Patriotism, a strange and emotional word. George Bernard Shaw dismissed patriotism as, “the conviction that your country is superior to all other countries simply because you were born in it.”
Despite that I never hesitate to call myself a Kenyan patriot. This feeling, this patriotism, has always been with me for as long as I can remember. I can show you pictures from my pre-teen years where you would see that I used to hang a Kenyan flag on my wall together with posters and pictures of various freedom fighters/statesmen (usually taken from the cover of Weekly Review or other such magazines). My very first post, written back in 1997, was about Kenya and the pride I felt in being Kenyan. I will try and dig it up and post it on Mentalacrobatics one of these fine days.
So why am I so proud of Kenya, of being Kenyan? A part of it has to be that we, Kenya and I, are both growing, both learning from experience and our growth is linked. As I grow, Kenya grows. As Kenya grows, I grow. After all Kenya as a nation is younger than many of our parents. Kenya was not a house we moved into, it was a house which they started building, which will complete and which our children will furnish. In that sense we mould it in our character. It is a reflection of us. The good and the bad. But it is us.
Many confuse pride for the country with love for the government and vice versa. We often get questions like, how can you be proud of Kenya when Kibaki does this, when Moi does that, when Kenyatta did this or that. No. regardless of what you think of our three presidents, the country is bigger than them, bigger than you, bigger than me. It is all of us together.
When I watch the Olympics and the flag goes up and the national anthem rings out across the stadium. To me that is Kenya. When we open our borders to our neighbours, give them a haven away from war and civil war. To me that is Kenya. When our Nobel Laureate arrives home to find her own government has ignored her but the wanainchi slow her car to a halt to congratulate her while singing songs in her honour. To me that is Kenya. The examples go on and on.
While clearing out I found a tape I bought over 15 years ago. It contains a collection of speeches by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Here are some clips. It is interesting to listen to them with the benefit of over 40 years hindsight. The first one is from the first Madaraka Day, 1st June 1963 (3 mins long). The second one is from Madaraka Day, 1965 (3 mins long). These are both in English. Mzee Kenyatta’s most powerful oratory, like many of our politicians, was in Kiswahili thus I have included a third clip this one taken at the first Kenyatta Day rally on October 20th 1963 at Kamukunji which is essential entertaining listening (6 mins long).
The first clip is loaded automatically. To play the next clip click on the “Play now” link next to the description.
Jomo Kenyatta Speech Madaraka Day 1963 - Digitalized by Mentalacrobatics.com [2:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Jomo Kenyatta Speech Madaraka Day 1965 - Digitalized by Mentalacrobatics.com [2:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Jomo Kenyatta Speech Kenyatta Day 1963 - Digitalized by Mentalacrobatics.com [5:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download(The tape has no copyright information on it apart from the code C-K002 so I am unable to credit anyone with it (apart from Mzee Kenyatta of course). I suspect the copyright is held by the National Archive? Oh well they were public speeches anyway!)
Aside: I have developed my own tradition while I am outside Kenya. On every Kenyan National holiday I wear my Kenyan flag tie to work, comme ca:
Hehehe! Represent! I always look for an excuse to wear this tie and it is impossible to find one at home. At least here I can floss. Almost inevitably there will be someone on the street who notices it, smiles at me and walks over to say “Habari.” Kenyans, we are everywhere!
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June 1, 2006 at 9:04 am
Girl Next Door
I hadn’t thought about patriotism in that sense-but you’re right. It’s about wananchi not the govt. It’s a great feeling to know about the spirit of community that we have at home.
June 1, 2006 at 9:25 am
Guessaurus
You had to go and do that? Man, I am soo jealous, that tie and pin … wooo go Mental.
True what you say, and yes Kenyans, we are everywhere.
Gud day mate
June 1, 2006 at 9:27 am
Guessaurus
Havent listened to the speeches yet cos I is at work, but I remember how Mzee’s voice used to make one feel - proud to be Kenyan.
Cant wait to hear it again
June 1, 2006 at 9:43 am
egm
With relaxed dressing rules at my work, I get to wear what I want, so today I am going in my t-shirt with the Kenyan flag and my sports jacket with Kenyan flag colours. I usually wear the jacket for a week after Kenyans win the Boston Marathon, but from today I will make it a point to wear it on Madaraka and Jamuhuri days as well.
June 1, 2006 at 10:50 am
Mocha!
WAAAAA….talk about Patriotism. That tie….TEHEHEHEHE! and the pin….kweli! I will fly the flag this weekend as we cheer Kenya in Rugby Sevens at Twickenham.
Have a nice Madaraka Day Mental.
June 1, 2006 at 11:59 am
sokari
This is wonderful but once I had gotten over the emotion of hearing Kenyatta’s voice, my head moved to 2006. I began to think and see how much has gone wrong, how much has been wasted and how many disappointments for all of us in Africa. On a positive note - the present leadership of our countries will pass away and I have hope that the young generation will help bring us to a different place - a place of that dream at the rebirth that Kenyan’s celebrate today.
June 1, 2006 at 12:00 pm
sokari
PS - what a smart young man you are D:)
June 1, 2006 at 12:05 pm
uaridi
Happy Madaraka Day Mental. Love the tie
You are so right about patriotism - of course I never thougth of it as that.
The tapes are wonderful. Oh Lord how fresh and wonderful the world must have looked then what hopes!! what plans!!!.
June 1, 2006 at 1:18 pm
mshairi
I was over at the BBC the other day and listened to Kenyatta’s speeches. It was interesting to compare how his words made sense (the man could talk!) and yet the reality was so very different.
Great post.
Echoing Sokari - looking good, Mr. Acrobat!
June 1, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Sandman
I consider myself a patriot too but I do so in the context of the times we live in and in the confines of the knowledge I have gained. What being a patriot means to me today is a sense of national responsibility … not outbursts of emotion elicited by some of our leaders inciting their tribe’s men to defend their “mother land”, and definitely not the “the conviction that your country is superior to all other countries” but the unyielding dedication of a lifetime. A very appropriate and thought provoking piece - good work Mental.
Happy Madaraka Day.
June 1, 2006 at 3:28 pm
helen
Happy Madaraka Day!!!
What a wonderful post, makes me feel all cozy inside. Thanks for the tapes. Kenyans are hot. I think I’ll marry one.
June 1, 2006 at 7:03 pm
wanja
Happy Madaraka Day !!
I had NKOTB lol! and others on my wall and went to great lengths to aquire these lovely posters oh dear my…my.. Patriotisim for me was not reall in the flag or in the politics of the day. There was certainly a sense of pride in the land, an undeniable love and pull that i felt. Now I see me in that flag, that bit about Kenya ni sisi wote is what i strongly relate to, feel more. Ofcourse it took and ocean and this continent to get me to this point and with that the question; what kind of Kenyan am I with what i have in my hands, mind and heart?
Thanks Mental
June 1, 2006 at 10:52 pm
Hash
What a brilliant idea to digitize those speeches. There’s always such interesting stuff on your blog Mental. It really is a good read.
Also, I’m glad you’ve signed up as a contributor to AfriGadget I’m sure you’re going to contribute some great stuff.
June 2, 2006 at 2:50 am
kabinti
That tie idea is fabulous! Happy Madaraka Day!
June 2, 2006 at 9:53 am
Mama JunkYard
Dude, I love this post. I have read it five times - I think it is beautiful.
I admire your patriotism - and the way it drives you to do the best you can for Kenya and Kenyans.
Your tie and pin badge attire is a fantastic idea and your suit…waaa! You must have been shining jana eh? You have to wear that outfit to my wedding.
Happy Madaraka Day!!
June 2, 2006 at 10:52 am
JKE
“Almost inevitably there will be someone on the street who notices it, smiles at me and walks over to say “Habari.” Kenyans, we are everywhere!”
Habari?
One of the reasons why I opted to put this tourist sticker “I love Nairobi” on the back of my car. Plus another Kenyan sticker. Nice.
I like your tie and the pin - it just looks perfect!
As for the tape, are you talking of this recording?
June 2, 2006 at 11:53 am
Mentalacrobatics
Thanks for all the comments! Lakini i thought everyone wore Kenya ties to work
JKE that is a brilliant idea. Taking a picture of the album and tape and posting them up as the link! It wasnt from the one in your picture. i’ll post mine up soon and I’ll probably digitize the rest of it as well.
The international outlook back then is what struck me. Kenyatta talked not only about Africans still in the struggle but about Malaysia and Vietnam as well.
June 2, 2006 at 1:37 pm
shaf
Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.
Oscar Wilde
although i love kenya!
June 2, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Guessaurus
We all dont have ties like that, oh and the suit too - the suit - damn.
I wear my Kenyan vests and t-shirts to work - ok, so they end up under the ‘power suit’ but hey, representing alright.
Have a good weekend dude
June 3, 2006 at 2:17 pm
valedon
I feel tears welling up in my eyes whenever our flag is raised at the olympics.
Thanks for this post-it reminds me of what unconditional love is meant to be!
Nice outfit i.e. I’m jealous
June 4, 2006 at 2:08 pm
s!
love that tie, proud to be kenyan! yknow, strange that you mention the Olympics, cos everytime our anthem gets played as we win yet another gold i stand up, like we used to do in school assembly, and tears fill my eyes and joy fills my heart
January 9, 2008 at 9:14 am
olmoti8
Well put, where did you get the tie?
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government ~ Edward Abbey