Royal wedding mysteries, solved.

Who is that little girl frowning during the big kiss? Read on. (AP Photo)
Why didn't Prince William watch his bride walk down the aisle? Who was that little girl covering her ears and frowning while the newlyweds kissed on the balcony? Where can I get those gorgeous earrings Kate wore to her wedding? The last remaining mysteries of the royal wedding are solved, right here at Shine.

By Lylah Alphonse, AP

Who was that adorable little girl frowning and covering her ears on the balcony during the big kiss?
That's Prince William's goddaughter, 3-year-old Grace van Cutsem, who was one of the official bridesmaids (there are no "flower girl" roles in traditional British weddings, so children are often included as bridesmaids or pages). She is the daughter of Lady Rose Astor and Hugh van Cutsem, and great-great-great-granddaughter of William Waldorf Astor, a New York-born lawyer and politician who later became a member of the British Aristocracy. (The Waldorf Hotel was one of his pet projects.) Little Grace was also pouting for part of the carriage ride; apparently, the crowd of adoring fans got a little too noisy.

Why didn't Prince William watch his bride walk down the aisle? Who was that little girl covering her ears and frowning while the newlyweds kissed on the balcony? Where can I get those gorgeous earrings Kate wore to her wedding? The last remaining mysteries of the royal wedding are solved, right here at Shine.

Are there usually trees in Westminster Abbey?
Kate loves the outdoors and, according to the Daily Mail, she ordered more than four tons of foliage to create an English country garden setting inside Westminster Abbey, including pyramid-shaped ornamental Hornbeams to frame the choir and a "living avenue" of 20-foot-tall, 15-year-old English Field Maples through which guests walked to their seats. The cost? About 50,000 pounds, or $83,335.

What music did Kate walk in to?
It didn't sound like the wedding march. The princess walked down the aisle to "I Was Glad" by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, who composed it for the coronation of Prince William's great-great-great grandfather Edward VII in 1902.

Why didn't Prince William watch his bride walk down the aisle?
Tradition. The groom is the last person to see the bride, and can only do so after she has completed the long walk down the aisle and is at his side. Since the aisle at Westminster Abbey is about 300-feet long, he had at least a four-minute wait at the altar.

What did Prince William whisper to Kate?
According to some lip readers, he told her that she looked beautiful—and then looked at his father-in-law-to-be and quipped, "We were supposed to have just a small family affair."

Where did the bride and groom go in the middle of the ceremony? They went to the Shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor, a room inside the Abbey, to sign the wedding registers.

Why was Prince William wearing red? Prince William holds an honorary rank of Colonel of the Irish Guards, and he opted to wear an Irish Guard's officer uniform instead of his Royal Air Force uniform. He also wore his Garter sash and star, Royal Air Force "wings," and Golden Jubilee medal.

Was the bride's dress inspired by Grace Kelly's? It seems that way; in fact, Kate's dress looks very much like the one worn by the American actress when she wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco in April 1956. Both Kate's gown and that of Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco had long sleeves, a cinched waist, a figure-hugging bodice, short veils, medium-length trains, and lots of delicate lace.

What was in the bride's bouquet?
According to the official royal wedding website, the bouquet was a shield-shaped collection of Myrtle, Lily-of-the-Valley, Sweet William, Ivy, and Hyacinth. The Myrtle sprigs were from plants grown from the Myrtle used in the wedding bouquets of Queen Victoria in 1845 and Queen Elizabeth in 1947.

Any hidden messages?
Each bridesmaid had her name and the date of the wedding hand-embroidered into the lining of her dress. The bride and groom could not customize their vows, but they did write their own prayer, which was read by Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, during the ceremony (download a copy of the program here). It was: "God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage. In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy. Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen." And of course, each of those flowers in the bride's bouquet had a special meaning: Lily-of-the-Valley represents the return of happiness, Sweet William stands for gallantry, Hyacinth is for the constancy of love, Myrtle symbolizes marriage and love, and Ivy is for fidelity, marriage, wedded love, friendship, and affection.

What are the full names of the newlyweds?
Prince Williams of Wales got another set of titles in time for the wedding, according to an announcement on the official royal wedding website. His full name is now His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge, Early of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus, Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Master of Arts. (According to the official website of the British Monarchy, those who have the title of HRH Prince or Princess do not need to use a last name, though theirs is Mountbatten-Windsor.) As his wife, the former Miss Catherine Elizabeth Middleton is now Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, but most people will probably call her Princess Catherine or Princess Kate (unofficially, of course).

Was Kate wearing Princess Diana's tiara?
No. Diana wore the Spencer Tiara, a family heirloom of ornate, stylized flowers decorated with diamonds in silver settings. The halo-style tiara that Kate wore was Cartier creation belonging to the Queen. King George bought it for the Queen Mother in 1936; the Queen Mother gave it to the Queen on her 18th birthday.

What about her earrings?
The bride's earrings were designed by Robinson Pelham, according to the official royal wedding website. They are diamond-set stylized oak leaves that frame a dangling diamond-set drop and pave-set diamond acorn. The earrings, which are a wedding gift to Kate from her parents, were made to match the tiara lent to her by the Queen, and were inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms.

Why did the Middleton family get a new coat of arms?
What happened to their old one? They didn't have a coat of arms before, because they weren't members of the British aristocracy. The new coat of arms features three oak-leaf-and-acorn sprigs representing the three Middleton children—Catherine (Kate), Philippa (Pippa), and James. A golden chevron honors Carole Middleton, whose maiden name was Goldsmith, and two thinner, white chevrons represent the mountains and stand for the family's love of the outdoors.

Who got to be on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with the royal newlyweds? The bride and groom took center stage, of course, but also appearing before the public were the Queen and Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall), Carole and Richard Middleton, the couple's siblings (Pippa and James Middleton and Prince Harry), the pages (Tom Pettifer and William Lowther-Pinkerton), and the bridesmaids (Eliza Lopez, Grace van Cutsem, The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and the Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones. Yes, even some children

MA Journalism and Media Studies class, 2011-2012-Rhodes University

Brothers and Sisters..together in the journey...

Rhodes University, South Africa

A Tribute to Late Junitha Makafu

Umetuacha..
It is difficult to believe, but there is no option rather than accepting the reality.
That few days, hours and minutes we were together, working, laughing and doing a lot together, to our suprise you left us, unepected and not thought of it at all.

It is God's plan. But we shall always remember your smile, your charming and joyful mood.
You were unique, you were a sister of a peculiar kind- our beloved Junitha Makafu, the clasmate and a friend indeed.

Buriani dada yetu..umetuachia majonzi. Tutakukumbuka daima.

Kibera Slums

When we talk of habitat problems facing almost the whole world by now, we can not skip focusing the reality on the same in our East African urban areas where population is fastly growing. Let us have a look on the renown Kibera slums-in Nairobi to see how these habitat problems are evident:

A group of young journalists who decided to visit the slums recently, are in the 'streets and venues' of the place.

"Haaa!Kumbe vyote vipo," seem to be saying journalists fond of Sports; Andrew Mwanguhya-Ugandan (L) and Frank Kimboy-Tanzanian (R); as they pose at the Liverpool vs Arsenal match ad to be 'broadcast' live tonight in one of the slums 'halls'

'Let's have a group photo in memory of this visit', say these journalists.'Mdau' in a dark blue shirt could not miss too!

'Traditional treatment are also found'!-The 'Doctor' is not from Sumbawanga...he comes from Uganda!

'This is only a small part of the whole area...mpaka kuleee, yote hiyo ni Kibera, usipime!", tells Erick Mchome.

Spritual services are also available..the choice is yours..either to be saved or not.

The view continues...'mdau at the centre of this largest slum in Africa..anyone who knows the other one found in South Africa- Soweto, give us details...

Ahaaa!The railway to Uganda-It was recently uprooted by Kibera residents claiming the Migingo island ownership dispute between Kenya and Uganda to be resolved. Infact they were sending a message to Uganda, "Migingo is Kenya's"! Yetu macho!

Few minutes before the walk.."Get ready for a long walk, I know the place, it is so large.." says Gibson a.k.a. G(left), A Lecturer at St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT)- currently persuing MA at Daystar University-Nairobi. (R-L)Lugongo, Alex, mdau and Frank.

The walk continues...

Conserving Environment

Looking and planning on how the planting of trees had to be accomplished at the place. (L-R) Journalists ; Sharifa Kalokola, Alex Bitekeye and Mdau.

Surveying the planned place where trees would be planted-not leaving behind the media equipments. (L-R); Journalists; Paul Juma, Frank Kimboy and Mdau.

The Kenyan Minister for Forests Noah Wekesa (In a white suit) was there also to participate in the planting.

Mdau (r) plants a tree too.

Over the last weekend, 'mdau' and many other journalists had a chance to participate in a special environment conservation programme through planting trees in Dondora, Nakuru- Kenya.

Bearing in minds that many parts of the world are currently facing various environmental degradation and related problems; the only solution to all these is within our own hands!

Bedroom Boycott

In the mid of last week, a group of Kenyan women leaders from the civil society, G10 urged womenfolk to abstain from sex with their husbands for seven days to force Kenyan leaders act in a sensible manner!
A Kenyan young poet-Larry Liza illustrates to us how the boycott was!

BEDROOM BOYCOTT;
A Larry Liza poem

The women’s banner screamed
‘No Reforms, No Sex’
The men’s banner squealed
‘No Sex, No Reforms’

It was a people besieged,
Bottom rock leadership

The men growled,
Their thunders were wild
Like a stone age train upping the hill

‘We moil and toil,’ they roared
‘Yet you soil our loins’

Some women whimpered not
They were on a high
Like an African king in a desert
Going Brrrr…… with Coke

Is passion fashion, one way?

Some men coiled their tails
Swallowing hard, deprived in thirst
Like ‘ugali’ cornmeal without stew
Eyes begging, telling in silence
Like a child in need at the feet of mama

Lest they were denied connectivity
To the password to passion’s package

Others threatened Coin Angle Street
To slither in the looming darkness
‘Insert coin to continue’

For many households though
It had been business as usual…

©Larry Liza. Petals of Poetry. 2009.
source: facebook, larry liza

Mengi vs Rostam;who is fooling who?!

Naam hili nalo limetokea,linaendelea kuchukua sura mpya kila uchao, na kila mmoja analitazama kwa mtazamo wake.

Naongelea malumbano yanayoendelea kati ya Mfanyabiashara maarufu Reginald Mengi na mfanyabiashara mwingine aliye pia mwanasiasa-mbunge wa Igunga- Rostam Aziz juu ya kushutumiana kuhusu ufisadi.

Wengi wetu tumekuwa watazamaji katika hili. Hatahivyo katika utazamaji huu, kila mmoja aliyeweza kuongea la kwake amefanya hivyo. Hii ni kwasababu yale wanayoyaongea wawili hawa yanaigusa kwa namna moja au nyingine jamii ya Kitanzania.

Wengi wetu-kama si wote hatujui nani hasa ni mkweli kati ya hawa wote. Hatahivyo kuna maswali kadhaa ya kujiuliza katika hili:

1. Hawa wote wawili walikuwa wapi kushutumiana siku nyingi kabla ya sasa?nini kimepelekea kuinuka hivi sasa na kunyosheana vidole?

2. Je,vyombo husika vya dola vimechukua hatua gani mpaka sasa kushughulikia shutuma hizo kutoka kila upande?kama havijafanya hivyo,ni kwanini?

3. Je,vyombo vya habari- iwe vinavyomilikiwa na wanaoshutumiana ama la-vimewajibika kwa uadilifu katika kuifahamisha jamii kuhusu malumbano haya?

4. Je, taifa kwa ujumla linafaidika au linaathirika vipi hasa katika malumbano haya?

Kwa maswali haya machache na mengine mengi yaliyomo vichwani mwa watu-hatua hitajika zinapaswa kuchukuliwa dhidi ya malumbano haya.

Tutafakari- wanaohusika wachukue hatua.
Wadau mnasemaje?