He who praises rain has been rained on - Swahili proverb

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There is currently a big controversy over here about the film ‘Darwin’s Nightmare’ which was Oscar nominated for best documentary this year. An Austrian journalist started to investigate the Nile Perch trade in lake Victoria in the north west of Tanzania. What he exposed has enraged politicians and environmentalists alike.

He claims that the area is poverty stricken, due to the over-exportation to the West, leaving locals to eat only the unsanitary fish heads that are left behind. The director, Hubert Sauper, also points out that the area is a hotspot for arms trade, with Russian planes unloading cargo of kalashnikovs and ammunitions in return for fish all sanctioned by world banks and politicians. Saupers’ accusations that the nile perch trade is fuelling Africa’s conflict has enraged many.

The Tanzanian president is furious and there is much accusation that Sauper’s investigations are shallow and inaccurate. On top of that he has been accused of lying about what he was filming in order to get the required permits and lying about who he was in order to film and his investigative methods have been called into question.

It hits on the heart of European and African insecurities - Europeans portraying Africa in negatively exposing corruption and poverty.

I think the film is coming to Europe soon. Catch it if you can.

Apart from that, I’ve had a busy week. I’m back in Dar… again… Having been sent nearby to a conference on Early Childhood Development, which seemed interesting. I’m sure it was, only it was all in Kiswhahili…

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Comments

[Jim]

Aaw Aaw
I want more pretty pictures and good-time, feel-good stories. It's bad enough here! ... Only kiddin, always good to get insight from our very own Kate Adie in Dar!

[bullabulla]

Hello Susie so you are in Tanzania for new adventures I am still in India easy life and traveling. About the movie it has been released one year ago it was an amazing and horrible documentary but it stuck me. I heard recently it wasnt a documentary but a fiction. Hope you will have a good time there Take care Laetitia en Inde.

[Nicole]

I think I've seen the film...
Hey Susie! Rain just forwarded me your blog url for the first time so I've got a lot of catching up to do. It looks and sounds like you're having some great adventures. Well... things are just as adventurous here in White City, why last week, I dared to try the pasta instead of my usual pizza order in the canteen and I have to say, it turned out 'OK'. :-) I think I saw the film you're referring to here on BBC Four - I have to say, though it sounds like he used some dubious methods for entry, it's difficult to see this film and not think that something has gone wrong somewhere along the way. If even some of the picture he's captured of the situation is even remotely right, it's quite sad. Definitely interesting viewing though. I'll look through your other entries - saw the pics in your bikini and you look fabulous!!! (nice tea cup too :-) Take care and travel safe, Nicole xx