The following was shared with TAFES associates in a WhatsApp group of which we are a part. The nearest I could trace the authorship was here but it was not clear. Nevertheless, the interest for us is less on who wrote it and more on how it is being used […]
I’ve been trying to get my head around why Tanzanians might view some hierarchy as a good thing. Australians are deeply suspicious of hierarchy, often viewing it as inherently flawed, a system that inevitably leads to abuse of those at the bottom. Tanzanians do not share our pessimism about hierarchy, […]
A TAFES Associate who is also a psychologist posted on her Facebook profile about why a man might beat (but not kill) his wife. She wasn’t trying to give justification for it, but to unpack what his assumptions or mental situation might be. The reasons listed were: he might do […]
In 2017, Tanzania Fellowship of Evangelical Students (TAFES) held several new events for associates (graduates of the ministry). At September’s Reunion Dinner in Dar es Salaam, one of the speakers was Joshua Wathang’a, a former General Secretary of FOCUS Kenya. He issued a serious challenge. There is no shortage of Christians […]
Both Father Gilbert and Father John are passionate about the proverb that if you educate a woman you educate society, one of the first Tanzanian proverbs we learned. It has been the cultural touchpoint for much of women’s development in Tanzania, but I’ve had my concerns about it. While it […]
We had our friend Father John staying with us for a few days this week. He wrote his Masters thesis on the early exit of the girl child from school so of course I asked him about President Magufuli’s pregnant schoolgirl ban. Our friend, and Father John’s BFF, Father Gilbert was […]
I’m writing to exorcise a demon before I go to bed tonight. Not a literal demon of course. What I mean is I feel the need to make a confession before I can sleep. Confession features in Tanzanian culture as an expression of power – I make you confess because […]
Meet Jesus at uni 