Easy like Sunday morning

I'd like to give a shout out to all my friends at Mercury Machine and PlasMac-- thanks for taking an interest! Wasuze otya nno?

This morning when I was getting ready, I was listening to my iPod and singing my lungs out. I got too close to the window and scared the hell out of the guard who was stooped over washing his clothes in a basin. He bolted straight up and looked around to see what the noise was. I am apparently not singing at the Met anytime soon.

I hired a cab to take me to the Baha’i Temple after breakfast. It is a relatively new religion (originated in 19th century Persia), and it is based on a doctrine of unity of mankind and the major world religions and of peace. They believe in one God who has sent a series of messengers that were suited to the needs of the time and the culture of the people. These include Jesus, Abraham, Muhammad, Buddha, Krishna, Bahá'u'lláh, Zoarester, etc... They believe the need for a world givernment in this age of humanity's collective life, and they work with the UN, UNICEF, and the WHO. Under the reign of Idi Amin, the Baha’I were banned in Uganda and the head of the faith and his family were murdered.

The temple in Kampala was built in 1961, and is known as the Mother Temple of Africa. It sits on a 50 acre property on top of a hill that is stunning- it is kind of what I always imagined Eden had looked like. The temple is a decagon, and each of the ten doors are surrounded by stained glass. I happened to quite accidently get there right before service started, so I went in. Each of the doors are opened, and the temple becomes and open air facility- the wind blows through during the devotions. The congregation was as racially diverse as I’ve seen in Uganda yet: Europeans, Africans, and Asians all together. The service began with children saying prayers. Readings from the Bible, the Koran, and other holy books were read, and this was interspersed within was probably the most beautiful a capella choir I’ve ever heard. There were no leaders or no sermons, and men and women spoke alike. The service took place in English, Swahili, Luganda, Persian, and Arabic.

I met some very interesting people afterwards- one woman named Aunt Vie from Alaska who moved her family to Kenya 30 years ago for the Baha’i. Another tiny, old African grandmother named Edith who has been a Baha’i all her life, and an Iranian couple who moved to Uganda because of religious persecution in Iran. This couple, the Ebrahimis, had a successful furniture construction business in Kamplala, although they explained to me that business was extremely difficult in Uganda if you aren’t willing to give and receive bribes, and do things under the table. I think I shall have dinner with them this week.

The Ebrahimi’s dropped me off the Ugandan National Museum this afternoon. It was a fascinating old museum that must have been something to see in the 50’s. However, today it is crumbling. The lights are out all over the museum and the exhibits are literally rotting away since everything is made from animal flesh or plant material. I walked home from the museum (about a 25 minute walk) and promptly fell asleep.

I'm having a terrible time uploading photos this evening so there will only be two. The first is one of the village roads I used to get to the temple- make sure you click on it to blow it up to see just how awful they are. I really thought the tires would fall off. Also notice the red clay roads. Next, me in front of the Baha’i Temple.