DYNAMIC AFRICAN FEATURE #2: TYPICAL UGANDAN
Solidifying Uganda’s presence on tumblr, as the name suggests, this blog is representative of your ‘everyday’ Ugandan, their unique experiences, and so much more. Typical Ugandan manages to combine dynamic aesthetics and diverse information by bringing together the history of Uganda, its popular culture and everything in-between, all on one diverse and carefully curated platform.
Introduce yourself in five sentences or less (background info i.e. name (or internet pseudonym/blog name), age, profession/occupation, location, country of origin, etc.):
Masembe Pearl, 22 years old, 3rd year medical student. I run TypicalUgandan.tumblr.com.
What inspired and/or motivated you to start this tumblr and how long have you been operating it:
I started the tumblr in June last year, after I got frustrated by all the negativity in the “Uganda” tag at that time. The blog is a work in progress since I’m not based in Uganda right now, hopefully it will improve as I finish up school and as time goes by.
I wanted Ugandans and Uganda to be seen as something other than the African cliché of bad leadership and poverty that it was. Yes, all this exists, but there is another side to Uganda that is being overshadowed by the bad; the dynamic and talented people that as Ugandans, we are proud of, the beauty and perseverance of the many tribes and peoples of Uganda; all of that and so much more.
Where does the inspiration for the name of your blog come from:
Back home, “typical Ugandan” is a term of fondness and sometimes exasperation. it means that whatever has happened or something someone has done can only happen in Uganda or when hilarious people do the most absurd things, we chuckle and think, “only in Uganda can this happen…ahh typical Ugandan” for example, an eviction of a Kenyan neighbour from Big Brother Africa is a reason to kukyakala (party) with the excuse of showing solidarity to a fellow East African or how we make strange people into celebrities; when you hear of such occurrences, you just go, “typical Ugandan”.
What do you most enjoy about social media and/or blogging on tumblr:
The setup of tumblr, makes learning about lots of areas really interesting and fun. In the duration that I’ve been on tumblr, I’ve learnt a lot about how similar the Ugandan culture is to quite a number of other African countries’ cultures. I’ve also learnt new things about my own country although I’ve lived there all my life! Basically, in a way, tumblr is an educational tool for me.
Concerning the diverse and dynamic aspects of Africa, what are you most passionate about:
I try to be eclectic. I am passionate about anything that can show how marvelous and beautiful Uganda and its people are. The music that showcases the talent brimming in Uganda, the art, fashion, history, daily life, traditions…all of it. What I really try to avoid though is politics, it’s a frustrating topic and it’s already widely covered elsewhere.
Are there any tumblr blogs you’d recommend (5 maximum):
On tumblr I usually check the “Uganda” tag or the Uganda tag on these blogs so I’d recommend;
allnaturalytwashedblipsterbitch, blackacrylic, dynamicafrica, trueafricanoriginal & some others.
Where else can you be found on the internet:
Contact me on typicalugandan.gmail.com
“Visible Uganda”- A photo series of photos from present day Uganda
*Why bring guns into an area that is so visibly enjoying peace?// There are so many sunflowers in Uganda and somehow the sunflowers are always able to find the sun.
Visible Ugandan women protesting the sexual assault committed against opposition politician Ms. Ingrid Turinawe, one of the leaders for Activists for Change (A4C) now For God and my Country (4GC) and also considered the “mother” of the Walk to Work movement.
*Full story here.
“We respect our bodies and we expect to be respected.”
Peace song from Northern Uganda.
“The Moon is Bright” - Chinese Young Stars, part of The Acholi Music Project.
*Click on the link, then press play on the page to listen to this beautiful, hopeful, & peaceful song. (There are also downloadable lyrics).
“Brother come home.
The moon is bright…
Kony come back home.
It is time to work for forgiveness,
the time is now.”
“Visible Uganda”- A photo series of photos from present day Uganda
*Why bring guns into an area that is so visibly enjoying peace?
Maurice Kirya- “Malaika”
**More from the Ugandan musician, Maurice Kirya, during his powerful performance of “Malaika” on “Soundtracks @ Red Kiva” for The Africa Channel.
Uganda Speaks Against Kony2012 - Uganda2012
#UGANDA2012
Then from the rubbish (Kony2012) and pressure (Kony2012 debate) and out of the ground comes a truly special & beautiful gem (Uganda2012).
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#Uganda2012 is an online social media project founded by a group of Ugandans to recapture the narrative about Joseph Kony and Northern Uganda from Invisible Children and its #KONY2012.
Most Ugandans were shocked to witness a video that moved to “Make Kony Famous” and mischaracterized the war in Northern Uganda (the war ended in 2006). Many of you have read about the criticisms and the subsequent responses from Invisible Children.
Now it is time for Ugandans to tell you the real story!
#Uganda2012 will fund a small, motivated group of Ugandan media makers to tell their own stories.
The first part of the project will be a film called #Uganda2012. The film will harness the creative energies of Ugandan filmmakers, photographers, activists, writers, poets and artists to tell the REAL story of Joseph Kony’s tragic legacy in Northern Uganda and document the the work of many amazing Ugandans who have worked tirelessly to rebuild the region. The film will be released on April 18, two days before the #KONY2012 “Cover the Night” action.
The second part of the project will be a website that will publish stories of Ugandans who are working for positive social change in their own country.
Any additional funds will go to sponsor other Ugandans who would like to tell their own story using their media of choice.
If you help fund this project we will not send you a t-shirt. We will not send you a bracelet. We will not ask you to vandalize your city with the face of a mass murderer.
What we can promise you is that we will tell you the real story of Kony and the child soldiers. Plus we guarantee that 100 percent of the money pledged will go to Ugandans on the ground.
Help Ugandans bring their narrative back home where it belongs.
Tweet, post and share this project with the world.
Ugandans react to KONY2012 screening in Lira, Uganda.
Source: Al Jazeera
Uganda Speaks Out!
Al Jazeera’s awesome new project that allows Ugandans to text in their opinions of KONY2012. You can click on the red glowing circles to see the responses from Ugandans themselves.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/ugandaspeaks/
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QUOTES:
“What we indirectly get from this video is that Ugandans fit the one dimensional ‘African ’stereotype of poor, Helpless and dependent. It does not tell the entire story of what the people who are affected by this war went through. It does not look at the families affected by this war or what the mothers to these children have to say. It ignores the effort put in my Governments and individuals over the years to bring peace in that region. Then it emphasises an American solution in America being used to try and solve an African conflict in Africa without involving the people directly affected.” -Maureen Agena
“Some have castigated this criticism, stating that the IC’s primary objective was to make Kony famous and the rest is irrelevant. But the problem with attempting to initiate a global conversation based on inaccuracies is that you will likely spark the wrong conversation…Another issue a lot of Ugandans took with the film was that it suggested that whilst Kony is a Ugandan problem- America is the answer. This is absurd.”- K.K Mbabazi
“Celebrities and famous faces who might not even know where #Uganda is located are not the solution to our Country’s problems #Ugandaspeaks.”
“I am a visible child from Northern Uganda. Who are the “Invisible Children”?”
“As a Ugandan who until recently lived in Uganda I am appalled at Kony2012 video and hw it blatantly tries to manipulate pipo into caring by telling half truths. But more I wonder why now, why this sudden need to pay attention to a cause that has been largely ignored for decades?! Maybe the recently discovered oil perhaps or Invisible Children desperately trying to remain relevant? But this for me is a wake up call to Ugandans and Africans as a whole, a cautionary tale that if we don’t tell our story. Give a voice to our lives on this continent that others will and many times get it wrong because if either hidden agenda or blatant ignorance…”
“A total sham! Another government venture to scheme money in collaboration with invisible children. If Kony had been a real threat then government would have stamped him out like it does with the opposition.” - Rachel Nalubega
“Americans should back off our country and find elsewere were to put their brain games.When Uganda needed their hands,they showed us their backs and folded their hands and now 8 years after the end of the war and we are trying to heal and reconcile,they are scratching our healing wounds again and acting the savior in a crisis!!!NO NO NO,we are learned 21st centuary youths that will stand for our country and this documentary is all about OIL and the Americans are looking for how to penetrate our country and take over our wells.SINCE WHEN DID SOLJA BOY START MAKING CHARITY MUSIC????”
“How come the world now knows more about #Kony2012 than about the NODDING SYNDROME in Northern Uganda? #ugandaspeaks”
“Who ever is creating the hysteria dat Ugandan children are in danger of #Kony2012,they are telling lies, they are the dangers #UgandaSpeaks”
