Hello,
Welcome to the 4th issue of the lughayangu newsletter.
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr Kenneth Kaunda, the first president of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991. Africa has lost a giant. May his soul rest in peace.
Disney Taps Top African Toon Talents for Animated Anthology ‘Kizazi Moto’
African top creators are set to display their creative and bold visions for the world to see in the new film series Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire.
The ten-part animated anthology inspired by the diverse histories and cultures in the continent will premier on the Disney Plus platform in 2022.
The ten films are from Ahmed Teilab (Egypt), Simangaliso ‘Panda’ Sibaya and Malcolm Wope (South Africa), Terence Maluleke and Isaac Mogajane (South Africa), Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya), Shofela Coker (Nigeria), Nthato Mokgata and Terence Neale (South Africa), Pious Nyenyewa and Tafadzwa Hove (Zimbabwe), Tshepo Moche (South Africa), Raymond Malinga (Uganda) and Lesego Vorster (South Africa).
I cannot wait to watch this film told through an African eye.
Paukwa KeSafari: The narrative journey through Kenya
Not only is the Tana River the longest river in Kenya, but it also gives its name to the Tana River county (county 004).
The County found in the former Coast province has the Somalis, Pokomo and Orma as the major ethnic groups living in the area. It is also the home to Kora National Reserve, Arwale National Park, the Tana River Primate Reverse and the northern part of Tsavo East National Park.
The capital and the largest town in the County is Hola. It is remembered as the place where Mau Mau fighters considered by the colonialists as hardcore were detained. On 3 March 1959, 11 of the detainees were clubbed to death by guards in an episode that would later be called the Hola Massacre.
The team at paukwa have created a marvellous narrative journey through the 47 counties of Kenya, creatively complemented by great photographs in their podcast Paukwa Stories titled KeSafari.
This is a must-listen-to podcast if you want to expand your knowledge on the people of Kenya, history and geography.
The Namibian Genocide: The Massacre of the Nama & Herero People
The Herero and Nama people were victims of the first genocide at the dawn of the 20th century orchestrated by German colonial rule. It was 30 years before Hitler even came to power. The genocide, concentration camps and ethnic cleansing between 1904 and 1908 in Namibia are the precursors to what happened in the Nazi period.
In 1904, the Herero people rebelled against the brutality of the Germans who had on many occasions murdered, abused and raped them. In the first few days, over 100 German soldiers and settlers were killed though they spared women and children. The rebellion provided the perfect pretext for the Germans to exterminate them and take over their land.
In the coming weeks and months, the German army would embark on a genocide mission which would eventually result in the death of 100,000 Hereros and 10,000 Namas. The genocide happened in two phases. First, the surviving Herero were chased deep into the Namib desert, where they were left to die from starvation and dehydration. The crushed Namas and Hereros were then imprisoned in concentration camps where they were beaten, tortured, overworked and starved to death.
The German soldiers went as far as to trade in the skulls of the dead Namibians. The skulls and several heads were sold to museums and scientists in Europe and were later be used to "prove" the inferiority of Africans. The trade was widely accepted that it was depicted on a postcard.
The Chewa festival of the dead
The Chewa tribe hold a festival for their dead, uniquely caring for them. It is customary to clean the body of the deceased during the burial ceremony of a tribe member.
The corpse is taken to a sacred place where the cleansing is done by slitting the throat, then water is poured through the hole and squeezed down the stomach until it comes out through the anus. This process is repeated until the water comes out clean.
The El Molo
The smallest tribe in Kenya living on the southeastern shores of Lake Turkana, between El Molo bay and Mount Kulal, are the little known El Molo people.
They are of Cushitic origin and a near-extinct ethnic group who historically settled in the north of Lake Turkana but were forced by the other tribes to move south to the small islands. They migrated down into the Lake Turkana basin area around 1000 BC from Ethiopia in the north Horn region.
PROVERB OF THE WEEK
Kik ipakri ne kiny kawuono (Luo)
Translation: Do not brag about tomorrow today.
Meaning: It warns us about the unpredictability of the future and that nothing is certain in life. No matter how sure you are about something, don't gloat expecting them to happen as you planned.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Kúúríkia (Gikuyu)
Meaning: Finish
Example: Nií wega kúúrikia wira wa mwarimú.
Translation: It is good to finish the work given by the teacher.
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As always, special thanks to Stephanie for editing this issue.
Have a great week, and thanks for reading. - Mike
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