Keep it Up Sir!

Mwalimu,

A happy society is a singing society; a happy society is a dancing society; a happy society laughs whatever its circumstances. A laughing society is a healthy society because it heals whatever adversity brings her way. Drama and theatre enables a society to sit back and laugh at her political errors, social filth, and military excesses.

A society for whom an evening in a beer bar is the best evening will not be sobre enough to value theatre. Art appreciation and critcal analysis require a literate populace. By literate I don't mean bookishness of a law student; neither is it the ability to read a newspaper. I am talking about a population which can appreciate art.

An easthetically literate population must read a book every month; know where the library is; take that spouse to a dance and dinner each month; drink only the best busaa, drink in moderation, drink no chan'gaa; be able to face upto communal censure by agemates and elders; play some physical sport; mourn the loss of loved ones; sing and dance itself silly even in sorrow. What I am describing is a socially and psychologically well adjusted population.

Unfortunately, Kenya has a very poor library access, expensive web access and no real readers of great literary or recreational writings of whatever nature. The killer is that the communal moorings of yesterday no longer exist as Wazees never matured, and the training events in Tero Buru and Amen are no more.

No wonder government officials are thin-skinned, edgy and will react violently to the mildest political satire, something our forefathers had matured into by the time they tasted any communal beer (I am talking about Luo Chamo Nyadhi and Pakruok) and before chodo nyar ng'to. An easthetically illiterate leadership sees traditional dancers as human evidence of its power. No wonder our leaders love dancers singing in a mother tongue. The leaders cannot watch themselves through the mirror of theatrical satire and public criticism.

My friend, your only hope is in the youth. When you still walk, keep doing what you are doing. You are our only hope.

Joseph Alila
(Author: Sunset on Polygamy)