Post by Onyango Oloo on Apr 3, 2018 10:21:17 GMT 3
A Digital Tribute from Onyango Oloo in Kwa Zulu Natal
Yesterday, Monday, April 1, 2018, I was attending a get together here in Durban at the
Blue Lagoon Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal of a thanksgiving, which later on turned out to be a happy birthday bash for Steve Awuondo, one of the most dedicated and hard working community activists of Kenya's minuscule South African diaspora populations -he has been undergoing some daunting health challenges in which some people even suggested he should relocate back home in case his ailment ended up in an untimely demise. There we were at the Blue Lagoon in Durban's beachfront Kenyans from across the ethnic, political and regional divide-Mbeeres, Digos, Maragolis,Kisiis, Luos, Gikuyus, Swahili people enjoying roast goat, chapati, ugali, mukimo dancing to various Kenyan songs when somebody looked at his smartphone and chilled us with an earth shattering breaking news announcement:
One of the greatest liberation sheroes and icon of the South African[/b] anti- apartheid struggle,
Winnie Madzikela Mandela had left us to rejoin our African ancestors at the age of 81.
There was an immediate change in the feisty mood in the gathered crowd.
This was probably the leading headline in every country in the world.
Of course, here in South Africa, the Communist Party, the ANC, the EFF, the country's political leadership starting with President Ramaphosa and reported by the mainstream media were effusive in their glowing tributes to Mama Winnie. Kenyans at the gathering exchanged tit bits of what they knew about Winnie. A few sill referred to her as Nelson's ex wife as if she was not a historical personage in her own right.
As for Onyango Oloo wriiting these lines, I prefer to remember her as a revolutionary, a feminist, a woman of courage who endured years of persecution, imposment, sexism, misogyny and libel.
At this point I can not go beyond saying: Hamba Kahle Dada Yetu Mpendwa! Mkono wa tanzia kwa jamii, jamaa, makomredi na marafiki.
Yesterday, Monday, April 1, 2018, I was attending a get together here in Durban at the
Blue Lagoon Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal of a thanksgiving, which later on turned out to be a happy birthday bash for Steve Awuondo, one of the most dedicated and hard working community activists of Kenya's minuscule South African diaspora populations -he has been undergoing some daunting health challenges in which some people even suggested he should relocate back home in case his ailment ended up in an untimely demise. There we were at the Blue Lagoon in Durban's beachfront Kenyans from across the ethnic, political and regional divide-Mbeeres, Digos, Maragolis,Kisiis, Luos, Gikuyus, Swahili people enjoying roast goat, chapati, ugali, mukimo dancing to various Kenyan songs when somebody looked at his smartphone and chilled us with an earth shattering breaking news announcement:One of the greatest liberation sheroes and icon of the South African[/b] anti- apartheid struggle,
Winnie Madzikela Mandela had left us to rejoin our African ancestors at the age of 81.There was an immediate change in the feisty mood in the gathered crowd.
This was probably the leading headline in every country in the world.
Of course, here in South Africa, the Communist Party, the ANC, the EFF, the country's political leadership starting with President Ramaphosa and reported by the mainstream media were effusive in their glowing tributes to Mama Winnie. Kenyans at the gathering exchanged tit bits of what they knew about Winnie. A few sill referred to her as Nelson's ex wife as if she was not a historical personage in her own right.
As for Onyango Oloo wriiting these lines, I prefer to remember her as a revolutionary, a feminist, a woman of courage who endured years of persecution, imposment, sexism, misogyny and libel.
At this point I can not go beyond saying: Hamba Kahle Dada Yetu Mpendwa! Mkono wa tanzia kwa jamii, jamaa, makomredi na marafiki.