"Semahani"

The senior staff at Potter’s Village have told Malcolm that his African name is ‘Semahani’. (Pronounced ‘Say ma ha knee’). He’s very proud of it. He’s not sure what it means but it sounds strong. Leadership? Charisma? Handsome? Semahani!!!


The senior staff of Potter's Village got together to say thank you to Andrew and Laura for the work they did during their holiday (honeymoon!) from the UK. In addition to trekking golden monkeys and climbing the extinct volcano, Muhabura, they painted the new medial centre.

We also took them out last Sunday for drive through the mountains surrounding Kisoro and to Lake Bunyoni where we enjoyed lunch before returning down an almost impassable dirt road.

It was also a week to say thank you to Ezra who officially finished as administrator at Potter’s Village on Friday. He has worked there for many years but decided it is time to move on. To mark his last day the new administrator, Jackie, baked a banana cake (made to Malcolm’s recipe) which Rosie presented.

There was also a new arrival at the children’s crisis centre. Isaac’s mother had just died and his father is a ‘drunkard’ (an alcoholic?). He is 11 months old but only weighs 5.1 kg. His 2 siblings had previously died and his own life was clearly at risk.

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Ghana:

“A person's character is like pregnancy - it cannot be hidden”



Editor’s note. Malcolm may not realise it, but ‘Semahani’ means ‘trouble’. Most appropriate?

Marching to a Diferent Beat

It’s been a weeks or so of visitors.

 Malcolm visited again Kisiizi Hospital to help the Treasurer draft the 2011 / 12 accounts. The journey passed over the mountains between Kisiizi and Kabale which gave the opportunity to stop and enjoy the views.




The first visitors to Kisoro were David and Sarah from York and 5 children with them. They brought a variety of gifts including about a dozen musical instruments for the local Boys and Girls Brigade which had been donated by people from their area. There are several Brigade companies here, and the previous week the band had played as part of the centenary celebrations.



The second couple to visit were Andrew and Laura from High Wycombe. What better way to have a week’s holiday than to do some painting at Potter’s Village?



To continue the story of Bushera, it is made from Sorghum which is a seed. On his way back from Kisiizi Malcolm did find a head of Sorghum – but he has no plans to turn it into Bushera!!!!





This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Nigeria:

“When the rhythm of the drums changes, the dancers must also change their steps” ,

Scoring a Century

It has been 100 years since the first Christians came to Kisoro. In 1912 an English missionary arrived to find out whether it was possible to send an African evangelist, and within a year one came. Unfortunately, he stayed in Kisoro, near the enemy of the King of Rwanda (whose kingdom included this area) rather than at nearby Mabungo where the king’s regent lived. When war broke out between the two groups the evangelist went to chronicle the fighting, but got killed by a spear.



Last week the Diocese held a special convention to celebrate the centenary, and the two speakers were the Archbishop of Uganda and the Archbishop of York. John Sentamu was born and lived in Uganda until forced to flee when Idi Amin was president.



The 3 days of open air meetings attracted large crowds with more than 10,000 attending the service on Sunday. Fortunately, a good amplification system enabled the large crowd to hear, if not see what was going on – unlike in Jesus’ time as depicted in ‘The Life of Brian’.



On Saturday the meeting was held at Mabungo near the site where the first church in the Diocese was built. It was difficult to concentrate on the speakers with the magnificent views to distract you.



The prime minister of Uganda attended the meeting on Sunday and helped the Archbishop of York to cut the first turf on the site of a new hostel the Diocese will build to commemorate the centenary



Malcolm spent most of the time taking photos and video of the event, and continued to attract children keen to have their picture taken.  


And ….. the earth mover, which has been stranded here since January,  has gone. With impeccable time during the first meeting two mechanics turned up, started the engine and the machine moved off.



What will we talk about next week?!!!!!



This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Ghana:

“Those who cannot hear the music say the ones dancing must be mad”

Making the earth move? (not to mention a mouse)

The Diocese is getting ready for a special Convention next weekend to celebrate 100 years since the first people brought Christianity to Kisoro in 1912. The special speakers are the Archbishop of Uganda and the Archbishop of York. John Sentamu, who was brought up in Uganda but had to flee to Britain in 1975 to escape execution by Idi Amin, arrived early and took the opportunity to visit Potter’s Village to meet the staff and children.

Everyone wanted to look their best, but some did have trouble finding clothing to fit.



One of the local roads running beside Potter’s Village has been impassable for several weeks as it needed to be rebuilt after flooding. One source of muscle in Uganda are prisoners who can be used in work parties for manual jobs. They are distinctive in their yellow shirts and trousers: Like most roads this one is made of dirt and stones so a repair job means digging and moving lorry loads of earth to make a new surface.



Which brings us back to the earth mover!!! It has been a momentous week. It hasn’t been used to move earth, but it was used as a grandstand so that children could get a good view of the Archbishop. And as the final preparations were made for the Convention a couple of mechanics arrived to move it away. End of story (we think).






Another saga has been the capture of a 4th mouse, this time in Rosie’s flat at Potter’s Village. 2 times the trap was baited and set, and 2 times the bait was eaten, the trap was ‘tripped’ but the mouse escaped. But not the third time when, perhaps having eaten three helpings of porridge the mouse was too fat to squeeze out. He was released by Malcolm about a mile away (near where the earth was dug to repair the road, as it happens.



And continuing the story of Sorghum, this week’s picture shows the seeds being left to dry on raffia mats.



This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from South Sudan:

“If you are looking for a fly in your food, it means that you are full”

A Refreshing View

“Malcolm, could you climb the hill behind your house, and take a photograph of the Diocese buildings?” The hill in question looks more like a climbing wall used by mountaineers rather than a gentle incline. Malcolm had walked (scrambled) down it once over a year ago when he walked back from Lake Mutanda, but hadn’t plucked up courage to attempt to go up it. So packing a spare oxygen cylinder, saying a (last?) fond farewell to Irene he set off.



It wasn’t as bad as he feared. He has to say that as there are houses up the hill where people older than him live, who must make the climb on a daily basis. We are pleased to say he took the photos and returned in one piece. The photos clearly show are house and the other Diocese buildings

One of the houses on the hill had Sorghum seeds drying in the sun. Sorghum is a common plant which is used for a variety of purposes and in particular to make the local favourite drink – Bushera. When we first saw Bushera we thought is was hot chocolate, being a similar colour and consistency. It was a bit of a shock to taste a slightly off, sour, fruity flavour – definitely an acquired taste.



And as for our now regular feature – the earth mover is still there with the signs of other life moving in.



This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from South Sudan:

“A quarrel is like buttermilk, the more you stir it, the more sour it gets”