Hell of a big closet

Identity is a complicated thing.
Composed of intangible expressions and ways of being in the world that are rooted in a particular time, place and history, identity often is a site of contestation in political debates, at home, in the workplace, and in the media.
And the space given in Rwanda to discuss homosexuality is much smaller [...]

First Days on the Job

I’ve had some interesting first days on the job as a reporter at City Radio. It’s a private station based in Kigali but its broadcasts reach most of the country. The programming is a mixture of music and news (mostly the former) and broadcasts in Kinyarwanda, French and English.
I cut my teeth on a press [...]

For Bob

Hidden Afternoon Jams.
So, we got into a taxi and told him to take us to Kimisagara – a neighbourhood in Kigali that we haven’t been to yet. We soon discovered that it’s a bit off the beaten path for the muzungu.
We made it to the edge of the hill that we live on, and then [...]

Hosed

This afternoon was my first real experience of the markets in Kigali. I heckled with the best of ‘em, but I was also had.
I walked around with Kate and Tanya in search of a few necessary things. First, an FM radio so I can start listening to the station I’m going to work for next [...]

Moto-Loco

It’s like coffee times a thousand.
Today, Shelley, the program coordinator (and our babysitter extraordinaire thus far), thought we were ready to experience the cheapest way of getting around Kigali – by ‘moto’, a little diesel-powered motorbike that weaves its way through people and heavy traffic. My first ride was early this morning and I if [...]

On Route

Inklings of what’s to come…

In less than two hours, I begin my 25-hour journey to Kigali. Lots of deep breaths and cup after cup of orange pekoe tea have provided some temporary comfort for those pre-departure jitters I’ve got coursing through my veins.

The first departure point: my parent’s house in Windsor, Ont. Soon, I’ll get [...]