Someone posted a clip on Facebook and it took me straight back to my youth in Central Africa: We flew from UK to Lusaka (Capital) in 1955 but moved up to the thriving metropolis of Kitwe on the Copperbelt in 1961, when I was eleven.

Early 1960’s – I remember buying my mum a broach for 2/6 pence at OK Bazaars – loved all the tacky glitter. (Photo: David Howell)

1960’S – My Mum in a striped dress crossing the street to the VW and my Dad waiting for her, in the driver’s seat. They always held hands, too… (Photo: David Howell)
The clip: Look what happens to those who gorge on the Marula Fruit.
Jamie Uys made many heart-warming and clever films about his beloved home and nature.
My favorite of all time was “The Gods Must Be Crazy” a gentle story about a coke bottle left in the desert. A local man decides it must have fallen out of the sky and decides the Gods need their bottle back. He tries his very best to return it. The film illustrates the Africa I grew up in, so beautifully.
Many clips can be found on You Tube to enjoy… this one is very funny – perfect comic timing.
(My grateful thanks to the photographer for these un-credited photos found on the net although I suspect they were taken by David Howell, mostly on a now- defunct website “The Great North Road” showing one of my African poems.)






