AFRICA’S TRUBULENT TIMES: LESSONS FROM GRANDFATHER ANAELI MACHA

To continue with last week’s theme.

Gloom and pessimism reigns. Even the football contest in January has been affected via Morocco. History, however, proves all continents have gone through mud and snort and fart. Why are Europeans marking 100 years of their slaughter in 1914? They too passed through hell. Lessons.

It is not only us.

 Someone recently, WhatsApped me that we are currently governed by gangsters. Harsh? The guys that led African renaissance were so principled and focussed that they had to be stopped, instantly.  Patrice Lumumba (Congo, 1961), Ben Barka (Morocco, 1965), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana, 1966), Marien Ngouabi, (Congo Brazzaville, 1977), Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso, 1987), etc. Some muddled through. Mwalimu Nyerere (1962-1985) and Nelson Mandela (despite a 26 year, prison sentence), to name a few....

 We have had misfortunes. Truly.

But is it all external? Politics and governments?

Last week I asked this significant question. How does one find courage to carry on?  Where do you unearth hope to work, relax and strive?

One of my personal beliefs is to look into your own kitchen.  Roots. Inspiration through those closest. Family, friends, teachers, colleagues.

My grandfather the preacher, writer, broadcaster, linguist and philosopher  (first right) with President Nyerere President Julius Nyerere (second left) , Dar es Salaam, 1962.  Family Archives Pic

My great, grandfather, Abraham Macha was born in 1840 and died aged 95 in Old Moshi, Kilimanjaro. He lived a long life and had many children. His last kid was a well known preacher.

Reverend Anaeli Macha was born six years before the First Great War began in 1914. At the time Germans were ruling Tanganyika and many Africans had to go die for the vampire. Just like they would against Adolf Hitler in 1939. 

MASHUJAA WAWILI WA MFANO WALIOFARIKI MWEZI NOVEMBA…

Tarehe 23 Novemba 1963 wakati namalizia malizia darasa la pili,  tuliambiwa tusiende shule. Jana yake, Rais John F Kennedy wa Marekani alipigwa risasi akiwa ziarani mjini Texas. Nakumbuka Watanganyika (tulivyoitwa miaka hiyo ) tulivyosikitika. Rais Kennedy alipendwa sana. Marekani iliisaidia Tanganyika kwa  misaada na wataalamu wa kujitolea – walioitwa “Peace Corps.” Urafiki huu ulidhihirishwa na mifuko ya sembe na vyakula yenye picha ya mkono wa Mzungu na Mwafrika vimeshikana kirafiki.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF3CHxwhObE

Mwalimu Nyerere alipokaribishwa  na Rais John Kennedy na kuhutubia Ikulu ya Marekani- mwaka 1963. Walikuwa marafiki wakubwa. Miezi michache baadaye Rais Kennedy aliuawa.

Baada ya miaka mitano mdogo wake marehem, Robert F Kennedy naye aliuliwa kwa risasi wakati akifanya kampeni za Urais. Wengi walitazamia angekuwa kiongozi bora kama kaka mtu.

Toka walipouawa ndugu hawa, sinema mbalimbali na mandishi yametolewa kuhusu kisa na sababu. Aliyezungumziwa na anayeendelea kuongelewa ni marehem John Kennedy- rais aliyependwa kuzidi wote katika historia ya Marekani.