SUCCESS IS ACHIEVABLE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise


BAKE, for the last 10 years I’ve been chasing a UK Visa in vain. I have prayed and fasted but God has forsaken me. Now I know I am going to die a poor man,” my friend recently lamented. I was about to tell him not to be foolish, but I did not because I realized he was simply a victim of a crippling mindset. No wonder Saint Paul urges us to be transformed by renewing our minds daily.

This young man is just one of the many captives that have postponed living and are languishing in self-created limbo, waiting to start enjoying life when their dream of going abroad comes true.
It’s funny how some people struggle to leave a country that others are struggling to enter. While you may struggle to go to India to make money, hundreds of Indians entering Uganda are prospering!

When Winston Churchill thought of calling our motherland the Pearl of Africa, he had seen many treasures in this land.

How did the Bitatures, the Wavas, the Mukwanos make their money? And how many Ugandans have returned from South Africa, America, UK, without even enough money for a ticket back?
The belief that you can only succeed from abroad is part of a poverty/failure mindset that must be overcome.

I have a strong conviction that a person prepared to succeed will always succeed anywhere in the world. I remember reading about a man who was once a millionaire. All his factories were destroyed during war and he fled to another country as a refugee without anything. However, within two years, he was a millionaire again! This implies that his success was in his mind.

God has given each of us talents and gifts which, if used creatively and according to his purpose, will inevitably lead us to success. In this world there are people who wait for things to happen and there are those who make things happen. I am among the latter. How about you?


The writer is an author & Managing Director of World of Inspiration.
Contact: bakerobert@yahoo.com / 0712-868424

"The Rite of Spring" at the National Theatre

If there is one powerful African dance company that has single-handedly revolutionized contemporary dance in Uganda, working in fusion with the European style, it is the Uganda National Contemporary Ballet.

The posse of lithe dancers will put up a weekend of mesmerising performance on Friday and Saturday (23-24^th April 2010) in the National Theatre auditorium here in Kampala, at 7:30 pm respectively, and tickets are already on sale at our Booking Office.

You cannot afford to the miss the highlight ballet, The Rite of Spring (le sacre du printemps) on the well known music of Igor Stravisky with live percussions by one of Uganda's best percussionists, Hermann Ssewanyana, and other 11 dancers of Uganda National Contemporary Ballet.

"I have always wished to create this great work, Rite of Spring, but before now was never able to find the dancers I needed," says choreographer Valerie Miquel, on Stravinsky's masterpiece. "And now I have found them; the Uganda National Contemporary Ballet has what it takes; thanks to them we can now present this fantastic piece of music and dance."

Igor Stravisky (1882 -1971) was a quintessential Russian composer, pianist and conductor, in fact, is considered one of the world’s most outstanding influential composer of 20^th century music. According to wikipedia, The Rite of Spring did not earn Stravinsky enviable stature as "a musical revolutionary, pushing the boundaries of musical design," it also "transformed the way in which subsequent composers thought about rhythmic structure…the music's innovative complex rhythmic structures timbres, and use of dissonance have made it a seminal 20th century composition."

When I ask Valérie to tell us in simple terms the story behind the acclaimed dance piece, her eyes dance merrily and she says: "There is no story. For me this music is a celebration of life: life in nature, life of human beings. Spring is the strongest season - the rebirth of nature each year - and is full of strength and energy. Spring is also the season of renewal, where all is new, innocent, and open to everyone. That is why we have among us a little four year-old girl, Martina."

She adds: "The dancers represent all the powerful animalistic instincts of life, which are in all of us. Forget about understanding, just feel free and flow with us through this passionate dance. And celebrate life!"

There will be special guests –the Chinese Kung Fu Club of Kansanga who will present All Men are Brothers and Skar  who will sing where is this Love, a song created for the street children.

Like I said, tickets are being sold at the National Theatre Kampala for 5,000 shillings or  you can call 0773 09 15 86 or 0712 72 74 24.    

The "Pearl of Africa a Powerhouse of Art

By Robert Bake

The recent happenings on Uganda’s literary scene undoubtedly point to a great revolution that’s taking place in the art and creative industry in the country. The Authors’ Forum every month, the gathering by Kampala Readers’ Club every fortnight, the various trainings for screenwriters, movie producers, directors and actors/actresses, and more regular art exhibitions, among other events, cannot be happening at this magnitude by accident.

Today, the media has opened more to promotion of local talent and the works of local authors. Designers are showcasing their works on every television station. Comedy shows are becoming more and more popular. Every minute a song is being produced in the studio. Talent search programs from every angle are taking place. Awards for distinguished artistes are being organized annually. All this is evidence that something new is happening. Something that the world should get ready for!

I have this conviction that Uganda is about to prove itself a powerhouse of art and creativity. The time has come when the Pearl of Africa is no longer going to be known world over for President Idi Amin’s tyrannical rule, HIV/AIDS, corruption or the war against Joseph Kony and the LRA, but for the power of art and creativity. The industry is growing at a terrific and unstoppable speed. The literary tempo is high and I have no doubt that a revolution is taking place. I am glad to be amidst this revolution!