THE WILDEBEEST MIGRATION, HUNGRY CROCODILES AND TEAM DYNAMICS.

 “Cross the river in a crowd and the crocodile won't eat you.”

This an old west African proverb that idealizes teamwork, emphasizing how people can accomplish greater things collectively rather than as individuals. In this proverb, the crocodile typifies any challenge or obstacle that people may face, and the river represents the pathway to overcoming those obstacles.

One of the greatest demonstrations of teamwork happens in the animal kingdom, somewhere in Serengeti in Tanzania at the annual wildebeest migration.

Every year over 1.5 million wildebeest, some 800,000 zebras, elands, and Thomson’s gazelles trek over 800 kilometers clockwise in a circle through from southern Serengeti to the Masai Mara in search of greener, mineral rich pastures and water. This search for greener pastures does not come without danger, as the herds enter the Masai Mara they are met by more than their fair share of lethal predators, the big cats and as they blindly jump from riverbank ledges and into the river waters, they are met with over 3000 crocodiles lurking in the murky waters of the Mara River. The spectacular river is filled with drama, death, and endeavor.

As the throngs of wildebeests gather on ledges above the river, they organize themselves, each animal vying for a position that gives the safest and surest path to the opposite river- bank, in an apparent display of teamwork. The few animals that rush toward the water are the herd leaders, with thousands following close behind. The crocodiles too start to move toward the slower and smaller wildebeests, surprisingly when the crocodiles interrupt the river crossing, the crossing herds are put in a disarray, the wildebeests scatter, in the commotion, the Mara River in its unrelenting ferocity, does so much in ending the lives of the younger calves that are simply too tired and inexperienced to survive the gantlet. In equal measure the hungry crocodiles at the smell of blood and meat, frantically start tearing at each other’s catch, in the chaos that ensues, the strongest and most determined herd reach the other side while some become history thanks to the crocodiles’ snapping jaws.

This is typical of a previously functional team becoming dysfunctional. Have you ever seen a team fall apart because of bickering, infighting, or a failure of accountability? Not only is it frustrating to watch, it's also incredibly disheartening. Many years ago, I was part of a church where everyone was baying for each other’s blood, the pastor was not in talking terms to the treasurer, the deacons would often gossip one against the other, the women leader wanted to control the church, striving and gossip were a common thing, the mess was evident, soon we discovered what David meant in Psalms 23: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” that sheep cannot drink unless the waters are calm, the  membership started dwindling, finances were going south, I presume even the church mouse at that time would not hang around the church premise anymore.

In his book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni examines why effective teams are rare and provides specific recommendations for eliminating barriers that lead to dysfunctional teams. Lencioni's work outlines the causes of team dysfunctionality as an absence of trust, a fear of conflict, a lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.

Absence of trust where team members are unwilling to admit their mistakes, weaknesses, or need for help, fear of conflict such that the teams lacking trust are incapable of engaging about key issues thereby creating team conflicts, lack of commitment where it is difficult for team members to commit to decisions, fostering an environment where ambiguity prevails, avoidance of accountability arising from the need to avoid interpersonal discomfort and inattention to results where team members naturally tend to put their own needs (such as ego and recognition) ahead of the collective goals of the team.

As a leader what are you going to do about this conundrum?

DON'T GIVE UP!

 Andrew Carnegie’s story is arguably the greatest “rags to riches” tale of all time, the story of 18th century American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie’s ascendancy begins on November 25, 1835, in a small one roomed home in Dunfermline, Scotland. Born into a family of destitute laborers, Carnegie received little schooling before his family emigrated to America in 1848. Arriving in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the 13-year-old soon got a job as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory, earning a mere $1.20 (less than 5,000 Uganda shillings) per week.

Carnegie went on to labor as a messenger boy and then a factory worker before eventually getting a job as a secretary and telegraph operator at the Pennsylvania Railroad. By 1859, the enterprising young worker had become superintendent of the railroad’s western division. Carnegie invested his newfound wealth in a variety of businesses including a bridgework company, a telegraph operation and most famously, a steel mill.

By the turn of the century, his Carnegie Steel Company had blossomed into an industrial empire, he later sold the steel company to financier J.P. Morgan for $480 million in 1901, making him one of the richest individuals of his time. The deal was instrumental in the creation of U.S. Steel, which became the first billion-dollar corporation.

After his retirement from the steel industry, Carnegie dedicated himself to philanthropy. He funded the establishment of numerous public libraries, educational institutions, and charitable organizations, leaving a lasting impact on society even after his death on August 11, 1919. Carnegie spent his later years donating his fortune to charitable causes, eventually giving away some $350 million.

I first heard about Andrew Carnegie and his revolutionary leadership credentials in Dale Carnegie's “How to win friends & influence people”.

How did Carnegie progress from working 12 hours a day, six days a week, for $4.80 a month to reigning as the preeminent figure in American industry?

At the turn of the 18th century, in the United States, poverty was a significant issue affecting a substantial portion of the population. During this time, the country was undergoing industrialization and rapid urbanization, which brought about both economic growth and social challenges. Poverty rates were as high as 25%, particularly in urban areas, where most of the population was concentrated. Many individuals and families struggled to meet their basic needs and faced harsh living conditions. Industrialization led to the growth of factories and the rise of the working class. However, wages were often low, and working conditions were often harsh and unsafe. Many workers faced long hours, limited job security, and inadequate compensation. This resulted in a significant portion of the population living in poverty or near the poverty line.

Andrew Carnegie's journey from poverty to immense wealth is an inspiration to generations. Poverty can sometimes be an incentive for hard work and pursuit for success.

But how would a poor emigrant boy become the world’s richest man? What kind of breakthrough is this? 

One thing he had in his mind, was not to give up, it doesn't matter what you are going through, the bottom line is that giving up should not be an option.

THE RISE OF BIDIBIDI

RESPLENDENT in a handmade African print dress and a black hijab – a square scarf covering her head and neck, a mid aged girl in her early 30s emerges from a rub hall, a relocatable tent-like structure common in humanitarian spaces, erected at a Food Distribution Point in one of the zones in Bidibidi refugee settlement, carrying a stash of papers with names of would-be beneficiaries of the in-kind food items, in the background is a group of World Vision staff clad in an orange and white patched jacket weighing food on a digital scale, one elderly man who supervises the team as a food monitor stands with hands akimbo taking note of the slightest deviations on the weighing scale.

The UN agency, The World Food Programme (WFP) heavy duty trucks park in a certain rank and file within the open field, one of those 10 tonne trucks was being driven by a foreigner, you could tell by his accent and looks that he is a Somali, with mouth full of khat, his discolored teeth and a toothpick stuck on the cusp of his lips, one of his checks is replete with a ball of khat that he is chewing intermittently, The WFP works during emergencies and longer-term crises to provide food to displaced people around the world, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children with the hope that one day the food-related activities will build refugee self-reliance, the assistance is designed to maintain a sound diet through a balanced and culturally acceptable food basket, the food items consisted of cereals, pulses, Corn Soya Sugar Blend, Oil, and salt. 

The refugees are queuing up in two endless and disorganized lines, majority of them are grasping polyethylene sacks while a few elderly women have huge saucepans. as soon as the food distribution exercise is ended, droves of vehicles are seen driving out of the settlement some with merchants, traders and food items bought from refugees who would have preferred cash assistance instead, such is the dilemma that humanitarians agencies face, the much needed aid is often times abused by the very beneficiaries it is supposed to help with multiple reports of vandalized temporary latrines to stolen solar lamps among others.

ON AUGUST 12, 2016, one of the most protracted conflicts the world had ever seen boiled into a full-fledged war that has since claimed the lives of over 300,000 people, displaced more than 250,000 men, women, and children, and brought about unprecedented suffering of monumental proportions in South Sudan. 

Tragically, the conflict has resulted into thousands of families being forced to leave their homes because of attacks by non-state armed groups. Extreme violence and displacement have had a devastating impact on the population. People have witnessed their loved ones being killed, beheaded, and raped, and their houses and other infrastructure burned to the ground. Men and boys have also been forcibly enrolled in armed groups. Livelihoods have been lost, and education stalled while access to necessities such as food and healthcare has been hampered. Many people have been re-traumatized after being forced to move multiple times to save their lives. 

One such place that the south Sudanese refugees sought refugee in Uganda was Bidibidi refugee settlement.

Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe district covering an area of approximately 250 square kilometers, an area larger than the size of cook island – a nation in the South Pacific, the settlement is sandwiched between two districts of Terego and Obongi and was established in August 2016 to host the rapid influx of South Sudanese refugees fleeing fighting and conflict. The settlement was originally planned to accommodate about 150,000 people but over time, its population has almost doubled to 224,048 people by July 2022, making it one of the settlements holding the largest refugee population in the world. The settlement is divided into five zones with over 84% of its population being women and children.

From being a once underutilized hunting grounds that were uninhabited and not considered choice lands for agriculture by the locals situated within shedloads of low, rolling hills and mostly rocky soils and tumps with rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, the settlement is arguably the largest refugee settlement with a potential to transform into a city or urban town.

OBONGI BY FERRY

The silver sedan pulls up at the river side, as I disembark it, I stroll close to the river edge, I can feel the cool breeze blowing against my face. The air is fresh and crisp, with a hint of moisture in it, and I can hear the gentle sound of the water flowing by. In March the weather was typically warm and sunny, with occasional scattered clouds providing some relief from the heat. The sun's rays reflected off the water, creating a dazzling display of light and color. Like many places on the peripherals of river basins, the weather at a river side is always unpredictable. The clouds can roll in suddenly, casting shadows over the water and creating a foreboding atmosphere. Thunderstorms can also appear out of nowhere, bringing with them flashes of lightning and claps of thunder that echo down the river valley. However, despite the unpredictability of the weather, there is a certain tranquility and peace that can be found at the river side. Whether it's the sound of the water gently lapping against the shore, the rustling of leaves in the wind, or the chirping of birds in the trees, there is always something soothing about being near a flowing river, and this was the experience I found myself in on 24th March 2023.

I had emphatically jumped on an opportunity to travel to Kampala from Yumbe, via Obongi Ferry, then Adjumani, Gulu, and straight to Kampala, crossing the river Nile proper, two times, one here and the other at Karuma.

Obongi is a town located in the northern region of Uganda, specifically in the district of Obongi. It is a small town that was carved out of Moyo District, the population is largely floating and it is divided over five sub-counties of Palorinya, Gimara, Itula, Aliba, Ewafa and one town council. The town of Obongi is known for its natural beauty, with lush green landscapes and rolling hills surrounding the town. The nearby Obongi Hills is a popular destination for hiking and sightseeing, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.it is a charming and peaceful town that offers visitors a glimpse into the natural beauty and rich culture of northern Uganda. With its friendly people, stunning landscapes, and unique attractions, Obongi is a must-see destination for anyone traveling to this part of the world.

When the ferry turned up at the docking station, some 20 minutes after we arrived, I hurriedly took a seat next to the queue of vehicles lined in the middle of the vessel. The landing site in Obongi is Laropi, named after the landing sites of Laropi, the ferry connects Adjumani District to Moyo District and according to information obtained from the UNRA website, it carries an average of 1,500 to 1,800 people per day at the crossing with a minimum of 12 trips and a maximum of 22 trips. It takes 30 minutes for loading and offloading while the time to cross is between 10 to 15 minutes.

Using a ferry can be an exciting and unique way to travel. The experience of riding on a ferry is quite different from driving or flying. As the ferry glides across the water, passengers can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding landscape and the tranquil waters beneath them. The sound of the engine revving up was loud.  

As the ferry continued on its journey, the scenery changed, and we could see a variety of sights, including isolated fishing boats, floating hyacinths, and distant fishing villages.

The journey on a ferry was a peaceful and relaxing experience, giving me a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. If it were not for the many travelers, it was easy for me to sit back and enjoy the ride, letting the sound of the waves and the breeze on their face soothe their senses.

As we disembarked from the docking station, the side of Adjumani district, I couldn’t help but add this to one of my favorite and unforgettable traveling experiences. a perfect way to travel and explore new places while enjoying the beauty of nature.

 

THE DAY I SAW THE LIGHT I

For you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 AMP

Doreen is arguably the most important ex-girlfriend I have ever had and one of the greatest friends in my life. One hot afternoon, sometime in March 2012, a tall straight out of campus church girl, with a proverbial diastema hurriedly slipped an invitation letter into my hands.

Dorine and I were dating, she was nice, crispy and had good vibes. We meet on Facebook at the time when surfing the Internet cost an arm and a leg!

She had arranged with her cell to get me an invite for the amazingly famous Heavens Gate & Hells Flame show at Watoto Church Down Town.

She was an usher, so she sent me to the balcony and told me she would be right back, "she's very inconsiderate" I thought to myself, "Why would she abandon her boyfriend like that" but I patiently sat through the drama. Boy! was it powerful.

"Heaven's Gate and Hell's Flame" is a metaphorical reference to the concept of heaven and hell in Christian theology, heaven is often described as a place of eternal peace and joy, where believers go after they die to be with God and enjoy the rewards of a life lived in faith. On the other hand, hell is often described as a place of eternal punishment and suffering, reserved for those who have rejected God and lived a life of sin.

The metaphor of "Heaven's Gate" refers to the idea that entrance to heaven is through a narrow gate or door, and only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and lived a life of faith will be granted entry. The metaphor of "Hell's Flame" refers to the idea that hell is a place of torment and suffering, often depicted as a fiery inferno, where those who have rejected God will spend eternity.

As the actors and actresses which included the celebrated comedian Kenneth Kimuli a.k.a Pablo transformed themselves into completely different personalities, some like the devil incarnate while others like angels, they shed their own personalities and took on the characteristics of others.

As the clock ticked, Pastor Gary Skinner, did the altar call, and as fear gripped me on the heaven and hell escapades, I gave my life to Christ, Hallelujah. Dorine caught up with me, on my way out, she had kept an eye on me, the way village aunts eavesdrop their teenage nieces boyfriend tales.

She saw me off as I sauntered to Kikoni. I was now a new creature.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV.

Years later, when I realised what she did for me, I have never stopped thanking her for bringing me to light, She led me to Christ. 

WHAT IS CHAT GPT?

I asked Chat GPT what it was and here is the response in 2 minutes.

Chat GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a language model developed by OpenAI that uses deep learning to generate human-like text. It is one of the most advanced language models available today, and its capabilities have been demonstrated in a wide range of applications.

Chat GPT is built on top of the transformer architecture, which was first introduced in a paper by Google researchers in 2017. The transformer architecture is designed to handle sequential data, such as text, and is particularly well-suited for tasks such as language translation and text generation. In the case of Chat GPT, the model is trained on a large corpus of text data to learn the patterns and structures of language.

The training process for Chat GPT is done using unsupervised learning, which means that the model is not given explicit instructions on what it should output. Instead, it is trained to predict the next word in a sequence of text. This approach has been shown to be highly effective in capturing the nuances and subtleties of language, as well as the broader context in which it is used.

One of the key features of Chat GPT is its ability to generate text that is indistinguishable from text written by a human. This has led to the development of a range of applications that use the model for text-based communication, such as chatbots and virtual assistants. Chat GPT can also be used to generate creative writing, such as poetry and fiction, and has even been used to write articles for news publications.

Another important feature of Chat GPT is its ability to understand the context in which language is used. This means that the model can generate text that is appropriate to the situation, such as using formal language in a business setting or using slang in a more casual conversation. This makes it a highly versatile tool that can be used in a wide range of applications.

Despite its impressive capabilities, Chat GPT is not without its limitations. For example, the model is only as good as the data it is trained on, which means that it can produce biased or inaccurate output if it is trained on biased or inaccurate data. This is a challenge that is being addressed by researchers in the field, who are developing techniques to ensure that language models are trained on diverse and representative data.

Overall, Chat GPT is a highly sophisticated language model that has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate with computers. Its ability to generate human-like text has already led to a range of innovative applications, and it is likely that we will see many more in the years to come. As the field of natural language processing continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more advanced language models that push the boundaries of what is possible with machine-generated text.

THE REAL MCCOY

The Real McCoy is a 1993 American heist crime film, directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Kim Basinger (Karen McCoy), Val Kilmer (J.T. Barker) and Terence Stamp (Jack Schmidt). After a decade behind bars, former burglar Karen McCoy (Kim Basinger) simply wants to earn a legitimate living to support her son (Zach English) -- but as the best bank robber around, she's in high demand in the criminal underworld. When Atlanta crime boss Jack Schmidt (Terence Stamp) discovers her intention to go straight, he kidnaps her son to force her into one last job. Teaming up with an amateur (Val Kilmer), McCoy has to use all her cunning to pull off this heist and save her son.

That is not the point really.

According to Wikipedia "The real McCoy" is an idiom and metaphor used in much of the English - speaking world to mean "the real thing" or "the genuine article", The phrase has been the subject of numerous false etymologies and one of the most prominent and possibly accurate is one of inventor Elijah McCoy, born in Canada in 1844. He had many different inventions including an ironing board and a lawn sprinkler. Other companies copied his devices, but these never worked as well as Elijah's so people would say, "I want an ironing board, and make sure it's a real McCoy."

So what is the point really?

In Romans 12:6-7 MSG the bible emphasizes on us being what God made us to be "let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else" Somebody referred to as a real McCoy, is simply somebody who really is what they claim to be and not an imitation. 

1 Timothy 4:4 ESV says "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving" which means there is nothing unbeautiful before God, who gives beauty for ashes. God tells us in 1 Peter 3:4 to cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14 KJV.

The world is full of people who instead of being themselves are a cheap copy of a great original. As a child of God, you are destined for greatness only if you can tap into the unfathomable depths of God's creative power to walk into the reality of who you truly are; the righteousness of God.