Let us embrace our ethnic diversity and avoid divisions

A more progressive and cohesive approach would be to make diversity our key selling point as a country

Yesterday, I was privileged to attend a forum at the University of Nairobi attractively entitled Transforming Ethnicity in Kenya. The discussion panel, which was chaired by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, comprised international and local experts on strategies for embracing ethnic diversity while avoiding pitfalls of ethnic divisions.

The debate pointed to how our ethnic richness if positively embraced can reap benefits including a stronger economy. For example, why do we often refer to our multi-talented country with reference to its business acumen, academic excellence and hard working ethic in terms of the stereotypes of different communities? A more progressive and cohesive approach would be to make diversity our key selling point as a country. In doing so we would focus much more on the positives rather than the negatives of difference.

The key is in how we make the balance. As long as I can remember, ethnic diversity has been mooted through our own peculiar humour. In the late 1990s the emergence of standup comedy found huge following amongst Kenyans, where performances revolved around Joginder, Smith and Onyango stereotypes. The nationally renowned Vitimbi cast performances and the award winning Papa Shirandula and Inspector Mwala TV comedy series are basically analogies on the strange peculiarities of our different ethnicities, cultures, languages and accents.

Even today, live comedy entertainment is incomplete without an imitation of Mr Raila’s Luo accented vitandawili tega, or of former President Moi’s heavily accented Kalenjin-English, underscoring all his nuances including the clearing of throat, and even of President Kibaki’s style of dressing down wapumbafu. Those of mixed ethnicity or racial background are also not spared with stereotyping of nusu nusus or those known as ‘point fives’ or ‘yellow yellows’. As a person of mixed ethnic and racial background, I frequently found myself being referred to as mkosa kabila (a person without tribe). Mkosa kabilas rarely relate to one strong ethnic identity but tend to combine several.

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esearch confirms that ethnic jokes have been around the globe since people first noticed they were different or distinct from one another and often used them to break the ice or to pleasantly acknowledge diversity. However, borderline ethnic humour may reinforce negative stereotypes which are not factually based and lead to resentment and subsequent hostility against different groups resulting in hate speech and violence.

It is not in doubt that the 2008 post-election violence that was deeply rooted in negative and divisive ethnicity, left us all shocked and deeply frightened about how our political differences could metamorphosis into mayhem and murder.

Learning and preaching hate is terribly dangerous, it is the fuel of conflict. It is imperative that we prevent it by eliminating it at source. The Constitution provides clear provisions on non-discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race or social origin. It also outlaws advocacy of hatred that constitutes ethnic incitement or vilification of others or incitement to cause harm. The Commission on National Integration and Cohesion has done well to establish guidelines by which the Fourth Estate and others can avoid providing a public platform for hatemongers.

As for those jokes, here’s one that’s a gem and great food for thought: Q: How does every ethnic joke start? A: With a look over your shoulder.

The writer is an advocate of the High Court