My Sanjika blues
I have always benefited from my dreadlocks. For close to a decade now, they have been part of my identity. I still have fond memories when people mistook me for Joseph Kamwendo at a pub in Angola after the Flames stunned Algeria 3-0 in their opening match at the 2010 African Cup of Nations’ (Afcon) . I even won the heart of a Portuguese waitress Daniella.
The beers kept on flowing and the patrons were excited to mingle with ‘Kamwendo’ the Malawian star. I even feigned a limp everytime I went to the loo just to clear any doubts.
It was the same thing at Cairo Jazz Club in Egypt in 2009 where I was mistaken for Fischer Kondowe after his five-star display against the Pharaohs in the qualifiers of the same tournament. Of course the two things I have with the two soccer greats are dreadlocks.
But last week, my dreadlocks betrayed me big time. I had gone to Sanjika Palace to cover a luncheon which President Peter Mutharika hosted to congratulate the Malawi Queens for winning bronze at the 2016 Fast5 World Netball Series.
I just couldn’t wait for an early Christmas feast as I salivated for a savoury meal. But alas! When everyone was being asked their choice of meal, a polite looking gentleman suddenly served me with a plate of boiled Irish potatoes and zitheba. And as I sat there puzzled, a fellow journalist, Maganizo Mazeze, jokingly whispered to me that the catering personnel might have mistaken me for a Rasta because of my dreadlocks and I could not agree more.
To make matters worse, prior to the luncheon we were offered only bottled water which was warm and could have been best suited for tea. That said, it felt so good to hear APM appreciating the Queens’ feat by splashing K4.8 million. Mpamba wa geni yamabelo wakwana, mumatiyimilira abwana.
On a lighter note, I thought I should share this posting by an Arsenal female fan on Facebook after the Man City game: “Eishh!! Koma chitimu ichi!, Sichisiyana ndi ex- wanga—poor performance! Well, its Christmas this Sunday, let’s share the llittle we have with those that cannot afford, especially kids. Merry Christmas! Uloliwe, uloliwe wayidudula neng’esiza hah! (Oh yes, the train is pushing). Glory be to God. n
