In the epic poem, “RATENG’ AND BRIDE,” Joseph R Alila (Author of such novels as “Whisper to My Aching Heart” and Sunset on Polygamy”) pleads with the hero (Rateng’) to abandon a lifelong ambition of reigning in a killer, illusive Bride, and redeeming his honor and Ramogi people’s collective pride.
Of Rateng’s illusive Bride-call her Power, Leadership or The Presidency-Alila reminds his hero of her corrupting, material allure and deadly charms. Like a gem, a Powerful Presidency corrupts everybody it touches, and its corrupting effects linger like the nauseating smell of a scared skunk.
Employing rich imagery and proverbs, and never shy to go Luo vernacular with proverbs, in “RATENG’ AND BRIDE,” Alila has played his satirical hand, again, and demonstrated his knowledge of the political landscape of Kenya.
Category Archives: World Peace
Thirteen Curses on Mother Africa
Looking back to Joseph R Alila’s epic poem, THIRTEEN CURSES ON MOTHER AFRICA, I shudder as to how much change has taken place in Africa since 2007. A number of dictatorships have gone or are in peril. Get it here
http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-R.-Alila/e/B002QD5TDM
THE LUO DREAMERS’ ODYSSEY: From the Sudan to American Power (A Novel)
The only book (allegorical and historical) with a visionary look into the journey that is the Obama Presidency. Read Chapter 28 ( A significant Event) to appreciate what happened in the world today; the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html
http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-R.-Alila/e/B002QD5TDM
28
A Significant Event
Washington, D.C., 2012
On New Years Eve, early in the morning, the President visited his study to while time as he waited for any information about Shark. He had been briefed about the demise of the fugitive, but it was taking time to extract Shark and his team of commandos from the strike zone. President Ajwang’, picked up a book, one of his publications, flipped through it for a minute before returning it to its place in the bookshelf. Having failed to get what he needed, his mind started to drift back and forth about the state of the world that Sunday, when a familiar voice, a male voice called through the doorway to his study.
“Mr. President?”. The President knew it was from Ziki, the White House Chief of Staff, except the bearer’s tone betrayed some excitement.
“What is it on a Sunday morning, Ziki?” the President asked without turning around from a window where he had stood admiring a laminated photograph of the First Lady he carried for luck.
“The Priest, Mr. President.”
“What Priest, Ziki?”
“This is Shark, Mr. President,” a second voice came, which forced the President blood’s to suddenly warm up. It too forced the President to turn around in excitement.
Why the excitement?
Officially, Shark, the Deputy National Security Advisor had been posted as a Special Envoy to Darfur and Congo with a mission to solidify gains made in the administration’s aggressive efforts to bring lasting peace in the two largest regions in Africa, and had an office in Nairobi. Shark’s actual mission was deep covert and top secret. The Colonel was back in uniform. Mission Location: somewhere in the world. Mission: Hunting down enemies of the United States of America. That had been two months before.
“Mr. Chief of Staff, do you want to give us exactly one minute alone?”
LUO CRISIS OVER “KER”
A “Ker” among the Luo is a kind of spiritual leader even as he acts as the Chairman of THE LUO COUNCIL, a cultural political body. Can such a man be identified through a contested election? Who sits to elect such a body. Why is there a struggle between South Nyanza and Central Nyanza leaderships over the venerable, and if I may add, burdensome, Stool in Ramogi land? Shouldn’t the Stool of Ker be a lifetime seat? Anybody out there?
THE WISE ON OF RAMOGILAND
In THE WISE ONE OF RAMOGILAND the modern Ramogi Wise One has to advice on matters of spirituality, science, politics and life in general.
Kenya: The Second Republic, a Nation of Freedom with Work
President Kibaki promulgated the New Constitution earlier today. With the stroke of the pen, he set Kenyan on a long-fought path to a freer, less corrupt, more a countable, less tribalistic governance. It is up to all Kenyans to grab the moment and exert themselves within the bounds of the new document. But remember, Kenyans, the Second Republic, like the last one, still extolls us to “live in freedom with work” (UHURU NA KAZI) should continue to be our motto, for only then can we build the nation.
Kenya: A New Constitutional Order!
By 2:1, Kenyans have voted for a new Constitution and future. But we must continue along the path of peace as we untangle from the old system and weave a new social, political and economic fabric. Each Kenyan must know their role in the new dispensation, because it is the governed in whom the strength of a democracy lies. The Kenyan electorate is well-informed; the numbers are there. Let us move on and up together. Remember, if you have the drive to lead, the County is the place you want to be–Your County needs your resourcefulness, Nairobi is but a place for national reconciliation; diffused power that is what the new political order means. Let’s roll our sleeves and do our part.
As we move forward, let’s not forget where we were just over two years ago; let’s not forget those who have over the decades lost their lives in search of a just sociopolitical order; and let no forget the role of Dr Annan and his team of Eminent Persons. They set us on a path of reconciliation; let’s continue to follow the path of peace. We know that the ghosts of the last elections have not been exorcised yet: Internal Refugees are still in Camps; Ocampo has yet to open cases against those who were adversely mentioned in the tragic events of 2007/2008. Yet we believe that this Referendum sets us, as Kenyans, a long a path to peace. Let’s sieze the moment and make Kenya an orderly place by jealously guarding this document during the implementation phase.
Fellow Kenyans, leaders come and go but Kenya remains. We spoke for peace and the way forward at the Constitution Referendum. There is no other way to spin the results when over 70% of the registered voters came out and voted and over 66% said YES, and even those who said NO agreed with >90% of the document.
Kenyan Referendum: VOTE KENYA, VOTE YES!
I feel giddy! I feel giddy because I am aliving history of the Kenyan Nation. I feel giddy because I am voting a NEW more orderly Kenya.
When I was born in 1956, my father was a colonial policeman; the only reason he conscripted was because he ran away from the village to avoid HUT TAX. My father came from a warrior seed; his father died fighting in the First World War, his younger brother died fighting in the Second World War. So going to Nairobi from Korondo Village was not that alien; my grandfather and uncles had paved the path with their blood, fighting an enemy who was not theirs. I was born virtually free, because by the time I was old enough to know what was happening, UHURU!!! rent the air. My mother was in KANU; my stepmothers were in KADU; my father was a policeman, neutral. They set the tables for me to preach peace and reconciliation.
Fifty Four years later, my generationis still virtually free; they are still subjects of a constituion with entrenched colonial statutes in it. We are freeing ourselves in a days time! We vote YES for personal as well as collective freedom as Kenyans.
The Way of the Wise
As it happens in every battle, famed warriors often watch the end on the sidelines. That was the case for Kibaki in 2003, when his shield and lance were carried by one “unbwogable” warrior known as Agwambo (the unknowable). Today, as the Referendum Bus speeds toward its last checkpoint, Agwambo watches from the sidelines, cheering, commanding his forces, yet restrained by orders to stay out, because, like we privately joke, the battlefield and the rules of engagement necessitates that he watches from the sidelines. Second it is human to do that, and do it with humility, even as he urges the other warriors to carry the bride across the last river. The men of the God call it the hand of God at work.
Our prayers for the Premier’s quick recovery.
Joseph R. Alila
Author: RATENG’ AND BRIDE (a poem).
https://www.createspace.com/3346481
Kenya Referendum Bus
The Kenyan Referendum Bus has left station and is huttling headlong toward August 4th–a time destiny some have likened to the “bottomles pit!”
But we in the bus are singing heavenly themes–bouyed by a sense of hope, traveling a path paved by many lives, hoping that the other side of August 4th 2010 a freedom we have yearned for since the birth of the Republic awaits us.
The wise have said that the nation is greater than any one individual! Speak with your VOTE.
The Rererendum Bus has one more seat for a YES Voter. Welcome aboard!
