In the Heights
A few nights ago I went with others from my book group to the play In the Heights, at the Westport Country Playhouse. I had heard from several Facebook friends who said I must see it. And I’m glad I did.
The music and lyrics are by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the musical Hamilton. He started writing the story when he was still a college student. He and his co-writer Quiara Alegria Hudes were committed to showing the Latino community is its richness and diversity.
The program has a brief history of Washington Heights, in the northern end of Manhattan. It takes its name from Fort Washington, built during the Revolutionary War as a defense against the British. Immigrants spread north from lower Manhattan in the 1900’s. “Beginning in the 1960s, a new wave of migration made Washington Heights the center of the Dominican diaspora in the US.”
Today Washington Heights still has a large Latino community. There is an artistic and literary scene in the neighborhood but also the problems of gentrification and rising rents. These are reflected in the play.
“With an infectious score featuring a blend of hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul, In the Heights invites audiences to celebrate life and love in this uniquely American story,” the Westport Country Playhouse says on their website.
The run has been extended to May 19, so if you’re nearby, go! Call me, I’ll go with you.
It has made me even more eager to see Hamilton. A movie is in the works and I’ll certainly see that.
Teya with her school choir, 3rd in from left, with cap.
Watching In the Heights reminds me how important it is to look into the lives of others. It is so easy to forget that our dominant white culture is only one part of our country.
Our Granddaughter Competing in Amsterdam
Our younger son Sam’s daughter Teya is in Amsterdam!
She’s with her school choir at the COBIS Choir competition. I had never heard of COBIS – it’s the Council of Independent British Schools.
Their music competition started today and continues to May 5. I hope they’ll bring home a prize!
Sam says she is also in the band, so she’ll have two opportunities to win!
Conflict in Nigeria
The killing of Christians in Sri Lanka on Easter is of a different nature from killing of Christians in Nigeria, Ambassador John Campbell and his guest blogger Jack McCaslin say. They note that Fox News recently compared them, calling them both “violence against Christians in ethnically and religiously divided societies.”
Nigeria is about half Muslim and half Christian, while Sri Landa has a tiny Christian minority. Boko Haram, one of the main perpetrators of violence in Nigeria, targets Muslims, not only Christians.
The area where most Christians are killed today is in the Middle Belt. The quarrels may involve religion and ethnicity, but are often over land use. Herders who are mainly Fulani are seeking grazing grounds for their herds of cattle.
The blog writers say, “In Zamfara [in northwestern Nigeria] where the violence is particularly bad, both herders and farmers are mostly Muslim and mostly Fulani. There is also an important criminal element involving bandits and cattle rustlers.”
“Another way to think about it: violence may fall along ethnic and religious lines, but it is not necessarily driven by those distinctions,” they write.
They also say that it seems likely that religious polarization has increased in Nigeria and remains a challenge. The government’s inability to defeat Boko Haram is unsettling. And the economy is “in the doldrums, and the country now has the most people living in extreme poverty in the world.”
Not a happy picture for sure. Yet life goes on. Our sons seem to be doing well and not regretting their choice to move back to the country of their birth.
Help for Nigeria’s Economy?
Aliko Dangote, wealthiest African, according to Forbes
Dangote is the leading Nigerian industrialist, by far. His cement lorries are everywhere on the roads and his companies produce other goods.
“Forbes named him Africa’s richest person in 2019 with an estimated net worth of $12.2 billion. He is, apparently, investing massively in his new Lagos oil refinery and its associated real estate development,” according to another article in the CfR blog.
Today Nigeria imports much of its oil, even though it is a large producer. The refineries that do exist are in disrepair and unable to meet demand. Ambassador Campbell says with Dangote’s track record, he should help the country reduce its dependence on imported refined oil.
Also in the news is that Saudi Arabia’s Aramco is thinking of investing in the petroleum industry in Nigeria. “The Saudi-based energy conglomerate is expanding its downstream operations including refining and petrochemicals production and sees Nigeria as a gateway to other African countries,” the article in The Cable.ng, reports.
Imagine if there were two well-run refineries competing in Nigeria!
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