The Burden of being a Black African

On 1st Aug 2008, we were in party of 4 (2 Ugandans and 2 Egyptians) travelling to Bali on Valuair. The manager on duty at the check-in counters barred the Egyptians from checking in because ‘they did not have a visa to Indonesia’. Despite repeated attempts to explain that Egyptians could obtain a visa on arrival Indonesia, the manager could not let them check in. Even when we managed to log on to the Indonesian Embassy website (thanks to good internet connectivity in Changi Airport) and showed her that Egyptians could get a visa on arrival, she did not let us check-in. After 30 minutes of embarrassment and repeatedly taunting us with ‘go and get visa first’, she came back and merely said you can check-in. There was no apology of any sort, not even an attempt to explain that there had been a misunderstanding. On the 3rd of August 2008, we were scheduled to fly out of Bali back to Singapore and little did we know that we had another episode of embarrassment by Valuair waiting for us. My wife and I (the 2 Ugandans) were barred from checking in because we did not have a Visa to Singapore. Ugandans travelling to Singapore for less than 30 days do not need a visa and this has been like that for ages. Despite repeated explanations with evidence in the Ugandans’ passports that we had actually been to Singapore without having a Visa prior to travelling, the good manager did not let us check in. She asked us how she would tell that we were going to Singapore for less than 30 days. In one of the exchanges, we explained that we were British residents and we will be returning to Britain after the3 day break in Singapore. The manager then demanded to see our British visas and tickets to London Heathrow. She clearly had never had of an e-ticket or did not know how it works because despite our pleas that we did not have the ticket printed out, she said she will not let us check in until we showed her a ticket. Thankfully we still had a laptop and opened up our e-mails which contained the e-ticket. It appears to me that Valuair staff have no idea about Visa restrictions of all the nationalities flying to Singapore and Indonesia and it is therefore wrong for them to subjugate their customers to embarrassing situations. This is the second time I am being subjected to unfair restrictions and incompetent service just because I am coming from Africa. One time in South Africa, I was refused service because the shop keeper was not sure that the credit card I carried was mine and he had no way of proving. Other than being Africans, the Valuair ground staff had no reason to doubt what we were telling them. It must have come as surprise that we as Africans had even thought of going to these popular tourist destinations – and yes as tourists. This is a case of prejudiced racism, where whatever we say or submit as Africans is doubted and has to be cross-checked. To apply for Visas at some embassies and consulates, we have to take evidence of all property we have ever owned, bank slips, marriage certificates and whatever else is necessary to prove that we can pay for our travel. That is called the burden of being an African.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is calling 'Mzungu' being Racist

My answer is No and this is why. I recently returned home for the summer holidays and literally walked into this row (some white friend is complaining about being called ‘Mzungu’) by kids and adults alike. Coincidentally, I had just returned form Accra in Ghana where I had spotted a letter to the press complaining about the same thing, - apparently someone was unhappy about being called Oburoni (the equivalent of Mzungu in East Africa). Anyone who has been to this dusty town of ours knows what this term means. The children will cry out ‘Mzungu how are you’, the vendors will call ‘Mzungu come and buy’ and some naughty men will propose to white women by calling them Mzungu (you must have heard of the local hit ‘Omwana w’omuzungu by the late Paul Kafeero’. Now, I do understand when white folks complain about a title that classifies them by race, especially when they come from the politically correct communities of UK that think that calling me black is being racist. I have been in t...
Read more

FORTY THINGS ABOUT ME

Turning 40 is meant to be a time to assess where you’ve got to in life and to measure your achievements against your youthful dreams. A lot is said about turning 40, some of it scary. I woke up today expecting to experience some of those things. It was like any other day in my life. I looked in the mirror; there were no obvious signs on my face to show that I am 40. My yesteryear memories began flashing before me as I recollected. I thought of how lucky I am today, to have the most amazing wife and be a proud father of four! While I was still contemplating my past, I thought of the 40 things that have come to define my life thus far. Even I found some of them interesting (and surprising): 1. I have no fear of caterpillars, chameleons or lizards but I would not sleep in a house with a snake that has not been killed. 2. And I’m neither superstitious nor religious! 3. My wife and mother are the most important women in my life. 4. I did not celebrate my birthday until I was 15, even then...
Read more

Getting Married in Buganda

On a number of occasions, friends and relatives have approached me to help them wade through the intricate matters of getting married in Buganda.   Overtime, I have noticed that many are not even aware of the simplest and obvious steps like initiating contact with the girl’s family.   I write this commentary to try and explain the simple but lengthy process of getting married in Buganda.    My post is not based on extensive research or study but rather on what I know and have learnt over the years.   A few years ago,   I used to officiate at Baganda traditional marriage ceremonies (okwanjula).  I wish to declare that I am not an expert on Buganda culture, nor am I a specialist in Buganda traditional marriages; my involvement at such a high level (omwogezi) was at best accidental, although we shall keep that story for another day. Initiating Contact Getting married in Buganda is seemingly easy but folks complicate it for unknown reasons.   Ye...
Read more