George Mwaura has become a good friend of mine and I have learnt a lot from him. Allow me to tell you about him. George grew up in a dysfunctional family in Mathare, one of the biggest slums in Nairobi, Kenya. His father had a chronic drinking problem. He did not have regular work, and they were always short of money. His mother did her best to keep the family together through selling vegetables to commuters coming home from work at a kiosk next to a busy street leading to the city. Although George’s dad was not a churchgoer himself, he sent his five children to church, and even gave…

On the most recent Heritage Day, I had the privilege of attending a concert at which, amongst others, the very talented Jazz pianist. Melvin Peters performed.  Heritage Day is a special day on the calendar in South Africa when we celebrate each other’s rich heritage. We are thankful for what our predecessors, which include our mothers and fathers and wider family, have endowed us with, but we also honour others not related to us who through their talents have enriched our lives. Peters’ bright musical career took off when he studied for his Bachelor of Music under the famous jazz musician Darius Brubeck at the university where I did my…