African Mailman

Lately, I've had Africa on my mind. I've got a spring in my step, warm feelings in my belly and a constant desire to wear brightly coloured dresses due to a heady cocktail of the following African influences: the discovery of Ethiopian food, watching The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency and a catchy K'naan tune that keeps playing in my head. That, combined with my ongoing obsession with the amazing Miss Nina Simone, has quite frankly, put a spell on me. I'm bewitched! Is it black magic?! Is that a racist joke? I don't even know.

I do know that my heart longs to wear the dresses worn by the gorgeous 'traditionally built' Jill Scott on The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Have you seen this show? You MUST buy the DVD! My family loves the Alexander McCall Smith books but I must admit I haven't yet read any. But the show is so very lovely, I shall have to add them to my ever growing book pile. But back to the dresses. They're not exactly flattering (maybe it's hard to 'flatter' a bust that impressive) but they're just so lovely, the colours, the patterns, the length, the sleaves - I want one! To wear every day. A new one to wear everyday. Okay I want many.

 

  

  

  

 

I might just also want to be a detective. As if Nancy Drew, Trixie Beldon, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Adventurous Four et al hadn't already filled my childhood with mystery solving ideals, now my adult life is inspired by Harry Potter, Phillip Marlow and Precious Ramotswe too.

And the food. Oh the food...Does anyone know how to cook Ethiopean? Or any other African country for that matter. What are the spices used? Can you teach me?! Please?!

Yesterday, it just so happened that I was listening to Nina's African Mailman when Tom rang with his own African news - there's a strong possibility (but I don't want to jinx it!) that he will be headed to South Africa this June to work on the FIFA World Cup. I really can't impress upon you how very exciting that will be for him, a completely obsessed football fanatic. He wants me to come with....he has a week in Cape Town where I could join him. Should I? Have you been before? What can you do/see there? (Don't say football, please.)

Which brings me to K'naan, the Somalian/Canadian rapper, singer and poet. His song, Waving Flag, was already playing on repeat in my mind before I found out that it is the 2010 World Cup official anthem. I think this song is actually kinda daggy. But it's stuck in my head now and lifts my spirits everytime I hear it. And just like the lyrics go..."And everybody will be singing it...And you and I will be singing it...And we all will be singing it..." I'm sharing the song with you, so, you know, it comes true and I'm not the only one with it stuck in my head.



And we all live happily ever after.
*fingers crossed*