AMERICAN KENYA

Kenya is a British colony, I wonder why Kenyans are more American than British especially in the English Language. Kenyans seem to like almost every American item and persons be it music, fashion or politics.

 We listen to the American music, dress like Americans, talk like them, and we are always at the disposal of the slightest American issue. Well, the rest of the World adored Obama as he campaigned for Presidency in the states, but Kenyans felt his recognition, bowed to his influence, sang his praises and dwelt so much on how related they are to the one with the ‘Kenyan blood’.

 The media recognized Obama's grandmother and even called her to endless number of interviews.  Well, she even has a tight security, which is something thoughtful, I wonder if she would have been cared for before Obama became President, ok at least he visited her as a senator, of course for political reason we are all too familiar with.

 We have so many Kenyan television shows, programs and even events such as stand-up comedy. The weird part is we never if not rarely talk about our own shows unless it involves bizarre or a traumatizing ordeal, we forget how far this hosts have come to be in the limelight. What the shows are about be it music or a talk show have topics that concern Kenyans. Wait, when Opera or Ellen is on air we live whatever we were doing and pay keen attention to the American topics and celebrities, not that it is a bad thing, but should we be that concerned over the foreign too much to forget who we are? Come on, yes YOU!

We know almost every American artiste or Musicians. Of course they have a global audience, but why do we hardly appreciate our own. We even know which of them is in the ‘Illuminati’, who is dating who, how long they have dated, and who won the Emmy or BET awards. Ask most Kenyans the same questions about our Kenyan artistes, footballers, and believe me you, they may know too little or nothing.

I take keen interest in this perturbing turn of events as it is affecting the kids and teenagers who would rather be so American in every way as to their mates that is the best way they can stand out and trend. It is as sad as we may lose our culture and sense of life to the American lifestyle.

We have to reclaim our interests as Kenyans even as the World becomes a global Village. It is very important to know what is going on around the World, but that should not eat into our own true identity. Has anyone seen any American who is so eager to be Kenyan leave alone African. The farthest they can go is come tour Kenya, buy the very artistic Kenyan features. They go back to talk about how Africans are wild, live in the wild and are not so sophisticated.

 Kenya is our Country, our pride, we have immense wealth in culture, traditions, diversity in tribes and languages. This is exactly why we should embrace the meaning in our flags, uphold the beauty in our differences and BE KENYAN. We are a beautiful country and the World can only appreciate that if we do.