Perhaps in an attempt to earn more revenue to mitigate against the sky-rocketing fuel costs, American Airlines has introduced Internet access at 30.000 feet in the sky. Though this is no doubt a welcome development for the modern world whose knack for working 24/7 has both astounded and inspired Jamnazi Africa in 2007 to record their popular Riziki song, it is a step in the right direction as it lives up to the phrase, ‘Time is money’ and should never be wasted. Neither sleep, rest nor travelling to, Jamnazi Africa’s chagrin, should be an excuse in wasting this resource. OGOVA ONDEGO writes.

According to tourism-review.com, “The service shall be just a few dollars more expensive than an in-flight snack, with an internet speed comparable to that of an internet cafe or a hotel.”

The in-flight internet service, tourism-review.com reports, is expected to earn up to US$6.6 million per year once it is up and running.

Except for the few who use flight time as an excuse for not being reachable and derive pleasure from the captain’s announcement that ‘all mobile phones must now be switched off’ before the flight, most travellers who hate wasting a minute of their time are likely to welcome this development. Such 24/7 business people shall be delighted that they will not only be busy online but that they shall remain accessible for the length of their journey.

The only disadvantage with the service, tourism-review.com says, is that phone calls via the internet shall not be permitted as it could interfere with the safe operation of the plane.

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This takes us back to the surprise the ‘busy-ness’ of the modern world has caused in Jamnazi Africa’s Michael Otieno ‘Awilo’ to reduce his bewilderment to a song in Kiswahili:

Lakini sasa mwapumzika saa ngapi? (When do you ever rest?)
Asubuhi mnatafuta riziki (You work in the morning)
Mchana kutwa mnatafuta riziki (You work the whole day)
Hata majioni mnatafuta riziki (You work in the evening)
Usiku wa manane mnatafuta riziki (You work at midnight)
Mnambieni mnapumzika saa ngapi wenzangu (Tell me, when do you ever rest?)

The rest of the 11″ 53″  minute-song, that mocks, provokes, informs, educates and challenges listeners even as they sway to it, goes:

Mimi ninalo jambo
Lanisumbua akili
Ulimwengu umepasuka mahali
Mungu aliupanga usiku saa ya kulala
Mbona walimwengu mmebadili mipango?
Usiku sasa imegeuka mchana na mchana sasa ni kama usiku
Jamani , yeaa eah
Mi nashangaa yeaa

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Karo za watoto mnatafuta usiku
Kodi za nyumba mnatafuta usiku
Biashara nyingi mnafanya usiku
Chai kwa mkate sasa mnauza usiku
Mahindi choma sasa mnauza usiku
Malimali sasa mnauza usiku
Hata maombi nyingi mnafanya usiku

Koinange mnatafuta usiku
Wake kwa waume shughuli zenu usiku
Hata safari nyingi mnaenda usiku
Biashara zote mnafanya usiku
Kwa nini? yeaa eah

Mi nashangaa

Niliambiwa na babu yangu
kweli
Zubaazubaa utapata mwana si wako

Nimeamini kilichosemwa na babu
Nimekubali kilichosemwa na babu

Mgaagaa na upwa hali wali mkavu

Lakini sasa mwapumzika saa ngapi?
Asubuhi mnatafuta riziki
Mchana kutwa mnatafuta riziki
Hata majioni mnatafuta riziki
Usiku wa manane mnatafuta riziki
Mnambieni mnapumzika saa ngapi wenzangu

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Mi nashangaa

Niliambiwa na babu yangu
kweli zubaazubaa utapata mwana si wako
Kodi ya nyumba munatafuta usiku
Karo ya shule mwatafuta usiku
Mahindi choma biashara mwafanya usiku
Biahara Koinange mnafanya usiku.