Monday 2 December 2013

Under the Sun

Until this morning, I believed that we were indeed like a tapestry of millions of colours woven together into a glorious master piece. That was until I, bruised and defeated, gave up and surrendered to the possibility that the uniqueness and diversity of our island is a myth that we, the islanders, dreamt up. In countless arguments, I insisted that we are distinct. 

Now I know that we are, in fact, cut from the same cloth. We are different shades of grey that are quick to point out how close to or far from black or white we are. We each claim our story is different. We think that our own style of twisting tongues is especially different from the others. But has any of our nations been spared from the brutality of cruel ignorant tyrants in this age of democracy? Or are there a people that have not been bullied by their own greedy brothers? Why does it seem like we are working so hard to lag behind the other islands?

We all love the dance of bureaucracy and red tape. Who of us has never seen wicked hearts reflected in the oily smiles of Sir/Madam Authority who takes pleasure in making it difficult for the Wanainchi to claim what they are entitled to? I am almost convinced that at the end of the day, Sir/Madam Authority gather their paperwork into neat bundles and compete to find out who has the tallest stack. [Even in a competition, HE wins because that is how we all think. We are all derived from our fathers, are we not?] I suspect that the winner gets to take all the piles home and after shredding them, uses them to fill his swimming pool, instead of water. How else would one explain an “online” process which involves the act of downloading and filling out a document (offline) and still requires one to print and deliver 3 hard copies of the same document to the relevant “Authority’s” office?

Have you not seen or heard of the miserable wrinkled face of a helpless new-born baby crying as it lies next to the lifeless body of its abandoned mother. Perhaps if the delivery had not been on the cold concrete floor outside the door to the local state-owned health facility, the child would have had the glow that we all imagine babies to have. Unfortunately, the rusty door to the facility was sealed shut from the inside. As the bored nurses arrange for the corpses to be taken to the mortuary, they remark, “All they had to do was to lubricate the hinges with kitu kidogo. After all nothing in this world is free!”

There is lazy haze that hovers over the entire island after the midday meal. Who came up with the ridiculous idea of having such a heavy meal in the middle of the day? Was it because, our ancestors [yes, all of them] used to get up at the crack of dawn and would be starving by midday? Even those who were forced from the island centuries ago carry the same traits. Haven’t you heard or seen Southern Fried Comfort food? Who do you think lives in the shacks within the dazzling cities on the other side of waters? Do they not still believe in community with regards to sharing joy, laughter, pain or mourning? Which descendant of this island does not have intimate knowledge of the backside of his/her mother’s shoe?

Even our attempts to be unique are the same. In our endeavours to stand out of the crowd, we claim that this is the cradle of humankind [Ethiopia], where it all begins [Egypt]. We say that Magical Kenya is a like a world of wonders [Zimbabwe], another world [The Seychelles Island]. There’s more to celebrate [Tunisia] than just a royal experience [The Kingdom of Swaziland]. In the country that travels within you [Morocco], we promise the freedom to explore [Sierra Leone] as far as the land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and the Serengeti [Tanzania]. The warm heart of Africa [Malawi] assures all that it’s a pleasure [Mauritius] and that she will keep inspiring new ways [South Africa]. The smiling coast of Africa [The Gambia] beckons, “Come let’s explore [Zambia] the jewel that is the Pearl of Africa [Uganda].” I wonder why we have not thought of channelling the energy and resources spent on branding individual states into developing a single brand for the island. All these little bits and pieces are such a waste!

This morning, however, I was reminded that we are also one in hope. I watched as a twenty minute shower of rain washed away months of my back-breaking toil. Then, when the clouds cleared, my neighbour, who twists his tongue to the West, walked past my shed. He smiled at me and said,

 “We may not know why it rains but God knows. I, myself, have lost my entire cotton crop this morning. But I know that this day of pain will end and, tomorrow, I shall plant anew.”

To which I replied, with my tongue twisted to the East,

 “Surely, you speak a true thing my friend. We cannot refuse the rain if he sends it. Drink it in today and hope for the best tomorrow.”

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;
There is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” Ecclesiastes 1:9-10