Jeshurun's Mind: My Musings

The Day I Met Ken Walibora

When I first got to interact with Ken Walibora, it was through my elder sister’s narration of his highly acclaimed Swahili novel, Siku Njema. I was in class 5 then while my sister, Rachael, was in high school. Siku Njema was one of the compulsory Swahili set books that senior students in secondary schools countrywide had to study.

The storyline captivated me so much that I would literary leave whatever I was doing the moment Rachael, in her mellifluous voice, started unfolding the events chronologically. Being a very gifted orator, my sister invariably adopted a smug mien whenever she saw how attentive I was. Eventually, she began taking advantage of the story’s intrigue to get me to do what she wanted. Sometimes, she threatened not to tell me the rest of the narrative if I did not give in to her demands. Her wish became my command. 

 

My elder sister, Rachael.

Remembering Kongowea, Siku Njema’s main character 

I still recall how I almost shed tears when Kongowea, the main character, sat at his mother’s death bed listening to her last words. Until then, Zainabu Makame, Kongowea’s mother, had not revealed to her only child who his father was but now felt compelled to do so. In her final breath and with great difficulty, she disclosed to Kongowea his father’s location (Kitale) and directed him to enquire more information from Bi Rahma, her closest confidant. 

However, Kongowea was confused by his mother’s instruction. He did not understand how his father could be in Kitale because as much as he knew, Kitale was a Swahili word for an immature coconut. He had been born and raised in Tanzania and had never heard of a place known as Kitale located in Kenya. It was through conversing with Bi Rahma, a long while after his mother’s death, that Kongowea learned the truth about his father’s whereabouts.

Reading Siku Njema

A few days after my sister was done narrating Siku Njema to me, she gave me the novel to read on my own. I read it three consecutive times. Studying Siku Njema and learning all the difficult words explained at the back of the book stoked up my passion for Swahili. The fact that I had an ebullient and the most amiable Swahili teacher solidified my foundation in Swahili language. I won many accolades and commanded respect both within and without our school. I was unbeatable when it came to writing Swahili compositions (Insha). 

High School and University Days

My love for Swahili grew deeper as I joined high school and later University. In both institutions, I was an active member of Swahili clubs. It was during my formative days at the University that I resolved to polish my spoken Swahili, partly because it was intrinsic in my course of study: Journalism. I realized that I had to create a Swahili environment of my own simply because majority of the people I interacted with had no penchant for Swahili.

The very first step I took toward perfecting my spoken Swahili was purchasing a Swahili Bible. Besides placing me in a Swahili atmosphere whenever I read it, the Word of God would also nourish me spiritually, as is written in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (King James Version)

I also purposed to be praying in Swahili whenever I was alone with God, and to study as much Swahili literature as I could find in the University’s library.

Meeting Ken Walibora in person

I met Ken Walibora in person last week on Tuesday evening (3^rd June 2014) at Alliance Francaise, Nairobi during the unveiling of his latest book, a play known as “Mbaya Wetu” (Our Evil One). I was in the company of two of my best friends: Job Nassiuma and Millicent Randa.

Ken Walibora addressing the audience during the unveiling of his play Mbaya Wetu, at Alliance Francaise, Nairobi. PHOTO/DENNIS MBAE.

Walibora’s jovial mood made it relatively difficult for him to find the right words to welcome the audience and invite the guest speaker, PLO Lumumba.

“Sometimes, happiness may rob a person words with which to express himself,” he explained. “I’m so glad to see all of you here,” he added.

FROM LEFT: Ken Walibora, PLO Lumumba, and David Muita (The Publisher of Mbaya Wetu), unveiling the play Mbaya Wetu at Alliance Francaise, Nairobi. PHOTO/DENNIS MBAE

Renowned Swahili Scholars

PLO Lumumba reiterated the importance of Swahili language in uniting Kenyans. He took issue with public officials who addressed Kenyans entirely in English especially during official public gatherings such as national holidays.

“During this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, I expected the President to address the Nation in Swahili and finalize his speech with few English words for our visitors’ sake. Unfortunately, that never happened,” he lamented.

Among the important guests who also spoke that evening included Linus Gitahi, the Chief Executive Officer, Nation Media Group, Swahili scholars Abdilatif Abdalla, Professor Said A. Mohammed and Professor Kimani Njogu. Guru Wallah bin Wallah, Kaka Jos (Jack Oyoo Sylvester), and renowned Swahili poets Abdalla Mwasimba and Nuhu Bakari were also present. NTV’s Nimrod Taabu was the Master of Ceremony.

 

NTV's Nimrod Taabu giving guidelines on how the unveiling of Mbaya Wetu will be conducted. PHOTO/DENNIS MBAE

The event was a conspicuous success. I got to speak one on one with some of the most revered Swahili buffs in the East African region and the world at large. I also got to interact with many Swahili enthusiasts with the most notable being a 19 year-old Journalism student from the University of Nairobi by the name Nancy Kemuma.