Africa's solution........Now

Patriot's Diary # 40: Kenya; My Home, My Jewel

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:41:00 +0000

I have fumbled around trying to figure out whether to have number 40 as a summary of all the other 39 or look for an all new reason to express my undying love for Kenya. I chose the latter; which I must add is not the final reason for my love for Kenya; but to crown the Patriot’s Diary series.

My 40^th reason is what, in my books, makes Kenya iconic; we are a country strategically placed. Kenya may not be smack in the middle of the African continent but it is in such a central place on the coast of the East African coast and the equator perfect for business and travel.

Kenya has been a haven for all her neighbours in the midst of political turmoil. Our brothers and sisters from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo have sought refuge and established their communities and families in Kenya.

Kenya has brokered several peace deals. And is Africa’s UN home, with the headquarters of UN-Habitat based in our capital Nairobi. Kenya is one of the few countries in the continent with an immense number of diplomatic missions from states across the globe. And the US (as expected) leads the pack with the largest diplomatic Mission in Sub Saharan Africa based in my beautiful capital; Nairobi. States such as Russia, Britain, and the European Union (EU) as well as member nations of the EU have bases here. Pakistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Korea, Israel, Thailand, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Chile, Venezuela; the list is endless. I think nearly every state on the face of the earth may have a diplomatic mission in Nairobi.

Kenya is an economic hub for Eastern Africa. You may have heard the phrase; when Kenya sneezes East and central Africa get a cold. 28 of 50 East African companies are in Kenya. With the largest being Safaricom; Kenya’s leading telecommunications company.

We have a NASA launch station in the town of Malindi. With our Kilindini harbor and Jomo Kenyatta international airports, both under expansion, serving as major entry and exit points for imports and exports for the East and Central African region.

Kenya’s strategic location is amazing. Kenya is a jewel! It isn’t just a blessing to be Kenyan it’s a privilege. And a privilege that I will continue to yell from the roof tops! Not just for the conventional tourism, but for economic growth and cultural versatility. Kenya is a nation of endless potential that needs to be saved and protected from the demeaning political shenanigans. I can ramble on for ages because there is a lot to gloat over as a Kenyan. But it is my duty as well as yours, whatever country you hail from, to protect and nurture your nation’s destiny not for yourself or your children but your great great great grandchildren as well.

My National Anthem

With this final entry into the Patriot’s diary I salute all my fellow countrymen. A salute of honour and respect! And a call to stand up and seize the moment NOW to restore the dignity of our beautiful land! Kenya Milele! (Kenya forever!)

Patriot's Diary # 39: There's room for Improvement

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:42:00 +0000

All the annoying and upsetting news on Africa is not worth your emotional overload. That’s just simply because it is not true. Kenya like most countries on this continent are a testimony that there is a second chance for everyone.

Media abroad and even at home are pretty harsh to downplay and justify our eternal dependency on everyone else BUT ourselves. I believe otherwise. There is always room for improvement and second chances for Kenya. We’ve begun a new phase in our tumultuous journey as a country, but that’s just it; it is a beginning. We cried at independence, babbled, learned how to say our first word and now we are crawling pretty fast and grabbing at anything and everything as we try to get our footing into this new life as a Nation. In Human years 46 years is a time of stability and the beginning of reaping heftily. In ‘Nation’ years we are barely close to walking. If you don’t believe me; look at your world history. Britain has been in existence as a state for 900 years, the United States 200 years and yet they still have many more milestones to achieve.

What we are going through now as Kenya is nothing outstandingly unique from what you read in your history book. It’s the initial stages of Nationhood. We’ll make our gains faster, as a nation in comparison to the UK and US did, I believe because I have Kenyan brothers and sisters who believe in their country like I do and see a future life that is richer in culture, pride and purpose than ever before.

That’s why being Kenyan is so awesome, ever so often I come across a like minded person who knows that the time to push for change and purpose begins now. But to effectively do so it needs to begin in the heart of each and every Kenyan. Take a look at your flag; look at it as a salute of honour and gratitude to you. Wake up in the morning and your still in Kenya; that’s a sign that you have something worth sharing with your country.

Go to work; you’re the reason Kenya can still be in business with other nations. Take a road trip to Nairobi national Park; you’re privileged to live in the only country in the world that houses a National Park in its capital city. Open your mouth and speak; you’ve shown the world that you can effortlessly speak 3 languages. This is Kenya, this is our pride, and this is our reason to fight for who we are, trust and know. I understand this and I trust that my fellow brothers and sisters will see it to. Kenya is my inheritance. Kenya is my present. And Kenya is my legacy.

Patriot's Diary # 38: Signs in Kenya

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:28:00 +0000

I think Kenyan signs are the best; it’s sheer comic relief. My friend told me that he came across a salon called’ Bad Hairdo’. I laughed so hard. I am not quite sure whether the owner knew what that meant, or if it was meant to be some sort of joke. That was probably up until they realized that they weren’t making enough money so they changed the name of the salon to ‘Wonder touch salon’. Another really common sign is , ‘usikojoe hapa’ (do not urinate here).

It’s hard to miss that sign in any urban area in Kenya and the most hilarious and repulsive thing is that the individuals who shouldn’t be peeing still stand right next to the sign and urinate on the sign (the ultimate sign of defiance…not!) . What more can you say about signs, other than point, stare and laugh at them! I won’t take too much time telling you about the signs I’ll let you see them for yourself! Enjoy!

Africans; get off your REAR!

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:59:00 +0000

Where does the story of pain end and the story of glory begin? Is it a merger of the two that will continue as the typical ‘African story? I spent a good fraction of this afternoon making entries rebuking ignorance on Africa and the ‘Save Africa from itself’ notion. Till I watched a video that someone shared with me on Facebook that just changed my perspective on things.

For how long, we’ve asked on this continent, that the likes of BBC®, CNN®, Aljazeera® and Sky News® will continue to tell negative stories of Africa? Why are there so many stories of pain and desperation than of triumph and hope? I am not going to delve into that argument right now, I want to flip it back to you the observer; the African. What are you doing about that horrible story told of the suffering African in your part of the continent? Do you go out to see for yourself and see if you can make a difference in what is told? Turn that story of tragedy that you saw on the news to triumph through a joint effort to make it better.

However much we detest the reporting; I think that we have bought in to it more than the rest of the world has. The magnitude of seeing a story of a starving village in Uganda, Kenya or in Sierra Leone is just too much to bear. We look at it in pity and almost self loathe as to why this still happens in Africa. Well it still happens because we aren’t doing anything about it. It ‘s because we look at the larger picture and not see what little it is that we should do that will go a long way. I guess when we see and hear the statistics we get so scared by it that we feel helpless.

How long is it going to take for you to do something about the pain and plight that you see? How long are you going to want to run to a developed country to ‘save yourself’ from poverty and deal with the ignorance ‘out there?’ I have no problem with leaving the continent to resettle in another to help yourself out. I just have issue with the spirit of dependency that we breed by constantly sending money to relatives and family instead of showing them how to be independent and build an empire of their own ‘back home’. We (Africans) are the only plan ‘A’ to save ourselves from poverty and all the other evils that we face.

I go to a church in Nairobi called Mavuno Downtown. I have learnt and something that my church advocates for is Social justice. This is not the usual CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) nonsense that most people do, where we thrust buildings and equipment at people and give ourselves a round of applause for how much ‘our companies care about the environment and hungry children’. Social justice is pretty much going the Jesus way literally. You don’t just show up, give and leave. You visit, establish a relationship with that community, see what they lack see what you can do with THEM to help build a self sustaining community. A friend of mine told me today we (Africans) mistake Social Justice with Escapism.

It’s nice once in a while to feed a cute abandoned baby in children’s home once a year and feel all giddy inside. But how about going to the source of the increase in abandoned children and find out what you can do to help that community’s women. Help the women get an education or start up an institution and start up their own business. I know, that’s being a bit too out there…right? Wrong! See where the escapism comes in? To escape from the guilt of a bad situation and poor people, we do the easiest act of charity to appease our haunted consciences.

Forgive me for what I am about to say, this is for my African brothers and sisters. If you are fed up of missionary and charity work from Europeans and other Caucasians, then it’s time YOU got off of your middle class rear and did something. You don’t need to have a Beamer to make a difference. As long as you’re breathing, that is all you need. Go to a community build a relationship and work with them, to find THEIR solution. Don’t impose one, work with them. I am done talking. I am taking the challenge up myself, what are you doing about it?

Patriot's Diary # 37: Divine Weather

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:35:00 +0000

Weather…seriously; I know that’s what you must be thinking. I had never really thought much about it, but the truth is Kenya has really great weather. The weather patterns have been tampered with due to climate change here and there. But it is not every day that you can wake up to beautiful sunshine and cool weather like in Kenya. (Right: Hippo in Lake Baringo)

Even our coastal areas and desert regions in South and North Eastern Kenya respectively don’t have ridiculously bad temperatures. The humidity and heat is ridiculous compared to Nairobi but it is temperate. If you don’t believe me, you should visit Mombasa and Kisumu cities located on the shores of the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria respectively. People walk around in suits like it’s no biggie. Ok, it’s all a matter of acclimatizing, but it beats excessive snow fall and a constant damp and dull weather.

I didn’t appreciate the weather as much until a friend of mine who’s a British journalist said he doesn’t envy his friends and colleagues in London, stuck at their desks in raining weather. We have rain seasons in Kenya, that’s when you’re likely to hear of excessive flooding. But all in all like today as I look outside my office window all I see is a clear blue sky at 10.31 am. A nice cool breeze easing in through the window and kissing my face and sunshine warming up the day; it’s beautiful. I love the weather in this country.

I think what I love about rain in Kenya is that it’s almost as if with every down pour our nation is cleansed. It looks pure and whole again. The grass and leaves and trees look greener. The Lakes look purer; that reminds me of Lake Baringo. I know I have spoken of this before, but a visit to the shores of Lake Baringo and seeing Hippos immerge from the Lake after a down pour…Amazing! There’s peace and purity about that moment that I just love.

The smell of the wet soil and the bright green leaves on trees and shrubs around that just seem to be magnets for hippos on land. But just watching the fusion of great weather and beautiful nature just makes everything alright! Come rain or sunshine, once you’ve experienced the ridiculous humidity and heat from other neighbouring nations, I say I love my country’s weather. Call it self-serving; of course it is, it’s Kenya its home and I adore every element of it. (Left: lake Baringo on a bright beautiful morning)

Patriot's Diary # 36: A Country of Linguists

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:15:00 +0000

It’s the home stretch as we wrap up the Patriot’s Diary series. It has been a couple of months of trying to figure out what it is that makes being an African patriot; a Kenyan, so personal and worth the fight for its prosperity. I finally figured out 5 more reasons to hit our target 40 reasons why Kenya, the African state on the coast of East Africa is worth my while.

Initially I loved school up until my family moved back to Kenya when I was eight years old. The change of the school system shocked me. It was an absolute shift; like day and night. First of all I was a tall, chubby kid who had a strong British accent and I didn’t speak a word of Swahili. It was rough; in class, the teachers occasionally cracked jokes or said things in Swahili and I had no clue of what they were saying.

Kiswahili lessons were a daily torment, initially I asked my desk mate to help me out with my homework. Then he offered to do it for me in exchange for my lunch; that didn’t last long I got fed up of him eating all my food. I was back to the beginning, I used to cry myself to sleep and most nights my mum and sister would stay up late with me, to help me out with the homework. School was dreadful.

Living away from your home country strips certain things from you. I just hated everything Kenyan because I felt like I was being forced to learn some ‘shady’ unhelpful language. I can remember at the end of my first term in school I got 10% that's waaay below an ‘F’. At some point I just hated this country and begun looking at Kiswahili as an inferior language. Looking back now, I am grateful for one thing though, that I was in a system that forced me to learn my national Language.

Well that was then, this is now. Just a few minutes ago I realized that it all was a blessing in disguise. Because the truth is, it is not every day that you can boast of being trilingual. That’s unless you are Kenyan. The average Kenyan who speaks their mother tongue and has a basic elementary education which taught them English and Kiswahili makes us trilingual. So there you have it being Kenyan equals being trilingual.

And there are Kenyans who also speak other foreign and ethnic languages from across the globe. Literally Kenya is a breeding ground for linguists. And that is another reason to shout from the roof tops about how grandeur being Kenyan is. Ciao! Oriti! Aufwiedersehen! Kwaheri! Good bye!

Patriot's Diary # 35: Pet names with some Kenyan Flavour

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:22:00 +0000

In every home some children get pet names; it is a sign of affection. Well…in essence that is how it is meant to be but this is Patriot’s Diary there is something about Kenyan pet names that makes them extra special! And believe you me; you are extra special when you have some of the names I’ve got lined up for you.

The usual ones mostly given to the children named after grand parents would fondly been referred to as Mummy, Daddy or Mzee (old man) by their parents. I have a cousin whose 30 and to be honest I have no clue what his name is other than Daddy! But, you see, with these kinds of names you can make it sound cool by the way you pronounce them. But then again if a Kenyan is to call you Daddy, you might just need to start using your official name because Daddy just won’t fly!

That is unless of course your family suups it with a Spanish version of your name so you are ‘Mami’ or ‘Papi’. But that is pretty much Spanish slang you’d use to hit on a guy or girl you like…maybe it’s not that cool after all.

Then there’s, ‘Chief’. I know I had mentioned that this is also a greeting! But when your pet name is chief, to be very honest I have no clue what your parents were thinking to be honest. Well after a phone call to my cousin I found out why. Her brother was named after her grand dad who was actually a chief (what do you know?!), so instead of using his actual name, the family just chose to stick to using ‘chief’!

‘Toto’ pretty much translates to child, this is commonly used on any child but some families baptize their lastborns with the name. But then again some parents just choose not to give their children another name. In Luo the word for lastborn means the same as ‘bone’; at times I am called ‘Chogo’ – ‘bone’ not the most flattering pet name on the planet is it? But I love it!

Now all the ones that I have mentioned sound pretty normal up until you hear ‘Mudu’ (Modo). Now the thing is this really is one of the nastiest names you can give your child, ‘mudu’ means person in Kikuyu. How generic can you get with a supposed pet name…for YOUR child? I mean, why call your child Ashley or Mwenda, call them ‘person’. How about that!(Above: even hyenas find it amusing)

Another community that has a special spot for mean pet names is Luos they tend to call children ‘Jaber’, which means beautiful. Nothing wrong with that right? WRONG! The reason why Luos call their kids ‘Jaber’ is to cover up the reality of bearing an ugly baby. So technically just because your luo name is beautiful it most likely means the opposite! Not the best for an insecure 10 year old to find out is it?

My brothers and sisters from the coastal part of Kenya also have a pleasant name they like to give chatterbox children; Chiriku. This is the name of a bird that chirps relentlessly. That isn’t bad. Especially when compared to ‘Boi’. All I know is it is Sheng for Boy other than that, I have no clue why you’d call your son Boi…well duh! What else would he be…

Now that is the round up of Kenya’s queerest, meanest and funniest pet names! Moral of the story; no pet names for my children! But I still love being Kenyan!

Patriot's Diary # 34: The Kenyan Family

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:27:00 +0000

In Kenya we joke a lot about the fact that everyone seems to be related to everyone. There are some communities that seem to literally be related to each other, not naming any names; LUOs. But with the intermarriage going on in Kenya soon enough the whole nation will be related. But primarily the average Kenyan family isn’t just the nuclear family; it’s the extended and the extended of the extended family.

Now the reason why most Kenyans seem to be related to each other than inter-marriage boils down to one single element; respect. In Kenya it is culturally unheard of to refer to an adult by their first name, so you’d always have parents telling their children that this is Auntie or uncle so and so, even if there is absolutely no relation. For so long, I used to call my father’s secretary Auntie Florence. I would ask my parents why I had to call her Aunty when there was no relation; I was always told because she is older. I used to find it really hard initially, to refer to my bosses by their first name. It’s something cultural.

But that’s all beside the point. The real reason all Kenyans claim to be related to each other is because we fish out relationships to people. This past Sunday there was a guest at our church who told the congregation that she was related to our pastor. We waited to hear what she had to say; her sister is married to Aaron Rimbui (jazz maestro & producer), whose brother is Tim Rimbui (music producer)who is married to the pastor’s sister. As you may have figured, we all burst out laughing and quite a number of people yelled; ‘Only in Kenya!’ (Above: My REAL cousins & I)

You know you’d think that when someone explains a relationship it will be pretty straight forward, like, she is my sister, first cousin, an aunt or uncle maybe. But not in Kenya, in Kenya you fish out any connection. Even though it is legitimate, we still go the extra mile to fish out every conceivable the connection.

I know I am picking on people but I can also fall guilty of fishing out connections as well. Now mine is not legitimate but it is a demonstration of how far we can go as Kenyans. Now my father happened to grow up and go to school with a gentleman called (I won’t name any names) let’s call him Mr. K. Mrs. K went to the same High school as my mum and her family was pretty close to my Mum’s. Mrs. K’s mother and the Kenyan Prime minister’s mother are sisters, I think…if I am not wrong. And Mrs. K’s baby brother happens to be a politician who is related to the prime minister. Confusing right?!

In that light, I can lie to the whole world that I am remotely related to the Kenyan Prime Minister. See how far we go as Kenyans. Now do not make me start on my connection and ‘close’ relation to President Barack Obama. Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe! So the moral of the story, when a Kenyan alleges relation to anyone really find out what the relationship is all about! After all Kenyans are all about family connections!

Patriot's Diary # 33: To be a child again...

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:31:00 +0000

Last year I went through a series of amazing changes in my life. I finally got to know who Rose really was and got a new lease of life! I came up with three mantras in life to keep me going regardless of the odds. The first one that just re-ignited me was,’ Let the child in you live’. If you want to know the other two you can email me and I’ll let you know. Now, what I love about children is the free spirit they have, the joy, the laughter; and that is the kind of laughter I have, explosive, limitless; I feel alive!

Growing up in Kenya is one grand experience mostly because of the outdoor games. The only down time was the homework and the curfews that screwed everything up. I always used to hate having to go home and leave my friends playing outside late into the night and I had to be in bed.

There is a number of games most Kenyan kids play; but the highlights for me are, ‘Shake’, ‘Kati’ and ‘Blada’. There was a marble game that we call ‘bano’. It is like the marble version of pool only that you were to use one marble to hit another marble to the furthest point! I never really played that game.

There was ‘three sticks’, it was pretty simple, you had three sticks (duh!). The sticks are placed together at varying distances and the winner of the game is the person who could jump the furthest; kind of like triple jump with sticks and no sand pit. I liked that one primarily because I had long legs. But I never got far, let’s just horizontal jumping wasn’t my forte. ‘Rounders’ on the other hand was the Kenyan version of baseball. I guess that makes the name add up.

Now back to the ultimate games ‘Shake’, ‘Kati’ and ‘Blada’. ‘Shake’ is the ultimate team game. It was pretty simple, there was a grid drawn on the ground, most of the time we played on estate roads, and there were two teams. One team’s role was to ensure that at least one member of the team makes it to the end of the grid without being touched by the team that will be on the grid. The team that was on the grid, had members aligned horizontally on the grid that shuffled left to right and an individual in the center who shuffled up and down.

‘Shake’ is a game of strategy. The aim was to capture as many members of the opposing teams in a grid lock, tap and eliminate them. At times the team in the grid would have a strategy where everyone lies on the ground and reaches in to eliminate members of the team. I can remember when the team leader, normally the person in the centre, said ‘lala’ (lie down) we dropped to the ground and eliminated the enemy…muwahhahahahahahaha (I couldn’t help myself).

But the challenge for the players in the grid was to ensure they never left the grid while tapping people out! That always caused uproar; when there was that final team member slipping through everyone’s fingers only to be eliminated by the silly sellout in the team on the grid who left the grid. That was always almost tantamount to gaming suicide. No one would ever want you on their team after that.

Then there’s ‘blada’. The ‘blada’ was pretty much a cut up piece of tyre rubber into one really long strip tied at both ends. This normally requires three players. Two players act as pillars where the rubber strip is wrapped around their legs and one player is required to jump in a certain pattern into and out of the rubber strip.

Like any game there are levels. So with each successful jump the rubber strip inches up the two individuals. So it starts off around the ankles, inches to the calves, knees, hips, waist, under the armpits, shoulders and finally the neck. This was mostly a girl’s game. You need to see it; girls would tuck their skirts into their knickers and make some really funny head and hand co-ordinations to psyche themselves up.

And the ultimate of ultimate games was ‘Kati’ which is Swahili for center. This is a three player’s game. It was a simpler version of dodge ball. Two players were pitchers, who were to hit the player at the center with a small rubber ball. The aim of the game wasn’t just to eliminate; it was to hurt the center player. This is the game you’d play with your arch enemy as a kid! I can feel it now, eat dirt all you teasers and meanies.

However, if the player at the center was good at playing catch you were screwed, because if they caught the ball and hit any of the pitchers; they scored more points and you’d be stuck throwing the ball. I was always hit on my bum; I have no clue why to date.

Now I want to play! Catch you all later; I am off to find some playmates for the re-match of the decade!

Patriot's Diary 32 #: Kenyan Baptism

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:56:00 +0000

Kenyans don’t just name their children interestingly; we baptize objects and places with names. Mostly it’s a matter of broken telephone really. I didn’t realize how much we, Kenyans rename things. Because I am so used to calling things as I’ve known them since I was a child. I recently realized that I had forgotten the actual name for certain things. Case in point, growing up, the premium flask brand was Thermos. Every household in this Kenya owns one. But since it was the only brand that was stocked in the 80s it kind of just stuck. So Kenyans don’t really call flasks, flasks. We call them Thermos.

Some name baptisms are more common in rural Kenya but they actually have a legitimate reason. I just don’t know what the reason is. Like the bulb, in most rural areas they are called globes, maybe because of the shape or maybe it was a brand name (tehehe). But it’s not just what they call it is how they say it, Globe (goo-row-fu).

Then another convert is the radio cassette. It is not called a cassette in rural Kenya it is called Compact (Combackt). My best friend explained to me why it was referred to as a Compact but I forgot. I just get kicks out of it when I hear someone say, ‘umesikia hiyo Combackt ya Reggae?’(Have you listened to the Reggae cassette?).

Then you have clothing and food, like cycling shorts, Kenyans call them Bikers and leggings we call them Skin tight I guess that is self explanatory. It is kind of like the way Americans seem to call everything different from the rest of the world; Chips (crisps), Fries (Chips), Sedan (Saloon) car. Kenya has her own unique naming system, thrown in with an accent. We call scones; sconge. And if you are wearing a huge cowboy hat we’ll call it a Godfather! It’s uniquely Kenyan.

There have even been places around the country that were mispronounced and the name has stuck. There is a place in Nairobi called Dagoretti Corner; It was called The Great Corner (Da-Go-retti) Corner; get it? And then there is the Burma market that was named in honour of the Burmese fighters who fought for the British. In Kenya we call it Bama. Then there is the area named after the British Carrier Corps. We call that area Kariokor (Carry-O-core).

We all as you now see, as Kenyans, we love to bless new things with some of our Kenyan flavor.

Patriot's Diary # 31: Jina Langu ( My name)

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:52:00 +0000

Like in most cultures, naming a child is pretty important. In Kenya, as in most African cultures children are named after their grandparents. It’s all about ensuring the family legacy. It’s heritage; the eldest son will most often be named after his paternal grandfather, the first daughter after her paternal grandmother, the second son after his maternal grandfather and the second daughter after the maternal grandmother and so on and so forth.

I was named after my maternal great grandmother, apparently my mother tells me that my late (may her soul rest in peace) great grandmother came to her in a dream. And thus I was named Rosebella. I have a cousin named after my late (may his soul rest in peace) maternal great grandfather Samuel. What normally happens once the immediate grand parents names have been allocated, it’s now free for all. The remaining relatives’ names are splashed on the children or at times each child is blessed with their own name.

Now when it comes to names, I am convinced that some Kenyan parents really don’t think through. What’s more damning is when your family name (Surname) is just off. Like the name Nyang’au or Ukalulu. Now Nyang’au is an insult; to put it kindly it means idiot! Then Ukalulu translates to a Clown. So how about that, Joe Clown or wait.. Suzy Idiot! Well family names go down generations maybe back in time it probably didn’t mean that. But the individual names Kenyan parents give their children, Lord have mercy!

I come from a community that is notorious for naming their children on a whim! Generally other than adopting names of relatives, Luos generally name their children after seasons. So we have more than one name. Fish around, the average Luo has two English names and one ethnic name and if they were named after a relative they’ll have another stash. You need to see my passport to believe me. I kid you not my initials, if I am to use what I have, on my passport are; R.A.A.O.O. See I told you!

Back to the matter at hand; the notoriety of Luos is horrendous. As long as there is a major event, global or national a child is a named as such. Let me start on the milder cases. The 1998 world Cup; the Brazilian soccer star; Ronaldo was the star and children born in June of 1998 where aptly named Ronaldo. That is ok right?

Then on August 7^th there was a terrorist attack in Nairobi; children born around that time were aptly named ‘Bomblast’ so and so. Then you have the pop icon President Obama. Well what can I say; there is a whole stash of boys whose names are not just ‘Barack Obama’ but ‘President Barack Obama. And the little girls were not left out either. In late 2008 when the election results where announced in a local maternity hospital a whole batch of Baby girls were named Michelle Obama. Wow! So if you think my initials are bad enough, wait till you hear what other names these children have. There’s a boy somewhere named Senator Barack Obama Peter. Imagine what his nickname is; Seni or something like that.

Wow! If you thought Jane, Rachel or Horace where questionable names how about being named Dashboard, ‘Post election violence or worse ‘Referendum’. I know you may think I am exaggerating, but don’t mess with some Kenyans. How do you think names like Petronilla, Assumptor, Redempter (I went to school with a girl with that name), Abscondita, Expendita came about. Unbelievable, but I am not making this up, ask any Kenyan you know! I am not making this up! And I don’t know why the girls get the nasty names.

But most of the middle class Kenyans are naming their children with more ethnic and Swahili names. Purely but no English names so you’ll have your Onyancha, Aluoch, Mwikali, Kabura, Arufeni, Pendo. Don’t get me wrong I love these names (guess which one is mine). I think it is just an awakening to cultural pride. That’s what being Kenyan is all about!

Patriot's Diary # 30: Sheng the lingo of Kenyan Humour

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:05:00 +0000

I was on a mission to up my vocabulary in Sheng (colloquial Kiswahili) and my word. It evolves exponentially. The uniqueness and beauty of Sheng is that a new word today is history tomorrow! The Eastern region of Nairobi city is the home and factory of Sheng. As I mentioned in an earlier post; Sheng is the language of standup comedy in Kenya.

We have something similar to the teaser; ‘your mama’ jokes. They are not purely ‘your mama’ kind of teases. But like any comedy of its kind; it’s just to make fun of someone and have a happy time; obviously at the other person’s expense.

Normally mchongoano requires banter. So once someone teases you, you need to tease back, till one person runs out of comebacks! A good one is; Kichwa yako ni soo, uki lala dreams zako huwa in Dolby surround. (Your head is so big that when you sleep your dreams are in Dolby surround)

Simu yako ni mzee; ikianguka inamwaga credo. (Your phone is so old; when you drop it the ‘minutes’ fall out)

Another one that got me rolling on the floor was; nyanya yako ni mzee mpaka ile time God alisema let there be light, yeye ndiyo aliwasha. (Your grandmother is so old; when God said let there be light, she’s the one who turned it on)

The English version just waters down the joke. You need to hear it being said in Sheng it is tear jerking and rib cracking! I was hoping to write this entire entry in Sheng, but let’s just say that I am not that fluent. Here’s a list of different names for persons and, objects and actions in Sheng! You can visit www.sheng.co.ke/kamusi for the right pronunciation. Enjoy Kenya's urban lingo!

Traffic Police; Gova, mabeast, Karau, Sanse, Akorino, masampa, mabanga, Mafisi

Rich person; Mdosi, Sonko

To fight; gwoko, war

To give; niwai, Nige, Nichae, Nigesh

Sleep; Kudoro, Kudoze, kutuna, Kugawa

Car; atmo, dinga

Housekeeper/ maid; aunty, mboch

Boots; avunja, ndula, njumu

Ugly; amebeat, amechoka

Beer; keroro, muwako, gauge

10 shillings; ashara, ashoo, banga, ganji,munde, kwacha, kinde

20 shillings; pound, blue, mbao

40 shillings; arbesa

50 shillings; hamsa, chwani, finje

100 shillings; soo

200 shillings; jilli, rwabe

500 shillings; punch

1000 shillings; ngiri, chuma, brown

Patriot's Diary # 29: Hair-volution

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:56:00 +0000

Kenyan hair has seen its fair share of triumph & tragedy. I won’t go into the textures and make myself sound like a hair specialist. I am just a keen observer and adherent to the changes …well up until recently!

Kenyan hairstyles have evolved over the years! From the all well groomed Afros to the greasy jerry curl of the 80’s to the mullet today.

When I was a child the word cornrows where unheard of, we called them ‘lines’ or ‘mlaso’. And for the guys there was the ‘box, ‘punk’ and other variations of haircuts. The hairstyles had funny names pretty much going hand in hand with what your hair would look like when the hairdresser was done; like banana and pineapple (shown above left). The most common place where most girls got their hair done in Nairobi was Kenyatta Market. This was the era where salons were called saloons. If you ever went to Kenyatta market to get your hair done, you’d always be ushered in by women saying, ‘Aunty Karibu saloon’ (Madam Welcome to the salon).

The salons always had funny black and white pictures and the images of West African hairstyles. All you needed to do was point at the style and the lady would take it up from there. What I never used to understand as a child, was why the lady, who was going to plait my hair, had the most untidy hair but would still do a really grand job on my hair.

Then there was the hot comb, this was every girl’s nightmare. The salons didn’t own the electric hot combs or blow dryers. The hairdresser would put the hot comb directly over an open flame (usually a stove) then cool it slightly with a wet cloth to produce a hissing sound that then lead to a tug and pull at your hair; the good old early nineties beauty regimen.

Then came the perm craze in the late 90s! Styling was quite a bit of a challenge, so we had the 50’s finger wave thing going on. Believe me it never looked as grand as it looks on red carpet celebrities! You get pulled out of the drier, the rollers removed, your scalp oiled then the finger and comb technique. I really hated that look. The fancier hair dressers introduced bobs and bouncy hair.

Then came some colour the haircuts got shorter and more glitzy, and colour was introduced to the beauty regimen. Then came the new found tongs and flat irons to work their magic. I loved my styled perm then I got bored and chose to go Au natural; I flaunt my thicket of jet black hair. I love it, because shaving off hair is very cheap!

The year 2000 brought a mix and match feel in women; the dreadlocks, the funky coloured hair cuts and the weave divas! Good and horrendous weaves! But Braids and cornrows never die, young or old; they are the way to go. Durable and cost effective!

Enough about the women, men on the other hand have tried it all. The 80’s had relatively long crops pat down then in the early nineties the crops turned into hats; the Boys II Men / MC Hammer look. Then R.Kelly came along and made bald cool! I think that was my father’s happiest day; seeing my brothers with a neat short look!

And now… look at our fine Kenyan men! Well groomed crops, some have texturised hair, cornrows and Afros. But I’ll be honest I prefer my Kenyan brothers with nicely trimmed crops or bald! My Kenyan brothers have evolved; they put some women to shame.

Why is hair part of patriot’s diary, well purely to show that Kenyans evolve and we are never afraid to try anything new, even if it’ll give us a queer appearance! That’s what being Kenyan is all about!

Patriot's Diary # 28: The Kenyan Road trip

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:13:00 +0000

As a child I was always shipped to shags. An common term we like to use in Kenya to refer to mandatory trips to our rural homes; shags. When I was in primary (elementary) school I never minded it. Primarily because my mother chose to stay upcountry and I loved making up for the lost bonding time during these trips.

I looked forward to my mum’s cooking, listening to her stories and seeing what she had done in the farm. And of course eat fresh paw paws, mangoes, sugarcane, guava fruits and most of all the Jack fruit (pictured right)! Mmh! I love the Jack fruit; it is so sweet and soft! Yummy!

It was exciting the eight to ten hour road trip. I’d get so excited I wouldn’t be able to sleep even two to three days before the date of departure. I never understood why my brother was never moved by it at all. He was the grouch; he never wanted to go. Until…

When I was 12 years old I experienced my first road trip without my parents! Well, where to begin! I wrestled with an old man for my seat. I know what you are thinking; shame on you, no respect. Well he started it. I sat next to the old, to be politically correct, mature gentleman. We were both comfy, relatively, until he sprawled himself to try and get extra comfy.

This is not a bed; it’s a bus, so he had to make do with what he had! So at some point he gave in and I stopped shoving and poking his shoulder. Then came the eaters! I kid you not; there was someone who kept opening packets of food. You’d just hear a rustling paper, then a smell would saturate the bus and you’d hear munching! This person ate so much it was worrying at some point. Why I say worrying is, unless you work a night shift, your system is not used to continuous feeding throughout the night out of the blue.

So as you may have figured out; the devourer at the back of the bus begun belching at some point and it went on till our destination. Now the smell of hydrogen sulfide is bad enough, but this passenger tore it up! The windows were opened instantaneously in the bus. There was an old lady who kept yelling for the belcher to stop.

It gets better; the passengers who ‘aerate’ in their sleep dropped doses of late night fart works on the bus as well! I know this is a really nauseating, but it was hilarious. It is such a vile situation to be in but that’s what makes Kenyan road trips so much fun!

But the high light comes a few hours later when we stop in the tea town of Kenya; Kericho! In Kericho the hawkers filled the Bus isles with their wares, shoving their tea, roasted and boiled corn in the face of sleepy passengers. And as you may have guessed it; the devouring passengers still bought some more food! (Left: Akamba Bus - a popular public long distance bus company)

Here’s the truth, not all bus trips or public transportation is full of these charades. I was just lucky to experience it all in one night! So the next time you are on a road trip across Kenya, you won’t need a book, just wait for the drama to unfold!

Patriot's Diary # 27: Being Kenyan is in Sounds & Phrases

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:14:00 +0000

My best Friend was once asked if Swahili was the language with click sounds. Just in case you don’t know; it’s not. My best friend told the individual pretty much the same, only she added that if a Kenyan ever clicked they were being rude!

Kenyans are a colourful people in sounds and phrases. We click, laugh out loud, and when we meet a friend we haven’t seen in a long time; we give a resounding hand shake that echoes across the room. And we crown the salutation with the phrase ‘CHIEF!’

You’ll always hear a lot of ‘Chief’ amongst Kenyans in social settings. It’s a word of fondness, and has no relationship with your political designation! It’s an alternative to ‘Dude!’ Or ‘You guy!’ Just say ‘Chief!’ But it’s mostly common among men, but women also use it on men as well.

Like ‘Chief!’ There are variations of phrases that we use case in point; when someone hasn’t seen you in a while you’ll hear, ‘umenitupa!’ (Directly translates to ‘you’ve thrown me’) or ‘umepotea’ (‘you are lost’). As Kenyans we proudly speak direct translations from our ethnic tongues and Kiswahili to English. So when someone says let’s ‘beat stories’ it’s a direct translation from Sheng (colloquial Swahili); Kuchapa (to beat) story.

Then we have the Kenyan phrase of Pity, empathy or affection; Woiye! It really has no meaning as such. You can say ‘woiye’ to anything; seeing a cute puppy, to pleading for mercy. Its use is pretty versatile. So even if I say, ‘woiye’ thanks for reading my blog. I am just expressing my gratitude for reading my blog.

Then you have the Kenyan phrase for time reference. ‘But…’For some reason we have always struggled referring to time as ‘the week before last’ or ‘two weeks from now’. So to save us the hassle we say ‘but one’.

So when my wonderful countrymen say, ‘I am going to Mombasa next week but one’, that means the week after next. The key is to pay attention to information prior to the ‘but…’ so when I say, ‘I was shopping last week but’ three’. I mean three weeks ago. I know… it may seem complicated but you’ll get used to it! I also found it frustrating at some point!

Then you have another one we all grew up hearing; the Kenyan word for consolation- ‘Bas Bas’. Well what can I say, if you are struggling with the entire Kenyan lingo ‘Bas! Bas!’ You’ll get the hang of it and figure it out! J

Then you have the Kenyan phrase for surprise; Aki! Then there is ‘you mean?’ thrown in there. The delivery is fabulous, because there is always an expression of awe, shock or disturbance on the person’s face. So you’ll get a lot of ‘Aki! Gosh he left you. ‘You mean’ ni cha ukwelo? (Colloquial Swahili meaning, ‘is it real?’ You need to witness women gossiping using these phrases, the facial expressions and keenness and the phrases spewing out, Hilarious!Also in the category of surprise is ‘Haiya! It is used pretty much the same as ‘Aki’.

Then we have the phrase of clarification which I find very rude. ‘Ati’? If you find yourself on a phone conversation with a Kenyan and you have a bad connection brace yourself for a lot of ‘Ati?’ It is pretty much the same as ‘What?’ Get why I think it’s rude?

Well those are some of our top phrases, but the king of all sound is the Click of disgust or disapproval. It is almost always accompanied by the open palm point at the culprit. When someone is annoyed at you first, you’ll hear the constipated, ‘oooommm’ sound that rises from the belly! The reverb then moves up to the tongue to produce the jaw shattering click, wrapped up in the sneer of the century! Fabulous! I love being Kenyan. It’s all in the sound and face. The delivery is only effective if you put your heart into it; Kenyan Style!

Patriot's Diary # 26: Kenyan New Years

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:19:00 +0000

In Luo instead of the usual happy New Year, we corrupt it by saying ‘Hapi ni e iya’ (The Lord’s spirit / joy is within me) I miss that. It has been quite some time since I visited my rural home. You see in Kenya most people go to the rural homes, what we fondly terms as Shaggs, (corrupted from the Kikuyu word Gichagi which means the same thing) for Christmas.

Then in the New Year the masses head back to major cities and towns between the 27^th and 28^th in time for the New Year parties that litter the cities and towns. The Church overnight prayers, the thumping and head banging discos, potential house parties to source out a New Year’s love match. Whatever you choose, wherever you are; Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret or even in Kilgoris town, there is a party to let loose and countdown to the New Year.

For the first time, in years I was able to stay up past 1 am in the morning with Friends, though I was cranky and a party pooper by 4 am. I am ashamed to admit though that I was in the bathroom while my friends were counting down to the New Year. It was great, we had some white wine and toasted to a blessed, and God directed and successful year. A new Hope, a new dawn, I know so cliché.

So to the point. Why in the world a Kenyan New years rather than Times Square in New York or risk being trampled on at Trafalgar square jubilations?! I don’t know really. All I know is it just feels great to waltz into the New Year around familiar faces who you know , love you and share your hopes and dreams. Not just any run off the mill person but a group of people who genuinely care for you and will be there.

And other than that; beat all the boys at Pictionary (it’s a board game version of charades; instead of actions you use pictures to guess words). And Ashley and Julie said…. ‘IN YOUR FACE’, Mwenda, Oscar and Gerren! And we didn’t just beat them once, but twice, wait if I count the year before last that makes it four times in a row. Oh! The sweet taste of victory on New Years! Ha! I couldn’t resist.

Other than whipping the guys at a game, what makes Kenya’s New Years so special, well it’s another chance. I generally believe in second chances. And for me it isn’t just a second chance for me to get it right in my life. But a second chance for my country to redeem itself, care for its people and take a step closer to prosperity, sustainability and great health! It doesn’t really have to be something deep and profound. A Kenyan new year is precisely that; it is a new year for Kenyans. And I am one of them. That’s why I love it here and I am proud to be Kenyan!

Patriot's Diary # 25: Kenyan Christmas

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:45:00 +0000

This is the third time I am writing this entry. I am not quite sure what it is that I really want to say. I know I love Kenya, I won’t lie that I love Christmas and idolize it like most but I learnt this Christmas that it’s about family.

The typical Kenyan Christmas preparations begin with colossal amounts of shopping for those who can afford it. But even for those with meager incomes afford themselves the financial stretch to get a ‘taste’ of Christmas.

Goats, cows and chicken are bought alive and in mass. You see it’s not just about having a fried bird on your plate; it’s about how you slaughter it and prepare it. It’s a ritual. I know this may sound gross to the unfamiliar. But it’s during Christmas that children learn how to slaughter, slice and dice the meat for cooking. Primarily because there is a distant uncle, cousin who seems really cool when they do this and it makes a good story to share when schools open.

The making of Chapatis and Pilau are so integral in the meal. Then for the older folk, Ugali (maize meal dish) is a must have. The saturated air of all the sumptuous meals is inebriating. The crates of sodas and beer for the adults, and the dilute-to-taste juice being swirled and diluted in huge buckets with children hovering around dying for a sip. Every meal is vast in size. It’s a feast, endless eating and drinking and merry making. And if you have a mother like mine, decorations are a must have. My mother has Christmassy decorated table linen for this occasion. It’s an open house for all, especially when you are in the village.

From 6am there are villagers and the late family arrivals banging at the gate ready to make merry. I enjoyed it as a child it was something to look forward to. But now, well, it’s just another day off. Well that was until my best friend; Ashley invited me over to spend Christmas day with her family and some of our friends. Let’s just say the scrooge that was within me fled the premises when I got to her parents’ place.

It was the epitome of a Kenyan Christmas. The warmth of Christmas began with the teasing aroma of Ashley’s mum’s famous Pilau. It made me so hungry. I gladly remembered why I was there; to feast into the late night. There was so much food; there was Mukimo, (a specially made mashed potatoes mixed with beans and corn), roast goat meat, fruits salad, chicken, more chicken and more chicken, Pilau, more chicken. Honey glazed chicken and lemon and garlic chicken. There was kachumbari, (salsa) that was perfect with the roast meat which was all washed down with some soda.

I ate so much sitting upright was a problem. Don’t get me wrong I am an ‘activist’ against gluttony, but there is one day of the year that is excused from the activism calendar; Christmas! However anti- Christmas you are, there is something about a good meal, great laughs and a drink that melts scrooge away! Then there was ice-cream, heaven! Now writing this is just making me hungry. Ashley and I then chose to pick the sweets the children didn’t want to eat (maybe we just took them). It was a fabulous.

I think what I love the most about the Kenyan Christmas I experienced this year, is the fact that it is purely catching up. It’s time to just get to know what each person has been up to. It’s the perfect time for every family member to really find out what the other person has been up to, what they think and what they aspire for without the usual parental patronizing.

I had spent Christmas with my friend last year as well. But it was surreal seeing the same faces again and a year had already gone by. Some of the children were moving to their final year in high school or primary (elementary) school. Some children looked 3 years older than they actually were. They had grown so fast. It was surreal. A year has come and gone and well what to show for it? That thought just gives me chills.

Out of all the things that I have mentioned that I love about my country, this one is universal. Christmas is about the family. A time to share and treasure the bonds that we hold dearest to us, even if it means meeting the annoying relatives!

What people say about Vickie

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Nicholas Kairo (Vickie’s brother) on Vickie’s work; ‘it’s a potent thing, it’s her calling …I’ll support her.’

Joseph Gichuru (Shown left: Rehabilitated inmate who worked with Vickie while in prison); ‘Unless someone like Vickie takes charge no one else will introduce the programmes.’

Joyce Gitau (welfare officer / wardress at the Nairobi west Prison); ‘she’s like our link to the outside people..She is always going out of her way…she’s been a good support.’

Quick Facts: Vickie Kairo

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:34:00 +0000

1. She is 24 years old and a Business Management Graduate

2. She is a full time volunteer with Nafisika trust, her family supports her. And she does not make any money at all from her efforts in prison.

3. She managed to get in touch with the former VP of Kenya and a fellow compatriot in prison reforms Hon. Moody Awori to strategize for a bigger and better reform programme starting 2010.

4. She was recently selected as the Kenyan delegate to the One young world conference in London from 8th to 10th February 2010.

5. She introduced a programme called Remote Parenting that offers prisoners the chance to interact and mingle with their families through fun days.

6. She recently helped an inmate; Joseph Gichuru, get back on his feet after his release after serving a two year term for cheque fraud. Joseph now wants to join Vickie on her mission to restore the dignity and self respect in inmates.

Quick Facts on Nafisika Trust;
1. Nafisika Trust is a registered organization under Kenyan law

2.It is made up of four volunteers with Linda Maruti as Vickie’s right hand person who assists in sourcing for donor support.

3.There are two key programmes that Nafisika Trust Offers; the Prison programme, called Second chance and The adult home school. The adult home school is centered on providing domestic workers with the necessary education they need to live and help achieve their goals and even restore their esteem. The adult home school programme currently has a 28 year old domestic worker who they have been teaching since March 19th 2009.

4. Nafisika plans to introduce a business class in 2010 in the prisons

5. It works with literate and highly educated prisoners as support staff to teach in classes as well as assisting in understanding the inmates needs better.

6. It works with a lesson plan and timetable and run classes from 2 to 4.30pm Monday through to Friday.

7. Nafisika uses the Kenyan educational curriculm;8-4-4. And has tailor made the curriculum to fit within the prisoner’s sentence and their interests.

If you’d like to know more or help Nafisika Trust out in any way, you can email nafisika@gmail.com

Correcting Corrections: Vickie Cairo

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:13:00 +0000

I was fishing for a new story. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy. I just wanted to meet the average person who has chosen to use the little they have to make a difference. I know; it sounds simple doesn’t it? Just roll out of bed and help people because I can. But the truth is, it takes courage and heart to keep giving of yourself when there are no immediate returns.

I didn’t have to take a bus trip or have to go through personal assistants or security personnel. A friend introduced me to Vickie Kairo. (above right) When I met her we just hit it off. She is such a jovial person, with a warm heart, very open and on a mission. I would call her the face of correctional reforms in Kenya and beyond!

Vickie is currently a volunteer teacher at the Nairobi West Prison in Kenya’s capital. Nairobi West prison is a minimum security prison for men that opened its doors to the public in 2002. Vickie was introduced to the prison on New Year’s Eve of 2006. She had joined a local church on a charity visit; the usual nothing, extraordinary.

The first step…
But it was from that initial visit at the prison that got Vickie thinking, ‘there is something that I have…maybe I can offer my skills’. She approached the welfare department of corrections, which facilitates the prison education programme that took her on board. But it was all on a volunteer basis. (left: Prisoners during the Christmas Fun day on December 16th at the prison)

Vickie received support from her family who helped her raise the necessary monies to buy text books and stationery for the prisoners. She started off teaching the interested prisoners, who were drop outs, elementary Math, English, and Guitar lessons. The elementary levels vary. The prisoners are first evaluated by the Welfare officer and then taught according to their proficiency.

Three years on, Vickie has now partnered to form Nafisika Trust. Nafisika is a Swahili word that means to come out of poverty and bring into well being! Currently Vickie works with three other volunteers with an array of skills; early childhood education, literature, business management and Information Technology.

Humility and purpose
What I appreciated about Vickie is that it is clear she does respect the inmates. She has given them the power of choice rather than the rudimentary bark and execute approach that most prisoners are used to. The courses that Nafisika trust offers range from basic guitar and music lessons, basic computer skills, and elementary education. Vickie believes that it is from this approach to education in the prison system that people will, ‘look at them [ex-inmates] in society and say, “now this guy made something out of himself”. Vickie avidly adds, ‘I want to see these guys’ lives change’.

What Nafisika Trust offers is an opportunity for prisoners to explore their interests, rather than the usual imposed duties such as fixing license plates or carpentry. Nafisika has given them what they hope to get behind the confines of the walls, a second chance and dignity!

Campaigner
Vickie recently visited with a friend in Belgium, and also toured a prison in Holland to get a feel of a different correctional system. She also lobbied to get computers for her students who direly need the equipment. She was pretty persuasive because right now she is awaiting the arrival of the computers. (Right: Vickie & Kinda of Nafisika Trust)

There is so much that Vickie has in store for Nafisika trust and education in correctional facilities. But what convinced me that Vickie was in this for the long haul was when she said, ‘I just find my purpose in that.’ The passion that I saw in Vickie on a recent Christmas Fun day at the prison was just a fraction of the drive she has. She managed to get donations for the prison library. Vickie is encouraging the inmates to read and make the most of their time and their lives while in prison.

I finally asked Vickie if she’s ever felt afraid in prison, considering the caliber of the criminals and being a woman in a man’s prison. She simply responded with a smile that she felt safer in prison. I didn’t believe her till I visited the prison, it really is more like a community that wears the same clothes. It was actually, well…safe. In my entire visit I only saw one gun and that was the guard at the watch post.

Steph Jones | Intelligent Optimists | Ode Magazine

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Steph Jones Intelligent Optimists Ode Magazine

Patriot's Diary # 24: It's in the shoes

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:23:00 +0000

Whether it is the ngolovas (platform shoes), akala (rubber/ tyre sandals), and high tops (trainers from the 80s) or stilettos, Kenyans know how to bring the house down. Dancing isn’t just about moving your body or in some people’s case faking a seizure. It is also about what you wear when you are jigging on the dance floor.

Dance styles have evolved over time like it has all over the world, but Kenyan dance intrigue lies in how we do it. It started off with the popular twist in the 60’s and 70’s. I think that is one of the most universal dances of all times.

But the twist was more than a twirl and a descending twist of the waist from side to side. It was the twirling of the skirts, the huge collars and well combed afros with the platform shoes. Oh! And the side burns, now that made the twist.

Then the 80’s with TV programmes like Solid Gold and Top of the Pops influenced the Kenyan disco era. It was all about the puffy hair, shiny and over sized clothes with three quarter trousers and the Jerri curls. This was the phasing out of the natural look, well for just a couple of years. The Jane Fonda aerobics look; head bands to hold the hair back and the tight leggings and leotards all over the place. The pumps and the frumpy dresses were soo in season. It was tight verses frumpy, who cared, as long as you could swing to the beat, it worked.

Then the late 80s and 90s surfaced. And in came the puffy MC Hammer look, the ‘box’ hair cut and break dancing was on the scene. Break dancing was where all the ‘cool’ people stole the show or got the girls. In Nairobi there was jam session at Florida 1000 (popularly known as F-1).

Jam session was your time to make your big break as a choreographer or singer extraordinaire. Because it was the only time you could sneak out during the day to the disco. And you could fake a believable excuse to tell your parents.

Then the last 90’s and the 00’s revealed the shoulder shaking, neck snapping ‘buffalo’, ‘helicopter’ and ‘kuku’ (chicken) dance styles. Then some lingala flavor with the handkerchief’s flailing in the air, dancing all lined up. Then there’s the ‘airplane’ and ‘helicopter’ move as well. It’s all about the take off into the sunset of the disco ball reflected horizon. Flap, twist, fling yourself or shake your rear. Kenyans are a sight wherever they are dancing, or lying to themselves that they are.

Whether it’s contemporary Kenyan music, Lingala, Zhouk, pop, hip-hop, rock or ethnic music at the different cultural nights, Kenyans don’t dance they rock the building! Twende Kazi!

DE-Colonize Your MIND!

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:55:00 +0000

I am not one to impulse buy books, but when I walked into the book store I knew I had to take this book; Abolition! As I have been working on the Patriot’s diary these past couple of months, I have been asking myself why we as Africans hate ourselves so much. It’s really been bothering me. The book Abolition! gave me some insight as to why. The author Richard Reddie takes an interesting look at the link between the initiation of the Transatlantic Slave trade and the depletion and destruction of Africa’s history and artifacts to yield what we are all victims of; modern day slavery mentality .

I am still in the process of reading but my eyes were opened to one key thing. Where is Africa’s history? The only History I know is political, colonial, pre-independence and post independence stories of African states. While I was reading the book it hit me! The first thing that came to mind when I thought of a random African country was their colonial master or their current political turmoil.

Then I thought to myself, wait a minute, we can turn this around. All we need to do is uncover and understand our great past. Great African Scholars like Cheikh Anta Diop and Ali Mazrui have dedicated their lives uncovering Africa’s rich and prosperous past. There have been eyewitness accounts and documentations found regarding the great Kingdoms of Western Africa, reeking of gold, ivory, stone, ebony and incense. There has also been factual evidence of the grandiose Nubian empires with great architecture. And of course we can’t forget the Egyptian’s contribution to modern medicine in their practice of mummification among other medical discoveries.

I was amazed to learn from the book, Abolition, that Greek scholars like Archimedes and Pythagoras studied in Egypt prior to their great contributions to mathematics. I was even more dumbfounded when I read that Zimbabwe, Mali, Songhai and Ghana were great economic hubs. This is the history that we have grown up unaware of. This is the knowledge that we need to restore our pride and eliminate the nonsensical ‘groping in cultural darkness’.

I was watching a Kenyan show yesterday; it was the typical music video entertainment slot. The videos had the usual infamous theme; parties, alcohol, women scantily dressed and gyrating. It really upset me that that is what we have been reduced to. We have sucked in the callous, get rich quick cultural theme from a certain segment of African American culture. All I can remember saying to my friend who was watching the show with me was that we (Kenyans) have lost our pride.

We are groping to embrace a culture and yet struggle to be African. That is my logical understanding as to why we ape the so called ‘brand America materialism’. We are lost and helpless. Since we don’t know where we came from but know where we want to go, we embrace what is close to what we think will lead us to a future of bliss! How do you cure yourself from such a paradox of being proud of who you are and hating who you are at the same time?

The cure to our current infirmity of cultural rape and slavery mentality is simple; research, read and share the knowledge you have. Here are a couple of books to get you on your way to a clear understanding of the grandiose culture of whom we are descendents of; a beautiful African people.

Abolition! The struggle to Abolish Slavery in the British colonies by Richard Reddie

Destruction of Black civilization: Great issues of a race from 4500 B.C to 2000 A.D. by Chancellor Williams

The Origins of Civilization: Myth or reality by Cheikh Anta Diop

Civilization or Barbarism: An Authentic Anthropology by Cheikh Anta Diop

Patriot's Diary # 23: Patriots have opinions…however queer…

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:43:00 +0000

I asked a friend what she loved about Kenya and for the first time I met someone who managed to answer that question without gazing into the sky really raking their brains for an answer. She said that she finds it commendable that Kenyans don’t just have an opinion but a political opinion about anything and everything.

As I write this I am still not quite sure whether that is a good or bad thing. Maybe because it can be equated to a higher level of literacy and awareness of what is going on around them? Maybe? I am not sure. I think what I love about Kenyans is the fact that they are so opinionated.

Let me give an example. My friend and I were in the CBD till late and were not quite in the mood to go home and cook meals. We passed by a fast food restaurant to get the famous Kuku sama and chips (grilled chicken and chips) with a sparkling bottle of sugar and cholesterol carbonated in the form of a soft drink. While I was grabbing my chicken from the chicken section I heard my friend laughing and she had a hilarious look on her face.

As we were exiting the restaurant she told me what made her laugh in shock. Her ear studs generated a mini debate on why women detest female genital mutilation. The gentleman behind the counter, whose colleague was busy trying to fish out my tribe and woo me to his fancy soda display, asked my friend why women detest female genital mutilation yet can withstand having their ears pierced.

If I was a female activist extraordinaire, I may have probably run back into the restaurant and pulverized the cashier for asking that question. But I was left stunned wondering how a simple observation dug out such a question. My friend was stunned and said nothing but changed the subject. No form of analysis of that mini conversation can prepare you for reasoning of that kind. I am not quite sure what to think, but all I can say; I found it fascinating. Because he asked the question with childlike innocence.

I know some of you must think I may be psychotic right now, but before you rip your hair out, you need to understand why people will create an entire line of conversation from something simple. Like in my friends case, from ordering chips to a simple observation of pierced ears came Female Genital Mutilation.

I am still stunned and not quite sure what to write. All I can say is you never are quite sure what will come out of a Kenyans mouth. I guess that’s what makes discussions amongst us so engaging. It reeks of controversy, provocation and of course politics. They said it; I report it and right now just sharing that story has left me stunned. I still love Kenya!

Patriot's Diary # 22: Jig to Freedom

rose.odengo@gmail.com (Odengo) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:37:00 +0000

I enjoy listening to music, I believe everyone does. I grew up exposed to so many genres of music that attribute to my eclectic taste. I believe that the average Kenyan can attest to growing up listening to anything and everything. From pop, Lingala, R&B, Jazz to rock, house, reggae, zhouk, rhumba, classical music, you name it! Say Billy Ocean, Abba, Lucky Dube or even Lucciano Pavarotti a Kenyan will know who they are as well as their music.

Kenyan music has come from far. From the single Malaika (Swahili for angel) by Fadhili William; what I would term Kenya’s biggest International Hit that Miriam Makeba and Angelique Kidjo sing renditions of, to the band Sauti Soul with the single Lazizi. It’s been a progressive and steady growth and reinvention of music by and for Kenyans. (Right : Fadhili William)

‘Malaika’ is a hit from the 60’s which opened doors to independent Kenya’s musical era, what we now refer to as ‘Zilizopendwa’ (Swahili for once loved). As a child I detested this genre of music! It just sounded…well, old! I remember my mum had a checked case with old mini vinyl records that she would play on the turn table. She would dance jokingly to it, bobbing her head to the sound and telling me tales of her disco phase in the 60’s just after independence. I was a child, what did I know I just called it old people’s music.

I think the music that bridged the generational divide between my parents and us, their children was Lingala. Maybe because my dad played in the car every single time we were in it! But the sound of Kanda Bongo Man, Pepe Kale, Arlus Mabele in the 80’s was something I quite enjoyed. I remember a song by Sam Fan Thomas, that started with the sound of a horse neighing and then Sam saying, ‘Are you ready now’ with a response from a weird sounding crowd saying ‘Yeees’. I loved it. It sounded so funny and it had a ring to it!

(Left: Suzanna Owiyo)

Well that was then, Kenyan music in the 60’s running up to the late 80s was saturated with Congolese and South African hits and a few individual Kenyan greats like Malaika. The rest was mostly British and American Pop and Country music and R&B; what would be termed ‘foreign’.
In the late 90’s Kenya got its young boy band, Five Alive (yes, similar name to the juice) which was the beginning of Eric Wainaina’s and Victor Sei’s careers in music performance and production respectively. To be honest I can’t remember the other three members of the band, but Eric and Victor are the only members of the band as far as I know who are active in Kenya’s music industry.

Fast forward to 2009, and Kenya has seen the re-emergence and appreciation of culturally rooted sounds of Benga and Rhumba. With artists such as Suzanna Owiyo, Tony Nyadundo and Mike Rua’s performances flooded with revelers.

Other genres of Kenyan Music are growing strong; Afro fusion with the iconic Eric Wainaina, Sarah Mitaru and Atemi . A flavor of Kenyan pop known as Kapuka and Genge; Kenyan Hip hop has rocked the young generation of Kenyans, artistes such as Jua Cali, Nameless and Nazizi rocking the youth with these genres. And finally the most recent addition being an artistic explosion of Kenyan funk and House music by bands such as Just a Band. All these genres producing a melodic mirror of Kenya!

(Right : Jua Cali)

I reek of pride each time I witness Kenyan artistes earning international recognition and accolades. Whether it’s at the MTV Africa Music Award (MAMAs) or seeing Suzanna Owiyo mingling with the high and mighty or just performing at Hyde Park in London at Nelson Mandela’s birthday celebrations! Kenyan music isn’t just another sound it’s a musical torrent of Kenyan pride!