Sqoop May 23, 2009
Book: The 48 Laws of Power
Author: Robert Greene
Publisher: Penguin Books
Available at: Leading Bookshops
Price: Shs35,000
Reviewer: Joshua Masinde
Politicians or leaders who have rooted themselves in power for long are known to be shrewd, charismatic or tyrannical. Ambitious up-coming leaders or politicians have, with wit, cleverness, manipulation and unwavering determination, managed to win over the masses, outshone political incumbents and attained the heights of power.
The endeavour to attain any such power is not a bed of roses. It is riddled with risks and menaces that would scare one to death. Retaining the same power is an uphill task. It’s not easy. But, there’s a precise remedy for those whose penchant for power is an abyss. The hooks and crooks come in handy in The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
The book is a decisive counsel for those who want power, watch power or want to arm themselves against power. It is a book, whose research has been dug out of works that have existed for as many as 3,000 years, is a precise case of how power has been used, manipulated to win over masses, defeat opposition, and or win over or suppress the enemy.
A peek into some of the laws will present an opportunity for you to “shine”, like most of the African leaders and politicians who have almost outlived their welcome in political dynasties. If you ever wish to attain considerable heights of power, “Never outshine your master,” so goes the first law of power. Make your master feel superior by avoiding situations which will make him feel insecure.
He also cautions anyone who wishes to use power effectively and to their advantage, not to put a lot of trust in their friends. “… They will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy.” An enemy has more to prove than a friend, hence he is more loyal.
Greene dissects the laws astutely from the first to the last law, “Assume formlessness.” His research is based on the deep of the hierarchies of power in our society.
This understanding is pegged on more references to historical figures like Otto von Bismarck, King Louis XIV, Talleyrand and others as an illustration of the use of power in real life and time. Each law might seem familiar to anyone reading them.
However, there is more than meets the eye in their understanding and application. Greene argues that learning the craft and art of power, and how to use it at the opportune time is a timely defence mechanism in preventing people from manipulating you.
However weak you might be, mastering such critical laws of power and how best to use them will level you out as astute, charismatic, mischievous and a scheming leader who knows the Achilles heels of his opponents. And for any sort of success in life, the laws will help you attain it.
A graduate of classic studies, Greene gives a balanced diet of power play in different settings, drawn from his research at the art school of Fabrika in Italy in 1995, where he says in the preface, The 48 Laws of Power was born. It was at Fabrika that Greene came in contact with the writings of Niccolo Machiavelli.
He blended this with his readings of the Japanese and Chinese history. He used such literature and classic writings on power for the last 30 centuries from Ancient Asia to contemporary America. Some illustrations are also drawn from Africa, especially on former Ethiopian Emperor Haille Sellasie.
Friday 29 May 2009
The 48 Laws of Power
Sunday 3 May 2009
Business boom in roast chicken
The obsession of chicken roasting and consumption at Wandegeya is an abysmal business trend that seems not to have been shaken by the global financial chomp. The business centre, on the periphery of Kampala city, is often times vibrant and jam-packed with customers and revellers from all corners of Kampala, ready to spend their hard earned cash on the readily available roast chicken meat. The virtually 24-hour business zone has never been any dull, as business goes on at full swing, escorted by the reprieve of loud music from the different pubs and restaurants therein. 
The chicken vendors have invested in TV chicken (an enclosure in which chicken is roasted electrically, as seen through a glass window), which seem to attract even more customers by the hour. Some posters like ‘Chicken Tonight’ attest more to the vibrancy of the chicken roasting business, though the clients buy the chicken at any time of the day.
And business has been good. One of the chicken vendors confirmed that the chicken business is good because of the constant supply of customers. He claimed he sells over eight roast chickens on a good day, although he purchases at least twenty of them in a week. His main source of supply of the chicken is Makindye, a Kampala suburb. He stated that there seemed to be no sign of the source withering as the supply is always constant.
Responding to a question why it is called TV chicken, a vendor who calls himself David remarked, "Because the chicken keeps rolling inside as you see." This raises the enthusiasm of the customer as they await their order of roast chicken to be ready. Some TV chickens are opaque but they still attract a substantial number of customers. Such novelty, which comes at a cost of between Ushs 700,000 and Ushs 2 million, according to several chicken vendors, rears a rare impulse buying effect on passers-by, as it consequently attracts most of them to buy the roast chicken when the craving strikes. The TV chicken is more than just an electric oven where the chickens keep rolling as they automatically get roasted. This sufficiently suffices for a marketing scheme to catch the eye of any prospective customer and lure them into purchasing the roast chicken.
David gets his supplies from Kalerwe. He acknowledged that on a good day, he buys ten chickens, most of which he roasts and sells by 10pm. At the cost of Ushs 9000, it is not an unfair bargain.
Simon Mubiru, another chicken vendor, has been in the business of chicken roasting for close to three years. He also acknowledged the business is good. Just like his competitors, he has a TV chicken. However, the TV chicken was not working because there was no power. He was instead roasting the chicken on charcoal.
On a good day, especially during the weekends, he claimed he sells up to about fifteen chickens, each costing Ushs 9,000. During the weekdays, he sells between eight to fifteen roast chickens.
Uniquely, much of the chicken roasting business is done by young men. Most of them have TV chickens, which are more efficient and cost effective, while some have charcoal stoves for roasting their chickens. With a TV chicken, it only takes one hour to roast about ten chickens at once, according to Vincent Lukyamuzi, another chicken vendor at Wandegeya.
Many other chicken vendors, who are mostly young men and many of who own TV chickens, get their supplies from such places as Makindye, Kalerwe and Nakasero. Simon Mubiru gets his supplies from Wandegeya, near University Hall at Makerere University.
"There are times when the supplies become scarce but I still wait until there's more," he said as he blew the burning charcoal to catch more fire.
It was dark by the time this writer visited some of the TV chickens. Business was not all that rosy, perhaps until when power would be back. A young man approaches Mubiru's TV chicken and strikes a bargain. The chicken is appealing, but the bargain doesn't seem to augur well. He is willing to buy one piece a price lower than nine thousand, yet the allure of the chicken prompts him to pay for it, anyway.
Roast chicken sales are usually overwhelming whenever the University is open. A big percentage of the clients of the chicken vendors are students from Makerere University, some of who are permanently addicted to the allure of roast chicken. The presence of many clients often gives the chicken vendors sleepless nights conducting their trade.
But, with the global credit crunch still crunching many economies, and wounding others, the chicken business at Wandegeya seems to be firmly girded on its feet as customers are as many as the roast chickens in the TV chickens. The allure for roast chicken meat will keep the chicken vendors in business for long.
The chicken vendors have invested in TV chicken (an enclosure in which chicken is roasted electrically, as seen through a glass window), which seem to attract even more customers by the hour. Some posters like ‘Chicken Tonight’ attest more to the vibrancy of the chicken roasting business, though the clients buy the chicken at any time of the day.
And business has been good. One of the chicken vendors confirmed that the chicken business is good because of the constant supply of customers. He claimed he sells over eight roast chickens on a good day, although he purchases at least twenty of them in a week. His main source of supply of the chicken is Makindye, a Kampala suburb. He stated that there seemed to be no sign of the source withering as the supply is always constant.
Responding to a question why it is called TV chicken, a vendor who calls himself David remarked, "Because the chicken keeps rolling inside as you see." This raises the enthusiasm of the customer as they await their order of roast chicken to be ready. Some TV chickens are opaque but they still attract a substantial number of customers. Such novelty, which comes at a cost of between Ushs 700,000 and Ushs 2 million, according to several chicken vendors, rears a rare impulse buying effect on passers-by, as it consequently attracts most of them to buy the roast chicken when the craving strikes. The TV chicken is more than just an electric oven where the chickens keep rolling as they automatically get roasted. This sufficiently suffices for a marketing scheme to catch the eye of any prospective customer and lure them into purchasing the roast chicken.
David gets his supplies from Kalerwe. He acknowledged that on a good day, he buys ten chickens, most of which he roasts and sells by 10pm. At the cost of Ushs 9000, it is not an unfair bargain.
Simon Mubiru, another chicken vendor, has been in the business of chicken roasting for close to three years. He also acknowledged the business is good. Just like his competitors, he has a TV chicken. However, the TV chicken was not working because there was no power. He was instead roasting the chicken on charcoal.
On a good day, especially during the weekends, he claimed he sells up to about fifteen chickens, each costing Ushs 9,000. During the weekdays, he sells between eight to fifteen roast chickens.
Uniquely, much of the chicken roasting business is done by young men. Most of them have TV chickens, which are more efficient and cost effective, while some have charcoal stoves for roasting their chickens. With a TV chicken, it only takes one hour to roast about ten chickens at once, according to Vincent Lukyamuzi, another chicken vendor at Wandegeya.
Many other chicken vendors, who are mostly young men and many of who own TV chickens, get their supplies from such places as Makindye, Kalerwe and Nakasero. Simon Mubiru gets his supplies from Wandegeya, near University Hall at Makerere University.
"There are times when the supplies become scarce but I still wait until there's more," he said as he blew the burning charcoal to catch more fire.
It was dark by the time this writer visited some of the TV chickens. Business was not all that rosy, perhaps until when power would be back. A young man approaches Mubiru's TV chicken and strikes a bargain. The chicken is appealing, but the bargain doesn't seem to augur well. He is willing to buy one piece a price lower than nine thousand, yet the allure of the chicken prompts him to pay for it, anyway.
Roast chicken sales are usually overwhelming whenever the University is open. A big percentage of the clients of the chicken vendors are students from Makerere University, some of who are permanently addicted to the allure of roast chicken. The presence of many clients often gives the chicken vendors sleepless nights conducting their trade.
But, with the global credit crunch still crunching many economies, and wounding others, the chicken business at Wandegeya seems to be firmly girded on its feet as customers are as many as the roast chickens in the TV chickens. The allure for roast chicken meat will keep the chicken vendors in business for long.
Joshua Masinde
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