African cleavages
New to Sub-Saharan Africa but bitten by the private equity bug that says invest to capture its growth? Visualising SSA as one monolithic entity and having difficulty in breaking it into digestable parts? Here are a few cleavages to consider to get you going. Distinguish consumer markets with a lot of growth potential (economic growth … Read more
Belief and violence
As Rwanda commemorates the 19th anniversary of the first day of a horrific genocide against Tutsis today, my mind turns to rising violence against religious minorities in Pakistan, particularly against Shias. I came across this 16th century passage by French scholar Sebastian Castellio on the absurdity of people holding unshakable, incompatible beliefs. Replace ‘Calvin’ with … Read more
Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers
A conversation with a moto-driver at the beginning of a journey may go as follows: You: Yewe! You: Bitte Driver: Sawa You: Ndashaka kujya kuri Nakaumatt, mu mujji Driver: Yego You: Nangahe? Driver: Magana umanani You: Oya, ibi birahenze Driver: Magana atandatu You: Sawa. Ufite amafaranga mato? Driver: Yego You: Utware bohoro kandi neza You: … Read more
Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries
greeting for the first time – muraho good morning – mwara mutse hello – mwiriwe have a good day – umunsi mwiza have a good day (16-18h) – umugoroba mwiza good evening – muraramukeho, umugoroba mweza good night – ijoro geza good-bye (to a lot of people) – muririrweho farwell – murabeho go well – … Read more
Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website
First of all, welcome to Rwanda! You’ll enjoy the idyllic weather in this beautiful, clean and safe country. If you’re planning on staying here a while, you’ll probably want to learn the native language Kinyarwanda for your own sanity and as a courtesy to the people here who don’t speak English, French or Swahili. Unfortunately, … Read more
Qadri’s march and Supreme Court announcement a coincidence or a military plot to take over Pakistan?
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the arrest of the Prime Minister on corruption allegations. Meanwhile, across the street, Tahir ul Qadri, a Canadian cleric returned to Pakistan, is leading an 80-100k strong protest, calling for the overhaul of the government on the basis of its corruption. In the interim, he is calling … Read more
What Obama’s re-election means for the world
The Lost Pakistani | GQ India The world is going to be a better place because Mitt Romney has not been elected the United States’ 45th president, despite President Barack Obama’s shortcomings. Obama’s first term left plenty to be desired. The rule-of-law presidential candidate of 2008 failed to shut down Guantanamo Bay, ordered the extra-judicial … Read more
What have foreigners done for Britain?
The Lost Pakistani | GQ India The London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony lead my discerning Italian housemate to believe that the sum contribution of ‘others who came’ to the shores of Britain was a weird interpretive dance choreographed by Akram Khan. Then came Britain’s first 10,000m and 5,000m Olympic Golds – double the Golds won … Read more
Welcome to Rwanda
The Lost Pakistani | GQ India 21 July, 2012 It may be fair to conclude that my Pakistani and Pakistan-flavoured British compatriots’ recent extra-curricular ventures in India, the UK and USA haven’t assisted in winning me the good graces of law enforcement agents and immigration officers. Despite travelling on a British passport, less than two years after … Read more
