Mama Africa

Mama Africa...

Whenever she was with the rest, she would stand out. Her high cheekbones, deep ebony skin tone and elegance truly was magnificent.  All who stole at least a glance at her marvelled, but remained frugal in their admiration. Bright colours were her signature sense of style but no one knew of her inner struggles of self-acceptance. Though despised by the pale lady with a corset around her waist and sneered at by the short woman with a stout figure, her head was ever held high. She was neither shy nor self pitiful, as it wasn’t her fault that she looked and acted different. The others thought her ways were primitive. Yes, primitive was the word thrown around most to describe her. Fantasy tales were told about her household. It was said beyond her gates, killer diseases like malaria and cholera killed without a whim. It was said her pets were majestic big cats, the mightiest a lion. Even when the rest wore thick coats and exposed most of their flesh during various seasons of the year, she remained modest, stylish and ever colourful.

And her smile, that big beautiful and bright smile. It was a sad smile. It was a happy smile. It was a smile holding a thousand tales. It was a smile that spoke of resignation; but not resentment. It was an honest smile, amidst her inner pain. Like the sun ever high over her territories, that smile never fades.

Africa was almost robbed naked... (Nas, 2003)

She was different. She knew so since a tender age. She was picked upon by the muscular boys from the North. They robbed her off almost all the natural wealth she was blessed with. And among this bullies, she found herself in a weird bond with one. It was like marriage but one where the terms and conditions were signed by the lad as the lass had no say. This man captured her in slavery, using one of her relatives as bait. He was a smooth talker. Told her of tales from the high seas. She was fascinated and dwelt under his strong muscular arms. The same arms would later on strangle her almost robbing her life. Their union was rocky and unbalanced. The man left for some time and never returned the same. His energy was sapped off fighting a global war. The lady of this story was left derelict but with dignity intact. She decided not to stand it anymore, she fought, it was bloody, it was long but she endured. She won.

After her triumph, the joy was not to last for long, she gave birth and during her labour she wept. But alas! They were tears of joy. She had finally redeemed herself. She would walk proudly at the market-place. She was as dignified as the other women.

As her son developed, he acquired queer ways and the other kids in the village murmured that his selfishness would be his downfall. As the first born, he inherited the family property. His self-centredness wouldn’t allow him to share anything with his siblings and the squabbles in the family would remain perpetual to this day. As he grew up, with his foolishness now well documented, the newer generation of his mum’s first husband came with beaming smiles from ridges far and wide. He was enchanted. He felt important. He adopted their ways and gullibly fell into their trap. Little did he know that he was dealing with a smooth criminal. A criminal after the wealth in his homestead. The story goes on to this day...

U.S.A-frica

Oh Africa, where doth thou redemption lie?

the ELEPHANT in the room

Not here. Not now. Not ever.

Africa. Christened the Dark Continent over the ages. Ironical term considering we get exclusive sunlight than any other continent and have such a rich wonderful tan till we can bask in the sun without an ounce of sunscreen. Sometimes it’s too good being African but that’s a story for another day. Some of the leading Economic publications are pointing out that Africa’s significance on the global scene is on an upward rise, there’s a feeling that something new and wonderful is happening in this Afro-land. There’s a rising generation of brilliant minds, not dejected by failures of the past amidst the perennial problems we have had to deal with as a people. While still we have to grapple with poverty, corruption, wars, poor governance and killer diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, there’s a very bright ray of light at the end of the tunnel and more than a mere straw to clutch at in drowning conditions.

But I feel we need to pause and take a hard, frank look at ourselves lest we move too fast and leave behind what has mattered most to us since the days of our forefathers. This is not a call to reinstate some of the primitive practices we have foregone. But to actually re-instill the valuable ones that seem to erode with each passing day.

I logged onto twitter the other day and was astonished that ‘Uganda’ was the highest trending topic among Kenyans on Twitter. Curious on why, I was to find out that the cyber-explosion was as a result of the impending signing into law of a bill crafted by the nation’s Parliament that will outlaw homosexuality with severe penalties including death. This got me thinking long and hard about the elephant in the room. It’s been a long time coming but we now seem caught up in the eye of the storm. Ignoring the whole issue, seemingly easier will just delay what needs to be addressed. Living in denial is no longer an option.

Courtesy: AP

Coming back home, we’re in a society that would rather discuss such ‘controversial matters’ in hushed tones while maintaining hard stances. In Kenya, we happen to actually harbor a man that is now considered a marshal for the LGBT movement in this part of the world, a certain Mr. Binyavanga. Bold in his quest but loathed and admired with the same intensity. Coloured hair, like a crown for a clown. His fantastic literature contributions and bravery aside, I see an angry man lost in the journey of life. And there is no rage as harmful as that towards God, this I know through experience. I am a Christian and so I find fault with the whole gay rights movement. I also object to the oppression of any person because of their sexual preferences but still it doesn’t augur well with that which is natural. But I’m not attacking this son of the soil, just think bedroom matters should remain there.

Must bite harder than Siberian cold up in Russia to be gay

Granted, there are a lot of grey areas concerning this issue. So many arguments that will probably never end. South Africa legalized same-sex marriages but stigma still exists. Nigeria seems another hot spot where sympathizers portray harsh anti-homosexuality laws as a unifying factor in the political landscape of a nation deeply in religious acrimony. 38 nations in Africa still outlaw gay rights, a few are neutral but in the real sense, it’s NOT only an African thing. Russia in its current debacle as it hosts the Winter Olympics games in Sochi and Turkey, both in Eurasia find themselves in the mix. Death is what’s served in most of the Islamic nations. The Western world is not a haven as proponents of LGBT rights may try to portray. There’s not a single known footballer in the English Premier League who’s had the courage to come out as they’d be risking their lives doing so.

Caption not needed

In contrast, we have Obama’s administration expressing irk towards African nations taking a hardline stand, Chimamanda Adichie, such a renowned African writer based in the US has explicitly condemned her nation’s stance on all this, business mogul Branson is in line to make Virgin Airlines cease operations in Uganda while Facebook has even gone ahead to introduce a ‘neutral’ sexual orientation among its 1.2B users. Choices have consequences but we seem unprepared to how the future will pan out in regards to LGBT issues.

I don’t know the best way forward; this is not an incitement to argue, but rather ponder. But I do know, like any other sin, that homosexuality is wrong. Some will retort that Christianity is also a white man’s movement and un-African which I find utterly ridiculous. Things are getting out of hand people. What with the entertainment business as a whole trying to make it all look cool and glamorous. ‘Gay is the new black’ and other such slogans seem in vogue. Makes we wanna say, “N***a please!”

May God help us.

OF NYERI MEN, I INCLUDED

''...ITS ME AGAINST THE MAN...''

Before beginning writing this post, I had a meeting with myself. You see, as a man from Nyeri, though with Kiambu paternity, so much ridicule I risk facing by declaring I am a ‘Nyerian’ too. If you still do not know why, I suggest you acquaint yourself better with Kenyan news for the past few months.

You see, this particular region from whence our country’s president hails from has faced a substantial number of domestic violence cases that are unique; the beatings and abuse is meted on the men. Now, stereotyping is practised the whole world over and the common one is Nyeri women are tough while their male counterparts are timid. And that is indeed false.

I remember being told during my initiation that real men never hit a woman. Upon enquiry, I was told that only cowards do so. I guess a man should take such good care of his lady, such that no chance for a fight would come up. And thinking about it more, it does make a huge amount of sense though it may not do so to many men especially those from our lovely continent; Africa.

It is a well known fact that traditionally, not just in Africa but even in ancient civilizations, the man had some specific and exclusive roles to carry out. As a Christian, my supreme authority is the Bible and it mirrors really well in Ephesians 5:25 ‘…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…’ Personally, I take the word ‘Love’ as more of a verb and less of a noun! It’s about action and Love manifests itself more with what we do than what we say. Words are important too!

I have a hypothesis that might not be completely factual but which holds much water. Not so long ago, boys were cherished by communities more. They got the best education and jobs and later in their homes, had the liberty to mistreat the women. This because livelihoods depended on them.  Fast forward and after the empowerment of the ‘girl child’, we have homes that truly lack a leader.

This is a socio-religious problem that needs addressing soon. The previous verse in the above quoted scripture declares ‘…Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything…’. Before the ladies stone me, this is what I honestly believe; Men should take responsibility, take care of their homes by especially loving their wives to the point they’d be willing to die for them. As of women, even if you earn ten times more than your man, give him the respect he deserves just as God would like you to.

To cut the long story short, and I am serious about this, I would not harshly condemn a scorned woman if she rained blows on  her man if he’s  drunk and there is no food on the table and school fees for the children! Maybe even hand her a rungu, but definitely not a machete!!!

Lovely weekend to you amazing reader. I remain, Njabia the 3^rd.