Viviane Ndour Chidid's Retaan

Retaan is weaved into one piece of delightful music with a finely-crafted melody and a "supporting cast" of well-blended sounds. Isn't that the Kora one hears, for example? This is Senegal, stopped only by the Atlantic from being farther west for those of us who live in Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. Those of us, that is, who find here an even more westward taste of African sounds than we are already used to. Not that this is the first time, if you remember greats such as Youssou Ndour (ah, yes).

Click here to watch the video 

In Viviane's dancing 'shoes' one detects influences from farther North of the continent, as well. And some Middle Eastern elements. And just faint traces of Arabian Nights. But she's a rebel of sorts, dressed, as we see in parts of the performance, in fading blue jeans (with 'modernist' slits above the knees), which curve with her very own curves and which are, shall we say, app....appealing -- even to many folks who wouldn't admit it.

Retaan is a delightful song, which gets (you) warmer and warmer as you go along. Listen keenly enough, too, and you'll detect traces of sounds that we in Central and Eastern Africa will attribute to art-spaces routinely associated with, yes, Central and Eastern. But Viviane's cadence certainly has cultural roots deeper to the North, and all the way to the Middle East even. She, both passionate and modest, blends all of this fabulously and lovingly. What a bright and charming 'day'! 
Click here for Viviane Chidid's Retaan Lyrics

The Year, It Seems, Will End With a Whimper!

The year 2008, it seems, will end with a whimper -- such as it did not begin with. So it seems, at 5.14 p.m., here in Nairobi.

Of course, I know there is bloody fighting over there in the Middle East [Israel does have an inalienable right to defend itself, and Palestinians have a God-given right to a safe and secure home. So, where does that leave the Hamas militants who unilaterally provoked the latest bloodbath?]

But I'm talking about Nairobi and about Kenya, as I watch the year tick away toward the last midnight. The bloodbath that began this time last year was here, not there.

And yet, as they say, it aint over till it's over. There are a few hours yet.

How was your last day of the year? Quiet and ordinary was mine. A little pensive, thinking back to this time last year; which is why this year began, for us, as it did -- and seemingly will end quite differently. A lot pensive, in fact.

Did a little walkabout in town. Bought two (perhaps contraband) CDs of Congolese Oldies and Goodies (Veve's music). Some memories die hard.

Even bumped into my VC at a supermarket in town -- completely unexpectedly. He was gracious enough to step over for to exchange a few pleasantries. Of course he is always gracious in those one-on-ones. That's my experience. But we hadn't previously met at a supermarket, or even outside the campus. It was, then, a surprise encounter -- and I was rather surprised at my surprise.

It has been a quite year for me, and in several ways quite re-energizing. I think Joan, my wife, would agree. But I have to stop this blogging now, for I have to go see her, before the year runs out.