Is Columbia Really Happiest Country??

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 2, 2005, 18:44:

All these surveys are total bullshit. You're 100% right that happiness is too hard to define and also very subjective. Different cultures have very different definitions of happiness.

It is funny, however, that Nigeria is listed. I've never had the pleasure but everyone I know that's been there says it's a real hell-hole.

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kikolina0920 says on Oct 2, 2005, 18:58:

No wonder Columbia wasn't on the list....Columbia is not a country, as far as I know. Now, ColOmbia may not have been on the list either, but I know all my compatriotas are very happy!! It's COLOMBIA, NOT Columbia....please...get it right!!!

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lukus says on Oct 3, 2005, 11:21:

sorry Yeah it is "Colombia". I'm under too much of an American influence I guess. Anyway the world changes all the time. Right now it may be Nigeria topping the charts, the next year it may be some other place. It's just like songs on the Top 40.
I do believe that Latin culture is a lot more laid back then North American culture for sure! The samba and the music..all very energetic and lively.
I don't know much about Colombia but its seems a lot different then where I'm from. Don't exactly know if I could do without what I have here.

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caslug says on Oct 3, 2005, 14:02:

isn't nigeria one of the capital of.. internet money scams. I can see how life could be very easy and no worries if you get money for free from hapless victims.

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Caballista says on Oct 3, 2005, 18:56:

I do not believe in some "cientific" stydies like this one, yet I believe in facts!!!!! And Colombia is full of and with very happy people. That is a fact.

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 3, 2005, 18:58:

I agree with you, Caballista, and it is one of the pleasures of visiting Colombia.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Crazy4Cali says on Oct 3, 2005, 20:01:

Remember... It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you have.

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Chapin says on Oct 3, 2005, 20:21:

You guys should check out this website http://www.419eater.com/html/trophy_room.htm No wonder they are at the top of the list.

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Colombiche says on Oct 3, 2005, 20:41:

Pues Claro !!!! I just came back, and the Colombian happiness is still all over my skin, pulsing through my veins. I feel so refreshed to have been surrounded by so many loving relatives, I almost felt smothered!! Sure at first I missed the personal space I got so accustomed to here in the great white North, but little by little the ice starting thawing....

I woke up this morning because it was too damn quiet. I miss my Bogota bedroom, where every morning starting at 5 I would start hearing people outside laughing, singing, selling aguacate maduro, announcing that they fix pitadoras and licuadoras and sombrillas "cachetonas". I even missed the school van that plays the lambada tune everytime it backs up (used to be annoying at first but it grew on me)

The country is teeming with creativity, people are ingenious in the way they come up with their little slogans to sell their merchandise. I was so amused to see the guy who makes a living on chapinero square in Bogota, by racing 3 hamsters and having people bet on which hamster will win (remember that Mr Webman?)!!!

I got used to taking a shower while 5 of my relatives sat outside the bathroom door yelling "oiga, cuando sale prima pa' saludarla". I had to master the art of putting on makeup in a bathroom that is full of steam....

I loved watching my eje cafetero town people loading their yipaos with merchandise, I loved sipping tinto with my cousin in the small town cafeterias while we listened to Dario Gomez sing about the girl who "rompio su corazon". I miss the ajiaco they serve at "Rama Seca" in Zipaquira, the owner keeps coming around giving you samples of the meat they are grilling in the fireplace (must go there!!!).


Right now I am so infected with my people's happiness, that somebody could cut in front of me in Toronto traffic, give me the finger, say a word to my mom and I will just happily keep driving, singing along with my Maia CD.

Personally I feel very humbled and honored to have been born in such a colorful, interesting, resilient and happy country.


Que berraquera!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

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webmanco says on Oct 3, 2005, 21:53:

El rebusque I do admire the door to door sellers, once in a while I do buy my mazamorra paisa from a guy who passes on a trycicle.

Here is a picture of a old couple dancing on the street to make a living.



Carrera 7ma con 21


October 21

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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lukus says on Oct 7, 2005, 17:24:

Truth is, Canada's Great! Guess what? we just got hockey back. i'm not really a fan but its good to have that energetic buzz back. any hockey fans here?

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platano says on Oct 7, 2005, 20:27:

In defense of Nigeria, which has been insulted on this thread... Nigeria is Yorubaland and the religion there may be a reason the Nigerian people are happy. It may be difficult for the western mind to understand because our religions are based on covenant, duty, the need to obey, threat of hell if we don't, etc. We are people of the book (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all share this).

In Nigeria things are different. Orisa is the traditional Yoruba religion that has been practiced for generations in Yorubaland. At it's essence are the notions of play and journey. The Yoruba notion of play is very serious indeed and is at the heart of their most sacred rituals and their everyday lives. Play is both relaxing and hard work at the same time and should never be considered as a simple prank.

In salsa you find much Yorubaland influence. In Colombia you find salsa. Many people in Colombia are playful and happy.

I spent many happy years in Colombia acting out my native "malicia india" and dancing to Eleggua, Oggun, Ochosi, Obatala, Yemaya, Oshun, Shango, Oya, Babalu Aiye, and Orula.

Salsa, influenced by Yorubaland (Nigeria/West Africa), is upbeat, alive, and happy music.

Plátano X
Oxigeno Verde ¡Libertad por Ingrid y los demás!

plátano

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Rubiazo says on Oct 7, 2005, 23:20:

Yorubaland is only one part of Nigeria (and Togo and Benin). There are also (unfortunatley) lots of Yoruba Xians and Muslims these days.
They really don't know from Oggun and Xango in Colombia, at least as far as I've seen. I didn't see one Botanica anywhere in Bogota, unless you count the 'Templo del Indio Amazonica' but that has very little to do with anything Yoruba.

Having said all that, I can believe that Nigeria is a very happy place, just by how my Nigerian (Igbo almost to a person) associates describe it. Even Lagos does have some nice areas apparently, and there are parts of the country that are supposedly really beautiful.

The African influences in salsa, while definitely including Yoruba (actually Yoruba is a LANGUAGE, the people are called Nagó) are far more than just that. There is plenty of Congo influence, as well as Dahomey, Ashanti etc. Remember that up until maybe 180 years ago at the earliest, there were very VERY few Nago slaves in the Americas. The Nago were the ones who actually sold off people they captured from the other nations as slaves for the first few centuries of the slave trade. It was only later that they started selling each other out!

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platano says on Oct 8, 2005, 00:06:

Rubiazo, You are right, and as the very name "salsa" implies, it is a delicious, spicy mixture. Senegalese salsa singers have been recording with Puerto Rican and Cuban musicians in New York, beginning with Laba Sosseh in the early 1980's and intensifying with Pape Seck, Sekouba Diabate, and other artists of the popular group Africando in the 1990's.

Their emergence, in turn, grows from the steady influence of Cuban and salsa recordings in West and Central Africa since the middle of the 20th century giving rise to "re-Africanized" Cuban-based styles such as Zairean rumba congolaise and shaping the early sounds of Ghanian and Nigerian highlife and urban dance band music in Mali and Senegal.

Africando's founder and producer, Ibrahim Sylla, grew up listening to and collecting imported salsa records in his native Dakar, and the influence of these classic sounds is apparent in the group's performance.

SOURCES:

Collin, John. 1992. West African Pop Roots.
Graham, Ronnie. 1988. The Da Capo Guide to Contemporary African Music.
Stewart, Gary. 2000. Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos.


Plátano X, salsómano
Oxigeno Verde ¡Libertad por Ingrid y los demás!

plátano

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kernow62 says on Oct 8, 2005, 07:00:

Platano how could you not make mention of Orchestra Baobab? If you don't already have the CD or album of "Pirates Choice" run out an pick up a copy. Great stuff!

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platano says on Oct 8, 2005, 08:30:

Mea culpa, Kernow62... There is just so much good stuff out there..... FROM OUR MOTHER AFRICA!

Of course, Orchestra Boabab represents the 70s style that fuses Afro-Cuban elements with Senegalese sounds.

Plátano X
Oxigeno Verde ¡Libertad por Ingrid y los demás!

plátano

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CaryGrant says on Oct 8, 2005, 12:10:

I think the only useful thing it points out is that money does not equal happiness.

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scotty says on Oct 9, 2005, 14:33:

wacky list! Nigeria, Mexico, I dont believe it!

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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CuriosJoe says on Oct 10, 2005, 14:46:

Do you know if the people in the slums are happy? What about thousands of villagers slaughtered not far from Cartagena and those who knew and lived in fear of death for years, are they happy?

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Hunter says on Oct 10, 2005, 15:02:

CuriosJoe "What about thousands of villagers slaughtered not far from Cartagena "

When did this happen?

Hunter

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Gator says on Oct 10, 2005, 20:59:

Curios Joe... I agree with Sr. Hunter:

If you are going to make an asinine statement like, "Do you know if the people in the slums are happy? What about thousands of villagers slaughtered not far from Cartagena and those who knew and lived in fear of death for years, are they happy?" Please back it up. I, and Hunter, live in Colombia and never heard of something like this happening.

"No le hagas caso a ese tonto."

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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laROLA says on Nov 28, 2005, 13:20:

DUH of COURSE colombians are the happiest people! colombia is home to the best coffee, beautiful cities, emeralds, gold [most of which was stolen], and the most BEAUTIFUL people in the world. happiness is everywhere in colombia. what keeps people happy is the hope that they have that everything will be okay. we know that one day peace will arise in the most beautiful country im proud to call my home.

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CuriosJoe says on Nov 28, 2005, 15:46:

I read about this not long ago, search links below; I could try to find the exact article.
http://www.colombiajournal.org/archive_all.htm
http://www.colombiajournal.org/specialreports.htm

Magnitude of displacement:
http://www.colombiajournal.org/displacement.htm

When everyone is so happy who gives a damn about the unhappy?

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platano says on Nov 28, 2005, 18:01:

Dígales LaROLA!!! Si, señor, sin duda Colombia gana en la felicidad!

Colombia RULES when it comes to happiness.

He hablado mucho de esto y las reglas cientificas que aseguran que estas encuestas son objetivas, no sujetivas, por la metología científica y consistente que utilizan.

LA GENTE DE COLOMBIA ES LO MAXIMO! BACANOS! CHEVERES! Y FELICES!

plátano

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