Someone suggested that Bill Boards express the state of a culture. Different cultures have different ways of saying what they want to say to reach as many people as possible. However, Kenyans in my estimation have the most unique and special way of not just advertising but also of encouraging each other. A beat up Matatu proclaimed, “Still hassling because, founded on the Rock.”
The buses that travel from Nairobi to the East and West, South and North of the republic speak of God’s constant grace. Eldoret express buses are identified through their unique names: Japan, Monaco and other interesting names. The most popular name I have seen constantly is the Arsenal football club. If you do not believe that Bill Boards express the state of a culture, then the display of Arsenal’s name in Kenya should convince you. Football is the most popular pass times for most Kenyans. In football all men undress their social class and submit to the television broadcast of football. Forget that Kenyans do not know the history or the definition of Arsenal or the historical development that brought the name to pass. It expresses the cultural ideal, therefore they put it on Matatu, Buses, and mkokoteni.
I once saw a hotel in Narok that was called Florida Hotel. If the character who had picked that name had the slightest idea of where or how the sunshine state looks like, he could not have given that one room eating outlet on the side of the unique dusty road in Narok that title. But as is common with Kenyans, the name Florida expressed God’s Good and sounded good therefore he decided that it is the best thing to put in yellow letter on top of the entrance door.
Drive around the country and you will probably follow a truck, bus, matatu, or something with some message that is either intended as a joke, tongue in cheek or just encouragement. Like the truck I saw driving down Naivasha – Nairobi upper road on the way to Nairobi. The Swahili statement is so philosophical that I felt stupid with my expensive PhD. You really do not need to go to school to be a philosopher in Kenya.
Where in the World would you find a philosophical masterpiece? “Ni lini samaki alisahau kuogelea.” I bet you will not find this kind of philosophy in any of the ‘first’, ‘second’ so called worlds.
And no matter how advanced these nations are, their advancement have removed them from He who gives universe its heartbeat. But in Kenya, it is the Lord who gives my people a reason to wake up and hassle. That is why we are a great people! Hakuna Matata because there is Matatu. I mean the Trinity!
Teddy Njoroge Kamau (PhD) HTBluff Associates @HTBluff/Contributor Diaspora Messenger
