By Peter Nguli

Hahah! Hallo fool! (Should I call you stupid, of course No). How are you my dear April 1, 2013 Fool? Did you try doing that in hopes that you would actually see something amazing emerging? You definitely have been fooled into believing it!! Happy April’s Fools Day- we all are fools including you and me!

If you did not fall for this benign, little prank, chances are that either you lack curiosity or you’re planning some real mischievous prank on someone else. If latter, then take it easy on others because if a joke gets serious, it can cost you and others much more than a good laugh!

Barack Obama had one of the most interesting pranks. All Americans were waiting for a special video message from the president of the most powerful nation on earth when suddenly, a young boy, just about an 8 year old child appeared to play cartoon-like games and conversation in the White House. What an excellent fool's day prank from the White House?

History of April's day

In 1508, French poet Eloy d'Amerval referred to a poisson d’avril (April fool, literally "April fish"), a possible reference to the holiday. In 1686, John Aubrey referred to the holiday as "Fooles holy day", the first British reference ever since.

In the Middle Ages, up until the late 18th century, New Year's Day was celebrated on March 25 as Feast of the Annunciation in most European towns. In some areas of France, New Year's was a week-long holiday ending on April 1. Many writers suggest that April Fools originated because those who celebrated on January 1 made fun of those who celebrated on other dates hence  calling them 'fools'. So they celebrated in daylight and called their opponents 'fools'.
 

When April's fool day prank goes too far

Some have wondered if 2013 was one of the dullest years ever for April Fool’s Day pranks – the novelty wearing off a bit and various public holidays meaning fewer people were around to read them. But since Monday last week, it has now emerged at least one victim of a travel-related April Fool joke didn’t find it funny at all.

Just six hours ago as I write this, a woman in Tennessee has been mistakenly arrested after someone reported a 'crime' that was really an April Fools' Day joke.

Susan Hudson from Kingsport, USA, received a visit from armed police after telling her sister she had killed her husband. The sister then called the police. The next the woman woke up, she was in the police station. She said it was 'just an April day's joke' and she was released when her husband came home in good spirits.
There are so many such incidents but due to limited space, we can't write all of them here. However, we can mention just a few pranks in Kenya.

For instance, when there is a Luhyiah festival in western Kenya, the Luyiah assume that Mt. Kenya is Ugali and Lake Victioria is Omena supu. (chicken curry and Buttah supu). So, a Luhyiah will never go home from Nairobi till Mt. Kenya melts, and they say '. 'Yawah, let's wait for this Ugali to melt, ingo is waiting'!'

Just like Nigerian novelist, Chinua Achebe would make fun of proverbs, whenever there is a graduation, the Kikuyu dead wake up whenever coins fall on a coffin. Indeed, the dead in the coffin wake when the coins crush against each other. Because in Kikuyu traditional language, money means business. That has of course been the course within the Agikuyu traditional background. Just like the Kamba are traditional witches. So  in traditional Kamba background, you will stick to your wife permanently if you sleep with her. All in all, we are still proud of these traditional connotations.

Kenya is really a great country and we love each other, no matter the tribes; we still love each other as brothers and sisters. No matter the outcome of all these elections, we still love each other irrespective of tribes. We are all brothers and sisters after all.

God bless Kenya.