Writing in local languages can instil a sense of pride

It has been 51 years since the first novel by a black Kenyan was published in English.

In June, Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Weep Not, Child will be a highlight during East African Educational Publishers’ celebrations to mark the growth of literature in Kenya.

Indeed, we have come a long way. These celebrations come at a time when Kenya is engaged in the war on terror, which, as suggested by observers, has its genesis in corruption.

During a trip to another County last week, I visited the Ministry of Education with a proposal on how to promote a reading culture there with the establishment of a public library.

At some point I overheard a discussion about the attack in Garissa and its link with corruption in the immigration department.

There was a claim that officials in this department had become so wealthy that one of them chose to buy a new car rather than repair the one he had.

We all wondered when the rain started beating Kenya and if this corruption could be brought under some measure of control.

This is when I ruminated on Ngugi’s call for publishing in local languages and Kiswahili — it would help us rediscover ourselves, our values.

As it were, we have been acting, and even transacting business, in the same language born out of an imported culture and shared by the terrorist.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

Hear me out. Tribalism is a recent construction in our histories.

Even though some discussants say it started after independence, the effects were not as adverse then as they are now.

During that time, the book Hallo Children had Mr and Mrs Kamau as characters and pupils did not view them as Kikuyus. TKK was Tujifunze Kusoma Kikwetu, and not toa kitu kidogo. Pupils in Class 1, 2 and 3 enjoyed stories in local languages before some fellows decided to do away with the teaching of local languages in schools.

Back then, Kenya Institute of Education supported the writing of stories in local languages and even invited and sponsored teachers from schools across the country to contribute in the writing of fables, proverbs and riddles to be used for Early Childhood Development and Education.

FOLKLORE TRANSCENDS TRIBE

Yes, then, ethnicity meant celebrating diversity and the mismanagement of diversity had not taken root.

Out of nowhere, someone thought all this was not required and destroyed our stories, subverted our cultures, and in place of diversity, entrenched a new, demonised construct — tribalism.

It is about time we rediscovered the beauty of telling stories in our language without attaching a tribal tag to it or seeing it through tribal lenses.

One effect of writing in and reading local languages — apart from enjoyment and realising aesthetic value within us — is the transmission of culture.

As we all know, culture is a way of a people and within our cultures exists discussions on respect for people and life.

And though not overtly examined corruption, too, is discussed.

Folklore transcends tribe. A case in point is the oral narratives which are present in all communities.

In fables, most communities employ the character of the hare, squirrel, or the spider as the trickster.

What is common in all these stories across communities is that the tricksters are always penalised for their vile actions, meaning all communities abhor vice otherwise we would not have lessons that promote good morals.

Unfortunately, this is what we have negated as we embrace western thinking and its attendant weaknesses as we pursue “civilisation.”

So that my argument is not misconstrued as being against education, I must state that education has done more good than harm.

But if we have to think of the losses we have incurred as a result of the acquired cultures, then we should think about re-introducing our narratives at the Early Child Development and Education level, say up to Class 3.

LANGUAGE OF AGGRESSOR

With all due respect, imported, foreign religions portray indigenous religions as evil.

Most of them view folklore as sin and have ensured their adherents loathe our narratives.

With these religions have come cultures that are viewed as superior to the local ones and a child who speaks mother tongue in school is seen as backward and uncivilised.

One literary discussant recalled how a “disc” was hung around the neck of a pupil who did not speak English to the chagrin of this poor pupil.

In place of TKK, we now have the Ladybird and Cinderella series and such like as we talk of environments and cultures that are foreign.

Unfortunately, our minds are so corrupted that we think our own stories are evil or tribal.

REDISCOVER OUR HUMANITY

We are happy to have Chinese institutes but would frown upon a Taita, Teso or Rendile institute of language!

Why for instance, should Ugandans, Zambians and Malawians write, publish and teach in local languages in the formative years, or up to the tertiary level in the case of Uganda, and not Kenyans?

Is it therefore, a surprise that we are weaving our narrative in the same language as the “aggressor”?

I submit that we should teach our folklore in our schools.

We should let our values, as a people, flow in our oral literature and radicalise this young pure souls before some evil being tries to sow seeds of discord in the name of “liberating” them.

This way, we will rediscover our humanity, morality and other long lost values.

We must not give our tormentor a chance to misrepresent our values and aspirations.

We should therefore write a narrative of co-existence and stop propagating hate.

Ask yourself, why should the Chinese, Englishmen or Germans work so hard to teach their language overseas? Why do we even accept to discuss our literature in a foreign language?

Why should we be so proud that our children can retell an English folktale yet the same child cannot even greet the father in his or her mother tongue?

In conclusion, I posit that county governments are in the best position to realise the writing, publishing and consumption of our orature.

Any county that has a great cultural heritage will not only attract tourists and investors but will also grow economically since language unites people.