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Ty (Remix fever!)

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Track: Heart is Breaking - Self-Taught Beats Remix
Album: Special Kind of Fool
Genre: Hip-hop
Country: UK / Nigeria
Release date: June 2010 (The remixes)
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The Commuter's nightmare and African time

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

One of the misconceptions held by some Europeans of Africans is that they've got a "relaxed" attitude towards time-keeping (at least that's how it's put when the person speaking is being polite).

It's mostly bullshit, of course. Some individuals are pretty relaxed about time, and you'll find that's the case wherever you are in the world, but most simply have to be "flexible" to stay sane. (Click on "Read More")

Imagine yourself as one of the Kinshasa commuters having to fight everyday for a seat on a bus that's always late (by anything up to 3 hours). Sleep less, get up earlier, 5am perhaps, and you still have to wait and fight. To keep your stress level low and your sanity intact, wouldn't you give yourself some mental leeway on time?

Either that or walk everywhere, which many do, and not only because it's cheaper. A 20-minute walk through the park to and from work everyday is pleasant. A 10-mile hike along busy motorways isn't. Millions in cities all over Africa do this everyday, just to get to work on time. Worth remembering the next time you're cursing a train that's late by 10 minutes.

Video: Reuters