Be Easy and the "Bling Factor"
Hey man... BE EASY.. behave yourself.
That was one of the first things I heard when I touched down in Kenya. I was trying to back out of partying, being that I was completely wiped from my flight, and they refused to let me. I watched everyone pressure another one of the trainees into partying... when you head to the police station.. you go there to PARTY.
But beyond the original context in which it was used, it really captures the way you should behave during your time in Kenya. I was sitting outside and I started to think about the idea of "Be Easy" as I looked around the university campus. People here have a certain swagger in their step. A feeling that everything is very relaxed and that they are totally in their element. While this is true to a point, I realized it was more about their culture. No one runs... even when cars are approaching them doing 60. No one is pushing on the streets, even though it is shoulder to shoulder crowded. Be easy. After I thought about everything that I had done up until now, how I rushed around, how I demanded to have a place to stay right away... I realized now that despite how upset or anxious I got.. I just had to step back and realize that they weren't simply neglecting me... they just move on a speed that would frustrate any Westerner, but it is all a part of adapting to the culture. As they told me the first day I was here.. "Patience isn't a virtue in Kenya... It's a requirement.
Think of the stereotypical rapping African American.. what is the first thing that pops into your head? Escalades, Gold teeth and "ice". Hell yah.
I have always laughed a little bit inside about how these "role models" spend their money. Buying things that will not retain their value, things that are beyond luxury and step into the frivolous.
As I took my ride in the Matatu today and just looked around outside. Every vehicle on the road which is used for mass transit is plastered with pictures of Snoop Dog, Adidas and Nike symbols and the general "rap aspirations" of money diamonds and "Bling".
10,000 miles away, and the rapping industry holds major sway here. Why?
In the Matatu you pass by literally thousands of homeless and sick people everyday. These are people with the drive and determination to survive anyway they can and will be coming up with new entrepreneurial initiatives to have food for their families each day. If only they had the chance.. what would they do? Make it to America and start slinging beats? Maybe not.. but the whole point is the rappers in America personify not only the "American Dream" but the "African Dream" as well. They have made it. They can provide for their families, and whether or not they have family members who remember where they came from first-hand; they need only turn on the television set to be reminded of the continual struggle of their people here in their home continent. Want to set aspirations for people? Live in excess and be excited about it. Show off everything you have for everyone to see to show the people of this world that it is possible for an African person to make it bigger than they could ever dream... but in the land of opportunity things seem pretty easy.. life isn't all Cristal and Cognac here in Africa.. let me tell you.
I often wonder that if all of these rappers really want to show off their opulence why don't they begin giving back to the countries from whence they came? I have never heard of the "50 cent Campaign for clean water" or the "Snoop-Dogg house for abandoned babies"... Want to make an impact? Want to become the most recognized and "respected" rapper in the joint? Try donating that bracelet on your left arm to Kenya and feed a town for a week.
It is with that idea that I have a new idea for funding. I am going to be sending requests for donations to every rapper I can think of. I will keep you posted on just how fast they tell me off.
There will be a quick update on the party blog too.. I met up with ERIC! My old intern from the very first year I was in AIESEC. We hit some clubs that really changed my mind about this country and their parties.
I also had a real revelation today. I think I have finally hit the point in my life that there is no longer a reason for me to drink. My biggest drinking partners are sounding like it is time for quits and realistically there is SO much for me to see and do in these next 8 months that I could avoid drinking. This is really the first time in my life I can't think of "wellllll there could be a chance that I would HAVE to drink if I went to 'so and so'" Maybe it is finally time that I start growing up and following my own advice. For my friends who know me they may be thinking "No way.. he'll be back partying in a week". But just remember that my friends who say that are usually the ones I drink with... you boys and girls are a mere 10000 miles away. Pretty hard to party over the phone.
Be Easy,
Devan
That was one of the first things I heard when I touched down in Kenya. I was trying to back out of partying, being that I was completely wiped from my flight, and they refused to let me. I watched everyone pressure another one of the trainees into partying... when you head to the police station.. you go there to PARTY.
But beyond the original context in which it was used, it really captures the way you should behave during your time in Kenya. I was sitting outside and I started to think about the idea of "Be Easy" as I looked around the university campus. People here have a certain swagger in their step. A feeling that everything is very relaxed and that they are totally in their element. While this is true to a point, I realized it was more about their culture. No one runs... even when cars are approaching them doing 60. No one is pushing on the streets, even though it is shoulder to shoulder crowded. Be easy. After I thought about everything that I had done up until now, how I rushed around, how I demanded to have a place to stay right away... I realized now that despite how upset or anxious I got.. I just had to step back and realize that they weren't simply neglecting me... they just move on a speed that would frustrate any Westerner, but it is all a part of adapting to the culture. As they told me the first day I was here.. "Patience isn't a virtue in Kenya... It's a requirement.
Think of the stereotypical rapping African American.. what is the first thing that pops into your head? Escalades, Gold teeth and "ice". Hell yah.
I have always laughed a little bit inside about how these "role models" spend their money. Buying things that will not retain their value, things that are beyond luxury and step into the frivolous.
As I took my ride in the Matatu today and just looked around outside. Every vehicle on the road which is used for mass transit is plastered with pictures of Snoop Dog, Adidas and Nike symbols and the general "rap aspirations" of money diamonds and "Bling".
10,000 miles away, and the rapping industry holds major sway here. Why?
In the Matatu you pass by literally thousands of homeless and sick people everyday. These are people with the drive and determination to survive anyway they can and will be coming up with new entrepreneurial initiatives to have food for their families each day. If only they had the chance.. what would they do? Make it to America and start slinging beats? Maybe not.. but the whole point is the rappers in America personify not only the "American Dream" but the "African Dream" as well. They have made it. They can provide for their families, and whether or not they have family members who remember where they came from first-hand; they need only turn on the television set to be reminded of the continual struggle of their people here in their home continent. Want to set aspirations for people? Live in excess and be excited about it. Show off everything you have for everyone to see to show the people of this world that it is possible for an African person to make it bigger than they could ever dream... but in the land of opportunity things seem pretty easy.. life isn't all Cristal and Cognac here in Africa.. let me tell you.
I often wonder that if all of these rappers really want to show off their opulence why don't they begin giving back to the countries from whence they came? I have never heard of the "50 cent Campaign for clean water" or the "Snoop-Dogg house for abandoned babies"... Want to make an impact? Want to become the most recognized and "respected" rapper in the joint? Try donating that bracelet on your left arm to Kenya and feed a town for a week.
It is with that idea that I have a new idea for funding. I am going to be sending requests for donations to every rapper I can think of. I will keep you posted on just how fast they tell me off.
There will be a quick update on the party blog too.. I met up with ERIC! My old intern from the very first year I was in AIESEC. We hit some clubs that really changed my mind about this country and their parties.
I also had a real revelation today. I think I have finally hit the point in my life that there is no longer a reason for me to drink. My biggest drinking partners are sounding like it is time for quits and realistically there is SO much for me to see and do in these next 8 months that I could avoid drinking. This is really the first time in my life I can't think of "wellllll there could be a chance that I would HAVE to drink if I went to 'so and so'" Maybe it is finally time that I start growing up and following my own advice. For my friends who know me they may be thinking "No way.. he'll be back partying in a week". But just remember that my friends who say that are usually the ones I drink with... you boys and girls are a mere 10000 miles away. Pretty hard to party over the phone.
Be Easy,
Devan
2 Comments:
At 5:17 AM, krista said…
i hope you really do that funding idea. Your thoughts are reminding me of other things. I used to get so upset with news images of black americans protesting or having a media conference regarding a racist situation or movement they were trying to push. Usually the issue that happened was not racist at all but was just bad luck on part of the person. Every white manager who happens to fire a black person in America is not a racist...other things MAY have been at play. But I always got angry because they usually start yelling about being brought to America as slaves to be tortured for years and now after long last they have to deal with THIS. Well buddy.. your great great grandpapi might have been tortured but I am sure this generation has not picked cotton in the hot hot sun or numerous horrible things that were done/forced upon the slave generations of africans brought to America. The current trouble makers (some cases of racist blame ARE accurate though) are living their life in access just as every other american and forget about their homeland Africa except when it is comfortable to bring it up as a defense. They do not send money to Africa, they do not protest about the way their African brothers and sisters are living in this moment. No they stand up and complain about how one of their brother who was buying a big mac in macdonalds, wearing a hoodie and probably some expensive kicks, was looked at funny while being served his food of convenience. It irks me. Done the ramble rant and now going to eat breakfast for dinner!
At 9:56 AM, Rina said…
Hey....
Yeah Be Easy and Relax thats the attitude, but for the members and companies that is not the attitude, you have to push n be very persistant.
Here in Thailand the culture is "Chill or Whatever".... thats how things are here.
About your drinking have u tried a TUSKER??? The Kenyan Beer??? You say your going to quit and on day one you were out partying...am yet to see how that goes...
Enjoy Kenya...
Am representing Kenya here in Thailand.
Cheers.
Rina
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