Out of Africa: A Comment on Dr. Alice Roberts' "The Incredible Human Journey"

On December 28, 2010 (as part of my holiday fare), I watched for the first time, on BBC Knowledge (relayed by DSTV), Alice Roberts' documentary titled "The Incredible Human Journey".

This is not the first TV account of human migration out of Africa, based ultimately on qualitative evidence -- evidence gleaned, as in certain earlier accounts, in part from archaeology, anthropology and climatology; but mostly from DNA databases. And because it is not the first, it lacks that indelible "first teller's" aha moment that some of us have already been exposed to (and told and retold in lectures). Nevertheless, it remains an incredible rendition, in its own right, of our ancestors' drive, weed-like, at once single-minded and unintended, toward world "domination"; a drive to claim and take possession of an entire planet -- and beyond the planet, going "forth", who knows?

Her documentary adds refreshing twists (and certain images) to the broad, paradigm-shifting, technicolor script:

Such as the chain-reaction (or a sort of kalausi) of human movement -- up and down, east and west, round and round -- that went on for millennia within the African continent before the original "China Syndrome" moment was reached; and with it, the release.

Such as the journey through Turkey and up the Danube (wonder if they gave an ancient name to that river as they rowed and remarked upon its convenience) into greater Europa.

Such as sailing down the west coast of the Americas, after a long, but always driven, wandering through Siberia's permafrost -- into the northern badlands and, farther (across the equator once again), into the deep jungles of the South. [Or was it simply a hugging and not letting go of the coastline, rather than dedicated sailing, perhaps enticed by the sudden abundance of (sea) food, and discouraged by the rugged hilliness of Alaska? I ask this because I wonder: Where and when would necessity have prompted this branch of migrants (not being, I suppose, the ones who rowed up the Danube) to invent and develop sea-faring technology (hardware and software) during the thousands of years that they lived deep in Siberia?]

The documentary is in turn testament to the grandeur and connectedness of Ms. Roberts' own awe-inspiring, passionate, umbilical journey.

And I would like to share it with you (click here to see)

Postscript: Sorry, just found out that the video is no longer available on YouTube. Instead, a DVD version can be purchased online ~MY, April 28, 2012.

SEE SAMPLE OF THE BOOK HERE: Alice Roberts' (2009) The Incredible Human Journey: The Story of How We Colonised the Planet. London: Bloomsbury

Sarah and Sarah sans Lipstick

On September 10, Jack Tapper posted a piece on the Political Punch Blog titled "Obama on Letterman: If That's What I'd Meant, Palin Would Be the Lipstick, 'McCain's Failed Policies' the Pig." The piece, containing mostly quotes from Obama himself, is worth reading.

Notably, it contains this account of Letterman's late-night TV dialogue with Obama:

To audience laughter, Obama says, "In Illinois, the expression connotes the idea that if you have a bad idea -- in this case, I was talking about John McCain’s economic plans -- that just calling them change, calling it something different doesn’t make it better. Hence, lipstick on a pig is still a pig."

"What I like about this scenario is because they -– the Republicans -- demanded an apology," Letterman says, "so that means there had been a meeting at some point somewhere along the line (of) they got together and said, 'You know what? He called our vice presidential candidate a pig.' Well, that seems pretty unlikely, doesn’t it?"

"It does," agrees Obama. "Keep in mind that, technically had I meant it this way –- she would be the lipstick!"

To-day, I posted this comment on Tapper's Blog:

All I wanted to say here and "right now" -- not discordantly I hope (yes, hope) -- is that Sarah Palin's first name makes her the namesake of Obama's Kenyan grandmother, whose first name is Sarah too. But you knew that already!

Would Sarah invite Sarah to Alaska, after Obama's inauguration January 20th next? That would be a truly wonderful global connect. In doing so, Sarah would have the opportunity to ask Sarah what her middle name is, or how it came about that there is such a meme at Kogelo.

There is a history there worth hearing: of journeys from Alego and sojourns in the Kendu Bay area and all the way back to Alego.

And Sarah would, graciously, accept an invitation to Kogelo. And it would be doubly wonderful.
But Sarah wouldn't stay more than a day or two in Alaska, far from it; and far as that place is from anywhere (except the Siberian permafrost)!

There is no permalink there!

Nor will she in Washington, D.C., glorious as what will have brought her to that world capital may be (she's made that abundantly clear to all who understand Kiswahili and Dholuo).

See, she doesn't care much for winter! Don't ask me if she has ever felt its full freeze -- its relentless squeeze upon the ear, outdoors -- as I have. And a bunch of "unaccomplished" thieves, knowing she is away, might try again (as they did this week) to break into her iconic home at Kogelo.

She has a home there, you see, not a house. The difference was settled long ago.

In D.C., however, she will not wonder why a whole nation, with all that wealth, will want her grandson to put up in a house, and not a home, even if it be the House. She knows the difference in these things, and she loves the thought.

Let me add: Alego's Sarah and Alaska's Sarah are worlds apart, but they share thir deep love of family -- though Mama is the more reticent. And they share another thing -- their belief in the value and durability of families. However, to Alego's Sarah, unlike Alaska's -- I dare say -- lipsticks are for others. For her they would be dwanyruok!