This Is Africa

I have heard them saying this for years. You might be wondering who they are, but that is the least of your worries when you hear a comment like "This is Africa!" My response has always been "what is Africa? I live in England but you don't hear me shouting this is England!" Following this usually comes a confident smile and "well hopefully one day you will see" I would walk away laughing inside. Well the only person I'm laughing at now, is my self.

Let me try and explain exactly what it is I am trying to tell you.
The sun rises from the East like any other country in the world, except in Africa there is no gradual rise, the sun lifts straight up and into the sky, it is nearly possible to see the rotation of the earth as the the day begins because the sun is so dominant like a beast overlooking this enormous country. People rise early here in Africa, some to head off to work, some to continue their washing and cleaning and some to simply sit in awe of the sun, but mostly people start their day because it is a day. When sitting at home relaxing or driving along the road, hearing the occasional rifle or pistol shot is quite normal, the thought of where the buletlands is vacant as long as everyone is safe. The majority of people in Africa take pride in their home, weather it be how carefully someone picked out the scrap metal that shelters them from the rain or which kind of sound proofing they use in their music studio. Money is a rich mans wealth in Africa and Health a poor mans struggle. Black people are known to other Black people and Whites to whites, Hindu people to Hindu and Muslim to Muslim, but some times there may be a Black person who knows a White or a Muslims who knows a Hindu, what ever the combination in Africa this is the beginning of peace and also corruption. As the day draws in and the news of another corrupt political leader rising in to power reels from the radio, another dead body is bundled into a Hurst because AIDS or a bullet killed it. Death is evidently the closest thing to life, but surviving simply means being alive. The rolling mountains of tropical life and beautiful scenery may lead to a dieing person, but then if there was never hurt in such a wonderful place how could any one possibly survive. The doctors, nurses, mechanics, shop assistants and police all make their way back to the home they strive to keep alive. The beast's in the wild finish their day of hunting, mating and nurturing, the heated soil finds a cool breeze, the rich man closes the estate gates and the town - ship music begins to play. The beast in the sky doesn't fade away or become less, but ends its watchful day by falling back down and out of sight to rest in wait of its next opportunity of day.

There is a a problem in Africa, But the problem is, that it just is. There is also an air of peace in Africa and you can find the peace within the problem, you ask why????

Because "This is Africa"