A few weeks back I had a talk with a couple of Canadians who are here researching media and human rights issues. The conversation followed a pattern that has become drearily familiar – that is, after years of talking to such researchers from the West, journalists, representatives of international rights groups and so on.
Street vendors are a common sight in Kigali, even if they are not allowed to be there. Thus they lead a hazardous existence of trying to sell their wares while avoiding police. Some shopkeepers also would like to see them disappear. Yet there are always clients.
Juliet soliloquizes her love to Romeo in the Act II of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: “What is in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.” But what you call your child does matter, as I found out once.
In line with the saying “safety starts with yourself”, motorcyclists have taken the lead. It is rare to find a motorcyclist wearing his own helmet while not having one for the passenger.
The Tour du Rwanda, the country’s annual international cycling race, recently came to a close. Those who have seen it say it was a magnificent spectacle, what with the Rwandan teams in their flashy outfits. And hadn’t we reason to be proud: in the final rankings, the first five places were all taken by Rwandans!
At this moment, if you are a fan of English Premiership football matches you probably are seething with anger that last weekend you were deprived of getting the regular fix of watching favourite teams in action.
