CREATIVE TRACK BLOG POSTS

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African? Hell Yeah! Liberata Wambui Mbua

To claim that I do sit back and think of what makes me truly African would be a lie. Seeing that I was born an African, in Africa, to African parents who were born of African parents, I am, by all means, African. This 4C hair that defies gravity and has been constantly moisturized and showered with love to look great is irrefutable proof. Or should this healthy and glowing caramel skin that has been fed cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil be the prime evidence of my African heritage? Does ‘The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice’ suit this occasion? Be the judge. I might have forgotten that wearing Ankara or my tribal attire during the Ikaze ceremony (and on other countless occasions) makes me feel like Nefertiti. How glorious!

Ever heard of open-air markets? If not, are you even African? Psst! They have the best foods and clothing you could ever get, and at an affordable price for all. But most importantly, they have witnessed a lot of my embarrassments. I tag along with my mom whenever she goes shopping, and she will bargain like there is no tomorrow. I mean to say that she will tell the stall owner that she has three dollars when the item is clearly being sold for fifteen dollars. Miraculously, they do reach a mutual agreement. Whether or not she has the money is irrelevant, rather, it is a culture that has been ingrained in her. She bargains when purchasing anything and it makes me want to bury myself somewhere and never come out. Still, I tag along. I tag along because she will buy mandazi and other sweet treats for me. Women in the market will gift me some fruits and other foods. I get to greet carpenters, barbers, hawkers, and everyone else along the way, and gatecrash weddings for the cake if need be. The sense of community is very much alive in us. We share whatever we have, in the good and bad times. As Jomo Kenyatta taught us, the spirit of Harambee, or Ujamaa as Julius Nyerere called it, brings us together. The tenacity and Africanacity that ABSA talks about are high and real. Africans work hard. Perhaps we could owe this to the fact that most of us do not have external sources to depend on. We come together to make great things happen, for instance, Kenyans for Kenya. We forget that the majority of our problems are man-made and since they will not change overnight, we join hands to contribute to and grace starving persons' lives almost every year.

Being truly African is playing blind and deaf to many things. Be it when an elder misbehaves and one cannot talk back, or even forgetting all the lies that politicians feed us and voting for them, again. Is it very African to vote for persons who were responsible for mass massacres of particular tribes, among other crimes against humanity? Is it allowing politicians to divide us along tribal lines for their sole

benefits? Is it allowing politicians to give churches millions of shillings, when right next door, street families look emaciated, the youth lack jobs, and students lack school supplies? Or is it belonging to a church that does not condone any of these acts, but, rather, ‘prays’ for the forgiveness and success of the said politicians? Pray, tell.

Being African also means that my grandmother might pass on without getting to know what premium quality African coffee tastes like, despite having educated all of her eight children through growing and selling coffee to the government. It means that majority of cocoa farmers in Ghana cannot afford an exquisite bar of chocolate. It means that cobalt miners in Congo, some of whom are children, get to die unfairly while attempting to get the next meal. It means that a significant number of people from North and West Africa risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea to seek greener pastures in Europe, yet success is not guaranteed. How African!

Most importantly, it is insane how I want to break down and cry whenever I land in JKIA. There is no place like home. The air in Kenya smells divine, and the water tastes better than any other. The weather is just right. I have to hide my phone and cash in the deepest parts of my pocket while in Nairobi CBD, but I would still choose my country and city above any other place. It is getting home to my mother’s sarcastic comments, one of which is, ‘Do not air dry the clean clothes, I will bring my sun when I come back!’. It does not matter where I go, I will always come back home and complain about my predicament later.

Published: 19 May 2022

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How to Survive Being African

Decra Mokorah

Have you seen a dark, desperate child filled with rage and gloom and willing to bite anything? It is what they will tell you being African means. They will willfully define it for you the second you don’t do it yourself. But the truth? We all have our own story about being African. Labeling us, shadows cast without light, is not a lie enough, just a half of it. They forgot to mention the renewal after we once only survived through days of hefty patronizing under a stranger, the countless lives we lost, the property still in the wrong hands, and all the falsity submission that never once sat well with us. We lived nevertheless, and humanly enough, we adapted where we couldn’t bend. To be African is to wear a crown made of gold and embroidered with all that we picked throughout the way running from a shared history to a common destiny; I will tell you how and why, but before that, what is that burning question you ask yourself about African women? I will answer that too.

To be genuinely African is to have carried a basket containing fragments of ideologies, culture, trauma, varying senses of humor, and triggers. Let’s face the facts; we probably bear a remarkable assortment of religions and denominations, all worshipping in different ways, some scary and some entertaining. Do you want to know the most exciting thing? It is how we are still able to work together regardless of these differences when otherwise, just being a person of color freaks out those who are not. Do not get me wrong, we fight, but we know better how to still dine together under the spirit of Pan-Africanism, through which liberty is on the table. You will constantly hear about Ubuntu, especially amidst the differences that seek to separate us; better still, we fight to be together.

To be genuinely African is to wear a charm of strength and resilience. You will be shocked to learn how much accountability you owe for being African. And for a moment, you’d think it’s a crime. You will get rejections for turning out African despite being highly qualified. Sometimes you will need to pay twice the house deposit in your own country because a non-African will not run away from debt, let alone have a deficit. You will be surprised at how your customer service does not matter as much in your own country. Let’s bite the bullet; as Africans, we have been conditioned out of our supremacy, and guess how handsomely we pay for it. You’d be forgiven to think that choosing to act for porta-potties is but puppy strings, only to realize it is the pressure to survive after giving up our resources for freebies.

To be genuinely African is to carry an aura of nostalgia everywhere, first, about incredible cultural wear and practices. We still have plenty of those. But after culture, it is typical that any African, well, at least those from my country, will miss a former president and think they were better. Sometimes casting your vote in elections will feel like tying a bandaid on a bullet hole. Let me tell you something; all African leaders have honored their part; the problem is the system. For the most part, because of imperialism. The solution is to counter the system by appraising our resources pricelessly. I mean, entrepreneurship and self-sustainability. The most significant worth comes in seeing value where others don’t, and to survive as truly African, is to do the same. If you wondered, African women are not aggressive; they are pretty, know how to survive, and don’t speak African.

Published: 19 May 2022 ____________________________________________________________________

Dear Sister Maimuna

Aminata Kanagie

Dear Sister Maimuna,

Yesterday my friend Sophie and I went out to buy a pen at the shop near our house and saw a woman roasting corn at the junction. My friend said to me, almost in shock, “This reminds me of home”.” The way she said that statement stayed with me. What will make an African student studying away from home in another African country be surprised that she could ever feel at home in that country? Aren’t we all Africans? Aren’t we all from this continent of corrupt politicians, starving children, and dying economies as the western media portrays us? Aren’t we all from this land of vast deserts, tropical rain forests, rugged mountains, and fertile grasslands, this beloved land of ours? Why then was my friend surprised? I came to the conclusion that she has never asked herself what made her truly African.

I have a feeling if I were to ask her or any African what made them truly African, the majority would say the color of their skin, but who am I to blame them? The color of our skin is our main difference from the people in the other parts of the world. I know you are now wondering what my answer to this question will be, but before I tell you, I want to remind you of that one time our cousin Sukai who was studying in the United States, came back home during her summer holidays. She looked so pretty and different from how I remembered her before she went. She had cut her short and tinted it pink, and she had also pierced her nose. I heard about this change even before I had seen her. Four of our aunts had called mom to gossip about how Sukai was no longer the good girl she was before she went to America. She has changed completely, all of them had said. So in a way, I was expecting someone completely different when she came to visit us. Imagine my surprise when I realized that despite the change in her hair color and the ring on her nose, she was still our darling cousin, still the same calm and respectful girl who you could have the best conversations with. Why I am telling you of this you might wonder, but the story of Sukai is one I believe every African can relate to even if they are not from The Gambia. The story of overbearing aunties, always ready to spread gossip.

To me, that is what being truly African means, to be able to enjoy Nigerian movies and see myself in the stories even though I have never been to Nigeria. To listen to an African YouTuber sharing a story from their childhood and feel like our parents must have been twins because of how similar we were raised. To be able to eat Jollof rice prepared by any African and enjoy it but still believe my country prepares it the best way. To walk the streets of Kigali and feel at home even though Kigali is 7000 kilometers away from my home. This that has nothing to do with the color of my skin, with the way I think, and the dreams I have is what makes me truly African. I hope you will tell me what you think about my answer and also share yours with me. Hoping to hear from you soon.

The prettier sister,

Aminata

PS: How are you doing? I didn’t forget to ask, I just wanted you to have that scowl on your face the entire time you read my letter thinking “She didn’t even greet me”.

Published: 19 May 2022 ____________________________________________________________________

Understanding Misunderstandings

Umutoni Diandra

One day, we got a proposition. We, students, were going to experience one day of virtual learning and one day of in-person learning. This was done by our university named, “We’ve got it all” College. The President of our school insisted on having our feedback on what we would feel and what we would prefer as our learning experience. Once the vote is done, the higher the vote on the mode of transmitting our education, the higher the chance it will be chosen. And I was excited. I was what we could call a nerd, a teacher’s pet - in summary, a cool person and I was excited about this.

It was decided that we would start with an in-person learning experience, and I and my best friend called Loneliness were going to sit together in the front seat just like we always had. Our facilitator came just after we did and started teaching. What a wonderful way to pass my time. Loneliness was a silent friend so I wasn’t afraid she would want to chat during class. I noted everything that needed to be noted and when the facilitator was making his conclusions, I was ready for my question. To be exact, fourteen questions. I raised my hand, excited to receive my answers and I could hear exasperation from other students. Once I asked my mom what it meant when people were exasperated because of what I do, she told me that they were out of breath, waiting for me to do what I want to do. My mom is called Hope and I love her.

The facilitator doing his job told me, patiently, to ask my question.

The facilitator was called, “I am just doing my job”. He was a nice man. So with confidence, I asked my question.

“What is your wei,...”

I was abruptly interrupted by students standing up and this was a sign that class had ended. What a pity! I wanted to understand how he weighted and valued these opinions. He gave two opinions and I genuinely wanted to know which one he preferred. Shrugging my shoulders, I knew I could just ask the question tomorrow in my online class.

~ ~ ~

The next day, I woke up at 4 a.m waiting for class to start. To be frank, I preferred online classes. Except for Loneliness, I didn’t have any other friends. Well, there was one who was kind of friendly, but I didn’t know yet if I wanted to be friends with her. She often hangs out with the wrong crowd. Her name was Depression and she was pretty. I also liked studying online because I could wake up earlier, without wasting my time and money on transport and just study in my own time. I could also take my breakfast and my lunch if class finished in the afternoon. Then when I am tired, I can just relax again, instead of taking the buses in the hot sun. What a headache it is!

When class started, the facilitator was kind enough to tell the class that they could ask questions they couldn’t previously. I raised my hand virtually and asked.

“How did you weigh the opinions you gave us yesterday?” I asked confidently because my question was pertinent.

“Excuse me, you are breaking. Is she the one or am I the one?”

I heard some student saying, “It’s her”. I rephrased it, but it couldn’t be heard,... many times. Frustrated, I asked, “What is your weight!?”

There was silence. “Did you just ask me my weight?”

Relieved, I proudly said, “Yes, I did.”

“Young lady, I will ask again, in case it is some kind of connection problem. Did you ask about my weight?”

Was my internet connection that bad, did he not hear me again? Poor facilitator, he must be frustrated.

“I am so sorry,” I laughed, sure that he will understand, “We all know that it happens.”. The chat was full of laughing emojis! I knew they could understand me!

“Miss! How,...” I felt him being astonished by my question. Maybe he did not have an answer yet? I was proud of myself.

“Please sir, take your time to answer. I want to know what was on your mind when you decided to take such a big decision.”

Suddenly, I was out of the call. It wasn’t because of my internet connection - the class had ended. Well, I didn’t get an answer. But still! I prefer online learning. I was so proud of myself.

The day after tomorrow, my brilliant question went viral. Every student of each year knew about my question and I felt like I was finally accepted into this weird community called Youth. Loneliness got jealous of my popularity and left me alone... Forever.

Published: 19 May 2022 ____________________________________________________________________

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS A MEANS OF FOSTERING PEACE

Lincoln Oyugi

Human society is one very complex system which is prone to conflicts and disagreements. These disagreements even though are undeniably part and parcel of society, some of them can be very costly in terms of human life and resources. Therefore, it is very important to develop mechanisms that create a society where conflicts can be resolved and peace fostered. It has been found that prosperity and wealth creation is easy in a society where peace thrives as opposed to those where chaos rule. Disputes also create a state of lawlessness. Therefore, conflict resolution is an important aspect of creating peace.

What do I mean by conflict resolution? Conflict resolution is a means by which disputing parties resolve their disputes amicably. There exists so many other ways that peace is fostered but none is as effective and satisfying as conflict resolution with the parties involved. Therefore, resolving a conflict has stages and processes that must be followed in order to achieve the desired goal of peacebuilding. The very first stage of resolving a conflict is by the conflicting parties recognizing and appreciating that indeed, there is a problem. It would be worthless to resolve a conflict that does not exist or one which the parties do not recognize. It is therefore important for the parties at hand to realize and recognize the very existence of a problem.

The next stage is the mutual agreement by the conflicting parties to find a solution to the problem. The existence of a problem is one thing, agreeing to find a solution to it is another thing. In the process of resolving conflicts, or disagreements, it is essentially prudent for the parties to agree that despite the existence of the problem, they are keen to find a solution to it. From here, the next stage is to understand the concerns and the viewpoints of each party involved. The main reason people have conflicts is because of the belief that we are always right. With this, viewpoints always conflict leading to conflicts and disputes. Therefore, in resolving a dispute, it is key that the viewpoint of each party is clearly understood before any compromise is worked on. This leads to the next stage which is understanding the triggers of the conflict. This only comes after understanding the viewpoints of each party. With the triggers recognized, it is now very easy to start working on a compromise deal.

The next stage is involving a third party, either as an arbitrator or a mediator or at the very extreme, a court of law. The reason that may necessitate a third party is the disputing parties cannot seem to find a solution by themselves even after realizing the triggers. The third party can help in coming up with a compromise which is a give and take especially for mediation, guarantees for arbitration and sentences/compensation in litigation. A decision of which third party to involve is based on the nature of the dispute at hand.

The next stage is finding a compromise. In order to solve any conflict, it is only natural for parties to compromise and meet somewhere. This means that all the parties will have to give and take. This is because the main reason for conflict is the belief by each party that they are right, and it will only be satisfying that this rightness is not absolutely taken away from the parties. It is here at the compromise that the basis of the solution is realised.

The next stage is coming up with a solution, which is often the result of the compromise. Each party should express satisfaction with the solution, or a set of solutions. A solution can also be a resolution. From here, there is often a follow-up of how the resolutions and the solutions are being implemented. In events that a party digresses from the solution agreement then the agreement should contain ways through which such parties can be held accountable.

As stated above, there are different mechanisms for conflict resolution which include mediation, arbitration and/or litigation. While all the three are very effective in solving issues, it is encouraged that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is given priority because it has proven to be the most effective. In fact, recently, court cases are dropped as parties settle for an out-of-court alternative dispute resolution that ends with compromises and solutions unlike litigation which is seen as a winner takes it all mechanism.

To this end, it is my utmost desire that the societies we live in will thrive in peace and stability by solving disputes amicably because disputes are inevitable as long as there are two or more people together. I believe that my readers will employ the conflict resolution mechanisms above instead of warring.

Published: 14 July 2022 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------