Posted by: afrowrite on: October 25, 2009
By Muli wa Kyendo
It is interesting to see that in these days of internet, Africa’s literary giants, Chinua Achebe of Nigeria and Ngugi wa Thiong’o of Kenya, are still asking the old question: Should African writers write in English? Chinua Achebe thinks we should – and goes ahead to write his novels in English, believing as he has often stated, that, if his books are useful, they will be translated into whichever languages become important in future.
Ngugi on the other hand believes that it is important to write in ones mother tongue because of one Tanzanian writer long wrote, “Whoever abandons his culture is a slave.” And Ngugi, like Chinua has proceeded to write in Kikuyu, his mother tongue, in which I understand, he lectures with the help of a translator, in an American University.
Language is important for us, journalists, writers, poets and even musicians who must use language to earn their living. And that’s why this debate is of interest us.
Why Writers Write
The underlying question of the debate is: Why do writers write? Naturally they writes because they have ideas or information they want to communicate. If follows then that the wider the relevant audience they can communicate with, the better. The key word here is the “relevant audience.” If what you want to communicate is of relevance only to Kikuyus, then obviously you should follow the Ngugi way and write in Kikuyu. If however, you want to reach a wider East African audience, then you must become fluent in Kiswahili and write in it.
Again, it follows that if your audience is even wider than that, you must write in English.
You Are Not Slave
It doesn’t mean you are a slave. You will in fact, be doing what has been done the world over throughout the ages. And what it means is that the language you are using has achieved ascendancy over the others that you could use at this point in time. At another point in time, another language will achieve the high point and all books and important thoughts of earlier periods will be translated into that language as Chinua Achebe says.
When Greek was the language of the day, all important thoughts were expressed in the Greek. And so it was when Latin was the language. And I assume it was the same when Egyptian language was on the top.
Why Language Become Important
Languages do not become important because of colonization as Ngugi seems to assume. Germany had colonies and German language didn’t become international. The Dutch, the French, the Spaniard, the Portuguese and many more, all had colonies, and their languages have not become more significant than our Kiswahili.
Languages become important because of the economic power of its speakers. Unlike what Ngugi thinks, it is the US which is now the reason for the increased use of English. Its economic, cultural, technological and military might ensures the dominance of English as many people look forward to doing business with them or to gaining some experience from them. That is why both Ngugi and Chinua Achebe are lecturing in US universities, earning a decent, comfortable living. Without writing in English, they wouldn’t be literature professors in the US.
Africa’s Desperate Need
Africa is in desperate need to explain its position to the world. To explain to the world the beauty of its cultures, the abundance of its wealth, the intellectual prowess of its people and the role its people have played to advance world cultures and history.
And we, who are writing from the continent, are excited that at last, the internet is giving us an opportunity to explain Africa to world. Our expectation is that with increased knowledge of the continent, its intellectual and natural resources, its role in world cultures and history, the continent will take its place as an equal partner in world development. In deed that it will take the lead, as it should, in world leadership
And when that happens, Kiswahili will take the position of English. Then all great ideas and thoughts will be expressed in Kiswahili. And the rest of the world, including the English, will be the ones complaining and finding importance in the statement, “Those who abandon their cultures are slaves.”
Posted by: afrowrite on: August 1, 2009
By Muli wa Kyendo
African presidents – and their collaborators- get steamed up by what they consider betrayal by African writers and journalists who write negative stories about African countries and their leaders.
Well, let me take this opportunity to tell these leaders why we write negative stories about our “father lands.”
Reason No 1.
It is because we are so patriotic, we don’t mind sticking our necks out for the truth or losing our jobs or businesses if what we say will help steer our poor countries towards the path of development and wealth.
Reason No 2.
Reality in Africa is worse than the stories we write. Last night, I watched with amazement and fury, TV pictures of dry river bed of the Great Mara River. Yes, the one that only less than two years ago was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World because of the famous and unique annual wildebeest migration to Tanzania across it in the Maasai Mara. The wildebeests, which normally cross the water-filled river with thousands of hungry crocodiles chasing after, at this season, are now crossing a “dusty river.” The crocodiles have migrated or died. The usually teeming fish and hippos and the birds too have gone. Even the make-belief world of Disneyland can’t beat it.
The shocking truth is that the tourists – and there are thousands, according to information, already booked to come from all over the world – have nothing to see. Greed has already killed the newest of the Seven Wonders of the World. The entire humanity should be concerned.
Reason No. 3
Corruption among African leaders is so high; the devil himself would refuse to let them into his house. In Kenya, which I, like the American President Barack Obama, know best, there isn’t anything not affected by corruption. There is corruption the church. And there is corruption in the grave yard.
We have seen depressing corruption reverse the progress of our nation from being among the top developing nations in the world in 1963 when the country got political independence from Britain, to becoming one of the poorest nations in world today. Millions of Kenyans -aged men, aged women and helpless children, will tonight sleep without food and water because of corruption.
Reason No 4.
Journalists and writers – at least many of them – have conscience. Their conscience cannot let them rest when they see conscienceless politicians creating chaos for hard working, simple people whose only desire is to lead peaceful, plentiful lives.
We will continue to shout – yes, to place our stories on trees, on rocks, on walls – anywhere, if need be.
And with our writing, we shall “trouble deaf heaven” until it wakes up. Perhaps it will bring us a Moses!
Posted by: afrowrite on: July 28, 2009
By Unknown child, 13 years old
I am looking after the sheep at the oasis.
I see janjaweed coming. Quickly coming
On horses and camels!
They have with them kalashnovs.
And they are shouting and yelling:
“Kill the slaves, kill the blacks!”
I saw many men killed with their animals.
I saw people falling on the ground – bleeding.
Now the janjaweed are coming to us! They are
Chasing after children!
Some of us are caught. Many
We didn’t see them again.
All our animals were taken.
Camels, cows, sheep and goats.
Then the planes came and bombed the village.
Posted by: afrowrite on: December 31, 2008
By Muli wa Kyendo
This is season of goodwill. In the spirit of the season, I am wishing all those dear readers who have participated in the discussions in Afrowrite, a happy and prosperous New Year.
We in Kenya are starting the year with many hopes that a messiah will come and help our country to develop. Greed among our leaders is killing all of us. And we don’t know where to turn. We had hoped that the Messiah would come in the form of our opposition leaders. But we were wrong. We are only learning, as some vulgar people will put it, that everyone has a mouth and a stomach!
Poverty amidst plenty
Everyone tells us that our country is rich. In deed, it is so rich that everyone who hears of starving Kenyans covers their mouths with wonder. An example, we have so much maize and wheat that it is rotting in the fields. Farmers are every day complaining in the mass media that they have no market for their products.
Despite this, many Kenyans are starving. Those in urban areas and those in drier areas of the country do not have food. Many have the money to buy the food. Many have cattle they can sell and buy the food. But the government has regulations and rules that make circulation of services and products impossible. These rules ensure that all things are sold through a narrow band of middle-men and women—often well connected with the political elite.
This is just one example where very inept leadership is slowly and surely creating another Zimbabwe, if no messiah comes. Or if the messiah delays!
Happy and prosperous New Year to you all!
Posted by: afrowrite on: December 23, 2008
By Muli wa Kyendo
If you are working in Africa’s many urban centers, you are going to be travelling to your rural home to spend the Xmas with your family. You will have been saving bit by bit for this day because we, the average Africans have a few very important expenses for which we save our money.
One is to put up a rural house. If I am working I must upgrade my rural home from grass thatch to iron sheets. Otherwise, what am I working for if I can’t do that?! Don’t think it is that simple. Some of us have been building our rural homes since we started working and we are still at it. Every now and then we borrow a loan and add a few lines of stones or bricks before the money runs out. When it runs out, I have to wait for another year—may be two years—before I can get another loan. Many of us will finish our houses with our retirement money when we quit employment. That’s life!
The second thing we save our money for are funerals, births and circumcisions. It costs more than the average salary to have your son circumcised. Mostly, you will need a loan. Certainly you will do if you have two sons or more to be circumcised at once which often happens. These expenses cover not only the circumcisers fee, they cover dancers fee, the cost of rare, ceremonial foods like meat—a bull must be slaughtered! – and clothes. You provide the same things for funerals and births.
The third thing we save for is Xmas. Many of us take loans to go for Xmas—at home, in the rural areas! Whoever went home empty handed on Xmas day? The children need “ceremonial foods.” They need new clothes. We used to smell ours to see if they were fresh, starched materials. And we wore them fresh like that on Xmas Day, so that everyone who saw us would say, “Wow, I’ve never seen you in this one!” So attired, you are ready to eat all the things that you haven’t eaten throughout the years. And you are ready to roam around in your bright new clothes in the bright African sun until the second of January next year.
Well, it used to be fun for us as children. Now that it falls on me to provide the entertainment, I know it’s not fun, it’s an expense. But would I have it another way?
Posted by: afrowrite on: December 14, 2008
By Muli wa Kyendo
If, you are in Kenya and have a secret to help your friend to become a president, don’t do it. If you do, remember that tomorrow, when he is the president, you will be his target for elimination. That is the wisdom that informs our political class.
When Kenyans were oppressed by the dictatorship of former president Daniel arap Moi, the media became the focal point for the campaign to remove him from power. The media galvanized the opposition and pressured them to unite under former Vice President Mwai Kibaki—a man who had tried many times before to become president and failed. The media dressed him up and shepherded him into power.
But who became the biggest enemy, to Mwai Kibaki, the president? The media!
Ever since coming into power Mwai Kibaki and his entire family have been at war with the media. Kibaki has, at every opportunity, brought in laws that are against the media. The wife, Lucy Kibaki, has even walked into newsrooms in the dead of the night and dismantled cameras and other equipment, slapping journalists she didn’t like. The culmination was the night attack of the Standard newspapers and Kenya Television Network (KTN, Kenya’s second largest media house) by hooded hooligans in 2006. They disabled broadcasting equipment and burned newspapers.
Last year, in the General Elections, the opposition, led by Mr. Raila Odinga, posed as the best alternative to the Kibaki regime. The media once again came out in Raila’s support. And even when he was “rigged out” by the Kibaki regime, the media stood by him, forcing Kibaki to agree to share power with Raila. Now Raila is the powerful Prime Minister.
And now that he is in power, Raila, too, has joined Kibaki to oppress the media. The new Media Bill which allows the government to dismantle equipment belonging to “hostile” media houses, and to open individual letters and intercept emails, was passed by the two men! And not surprisingly, the two have remained mum even when chaos occur in front of their noses.
The media will have to look elsewhere, not upon these two men, if they are to survive.
Posted by: afrowrite on: November 18, 2008
Muli wa Kyendo
It’s a pity that no one said a thing—unless they whispered—against the illegal harassment of Nigerian Mohammed Bello Abubakar, the best known polygamist in the world. Abubakar, 84 years old, has 86 wives. According to interviews we have read, the women have voluntarily married him and are happy. Even the youngest in her 30s is satisfied with her life, as we have read.
Essential Criterion of Marriage
This fulfils the essential criterion of a marriage. A marriage is a union of two adults—a male and female—who choose to live together as man and wife. There is in this definition the inviolable element of individual human rights. The edict is: No one shall be interfered with when he or she pursues what they consider essential for their happiness, unless in they pursuit their interview with the rights of others to pursue theirs. A marriage can only interfere with the happiness of those involved—a man and his wife or wives.
But Mr. Abubakar, while in pursuit of happiness was arrested by order of an Islamic Court. According to the Court, he should divorce all his wives but two. I don’t need to belabor the stupidity and inhumanity of an order like this. If I go against cultural or religious norms, the normal thing is for the religious or cultural group to excommunicate me. Eurocentric Christian religion came to Africa with the same bigoted attitudes—forgetting that the Bible itself was more supportive of African culture of polygamy. But before people could breathe and see that they had been swindled of their heritage, many wives were without husbands and many children had already been rendered technically “bastards.” Who knows whether the psychological damage done to the children isn’t the cause for myriads of problems that Africa is now experiencing? It is a pity that the Muslim, whom African has supported since time immemorial, regardless of whether Mr. Abubakar is a heretic or not, wants to go the same stupid route.
African Culture is Superior to All This
It’s time for us as African to tell the world that being an African is superior to being a Muslim or Christian. I can change my religion tomorrow. I cannot change my community or my race.
Polygamists of the world, come out to condemn harassment of polygamists wherever they are. Don’t be afraid of Muslims and their fatwa’s. Our religions also have fatwa’s!
Saluting Nigerian High Court and Abubakar’s Lawyer
Start by writing to express support for the sentiments of this post. Let us express our protest to Nigerian Muslims and in deed to the rest of people who think or may think African culture is inferior to theirs.
Let me end by saluting the High Court of Nigeria for releasing Mr. Abubakar and giving an order against his being rearrested. I salute also his lawyer for putting up good fight. But shame is to those of us waging spineless campaigns for polygamy on internet.
Posted by: afrowrite on: November 12, 2008
Muli wa Kyendo
When someone like Miriam Makeba passes away, you are left with the feeling that God should have let her do something more. But then what is the something more? Mrs Makeba made great contribution to African and international music and to African fight for freedom. Maybe she wasn’t a complex mind – like Bob Marley – to come out with strong statements about human rights as people expected her to do coming from the hotbed of racism and discrimination. And in deed there are many who think that she actually gave support to Africa’s dictators.
But what could a simple village girl, caught in the whirl wind of international politics do? Just what she did. She had known the role of women in encouraging their men folk when they went or returned from war or cattle raids. The women sang urgent praise songs that urged set men stamping and tearing their hair with desire to success. And that’s what she did. Few countries in Africa weren’t the subject of her songs. Few leaders n Africa weren’t the subject of her songs. And in all of them she told them. “You have done very well but until all Africa and the black race is freed, Aluta Continua!” In this case, to criticize the African leader would have gone contrary to her mission. Hers was to help bring freedom – to help kill the animal as it were. How the meat was shared among the villagers wasn’t her duty.
So what else could she have done? I don’t know what else an artist can do that’s greater than that. Writers can only write and hope that they will create change. Musicians can only sing and hope that we will create change. That’s all. Artists should never – like Christopher Okigbo of Nigeria – take a gun and go to the battle field even when their achievements may look small to the ordinary man and woman.
