Dark Continent my Black Arse by Shile Khumalo

Author:Shile Khumalo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dark Continent My Black Arse
ISBN: 9781415202937
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Published: 2010-02-22T16:00:00+00:00

Before leaving Nairobi I decided to get a letter of introduction from the South African High Commission to use in Addis Ababa when applying for a visa to Sudan. One thing about this kind of trip: you learn, very quickly, to think ahead and be on your toes all the time.

The High Commission was about half an hour on foot from my backpackers. I hoped that, as at the Ethiopian embassy, I would be invited to the Head of Consulate’s office. But it was not to be. Instead, while my letter was being prepared, a forty-something lady came to talk to me through the window that shielded those behind the reception desk from those in front. She asked in Zulu where was I heading and why.

It was nice to be able to communicate in Zulu again. It was just basic chatting and it was good to see my people representing us in foreign lands. As she was about to leave she said, ‘Ndiyavuya ukukwazi. Uhambe Kakuhle’ – I am happy to meet you. Travel safely.

‘Ngiyajabula ukukwazi nami,’ I replied. ‘Ngiyabonga kakhulu, sisi’– I am happy to meet you too. Thanks a lot, sister.

Being the eternal optimist, I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, I would bump into a sexy young South African working at the High Commission. Or, even better, a home girl visiting Nairobi for pleasure, or perhaps business. Well, again, it was not to be.

As I left the building I knew that one day I would simply have to be my country’s High Commissioner in some exotic place like the Bahamas, Maldives or Fiji. It wasn’t a resolution, it was a dream. And dreams can come true: within two days of arriving in Nairobi, I already had my Ethiopian visa and a letter of introduction to be used in Addis when applying for my Sudanese visa. I knew then that I was on my way to fulfilling my childhood dream of travelling from Cape to Cairo. I found myself happily humming the words of Bob Marley’s song,‘Don’t worry about a thing,’ cause every little thing will be alright’.

Returning to the city centre later that day, I noticed a modern building named Integrity Centre. On closer inspection, I discovered that it housed the offices of the Anti-Corruption Commission. The small parking area next to building had a sign that read This is a corrupt-free zone. I’m sure they meant well, but for some people, including myself, it created a very bad impression.

Since it was my last night in Nairobi, I decided to have dinner at an upmarket restaurant to celebrate reaching the halfway mark of my trip. As I walked into the posh restaurant in the Hilton Hotel I spotted a fine-looking young woman sitting all alone. She was also looking at me with her big eyes while sucking a cocktail through a straw. Being such a faithful man to my fiancée, I totally ignored her while I placed an order.

Have you ever had the feeling that someone is constantly and continuously staring at you? That is what I felt.

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