waraka. Nao wanasema ukweli au la? Wanatuchangamsha au wanatupofusha. Kusema kwamba kutoa waraka tu inawagawa wananchi si kweli. Wanasiasa wamewagawa wananchi tayari hivyo sioni kwa nini wawe na ukiritimba wa kuwagawa watu. Na kama waraka unalenga kutufanya tufumbue macho, ni mzuri.

Na mwisho hawa wenye vilabu viwili utawajua kwa vitendo vyao. Wana sifa ya kutengeneza pombe safi au wana sifa ya kutia vitu vya ajabuajabu hadi tupasuke vichwa? Kilabuni ukishamjua mtu wa aina hiyo hunywi kwake tena, kwa nini tusifanye hivyo kwa hawa wauza pombe hawa?

Mwisho, sitaki udini; yaani wazo la kupima kila kitu kutokana na maslahi ya dini yangu maana hapa viongozi wa dini wameshakuwa wasanii kama wanasiasa.

Sitaki tufuate mtindo wa Kenya ambapo viongozi wa siasa wanapewa nafasi ya kuongea kanisani au msikitini kila wakati kuuza sera za vyama vyao. Sitaki muungano wa vilabu vya pombe, maana hapo kweli tutapewa pombe baya. Kila mmoja atengeneze pombe yake na kuhakikisha kwamba ni safi na sisi tuwe wapimaji.

http://www.mwananchi.co.tz/newsrids.asp?id=14550

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Pendo Halijui Siri


Love Knows No Secrets


Pendo halijui siri likifichwa hufichuka.

Pendo halina hiyari mtu linapomshika

kula jambo atakiri, jambo lisilofanyika.



Love knows no secrets, what is hidden is unveiled.

Love has no option, when it seizes someone

they plead to anything that has not happened.



Pendo halina huruma kizee hufedheheka.

Pendo halirudi nyuma kwa kitu linachotaka.

Mtu likimuadama majununi hugeuka.



Love has no mercy, an old man may embarrass himself.

Love does no retreat from what it desires.

When it seizes someone they turn insane.



Pendo humuhili mtu mwili wake hudhofika,

Akidhilika mwenzetu haifai kumcheka.

Pendo mtu hathubutu, kando kando kuliweka.



Love humbles someone, their body weakens.

When our colleague is humiliated we should not laugh.

None should dare to put love aside.



Pendo katu haliridhi kitu kiwe cha shirika.

Pendo unapoliudhi mara moja huyayuka.

Pendo huwa ni maradhi mabaya yasotibika.



Love never accepts a communal situation.

If you annoy love it dissolves at once.

Love is a bad ailment that cannot be cured.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Zawadi (The Gift)

Pokea hii zawadi mpenzi nakuletea,
tena unipe ahadi kuwa utaitumia,
ufanye nyingi juhudi isiye ikapotea.

My beloved receive this gift I bring to you,
promise me that you will use it,
make effort to ensure it does not get lost.

Mpenzi zawadi hii kwa siri nakuletea.
Jina lake sikwambii mwenyewe utatambua.
Ufanye nyingi bidii yeyote asije jua.

My beloved this gift I bring in secret.
I will not tell you it's name, you will know it yourself.
Make every effort that no one comes to know about it.

Zawadi hii ni yako wewe nakutunukia.
Siwaoneshe wenzako thamani wakaitoa.
Jua ikitoka kwako ni taabu kurejea.

This gift is yours to you I bestore it.
Do not show it to your friends lest they devalue it.
Know that once it leaves you it is difficult to return.

Wengi wanaitamani zawadi kuipokea
na wote nimewahini wewe nimekuletea.
Sivunje yetu hisani hata yangu nakwambia.

Many long to receive this gift
I have denied all and brought it to you.
Do not break our favour or mine I beseech you.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Rangi Zetu

Rangi pambo lake Mungu, rangi haina kashfa,
Ni wamoja walimwengu, wa chapati na wa mofa;
Walaji ngano na dengu, wazima na wenye kufa,
Rangi pambo lake Mungu, si alama ya maafa.

Colour is God's adornment, colour has no stigma,
They are Earthly brethren be they unliven or liven bread eaters;
Those who eat wheat and lentils, the dead and the living,
Colour is God's adornment, it is not a sign of misfortune.

Ni urembo wake Mungu, mwenye miliki ya sifa,
Na pambo la walimwengu, shahada ya taarifa;
Wanjinga wa ulimwengu, rangi hudhani kashfa,
Rangi pambo lake Mungu, si alama ya maafa.

It is God's beauty, the owner of praise,
and adornment of the world, a testimonial statement;
The fools of the World consider race to be a curse,
Colour is God's adornment, it is not a sign of misfortune.

Hashindwi kupamba mbingu, viumbe na mataifa,
Kila tendo lake Mungu, hutendwa kwa maarifa;
Hubadili walimwengu, kwa kuzaliwa na kufa,
Rangi pambo lake Mungu, si alama ya maafa

He is able to adorn the Earth, creations and nations,
Every action of God is done with wisdom;
He changes Earthlings through birth and death,
Colour is God's adornment, it is not a sign of misfortune.

Abridged poem by Shaaban Roberts
Translation; my own.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Swahili Ode

Titi la mama litamu, hata likiwa la mbwa,
Kiswahili naazimu, siafayo iliyofumbwa,
Kwa wasiokufahamu, niimbe ilivyo kubwa,
Toka kama mlizamu, funika palipozibwa,
Titile mama litamu, jingine halishi hamu.


One's mother's breast is sweetest canine it may be,
And Thou, Swahili, my mother-tongue art still the dearest to me,
My song springs forth from a welling heart, I offer this my plea
That those who have not known thee, may join in homage to thee.
One's mother's breast is sweetest, no othe so satisfies.


Lugha yangu ya utoto, hata sasa nimekua,
Tangu ulimi mzito, sasa kusema najua,
Ni sawa na manukato, moyoni mwangu na pua,
Pori, bahari na mto, napita nikitumia,
Titile mama litamu, jingine halishi hamu.


The speech of my childhood, now I am fully grown
I realize thy beauty and have made it all on my own
And thou refreshest my spirit like the scent of roses blown
Through desert and o'er ocean may I make thy praises known.
One's mother's breast is the sweetest, no other so satisfies.


Swahili ode by Shaaban Roberts.
Translation by Ali A Jahadhmy.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Ngoma

Ngoma
From Wikipedia

Neno ngoma lina maana mbalimbali:

Ala ya muziki inayotumika sana barani Afrika (angalia ngoma (ala ya muziki)).
Muziki unaochezwa na ala hii (angalia ngoma (muziki)).
Muziki wa aina yoyote.
Kucheza na muziki wa ngoma.
Kucheza na muziki wa aina yoyote.
Katika lugha ya mtaani, ngoma inaweza kumaanisha Virusi vya Ukimwi au Ukimwi.
Ngoma

The name Ngoma has several meanings:

Musical instrument that is widely used in Africa(check ngoma(musical instrument)).
Music played with this instrument (check ngoma (music)).
Any kind of music
Dancing to the drum.
Any kind of dancing.
In street slang ngoma may mean HIV or Aids