Diary of a Mjengo girl

In this kavillage of ours, Kiberege, where gossip traveled faster than the boda bodas that zipped through the dusty roads, Wamaku’s maternal cousin Hamida has been the subject of much discussion in the recent past. Hamida, a spirited young woman in her early twenties, has a reputation that causes many of the village elders to raise their eyebrows and cluck their tongues in disapproval. You see, in Kiberege, the idea of a woman enjoying a drink is as scandalous as a chicken deciding to swim in the village pond. It is simply not done. But Hamida, with her bright smile and infectious laugh, just like her cousin the foreman, has a mind of her own. It all started one fateful evening when the village was celebrating the annual harvest festival. The air was thick with the scent of roasting maize and the sound of jubilant ululations. Hamida, dressed in her favorite kitenge, had been helping her mother prepare chapatis all day. By sunset, she was tired but excited to join the festivities. As th

For most people (well-adjusted people, to be precise), their mother is the most important person in their lives. I mean, there is no love like a mother's love. Most kids, when they grow up, their inspiration is often their mothers because they feel like they owe a lot to the woman who gave them life and kept them alive. But then, there is Wamaku, the foreman at the Mang'ula road construction site. Wamaku is a big man, both in stature and presence, known for his booming voice that could be heard across the construction site, even over the roar of machinery. He is the type of man who wears his hard hat even at lunchtime and believes that if something doesn’t fit, you just need a bigger hammer. Wamaku has always thought of himself as a man’s man—tough, unyielding, and as immovable as the mountains that surrounded Mang'ula. However, there is one thing that can soften even Wamaku’s steely exterior: his mother. It was a hot afternoon, and the crew was hard at work, trying to fini

Wamaku's saloonist neighbour, Khadija, had a man over last night. From how neatly dressed he was, it is safe to assume he was from out of town, probably from the city. His Toyota ist looks a little old but at least he has one unlike Wamaku. The foreman's house is next to the gate so automatically, that's where the parking is. He is not happy about it but the other neighbours managed to quiet him down when he started complaining about the vehicle blocking his door. They told him to bring a lady over maybe that would reduce his irritable behaviour.  It has been a while since Wamaku had a lady over at his house. At least that's what his neighbours are saying. They decided that minding their own business is something they weren't interested in doing and Wamaku knows this. This particular saloonist has been the main character in this. One time Wamaku paid her Tshs 10,000 to not tell people that his wife had beaten him up the previous night and that he had gone to seek re

Ah, the construction industry—a world of hard hats, heavy machinery, and...high heels? Yes, you heard that right! For the fearless women taking on mjengo all over the world, it's not just about mastering the art of wielding a hammer; it's about balancing on steel beams in stilettos while negotiating with stubborn contractors and dodging falling debris—all with a touch of lipstick and a sprinkle of sass. But let's be real—women in construction face challenges that are no laughing matter. From battling stereotypes about "women's work" to dealing with the not-so-subtle stares from colleagues who can't believe they're seeing a female foreman, the road to success is paved with plenty of potholes. Picture this: You're on-site, giving directions to the crew, when suddenly, your perfectly manicured nails become the topic of conversation. "How does she keep them so clean?" they whisper, as if nail polish is somehow incompatible with mastering blue

Kenyans working at the mjengo are now following the financial market like their lives depend on it. Because their lives actually depend on it. Getting paid in kshs was not an option so many opted for the USD option. It was on the rise and it was the best deal there was. The fluctuation of the dollar in Kenya, as in many other countries, is influenced by various factors, including economic conditions, government policies, global market trends, and geopolitical events. Here are some reasons why the dollar might fluctuate in Kenya: Economic Indicators: Changes in key economic indicators such as inflation rates, interest rates, and GDP growth can impact the value of the Kenyan shilling relative to the US dollar. For example, if Kenya experiences high inflation or low GDP growth, investors may lose confidence in the Kenyan currency, causing the dollar to strengthen against it. Monetary Policy: Actions taken by the Central Bank of Kenya, such as adjusting interest rates or implementing monet

Wamaku has been cursing and lamenting all morning because the cement he bought to start building his Kiberege home was stolen. He is even considering visiting a mganga to help him punish whoever stole from him. It was more than 10 bags of cement so it couldn't have been just one guy. He suspects one of his subordinates who he says started building his mother's house last month despite not having any overtime. The worst part is, he used alcohol money to buy these building supplies- he should have just gotten drunk and forgotten the whole thing. This self-discipline doesn't seem to be working out fine for him but he refuses to drop all his resolutions before March this year. To take you back, the foreman hired a new steel fixer to help with the Ruaha bridge section. He knows he is very good with that specialty. He worked with him before in the Mwanza project. The steel fixer's name is Wasiwasi. I am not sure if that's his birth-given name or just a mjengo name but I

Every year on the 14 th   day of February, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, also called   Saint Valentine’s Day   or the   Feast of Saint Valentine.  This day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romantic love in many regions around the world. While some people celebrate the day joyously, for some it is a bad day because of the memories from the past and for others it is just an ordinary day. This year, whether you choose to celebrate this day or not, may you all find love in all the right places. May you love yourself a little more. May you overlook all the negative things that had been imprinted in your heart and mind. May you forgive yourself for the unrealistic expectations that you had set for yourself. And because self-love is not meant to replace romantic love, may you find someone who loves you the way you deserve to be loved. May you find someone who can handle your darkest truths, who won’t change the subject when you share your pain

One of Wamaku's subordinates is a pretty slender unnaturally brown young woman with brown teeth, milk white eyes and a very tiny waist. Wamaku detests her attitude and everything she stands for. Partly because when she was new, he tried to 'hit it' and was turned down mercilessly at the maskani and everyone laughed. You can never heal from that. The bigger part of the hatred however is because he cannot fire her because she is the bosses 'personal person.' Despite being a trip checker, the only trips she checks are hers to the supermarket and to the expatriates accomodation. Photo by Aidi Tanndy via pexels.com In the past few weeks there have been rumours that this boss will be transfered to a different site and this being the only site here in Tanzania, that one is most likely going out, probably to Kenya or Ethiopia. The way this woman has been 'carrying herself' like she is the only girl in the site because she eats mzungu meals and rides in his vehicle