"Malindi, Watamu earthly paradises, meeting places and loves that are never troublesome. Maybe once we were besieged, but today times have changed".
This is the beginning of this week's parody-song from Freddie and Sbringo's musical game, which for over a month has been keeping company with the many Italians who, because of the pandemic and the ban on tourism from Italy, are still unable to return to the country they used to visit regularly.
And also of the many Italians who, driven by curiosity, enthusiastic stories and also by our passionate promotion, would like to go there for the first time.
With the onset of the pandemic and the collapse of tourism, some of the protagonists of the destination's social life have also disappeared: one of them, the cross and delight of our compatriots, is the large group of so-called "Beach Boys", the boys who make ends meet by selling everything on the beach, not always in good faith and sometimes a little too insistently.
For those who will be returning, we must say that things have improved in the meantime, because thanks to the associations in the field and the work of the Beach Operators in Malindi and Watamu, today there are more and more organised groups who are aware of their role, with licences and training, and fewer and fewer "mavericks". Those with the Italian nicknames that have so entertained Italian tourists for the last twenty years or more. This does not mean that we will no longer meet people like Toblerone, Vongolo, Buffon or Fusillo. Perhaps, however, there is hope that their children or pupils will be framed and less improvised.
So enjoy the parody created to the tune of Sade's "Smooth Operator", which tells the story of how beach boys used to be and how they might be tomorrow.
You still have 24 hours to comment on the song on Tele Esule's Youtube channel and take part in Malindikenya.net's competition to win 10 fantastic prizes for those returning to Kenya.
And from tomorrow, the sixth of the ten songs that will be part of the "Festival di Sardegna Due" until 31 July. Final draw on 7th August.