Patriot's diary #3 : I speak the Language of Patriots

I love my country because of the language! From the sophisticated English accents to the English dialects birthed from mother tongue interference to the recreation of new words, phrases and sayings! It’s just musical. Why say Déjà vu when I can say Day-ja-vu?

The ‘Kenyanisation’ of words like ‘Kiria’, ‘Mos Mos’, ‘Nairobi’ from cultural languages of Kikuyu, Luo and Maasai respectively. Colloquial Swahili better known as Sheng is an amazing language and is the heart of Kenyan comedy with the famous ‘Mchongwanos’ (Making a ‘Mickey’ out of people and situations). They are what get me through the day. I laugh so hard and loud to tears. It is such a purifying feeling, laughing from your gut, it makes you feel like all the dirt, filth and disappointment has gone away! It’s as if with every laugh, a new chapter is opened. Nothing beats that gut wrenching, tear jerking burst of laughter caused by Mchongwanos.

Mother tongue is the heart of it all, you have got to love the musical sound of Kikamba, the wild and loud sound of Kisii and Luhya, the nasal yet musical sound of Meru. The spot on Kikuyu, flashy Luo, the romanticizing Maasai, I love it! I love them all, every language has a delivery unique in itself and yet so taking! I can sit and listen to it all, The Swahili accent from the coast is ecstasy; smooth, easy and soulful, I’m taken!

Who would ever think simple speech would be some beautiful? It’s the beauty of each word that flows from the bellies of culture. It’s like a lapping wave on a sandy beach inching back and forth on your toes as you cast your eyes on the never ending sea of culture, blue and limitless. It soaks you with so much love and authenticity nothing can break you. Language is love, it is purpose, it is life.

The next time I walk around after a long day at work, I’ll choose to listen to the rhythm of the eclectic and unique sound of language. What you say won’t break me, because what I hear is musical and ingenious! I am proud to be Kenyan, because the languages that I speak and hear are dynamic and beautiful like the people who speak it!

Patriot's Diary # 2 : An Embrace of Nature

Today I am not quite sure what to write about. I just realized today how obsessed we are in this country with what next could be wrong, to the point I have been struggling to see the good, but I think I have something.


What else I love about my country; it is so green and beautiful, from the hills to the tea and coffee plantations to the forests. The fact that these places exist comforts me. Just being able to know that I can leave this concrete jungle on occasion to just relax and suck in the purity and innocence of nature.





The nature of my country is vast and I am yet to see it all. I know it sounds like a tourist booster campaign but it isn’t. I can remember driving through Lake Nakuru National Park with friends and at some point three of us got out of the car to take a photo, in the foreground of course, ‘with’ rhinos. I wasn’t scared it was just breath taking. That was until a tour van drove up and the driver broke the spell of nature and reminded us that we were at risk and we bolted back into the car.




Watching giraffes, the flamingoes by the lake; it was pungent experience that one, flamingos stink. Water buffaloes with their young, the sound of birds chirping and tweeting, the vines and undergrowth wrapped around huge tree trunks, Acacia trees lined up on the highway, as if saluting us and welcoming us on the enchanting experience ahead; Amazing!
The freshness of the air in my rural home, I can smell it now. I think my lungs rejoice every time I arrive there. The cows, chicken, the family dog, not a pet; a watch dog, but adorable nonetheless, with the occasional late night leopard in the mango trees nearby, hoping to devour our watchdog.




The fresh mangoes, guavas and jackfruits are the perfect easy to make dessert or snack. I can happily pluck them from the tree, wash and eat them there and then. Sugarcane galore, paw paws, sweet banana and if my Aunt is around I get fresh groundnuts from her farm. It’s the little things that we take for granted that bring the pleasures of life.




And oh, the sunrise; stupendous, the warm kiss as it peeps and gradually yields a warm embrace of its rays on our faces every morning, it’s spell binding.




Nature isn’t just about going away; it’s a magical experience that we live through every day when we choose to open our senses to its soothing embrace. I am glad that I can experience it in Kenya.

I know I am a patriot..

What is a patriot? Off the top of my head it means having an undying love for your country and the willingness to sacrifice your life for the sake of it. I can jokingly say, if that is the case then I am definitely not a patriot.


If am to use my home country; Kenya as an example, to be honest, the only thing that pulls at my heart strings to make me feel proud to be Kenyan is our athletes and sports persons. Watching them crossing the finish line with their arms flailing in the air, smiles smothered on their faces, wearing their red, green and black gear with their names plastered over their chests I feel proud. Then the medals ceremony ; ooh, as I watch the Kenyan flag hoisted in the air, flailing in the wind, the stadium echoing our national anthem, draws tears to my eyes; I am proud to be Kenyan.






When the rugby team wins a match I am proud, when I am cheering my lungs sore in the national stadium watching the Harambee stars national football team I am proud to flap the flag around. I feel the ‘Kenyan spirit’ when I see Eric Wainaina when he sings at major concerts. I feel it also when I see Susana Owiyo in a picture with President Nicholas Sarkozy; she is truly representing who we are as a Nation! That’s until they come home, arrive at the airport and the only ‘heroes’ welcome is their family members and close friends and if they are lucky, extended family members; potential beneficiaries of their jackpot.


After all is said and done how willing am I to die for my country even with all the rot that I see now, that wears me down with every waking day? One thing that I am learning and I choose to take you all to task on, is to look at the good in your country and for the next 40 days pick something new each day. It’ll become a habit. Once you see your country in a positive light you’ll be building the will to sacrifice for the betterment of your country. If you don’t believe me I’ll take you on, I’ll do it as well. I’ll call it the Patriot’s Diary!


First I’ll name my country-- Kenya, and the second thing I’ll say is something positive about it; it has a cosmopolitan capital. I can literally make friends with people from everywhere; Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kuwait, China, Japan, Malawi, Uganda, America, Canada, Norway, Romania, Colombia you name it. So that’s day one, catch me tomorrow and I’ll tell you what else is great about Kenya other then the wildlife and the Maasai (Not to be rude, I have amazing friends who are Maasai.)

B for B-E-I-N-G

Be

Extraordinary

Industrious

Never

Give up



It’s a new word in our Africa Solutions Alphabet. It’s what we need to live by. Even as I write this I have some doubt in my heart. I guess that’s the voice of fear and complacency. We all live by that. Not being sure; fearing the unknown, is what holds us back. Surfing through the internet and I see the kind of feats people perform. I get challenged, by the architects, chefs, musical greats to environmentalists who use amazingly new green technology. They all have one thing in common, they all chose to embrace this one word in our alphabet, B-E-I-N-G.

Be. They are; they chose to live and explore.

Life isn’t just a seat of comfort but a rollercoaster ride with twists and turns. They all scream in excitement and let the ride lead them where they need to be. It’s appreciating who you are, understanding your limitations and embracing the unknown to rediscover yourself.

They are Extraordinary. They chose to be different. They don’t let anything deter them. They forge forward and pursue what it is they

feel they were made to do.

Right: Museum of contemporary furniture & design

The extraordinary people are the ones who make history, they take the risk. They are your Albert Einsteins, Leornardo Da Vincis, Obamas, Michael Jacksons, and Desmond Tutus. They are the ones who stand up when everyone is scared. They fight for what they believe in. They believe in something and lead others by influencing them through their works and mentor others through their moral convictions.

They are Industrious. They work hard, they sacrifice. They lose the extra hours of sleep to ensure that they achieve the day’s goals to attain their vision. They invent and improvise where need be.
Never, does not exist in their vocabulary. Every challenge is seen as an opportunity to grow; to learn from, to better ourselves. It is what gives life its meaning. Turbulence adds the spice to it all. It’s what makes each one of us stronger, more focused and brilliant.
(Left: Museum of contemporary furniture & design - B-E-I-N-G The architect)

Giving up is never an option. The greats as you and I will learn as we embark on this great discovery were aware that there were unknowns. With that in mind we too need to tighten our belts and float, soar and crash into greatness, ready for anything. Giving up is only an option if you never make it past the conception stage. The fact that you are alive to read this means you passed the conception stage and therefore you have no other choice but to seize the opportunity.

What opportunity you ask? The one that you give excuses for, with this phrase; ‘I want to be (?) when I get the cash, go to school or when…’. This phrase is a pointer to what you desire and need to do, but instead of jumping at it, you’re filled with excuses.
It's easier said than done. But one thing I am learning about B-E-I-N-G is that, you free yourself of living in fear and inadequacy. It frees you from being a victim; you chose not to be caught up in the unnecessary drama. It’s for that better you, better situation, better society and Better continent; Africa it’s time to B-E-I-N-G.

Africa's Alphabet of Change

A for A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

A.lways
T.ake
T.hought
I.n
T.endering to
U.r
D.aily
E.rrands

It’s been a long week. We are all excited that it’s coming to an end, and yes, you’re another day closer to a pay check, more alcohol, or worse to a more bleak and uncertain future.


To shake off the This Is Africa notion I’d like introduce you to something I’d like to call Africa’s Classroom. Each week we’ll be looking at a new word in our alphabet of change. Today’s first word is A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E.

You may know the conventional dictionary terminology for it, such as an outlook towards life and your day-to-day works, or more precisely; a way of thinking and behaving. But the African word dictionary will take your everyday words and make an acronym of them to ensure that we can adopt and internalize each word as a code of conduct rather than just knowing new vocabulary to show off your intellectual prowess.

So from now hence forth in the African word Dictionary Attitude stands for Always, Take Thought In Tendering to Ur Daily Errands. That simply means be impeccable in your work. Be deliberate in delivering whatever it is, to the best of your ability.

It doesn’t matter whether you shine shoes, are a porter in a hotel, a secretary dealing with annoying people or an underpaid civil servant. You need to adopt an attitude of excellence and precision in whatever you do. It’s through your individual A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E that you’ll rub on the magical virus and let it spread across the continent.

If you’re young, old, frustrated or hopeless then you need to have a really big A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E, much more than anyone else. Because you need to think very carefully and realize what it is your dreams and aspirations are. There’s a quote that says, do what you can, where you are, with what you have. Another great man also said, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Remember it's when you use the little you have to the best of your ability that you are able to yield the best not just in your life, but the community around you, however small.

It’s not easy, it never is, that’s what we all need to understand. The road to deliverance and prosperity in Africa, is never going to be easy, but you need to have the heart and the determination to ‘soldier on’ if I may say so.

It is what is between your ears and within your heart that’ll show you where to go. You may be semi literate as you read this, jobless, hopeless, but you have a dream. What is that dream? Share it and find out how to get started on the right path, once you speak it out, it becomes an opportunity. When you share it with like minded people, it becomes a venture, you exchange ideas and come up with something concrete that you then create and deliberately pursue with the right A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E.

With a few steps you grow from hopeless to prosperous. But you need to take that first step and let other subsequent steps of growth be guided by A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E that will definitely lead to prosperity.

So whatever you’re going through, however impossible, you have the choice to change it. And all you’ll need is to Always, Take Thought In Tendering to Ur Daily Errands.

Africa's got a New Look

Now that today is African children’s day, I think of one child in particular. The child soldier. I cannot begin to fathom what they go through. Being abducted from their homes, watching their parents being killed, sisters being raped and other close friends and villagers mutilated before their very eyes.

No matter how evil you may be, no human deserves to go through that. But that is the tale of the child soldier. It varies in degree, but the torment is the same. They are sedated with gunpowder and indoctrinated to kill, feel no pain; have no heart and no mercy.

Just stop and think about it for a moment, you are raped of your childhood in all senses of the word. You lose part of being human and enjoying the basics of family, communion, laughter and playing. You are reduced almost to an animal, no reason is required, just kill, at 5, 7 or 13 years. You are numb to the ideals of a good childhood and lose the meaning of life.

It’s a hard and impossible place to be in, but there are several rehabilitated ex-child soldiers that’ll you meet walking on the streets. Veterans of war in the late teens and early twenties from Southern Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and many other war torn African states. To be able to transform from being a stone cold killer to being able to function as a rational human being is commendable and admirable. I do admire and respect all these rehabilitated former child soldiers for that. But there’s one ex-child soldier who stands out as a visionary and ambassador for social change.

His name is Emmanuel Jal. His smooth ebony skin, king sized smile and cool demeanor can fool you. He appears as a young man born into wealth. He’s shared the stage with Nelson Mandela, Will Smith, Bono and Moby among several other international artists in both the Live 8 concerts and in Hyde Park last year to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday.

He’s not just an ex soldier Jal’s a hip hop artist leading a generation with a new message of peace, reconciliation and a fight to end poverty.

Like many child soldiers, his plight begun at a tender age, being torn away from his family and shipped off to Ethiopia to train as a soldier for the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). His life was pre-determined to end pitifully, but that course changed when a British Aid worker by the name of Emma McCune, now deceased, rescued and smuggled Emmanuel to Nairobi.

In Nairobi, he found religion and music to soothe and heal the wounds of the past atrocities committed and experiences that haunted him. It’s through his unique Hip Hop style; focused on social injustice and a push for change that separates Jal from American counterparts, who glamorize gangster culture. Jal has even composed a song, “50 Cent” questioning American Hip Hop sensation, Fifty Cent on his approach to music.

Jal has since released three albums. The first two; A day in the life and Ceasefire were a hit in Kenya and received airplay on the BBC which then propelled Jal to the International Stage. His 2008 US album release, War child catapulted him further. He also has ana ward winning Film by the same name War Child. Have a look at the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0402tJk3g5U&feature=related


Jal has brought the plight of child soldiers, trafficking and slavery to the fore. He is also the spokesperson for the Make Poverty history, The Coalition to stop the use of child soldiers and the Control Arms campaigns. He’s also established his own organization; Gua Africa. The word Gua (pronounced Gwaa), means Peace in his native Nuer language. Gua Africa supports former Sudanese child soldiers.

Jal is currently in the process of building a state of the art learning facility and safe haven on 15 acres of land in Leer, in Southern Sudan. He is currently eating one meal a day to raise awareness on this initiative till he raises the funds to build the institution. You can keep track on Jal’s progress and send your support on http://www.youtube.com/emmanueljal.

Its determination and sacrifice that Emmanuel Jal exemplifies that we as young Africans need to embrace to push an agenda of change and development in the continent.

All young people of Africa, this is your time to arise and bring forth the Africa of your dreams and aspirations.

If you want to know more about Emmanuel Jal and Gua Africa, you can check out the links below.
http://www.emmanueljal.org/
http://www.gua-africa.org/
You can also connect with Emmanuel on Facebook and MySpace; www.myspace.com/emmanueljal

Now you know who's in charge!

By Desmond Milya

A few friends and i were in awe while watching Inside Africa this past week. After over 3 days of deliberations The International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses made a resolution calling for legislation by all countries importing rough diamonds, requiring all imports to be polished and officially parceled by the exporting countries, in a bid to stop the multibillion dollar sale of conflict diamonds worldwide. Wonderful!!!

Definitely a step in the right direction and these are efforts the whole world should applaud. The story went on to tell about a Senator in the U.S trying to push a bill through congress to this effect. Now here we were thinking 'this is great! Somebody’s finally noticing the urgency of the situation!’, until, the Senator in question appeared on TV and when asked by Isha Sesay what the bill was all about, he said, that the legislation was geared at determining who controls these mines... need I say more?!!

My friends and I looked at each other and shook our heads in disgust! Because this is the typical African story; Africa has something we need, so let’s go to the diamond-laden villages with little goodie bags feed a few starving kids, pave a few roads in the jungle, give people clean water, throw in a few electric generators while we’re at it and decide for them what happens to their natural resources! It’s ridiculous! That just means a decision made in the U.S congress could lead to America deciding exactly who mines where, when and how.

Don’t even know why I’m surprised this is so typical, because there’s no other way to explain how a continent which lacks absolutely nothing SEEMS to have... absolutely nothing! The British enjoy a 99 year leasehold control over salt mining in my country, Kenya. They grow coffee on our land process the beans in the U.K and sell refined branded coffee back to us at absurd prices. Now the U.S wants to 'decide' who controls mines in Congo huh?

And Isha Sesay didn’t ask the Senator what gives the U.S the right to do this. The bill probably won’t make it through the committee stage because, let’s face it; Africa may be important but not really worth anyone’s time in Congress. What’s startling is the imperialistic mindset that even drew up the bill to begin with. They probably did it just because they could huh? Isha Sesay should have taken the Senator to task over this issue. You know, We like to believe it did but colonialism never really ended, did it?