Friday, September 15, 2006


A traveller is an atheist. We have that saying in Africa. How much of that saying is true or not could be an endless debate.
There are thousands of perceived messages that could come out of this picture. What do you think when you see this one? Please leave your opinion(s).Don't just glance at it and say nothing.I would like to hear from you.

Picture courtesy of my good friend Yahya Charahani who blogs in swahili at
www.charaz.blogspot.com

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those women must be very strong.From now they have my maximum respect! Jeff,is this picture real and is that car actually moving?

Amelopsis said...

Jeff I wonder what the containers hold (or will hold once the destinations' reached?) and I wonder which country this is (most places outside Europe & North America see over-packed vehicles as a matter of course, but which one is this?)

The Intolerant One said...

Travellers? I see harvestor's.

A traveller is an atheist.

The apostle Paul did nothing BUT travel and we know he was no atheist.

scout said...

i clicked on the pic to enlarge it as wanted to see the expression on the man at the back's face. he seemed to be saying, 'here we go' in a light that is neither of excitement nor sadness. they seem to be a working crew....all women save for the guy and whatever sex the driver is. they are well fed, and must hold to some traditional ways judging by their clothes.

as well as the bottles there is what looks like bedding. the area they are in is served by electricity.

those who would adhere to the saying of a traveller is an atheist would have faith in Creator taking care of them with their family on the land where they belong. travelling is different from taking a trip. usually if someone travels or takes a trip in indigenous life, it is to see distant relatives or to help out where they are needed. one who is a constant traveller can be a lost soul, driven out by circumstance (their own ill actions and not wanting to make their ways righteous again, or there was war or natural distaster), or , well, as you say it could be endless debate.

in the pic this could be for some type of work like healing, ceremony, etc.. as it is mostly women my thoughts are they are off to help with healing or teaching.

the one bottle has a dark liquid in it and whatever is in them all certainly doesn't require refrigeration. i don't think they are going very far as how long could one sit on those metal bars for??? if it were a long journey they would sit atop the bedding.

so if they are not going far but staying for a bit i'm thinking some of the bottles will be used for drink along the way and the others are herbal medicinals.

either that or i'm totally off the mark and it's a delivery truck that picks up people en route and they are off to work somewhere or coming home from work :)

those are my impressions.

Jeff Msangi said...

First anonymous,yes the picture is more than real.

Amelopsis,
I am not sure what the containers hold but I would probably agree with suggestions that Scout has given below.The country is Tanzania,somewhere near mount Kilimanjaro.

Intolerant One,
You are safe to refer them as harvestors so as to "resque" Apostle Paul to be called an atheist.By calling the travellers atheist it only meant a traveller should be prepared for anything along the way.My understanding.

Scout,
I had no idea that you are a perfect photo reader.You have given an amazing analysis,facial expressions,culture,electricity,environment,roads and all that.I am standing,applauding you sister.You are a genius of your own make.I have to learn this from you.I am sure your insight have given out a better room for understanding.

scout said...

hey jeff! it's probably only because i couldn't sleep last night , the painkillers from the dentist seem to wire me instead of knocking me out, so i had PLENTY of time to really look at the photo. poor eyesight gets me to click to enlarge photos :)

i'd love to see more pics of your homeland (i went to your freind's siste and there's good ones there but i live in a rural area so love pics of other rural areas). and would be more then open to hearing 'expressions' and their meaning. thanks for the neat post!

Jeff Msangi said...

Trio Kaka,
Thanks for stopping by.I appreciate.I agree with you some sort of transportation is better than nothing.

Do you think "mbege" could be what is inside those containers or even banana wine?

Jeff Msangi said...

Thanks Trio Kaka,
Now we have a clearer clue about what could be inside those containers.

I remember one day,somewhere between Morogoro and Dar we gave an old lady a ride not knowing that she was carrying "machozi ya simba"(lion's tears).The panic came when a cop waved to us,also asking for a ride.You can imagine the rest.

scout said...

o.k. , i'm not letting you people off the hook till i know. what the heck is 'mbege or pure - "Machozi ya simba" or gongo', and what does banana wine taste like (besides bananas!!!)????????????

Jeff Msangi said...

Scout,
All those are different names for different local brews.

Banana wine tastes like Morgan David red wine.

scout said...

thanks jeff and trio.
ah yes, home brew, aka moonshine, boatgas, swamp water, etc..

this is for the hard alcohol, not the beer or wine. besides wanting the uber tax money, the cops etc. just don't seem 'to get' home made. it's usually chemical free and much healthier then the stuff commercially made. the government likes to pretend they enact laws on it to prtect people but really come on ...its for the tax money and thats about it!!!

so gongo lovers and makers, know you are not alone in the world :) (or should that be gongo from the congo?)

scout said...

hey trio!
well i was only doing a rhyme with the 'congo gongo' things , but interesting there's no word for congo in swahili. i wonder if 'congo' is a conqueror name???

gee, i'm going to have to order me up some gongo for coughing and other related things like 'mad scout disease'. :)

thanks for sharing and as always, look forward to learning from this site!!!!

Jeff Msangi said...

Yes Trio,
Kizunguzungu is what they call it here mad cow disease.It always threatens the relationship between these two north american countries plus soft wood lumber.May be we could order some gongo and try it out in couple of cows here..Who knows