The Radio spot was a bust. I didn't get on Magic FM. I did however get an adventure:
I was supposed to meet DJ Rik at the Zanzibar Hotel bar at 6pm Saturday to go with him to the studio. I got there at 615 (knight time- which is exactly in sync with Africa time btw) and Riky was not there. I asked around, "Riky iko wapi?" And a couple of women, who likely were ladies of the night, said that yes he had been there, but he had left. For a moment I thought the experience was shot, but instead I decided to make friends and maybe get a story out of this. One of the ladies was very chatty, and wnted me to have a beer with her. The other lady was more aloof and kept blowing kisses at me from across the bar. At one point the blowing kisses lady came up to us and asked the chatty lady if she was my mchumba (fiance)... I said Michumba? Nina mchumba tatu" (I have 3 fiances) Then I pointed to each lady and several across the bar mchumba nne, mchumba tano, mchumba sita... They thought that was very funny. I think it is funny for Tanzanians to hear white people speak the broken kiswahili, but they are very encouraging. Anyway, I asked the door guy where the Magic FM studios were, and he said eventually- I will take you there. This is common in TZ people don't always give directions, they will frequently walk with you to where you want to go. So I went with the door guy, and Jennifer (the chatty lady) to the studios and waited in the lobby of the studios for DJ Rik to come see me. Security at the studio said, "DJ Rik will see you in 2 minutes." I ended up waiting an hour. While I waited Jennifer and I had a riviting conversation about Kampala (She was from Uganda) and the night clubs there and in the area of DAR. She wanted me to take her to Zanzibar, and I said Labda (maybe). Anyway, I got sick of waiting and asked a man who seemed to know what he was doing: "Samahani, Una chukua mimi DJ Rik tafadali"(Excuse me, can you take me to DJ Rik please- although I think Mimi might be wrong). He said yes bwana follow me. He took me on a tour of Magic FM studios, and showed me the Channel TEN TV studios as well. It was pretty cool, then he eventually brought me right into the broadcast room with DJ Rik. Riky was spinning discs live on air, and I waited for his break in the room. I sat in front of a mic, and thought I might get to talk at some point, as Riky kept motioning to me- one second. At the break I eventually asked him severalk times, "Do you think it would be good for your show if I talked with you about music? and he kept saying yes yes of course, but never came through. So all in all it was a good experience. I went out with DJ Rik that night to a place called Maisha (I think) and met an Indian Tanzanian named Alikhan who has been to Canada several times, and an Englishman named Bevis. My buddy Justin and I also met a couple more ladies, and I played it safe having my hands in my pockets while talking with them. Apparently some ladies here like to pick pocket and you can't be too safe. That's my Radio story, now I'm off to Morogoro and then to Mafinga to possibly move into my house, and see my school again. I start work on July 6th.
PS: My first bit of advice to anyone white person planning a trip to Tanzania: Get yourself a Tanzanian football (soccer) Jersey. You will instantly be the most popular mzungu around.
I was supposed to meet DJ Rik at the Zanzibar Hotel bar at 6pm Saturday to go with him to the studio. I got there at 615 (knight time- which is exactly in sync with Africa time btw) and Riky was not there. I asked around, "Riky iko wapi?" And a couple of women, who likely were ladies of the night, said that yes he had been there, but he had left. For a moment I thought the experience was shot, but instead I decided to make friends and maybe get a story out of this. One of the ladies was very chatty, and wnted me to have a beer with her. The other lady was more aloof and kept blowing kisses at me from across the bar. At one point the blowing kisses lady came up to us and asked the chatty lady if she was my mchumba (fiance)... I said Michumba? Nina mchumba tatu" (I have 3 fiances) Then I pointed to each lady and several across the bar mchumba nne, mchumba tano, mchumba sita... They thought that was very funny. I think it is funny for Tanzanians to hear white people speak the broken kiswahili, but they are very encouraging. Anyway, I asked the door guy where the Magic FM studios were, and he said eventually- I will take you there. This is common in TZ people don't always give directions, they will frequently walk with you to where you want to go. So I went with the door guy, and Jennifer (the chatty lady) to the studios and waited in the lobby of the studios for DJ Rik to come see me. Security at the studio said, "DJ Rik will see you in 2 minutes." I ended up waiting an hour. While I waited Jennifer and I had a riviting conversation about Kampala (She was from Uganda) and the night clubs there and in the area of DAR. She wanted me to take her to Zanzibar, and I said Labda (maybe). Anyway, I got sick of waiting and asked a man who seemed to know what he was doing: "Samahani, Una chukua mimi DJ Rik tafadali"(Excuse me, can you take me to DJ Rik please- although I think Mimi might be wrong). He said yes bwana follow me. He took me on a tour of Magic FM studios, and showed me the Channel TEN TV studios as well. It was pretty cool, then he eventually brought me right into the broadcast room with DJ Rik. Riky was spinning discs live on air, and I waited for his break in the room. I sat in front of a mic, and thought I might get to talk at some point, as Riky kept motioning to me- one second. At the break I eventually asked him severalk times, "Do you think it would be good for your show if I talked with you about music? and he kept saying yes yes of course, but never came through. So all in all it was a good experience. I went out with DJ Rik that night to a place called Maisha (I think) and met an Indian Tanzanian named Alikhan who has been to Canada several times, and an Englishman named Bevis. My buddy Justin and I also met a couple more ladies, and I played it safe having my hands in my pockets while talking with them. Apparently some ladies here like to pick pocket and you can't be too safe. That's my Radio story, now I'm off to Morogoro and then to Mafinga to possibly move into my house, and see my school again. I start work on July 6th.
PS: My first bit of advice to anyone white person planning a trip to Tanzania: Get yourself a Tanzanian football (soccer) Jersey. You will instantly be the most popular mzungu around.
posted by Tanzaman at 1:01 AM
3 Comments:
What was Bevis like? Did you ask him if he knew about Bevis and Butthead? That's a good show...
The words "be careful" come to mind when I read your blog, but it all sounds very interesting. Thanks for the pics. (Don't forget sun screen over there!).
Talk to you soon I hope.
Bevis actually pronounced his name Bev (as in shortened Beverely) is. The whole night I thought his name was Dennis, until he put his name in my phone. That's a big thing here, everybody wants your phone number, it reminds me of the days when I would hunt for phone numbers...
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