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piqer for: Global finds
Ciku Kimeria is a Kenyan author "Of goats and poisoned oranges" - (https://www.amazon.com/goats-poisoned-oranges-Ciku-Kimeria-ebook/dp/B00HBBWPI6), development consultant, adventurer and travel blogger (www.thekenyanexplorer.com). She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She has worked on diverse pieces for various international and local publications including Quartz, Ozy, The East African etc. She has travelled to 45 countries – 16 of them in Africa. 153 countries to go and 63 territories!
"Of goats and poisoned oranges" has been extremely well received in Kenya and beyond. It tells the story of a Kenyan middle aged power couple and their complicated marriage. The novel explores issues of greed, revenge, betrayal and murder. It runs from the 1960s to 2013. It has been described as “Wicked, funny, poignant, wacky, human, a big ball of fun and danger”, “A unique and captivating book”, “Fun and intriguing”, “Impossible to put down once you start reading.”
She recently moved to Dakar, Senegal from Kenya to work on her second novel. She also works at as the Africa Communication Manager at a leading global strategy consulting firm.
She holds a B.S. in Management Science from MIT with minors in Urban Planning and International development studies.
Podcast: The Price Of Ugandan weddings
The world over, weddings are expensive affairs with the costs rising. In the US, the average wedding costs more than $30,000. The societal pressures to have lavish weddings are not less felt in countries where people make much less than those in developed countries.
This podcast explores the issue in Uganda, where some weddings can cost as much as $100,000, plunging new couples and their families into debt.
In a quest to show off new-found wealth or social status, and in a race to out-do their neighbours, people are going to extremes to put on the most lavish wedding. Ugandan nuptials are now big business with big dresses, big venues and big bills. Having reached marrying age British-Ugandan journalist Mugabi Turya travels to Uganda to find what it really costs to get married.
Weddings in the African setting have always been a community affair—friends and relatives chip in to top up the couple's budget. The challenge is that in this day and age, regular folks are having lavish weddings and going into debt to fund the weddings. Even with the contributions from friends and family, many couples borrow extensively beyond their means and begin their married lives with debts they will never be able to pay off.
Part of the challenge is societal: in families that expect a bride price or dowry, the groom can already be dipping far into his pockets long before the wedding day. There have been moves in parliament to change bride prices (a problematic name indeed) to a form of marriage gifts instead—which should factor in what each family can afford. The idea that a man can pay for a wife is definitely one that doesn't sit well with many people. The idea though of respecting culture, honoring future in-laws with tokens of appreciation is viewed more favorably.
The main young couple interviewed are looking forward to their big day, but have no intentions of getting into the financial difficulties they have seen others in.
