Somewhere on the map....

Last year (feels good to say that), i had my share of local tourism around the country. Most memorable was when i went to work at the coast. I know you are thinking about sandy beaches, warm water and sunglasses on (that's me pulling the 'diva 'look"), and you're right that's what happened, for a week!


I was living in a small village named Kikoneni, the people living there had a deep rooted culture. Adapting their lifestyle was somewhat new and definitely not easy. Unlike back in the city, you have to spend a couple of minutes every morning greeting a stranger and finding out how their morning is! If you do not they take offense and intern you cannot be able to get the data you want.

My first night, supper there was completely traditional, prominent tribes there were the Digo, Duruma, Giriama and Rabai. We sat on mats that were made from interwoven palm leaves under the starry sky. The cuisine there was coconut this and coconut that... beans, rice and it was very delicious not thinking of the calories in coconut oil!

The first house I visited was a typical traditional mud house where i had to spend the day with the mother. Their usual chores included one i found very interesting, pounding dry maize in a motor and pestle commonly called "Kinu' (i still wonder why they do that before taking it to the posho mill). The exercise looked simple as the mother did it, naturally, being of good cheer i decided to help. Woe unto me, as i tried to control the heavy stick i kept on missing and hitting the side of the wooden mortar. Children gathered around me like i was offering some sort of amusement, i gave one twelve year old girl to do it ( since she gave me that look - Really) and she executed the duty effortlessly while I rubbed my blister full hand on my jeans. The rest of the weeks passed on well and i learnt how to make the local cuisine including Mnazi! (Yes) but technically i could not climb the tree, i thought it would catapult me meters away.

Living in the village taught me several things, yes you can do without internet, running water, and phones (but can definitely do better with them around). It made me see life in a new light, how women in many parts of the country are still marginalized and work tirelessly in their households. How early marriages still exist in the back yard of our own country! The land is very productive and rich, but still farmers suffer under the hands of middlemen not getting what they are fully entitled to. Poverty was rampant and with it came issues of early pregnancies, hygiene, sanitation and ignorance.

I could not bring civilization in a month, nor educate in a week, but i made a difference to the few i could, I learnt and accepted their way of life. During that period i got a gift of humility , peace of mind and above all i found favor among my fellow clansmen. If walk down the streets of Kikoneni today I'll will be proudly called a Kikonenite!