Nairobi, April 20 -- Someone recently suggested that I should be grateful to be a Tanzanian citizen, considering how well my country is doing. To be fair, I have to be careful not to relish the happy accident of my birthright too much, lest I become nauseating.

But I understood the gist of the message: that my writings should show more appreciation for the relative peace and comfort of my country, compared to some others on the continent. I simply do not agree with the implication that I should, therefore, present my government more favourably than I do.

Spare the snark, spoil the state. Subtle and direct demands that I shush like a good, little girl make me wonder whether the issuer considers themselves a citizen or a subject of their ...