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March 31, 2007
Plea for help
Do you live in London (England)?
Do you live in the borough of Kensington / Chelsea?
Do you know anyone who does?
My fiancée Charlotte and I have a slight problem. We have planned to get married in the borough of Kensington / Chelsea this summer, but in order to so do, one of us has to live there for at least seven days before registering for a marriage certificate.
The guesthouses in this part of London are prohibitively expensive. If one of us could squat in someone’s spare room for a week, that would be ideal. It doesn’t matter if it is me or Charlotte. The dates in question are June 7 to June 15 this year.
As a lodger I am very little trouble. No smoking, no shouting, no music, no guests, no pets, no phone-calls. Willing to wash up the whole week and give free night-classes in chess and/or creative writing.
Charlie assures me that she is also very little trouble, but I cannot yet vouch personally for this. If you have a very large apartment she could maybe give horse-riding lessons.
Please somebody help us.
Thank you.
Posted by sahelsteve at 10:50 AM
March 29, 2007
Yellowcake Legalese
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From: Editor
To: Random House Legal Director
Date: 27 March
Re: Use of domain names in fiction
In one of our children's fiction titles for autumn, a group of terrorists first auction and then sell yellowcake (a key ingredient in making a nuclear bomb) on e-bay to a rogue state. The author wrote to e-bay some time ago asking if they have any objection to him using their site name in this context, but hasn't heard back from them. Do you think it would be OK to go ahead as there is nothing derogatory directly implied towards e-bay - the terrorists simply use the site to communicate with international rogue states and sell the yellowcake - or do you think it would be safer if we change the domain name to something else, e.g. b-bay or something? Would be grateful for your advice, please.
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From: Random House Legal Director
To: Editor
Date: 28 March
Re: Use of domain names in fiction
An interesting one. At first sight, there would seem to be no objection BUT there is the possible inference that eBay would connive at such activity, and this could well spark a letter of complaint if nothing more. Since eBay don't generally exercise editorial control over adverts unless warned they offend, they might not be able to claim that the first advert would be libellous, but any subsequent in action by them might be a cause for action and thus an effective defamatory allegation. I suggest therefore re-naming the domain name - even b-bay is a bit too close to the mark!
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I'm not sure I understand the whole of the legal director's reply, but the conclusion at least is clear. Don't use ebay (or bbay or ubay or bomb-bay).
So: your ideas in the 'Comments' section, please, as to what to call our 'not ebay' company. The best suggestion will be used in the book. (Deadline: 10am Saturday)
Posted by sahelsteve at 08:38 AM
March 27, 2007
43 things
It is well known that writing down one's goals in life can be an important step towards achieving them. So it is no wonder that the website 43 things has taken off in a big way.
I couldn't resist signing up and submitting my own 43 things. I invite you to do the same, and to link to them in the 'comments' section.
Posted by sahelsteve at 06:31 AM
March 23, 2007
The weather in Burkina Faso
Oh good. It's turning out sunny again.
Posted by sahelsteve at 06:28 AM
March 21, 2007
Dave Shelton's Life of a Pen is back!
Caloo, calay, he chortled in his joy.
Dave Shelton has revamped his website. Very user-friendly and pleasant it is too.
Dave Shelton: Drawing and Colouring in
But even more wonderful than this is that LIFE OF A PEN IS BACK FOR A SECOND SEASON. Don't miss it - it's wonderful, imaginative, disturbing, intriguing and altogether A Good Thing. This time the pen is a 25p black biro. Sheer class.
http://daveshelton.blogspot.com/
If you missed season 1, here are the 'Life of a Pen' rules.
Posted by sahelsteve at 09:07 PM
March 16, 2007
Idrissa
Idrissa Amadou is a cheerful old Fulani man. He is tall and toothless and he is a regular visitor to my house – I give him coffee to drink and he sucks on a baguette until it dissolves. When Idrissa visits he tells me stories about the Fulani of old and I tell him stories about Iisaa Al Masiihu (Jesus the Messiah).
Not long ago, Idrissa said to me, ‘The things you say about Jesus are interesting, but how do I know what you say is true, when the marabouts are saying something different?’
Classic – the old question of authority rears its horny head. In a school of theology this one would be answered with reference to the origin and authenticity of New Testament manuscripts, the process of canonization and the fulfillment of Messianic expectation. The Roman historian Josephus would probably get a mention somewhere along the line. But somehow I was reluctant to dump all this on Idrissa – he has struggled for some time with an inoperable hernia, and I didn’t want to exacerbate it.
So I told him to pray to Allah before he went to sleep and ask him to reveal himself. I don’t always recommend that (in fact, this was a 2007 first, I think).
That was the morning before the lunar eclipse. When I realized there was going to be an eclipse, I felt sorry for Idrissa: I imagined him asking God to reveal himself and then looking up and seeing that the moon had turned to blood!
I need not have worried. Idrissa slept soundly through the eclipse, and even the accompanying clanging. He came to my yard in the early morning – I was still bleary-eyed – and he said ‘Mi hoyDi ko hulDini’ (I have had a frightening dream).
Here is Idrissa’s dream. I have written it down in Fulfulde as exactly as I can remember it, and then translated it into English.
MiDo sogga na’i am, tawi laawol am fecci, laateke laabi didi. Yeewnumi ndaarumi inan ngol Do ina yaaji, ngol Do ina faaDi. Mi suBeke yaajungol ngol. Laawol ngol ina heewi yimBe, faa mobilaaji ina ndewa toon. Ndeen na’i am puDDi waatude. Terkaaye fukki, waati, hoore magge tappi leydi – pap! Poornyiimi cubiimi laawol pamarol ngol, tawi – ee – ngol ina weli. Bayeeri ina dara gere nano e nyaamo fuu, indi rawni farr farr farr, abada nji’imi bayeeri ina Bendiri noon. Kewtumi nokkure to rewBe ina Yooga toon, Bulli luggiDi belDi, dariimi, ndaarumi. Ni foti koyDumi.
I was driving cattle along a road, and I came to a fork. There were two roads leading off, a wide one and a narrow one. I herded my cows onto the wide one. The road was full of people – even trucks were passing along it. Then my cows started to die. Terkaaye (a grayish cow) lay down on the road died and her head hit the ground – thwump! – like that. So I turned round and I took the narrow road. Wow, that road was sweet. There was millet standing on both sides, and it was whitest white; I have never seen millet plants as ripe as that before. I arrived at a spot where women were drawing water; the wells were deep and sweet. I stood and watched. That was all I dreamed.
I’m no expert in dream-interpretation, but it doesn’t take a Brother Yun to grab a Bible, find Matthew 7:13 and read it. I had never shared this passage with Idrissa before that day. The old man said ‘Allahu Akbar’ and his brow gathered into a dozen furrows. I went inside and put some water on to boil.
Posted by sahelsteve at 07:23 PM
March 11, 2007
Praying Mantis
 | I found this praying mantis sitting on my clay water jar last night. I love watching praying mantises (sp?) - they are very friendly and contemplative insects. Must try and write something involving a praying mantis... |
Posted by sahelsteve at 11:12 AM
March 10, 2007
Climb the Cliff
Atiko was a Dogon boy who lived with his grumpy gran at the foot of the Dogon Cliffs.
Like other Dogon boys, Atiko enjoyed eating onion soup, playing the tamtam drums and chatting to Galemba the Talking Snake.
Unlike other Dogon boys, Atiko was SCARED OF HEIGHTS.
One day, Gran said, ‘Today I’m going to the cliff-top, Atiko, to visit my onion-patch. I want you to come with me.’
‘I can’t,’ said Atiko. ‘I’m SCARED OF HEIGHTS, innit.’
Continue reading "Climb the Cliff"
Posted by sahelsteve at 05:07 PM
Construction begins
Building a wall around the radio station land:
Ali Barry - director of 'Djibo FM: Voice of the Shepherd':
Still waiting to hear re broadcasting licence...
Posted by sahelsteve at 11:11 AM
March 04, 2007
Lunar eclipse in Africa
The lunar eclipse last night was beautifully clear here in Burkina Faso, West Africa. It reached totality at about eleven o’clock. The moon was very full, very red and very difficult to stop gazing at.
Usually Djibo is completely silent by midnight, but on account of the eclipse there was a great din until the early hours of the morning. Lots of people were out on the streets banging pots and pans. I talked to one of them.
- What are you doing?
- I’m clanging.
- Why?
- Can’t you see? Allah has caught hold of the moon.
- But why clang?
- So that he will let go of it.
- What would happen if you didn’t clang at all?
- He would still let go of it. But it would take a very long time.
- Well, in that case, clang harder.
- Hahaha. (jumps up and down, banging on a pot). I will clang until he lets go.
This morning I asked Mamadou about people’s response to the eclipse. ‘There are three kinds of people,’ said Mamadou. ‘There are the people who are afraid and clang. There are the people who are afraid and pray. And there are the people who are not afraid.’
‘And what do they do?’
‘They sleep,’ said Mamadou.
Posted by sahelsteve at 05:09 PM
March 02, 2007
Sophie and the Locust Curse is in the shops
Sophie and the Locust Curse was published yesterday. Here's a taster:
Sophie and the Locust Curse (8+)
First published in 2007 by Andersen Press Limited
Text © 2007 by Stephen Davies
Illustrations © 2007 by Dave Shelton
Posted by sahelsteve at 01:45 PM
The chiefs of the Jelgoobe
The Fulani of Djibo are called the Jelgoobe. The chief of the Jelgoobe today is Boubukari Amadu, son of Amadu Mannga, whose brothers and sisters are Sammba Mannga, Saalu Mannga, Booyi Mannga, Amnatu Mannga, Kumo Mannga and Jeneba Mannga. Son of Mannga Haamidi whose brother was Mamadou Haamidi. Son of Haamidi Alu, whose brothers and sisters were Iisaa Alu, Buguuru Alu, Fajaaji Alu, Atiko Alu, Abdusalam Alu, Sekeeru Alu, Salaamata Alu and Djiika Alu. Son of Alu Oumarou, whose brother was Galo Oumarou. Son of Oumarou Ba Sambo, whose brothers were Hama Baa Sambo, Maaliki Ba Sambo, Bure Ba Sambo and Alu Ba Sambo. Son of Ba Sambo Nyorgo, whose brothers were Hamadum Nyorgo, Hamadi Njaare Nyorgo, Sambooru Nyorgo, Bura Nyorgo, Buubu Nyorgo and Oumarou Nyorgo. Son of Nyorgo Mbuula, whose brothers were Mbabba Mbuula, Belko Mbuula and Paate Mbuula. Son of Mbuula Ali, whose brother was Mboldi Ali. Son of Ali Simbi Ko'e, the first of the Jelgoobe.
Thanks to griot Hassan Sango for this family tree. If you are interested, here is a piece I wrote for Ancestors magazine entitled Chants of Memory.