Coming and going....

Just out and about today - it is a public holiday in Malawi to celebrate Kamuzu Day. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the first life President of the Republic of Malawi! He reigned for 30 years and kept people under oppression - it was only after he died that we had any sort of democracy here!

I spotted this young girl carrying something on her head (didn't realise there was a bicycle taxi in the background). The reason I thought this was a good image for today is that you can see she is wearing trousers and then a chitenji or a skirt on top. Under the rule of Kamuzu it was illegal for women to wear trousers, and 17 years after democracy people are still not free to wear trousers especially in villages! The sun is shining today but its cool and people would be much warmer wearing trousers and socks that a thin cotton skirt, but culture is a difficult thing to overcome! Little by little things will change!!

Thanks for all your lovely comments on yesterdays children - they really are a blessing!