Tribal Labels in Kenya
A word will stay around as long as there is work to do it, said Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. In Kenya, just as in so many African states, ‘tribe’ is still on active duty. As a Kenyan bluntly what tribe he is and he may, briefly ruffle up and take offence. But the outrage dissolves immediately upon contact with daily life.
‘Typical Mukamba, useless with money’, a friend mutters when a newspaper vendor fumbles his change.
Another, arriving late at a café, explains: ‘I had to straighten up the car because the askari was giving me a hard time. Best not to mess with these Maasai’.
And when another is fined for parking illegally he explains: ‘I begged with the policeman, but he would not let me off. He was a Kalenjin’
Any Kenyan can reel off the tags and stereotypes, which capture the categorization of the country’s society.
Hard-nosed and thrusting, the Kikuyu are easily identified by their habit of mixing up their ‘r’s and their ‘l’s, the cause of much hilarity amongst their compatriots. When an official warns you, ‘there may be a ploblem’, a member of civil society denounces ‘rigged erections’ or an urchin tries to sell you a week-old ‘rabradol’ puppy, you know you are dealing with either a Kikuyu or his Meru or Embu cousin. Their entrepreneurialism has won them control of the matatu trade, and they run most of the capital’s kiosks, restaurants and hotels.
A Luo, on the other hand, is all show and no substance. His date will be wined and dined, but she’ll pick up the tab at the end of the evening. Born with huge egos, the flashiest of dress sense and the gift of the gab, the Luo excel in academia and the media.
Luhyias are said to lack ambition, excelling as lowly shamba boys, watchmen and cooks.
Stumpy, loyal, happy to take orders, Kambas are natural office clerks, soldiers and domestic servants; but watch out for potions, freak accidents and charms under the bed-these are the spell casters of Kenya. Enticing and provocative, their women dress in eye-watering bright colours and often work as barmaids.
In contrast, the cold, remote Kalenjins care more about their cows than about their homes.
Macho and undomesticated, the Samburu and Maasai make perfect recruits to the ranks of watchmen, wildlife rangers and security guards.
PS: The above article borrows heavily from Michela Wrong “IT IS OUR TURN TO EAT”
‘Typical Mukamba, useless with money’, a friend mutters when a newspaper vendor fumbles his change.
Another, arriving late at a café, explains: ‘I had to straighten up the car because the askari was giving me a hard time. Best not to mess with these Maasai’.
And when another is fined for parking illegally he explains: ‘I begged with the policeman, but he would not let me off. He was a Kalenjin’
Any Kenyan can reel off the tags and stereotypes, which capture the categorization of the country’s society.
Hard-nosed and thrusting, the Kikuyu are easily identified by their habit of mixing up their ‘r’s and their ‘l’s, the cause of much hilarity amongst their compatriots. When an official warns you, ‘there may be a ploblem’, a member of civil society denounces ‘rigged erections’ or an urchin tries to sell you a week-old ‘rabradol’ puppy, you know you are dealing with either a Kikuyu or his Meru or Embu cousin. Their entrepreneurialism has won them control of the matatu trade, and they run most of the capital’s kiosks, restaurants and hotels.
A Luo, on the other hand, is all show and no substance. His date will be wined and dined, but she’ll pick up the tab at the end of the evening. Born with huge egos, the flashiest of dress sense and the gift of the gab, the Luo excel in academia and the media.
Luhyias are said to lack ambition, excelling as lowly shamba boys, watchmen and cooks.
Stumpy, loyal, happy to take orders, Kambas are natural office clerks, soldiers and domestic servants; but watch out for potions, freak accidents and charms under the bed-these are the spell casters of Kenya. Enticing and provocative, their women dress in eye-watering bright colours and often work as barmaids.
In contrast, the cold, remote Kalenjins care more about their cows than about their homes.
Macho and undomesticated, the Samburu and Maasai make perfect recruits to the ranks of watchmen, wildlife rangers and security guards.
PS: The above article borrows heavily from Michela Wrong “IT IS OUR TURN TO EAT”
