Sport and art can heal rift that damages our nation

By Njoki Ndung’u

Last Saturday, one would have been forgiven for concluding Kenyans are fervent patriots with unrivalled love for country and countrymen. A feel-good fever ruled the air. The national flag was the weekend accessory of choice that dominated the road and streets as excited Kenyans trooped around fluttering it aloft. Matatus and public transport buses competed to fly it as if it were a new traffic requirement. Strangers drawn together by the red, black, white and green emblem hugged like long separated relatives.

Football fans cheer Harambee Stars against Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, last weekend. Photo: Stafford Ondegoe/Standard

The motivation for the wonderful display of patriotism was the football match between Harambee Stars and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Kenyans had come out in an eloquent gesture of support for the home team. Even those who did not physically make it to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, flew the flag and cheered the team in other ways. That any honest local football fan did not really expect our boys to progress to the World Cup did not dampen the carnival-like celebrations. Even after the 2-3 loss to the visitors, our national flags were still flying deep into the evening with more pride than pique.

Reflecting on the Saturday scenario, I was reminded of the latent and untapped nationalism that intermittently flickers in the country. It is there too when our all-conquering athletes bamboozle the world with their track prowess. We tend to forget our usual ethnic divisions when embracing international achievements of our artists like Eric Wainana, Jua Cali, Nameless, Wahu and Suzzanna Owiyo, among others. When tracking and supporting the fortunes of our representatives to Big Brother Africa, we hardly bother about their tribal, political or other sectarian loyalties.

National cohesion team

I expect this to be vindicated this weekend at the Rugby Christie Sevens. There will likely be plenty of national colours at the event. The Kenyan Rugby team shirt has been a hot item in shops in the build up to the event. And you can bet the throngs turning out to support the homeboys would least be interested in the ethnic or political composition of the team. Even assuming all the players were card-carrying PNU or ODM fanatics, it would count for naught among the crowds united in a higher sporting goal. It begs the question why this seamless marriage of our diversity has not been harnessed at an official level to accelerate the necessary national healing and cohesion.

Our National Cohesion team has its work cut out for it considering the raw hatred and deadly consequences that the 2007 General Election stirred. But the national unity, however how short-lived, that sports and culture effortlessly pull should offer it vital ideas on how to execute its mandate. It should be possible to use sports, entertainment and culture as an important foundation for thinking and acting Kenyan first. Besides, it is evident that these activities’ natural appeal could be the perfect antidote for our obsessive love for politics. I think the youth interest in politics, especially of the harmful kind, is exacerbated by plain boredom. Give them avenues to while away the time and many would not care for the incitement and hate-mongering against fellow Kenyans.

There are many more advantages obtainable from an official and deliberate policy to promote sports and culture. These two have a huge potential for star power and attendant financial gains. In the West especially, sportspersons and artistes are some of the richest people. Both are big businesses. If we therefore cultivated them as serious industries, they could be important job and wealth creators. That would further reduce the standing army of the jobless, desperate and gullible youth who are naturally susceptible to political machinations like ethnic-minded hostilities.

Last week, I was privileged to watch a movie, Shuga. It is a powerful and scintillating local production that accurately captures themes that are easy to identify with. What really caught my eye was the quality of production, which is as good as it can possibly be. The casting is superb and it can possibly compete with the best in the world. Some like Lupita Nyong’o and Valerie Kimani are truly outstanding. It leaves you wondering why we do not fully support our own Riverwood, which has the potential to rival Hollywood, Bollywood and even Nollywood. Shuga turns the argument that Kenyans are addicted to foreign movies; what is missing in Kenya is not the talent but opportunities to mould the talent into world-class material. Shuga is about youthful sexuality, HIV/Aids, alcohol, and the usual challenges of growing up are candidly explored and life-saving anecdotes exchanged. It is a fitting Pan African message with which we can celebrate the World Aids Day coming up on December 1.

Domestic violence

Talking of celebrating international events, November 24 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The UN sets aside this day to raise public awareness on issues like domestic and sexual violence. In Uganda, this issue has recently come to the fore of political discussion following the recent killing of the former army chief in a domestic violence incident. In Kenya, hundreds of women and men have been killed or maimed by injuries sustained during domestic violence; yet there is no law or policy in place to address it. Will we have to wait for the same to befall a ‘big man’ before we swing into action?

The writer is an advocate of the High Court.