This question is asked so many times by so many people in so many ways. I could go philosophical and talk about the love of the flag and the [not] knowing the words to the National Anthem…and by the way…I just realized that’s very Kenyan too. I was trying to teach princess the words, with the following results:
- She declared it boring. The TZ anthem is far more funky.
- She sang, with no prompting from me ‘And our home London Kenya’. It’s in the genes!
- I still –umpteen years later – mix up the lyrics to verse two and three.
I could also talk about the way before twitter, local news was more popular with diasporans. In Dar, I read the Nation religiously. At home, well, there’s always Gerry Loughran…but catch me dead surfing capitalfm.co.ke in a Nairobi cyber. Or actually watching the news. For what now? Or I could quote the famous Kenyan Chick.
Or I could retell my favourite story of how Suki, my nutty friend, smiled at the homeless beggars in New York so often saying ‘I’m from Africa people, all I can give you is a smile.’ After a few days, instead of begging from her, they were giving her money. Homeless people! In New York! This same Suki says how she saw some people in Disneyland who just HAD to be Kenyan so she tested in out. ‘Kss Kss’. Only one group of people in the entire Disneyland turned. 🙂
I forget what my point was. Oh yeah. Right. Being Kenyan. I always thought it was pretty wow that you can spot a Kenyan anywhere. I mean I’ll be walking in Dar and see someone, before they say a word or do a thing I just know they’re Kenyan, and it’s like that all over the world. I have watched movies where a crowd of extras was milling about, and I could spot a head that just had to be .ke, and sure enough, in the credits, they’d be some name to prove me right. I even watched Tellytubbies once, and saw these kids talking with a Jamaican accent, but I was like no way, hao wakenya. And sure enough, come mealtime, their grandmother was yelling ‘Kula nyinyi!’
But Kenya is so vast and wide. 42 tribes, 8 provinces, a million different backgrounds. At first I thought ‘kenyanness factor’ I can recognize so easily was just an urban thing, a slang or mindset among Nairobians. But now I see it even in pure shagmodoz abroad. So what is it that makes us so alike, and makes us stand out so much from everyone else?
Simple. KBC. Stop laughing, I’m dead serious. It’s the only thing we all have in common. We all grew up watching VOK/KBC/Channel1/Metro TV [select appropriate one based on your age]. The younger, funkier ones will claim they only do Capital sijui X Fm sijui whatwhat, and that some channels are sooo shao/shady [fill in appropriate to mark yourself as a baabi/odinari hehehe …and do people still say that?] But keep in mind all the original Capital DJs that weren’t imported and Kenyanized were weaned on Voice of Kenya, and that stuff rubs off.
We all go goofy at the mention of Pepe kale and Kanda Bongoman and Mbotela’s Je, huu ni ungwana?, that seven year old girl from madaraka who Aced Kwasa kwasa, Rare Watts, Music Time, [Fred Obachi Machokaaaaa], Rick Astley, Top of the Pops [RIDE on tiiiiime] etc etc etc. The tois may quote Churchill, but guess who his role model is. We are ‘kenyan’ because we watched mamboleo and dunia wiki hii and yaliyotokea and junior schools quiz [someni vijana, sth sth tia bidii, mwisho waa kusoma, mtapata kazi nzuri sana **insert tulii tulii guitar effect], sing and shine…because we listened to Cofta and Good Morning and A-S-P-R-O.
Because we watched the ORIGINAL transformers and Saber Rider and Doom and these influences taught us to think alike. We are all little VOK-programmed-autobots…or Decepticons. We passed this on to our kids [and younger relatives], and they too will be truly Kenyan, via their VOK-taught anchors on NTV and [insert appropriate letter of the alphabet – I’ve lost track – I know there’s an X and Y and a Q…and…?]
I was once in the campus common room at an international university, and KBC news started. It was 6.55 p.m. and we were waiting for the cafeteria to open. For some reason that I can’t explain, we all just went ‘Mtukufu Rais Daniel Toroitich Arap Moooooi’ synchronizing with the newcaster [it was LD, circa 2000]. Nobody even noticed what they’d said, till an Ethiopian asked how we knew what the guy was going to say, kwani it’s a repeat of news? Another time somebody in the computer room started singing those Kenyatta day songs and everybody joined it, it was hilarious! Of course the foreign students were amazed at how 200 plus people ranging from age 20 to 60 with 69 different ‘accents’ all knew the words to that song.
Yes, we have the accent, yes, we have the insane capitalist spirit that sends us to ‘study’ anywhere from Finland to Uzbekistan, yes we have the uncanny knack of producing Slum Dog actors [apparently Jamal Malik’s parents are Kenyan born] and scientists who cure cancer in the US and…need I mention the obvious? But we have to admit, what makes us truly Kenyan, what shaped our mindsets and thinking, what made us who we are is good ol’ VOK. And maybe Kenya Times with Rastafari Bongoman.
Signed, CB
Proudly Kenyan.
PPS: They always say media shapes culture, but clearly, it shapes nationality too, and not just in Kenya. Who’da thunk 🙂
Awesome write-up. I’m a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Hello there. I found your website by means of Google at the same time as looking for a related subject, your web site came up. It seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I found your site by way of Google even as searching for a similar subject, your web site got here up. It seems to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I discovered your website by way of Google even as looking for a related subject, your web site came up. It appears to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hey there. I discovered your web site by the use of Google even as looking for a similar subject, your site got here up. It appears to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Amazing blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally confused .. Any ideas? Bless you!
Hi there. I discovered your site by way of Google while looking for a similar matter, your website came up. It appears good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Digital Marketing Manager Wien
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and web stuff and this is actually irritating. A good site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this web site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I’m a normal visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
After I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any approach you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
But wanna say that this is very beneficial , Thanks for taking your time to write this.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and internet stuff and this is really frustrating. A good web site with exciting content, that is what I need. Thank you for making this website, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is actually irritating. A good blog with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for making this site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hey there. I discovered your website by means of Google whilst searching for a similar topic, your site got here up. It seems to be good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and web stuff and this is really annoying. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this web-site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and net stuff and this is really frustrating. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossip and internet stuff and this is really irritating. A good web site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for making this site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hi there. I discovered your blog by the use of Google even as looking for a comparable topic, your web site got here up. It seems great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hey there. I discovered your site by means of Google at the same time as searching for a comparable subject, your site got here up. It looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is really annoying. A good web site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I’m a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Hi there. I found your site via Google at the same time as looking for a similar matter, your web site came up. It seems good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I discovered your blog via Google even as searching for a similar topic, your website came up. It appears to be good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I discovered your web site by way of Google while searching for a related topic, your website got here up. It appears to be good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this information. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is actually frustrating. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for making this website, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Normally I don’t learn article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to try and do so! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, quite great article.
Awesome write-up. I’m a regular visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Awesome post. I am a regular visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossip and net stuff and this is actually irritating. A good blog with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thank you for making this web-site, and I’ll be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Thanks for the suggestions shared using your blog. Another thing I would like to state is that fat reduction is not about going on a dietary fad and trying to lose as much weight as possible in a set period of time. The most effective way to lose weight is by acquiring it slowly and gradually and following some basic suggestions which can make it easier to make the most out of your attempt to drop some weight. You may be aware and already be following a few of these tips, although reinforcing understanding never affects.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossip and internet stuff and this is really irritating. A good site with exciting content, this is what I need. Thank you for making this website, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your web site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a frequent visitor for a really long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hi there. I found your website by way of Google even as looking for a similar subject, your website came up. It appears to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to visit then.
Hello there. I found your blog via Google whilst looking for a comparable subject, your website came up. It appears great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks to come back then.
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and internet stuff and this is actually frustrating. A good site with exciting content, that is what I need. Thank you for making this web site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
Awesome post. I am a normal visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I’ll be a frequent visitor for a long time.
Awesome post. I’m a regular visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the nice site. I will be a regular visitor for a long time.
Awesome write-up. I am a normal visitor of your website and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Awesome post. I am a normal visitor of your blog and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I will be a regular visitor for a really long time.
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
Awesome post. I’m a normal visitor of your site and appreciate you taking the time to maintain the excellent site. I’ll be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish just about gossip and web stuff and this is actually annoying. A good web site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for making this site, and I will be visiting again. Do you do newsletters by email?
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I do not know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!