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Showing posts from April, 2025

A Morning in Nairobi

 A Beautiful Morning in Nairobi In the early morning, Nairobi awakens gently. In the silence, the city's unseen rhythm begins to take shape — measured, yet profound. The first rays of the sun calm the streets, but beneath this serenity, there are already processes at work that will define the course of the day. Nairobi in the morning is not merely a place — it is a moment of anticipation and silent agreements, where more is said in quiet than in words.

To Live in Egypt as a Georgian Arabist

 To live in Egypt as a Georgian Arabist is not merely to observe history — it is to walk inside it. I arrived in Cairo not as a tourist, but as a witness, and perhaps — a returnee. The Mamluk dynasty, which shaped so much of Egypt’s medieval strength, included among its most respected warriors Georgians taken as boys from the Caucasus, trained in arms and language, then elevated to the ranks of commanders. This is no abstract history to me — it is a whisper I hear in Cairo’s stones, in the echo of Arabic that flows through my voice when I speak. Arabic is not foreign to me. It is a second skin, a language I wear with gratitude and responsibility. In Egypt, my years of study became daily dialogue — on the streets, in souks, in mosques, in silence. The language no longer lived only in books; it lived in people, in gestures, in poetry shouted over coffee and in calls to prayer at dawn. To be a Georgian Arabist in Egypt is to see connections that few suspect — not only between cultures...

Nairobi - A Modern Cradle of Dialogue

  Nairobi – A Modern Cradle of Dialogue Vakhtang Imerlishvili Orientalist • Arabist • Analyst • Researcher on the Middle East and Central Africa   Nairobi is not just a capital city — it is a space where the diverse voices of the continent listen to one another. Filled with international offices, regional organizations, and conferences, the city is shaping a new form of diplomacy — negotiation based on deeply human content. It is here in Nairobi that non-governmental initiatives often begin, initiatives that eventually reshape the nature of inter-state relations. Kenyan delegates tend to speak differently — with restraint, yet with depth. Words may seem few, but they highlight the importance of tone, gesture, and silence. This city teaches us that loud protocol is not always necessary, when dialogue can live even in quiet. Beauty Transformed into Diplomacy Kenya’s landscape and natural diversity are not only vital for tourism. This calmness, balance, and spatial dep...

Kenya’s Ethnic Richness, Hospitality, and Cultural Depth — A Diplomatic Perspective

  Kenya’s Ethnic Richness, Hospitality, and Cultural Depth — A Diplomatic Perspective   By Vakhtang Imerlishvili   Kenya, the beating heart of East Africa and a pivotal diplomatic platform, stands out not only for its political and geostrategic significance but also for its profound cultural layers. These layers, formed by over 40 officially recognized ethnic groups, offer a vivid mosaic of heritage, language, and tradition that shape the nation’s internal dynamics and influence its international relations, tourism, and informal diplomacy. The Maasai, Kikuyu, Luo, Kalenjin, and Others — A Harmony of Difference The Maasai—arguably Kenya’s most iconic people—embody cultural resilience. Known for their traditional attire, warrior heritage, and harmony with the land, they symbolize both national identity and an enduring relationship with nature. Their presence has become central to Kenya’s image on the global stage, especially in eco-tourism. The Kikuyu, one of Ke...

Arab-African Lifestyles as a Diplomatic Resource

 Arab-African Lifestyles as a Diplomatic Resource: Lessons Beyond the Surface Vakhtang Imerlishvili Middle East & Africa Affairs | Orientalist & Arabist --- I. Speaking of Values — Not Just Strategies When regional cooperation is discussed, conversations tend to stay at a technical level — infrastructure, investments, policies. Yet the true success of relationships lies elsewhere — in lifestyles, traditions, and the values that shape shared human spaces. In East Africa, as in the Arab world, traditional modes of living — hospitality, negotiation rituals, respect for elders, and the spiritual tone embedded in daily life — are not only cultural markers, but integral to diplomacy itself. As a Middle East and Africa specialist, I no longer see these values as purely academic interest. They are tools — practical, dynamic, and real. Tools that can be used to build dialogue in spaces where gestures, presence, and cultural awareness carry more weight than words or protocols. --- II...

Silent Accord — The Strength and Unity of Kenyan Women

 Silent Accord — The Strength and Unity of Kenyan Women” By Vakhtang Imerlishvili “Power is not always loud — sometimes it passes hand to hand, like fire in the dark.” Invisible Strength In Kenyan cultural life, there exists a form of power that speaks without words — the silent influence of women. It appears in gestures, in presence, in the way relationships are guided. Women shape unity not through command, but through empathy. Their influence is not about assertion — it's about preservation. It flows quietly through families, communities, and generations. It does not require declaration, but it defines direction. Urban Networks and Behavioral Strategy In Nairobi’s intellectual and social landscapes, women cultivate dialogue and connection. They do not lead by titles, but by tone. Their presence creates calm, trust, and clarity in spaces where uncertainty could otherwise take root. They do not claim space — they transform it. This is a soft, behavioral strategy built on intuition...