Can I Preach

Several people over the past couple of months have emailed me, asking me to speak about Christianity and seeing as it is such a broad topic, I didn’t necessarily know what exactly to focus on. So I narrowed it down to the most pressing questions and the recurring ones had a lot to do with the impact that Christianity has had on my upbringing, on African countries, and how it continues to influence social policies such as the Anti-LGBT Laws.As you can see, that is a lot to uncover for one straight male, especially because I can’t speak for all of Africa. Therefore, I decided to focus on Kenya, a land I know all too well as I break down the challenges and hypocrisies that it presents. Okay, here goes nothing.

In this day and age, we love to tell everybody that will listen about how many things we’re doing, when we’re doing them and how. A lot of times, we tend to put the cart in front of the horse, instead of working on our goals, we spend more time telling people about how much work we put in. I just learned to stop sharing my dreams with others as I found value in moving in silence. Do my own thing at my own pace and block out all the noise. There are many benefits to be gained when you keep your dreams to yourself and follow your path. Let’s talk about it.

This episode goes out to all the freshers worried about choosing their courses for their first year at university. I know first hand what it’s like to go through that stressful period, so I thought it would be helpful to give you some tips on how you can ease that burden.

For those of you who may not know, I have finally decided to step into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter after years of looking on from the outside. Why the sudden interest you ask? Well, what better time to dive into the seven books than right now? Due to the ongoing lockdown, I had found myself with nothing to read after already ploughing through my other books. Going into one of the most beloved stories of all time, I had various expectations and some reservations, most of which were forced upon me by my Catholic primary school teachers. Now that I have read and watched the Philosopher’s stone, I’d like to share with you my first reaction to it. So tune in to this episode and remember to stay safe, or it’s three points off Gryffindor!

“Data is the new oil.” Is a phrase that has become relatively well known in the modern age coined by Clive Humby. Surveillance is defined by the dictionary as the act of paying close and sustained attention to a person or group, over a period of time for a particular reason. It has undergone drastic changes in recent years with the advancement of technology and it would seem that from the outside, we as a collective have come to accept the fact that we are constantly under watch. This relaxed approach that we have embraced raises serious ethical questions about what level of surveillance should be acceptable. Where do we draw the line? Do we even have a right to privacy anymore? Do we care? Let’s talk about it.

Does anyone else feel like they are slowly losing their minds over the whole lockdown situation? I completely understand why it is happening, the importance of social distancing and following the rules. I also commend all the essential workers for putting their health on the line for our benefit. Like always, I am just reflecting on my thoughts. Lately, it feels like my entire rhythm has been recalibrated. At first, I was completely okay with it, though as the days continue to roll on, I’ve started to realise all the things I took for granted. My daily routine that gave me purpose has for the time being been stripped away. Truth be told, this stay at home thing is harder than I thought it would be.

These isolating periods of quarantine as a result of the coronavirus pandemic have given me a lot to think about. During one of my quieter moments, I began to reflect on the latest Star Wars film, The Rise Of Skywalker and why it did not work for me. As the concluding chapter in the otherwise phenomenal Skywalker saga, a saga that has captured the imagination of millions, a story that has been passed on from generation to generation since 1977, this was it. This was supposed to be a grand finale for the ages but it fell flat, for a good number of reasons. Let’s talk about it.

Have you ever gone from a situation whereby you were the best around your social group, to finding yourself surrounded by people who are far more advanced than you? A few weeks ago, I joined a writers circle and had people go through my work in detail. It was nerve-wracking at times, as I felt more vulnerable and protective over my work than ever before. Being in this supportive but competitive space, where everyone was good at writing meant that nobody was pulling any punches. Existing in competitive environments where the unfiltered truth is common can either push you to be better or demotivate you. It all comes down to how you handle criticism, if you want to succeed bad enough, then you have to know how to navigate these shark-infested waters.

15 months ago, I decided to get my hair locked and so far, it has been a fascinating experience to say the least. Having ‘locs’ has taught me a lot about myself, as crazy as that sounds. There are many misconceptions that people have about locs, and Black peoples’ hair in general. Most if not all of them are born out of the ignorance and misinformation of a society that continues to perpetuate the Imperial European standards of what hair type is, “Acceptable.” Though my locs are still very ‘young’ in the grand scheme of things, I feel that my journey has taught me enough lessons that could be useful for those who are thinking about locking their hair, let’s get into it.

I recently rewatched the film Belle, played by Guru Mbatha-Raw set in the late 1700s to early 1800s, based on a true story. Belle was the child of a white British Naval Officer and an African woman, she was brought to the United Kingdom at a young age by her father after her mother passed. Belle was taken into custody by her great-uncle Lord William Murray Mansfield, who happened to be Britains’ most powerful judge at the time. This relationship would be significant as Belles’ life became intertwined with the abolishment of the Slave Trade in March 1807. The film was inspired by a 1779 painting of Belle standing beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray at Kenwood House in London, which now hangs at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland. Beware of spoilers….