Singing for the Motherland (Patriotic Songs since 1963)

It’s that time in Kenyan history again
Independence

A rugby win, a marathon gold

Bloodshed or famine or terrorism
Tears that bring the country to the edge of despair 

And sometimes hope
The edge, not the end

Till it brings forth an ode:

The National Anthem by Thomas Johnson Kuto Kalume (1963)

Kenya Nchi Yangu by Kakai Kilonzo (1979)

My Land is Kenya by Roger Whitaker (1983)

Daima by Eric Wainaina (2001)

Coming Home by Nameless (2011)

Kenya We Pray by Varied Artists (2011)

We Are One by Varied Artists (2013)

What does it mean for a society if common tragedy is the unity force?

In the days following the terrorist attack on Westgate mall, Kenya witnessed a rise in patriotism. Simply browse the major newspapers and social media sites to see this outpouring of Kenyan-ness. We are united by common grief. As a researcher and a Kenyan, I am attuned to such expressions of unity, because more than showing us how we react, they show us the context in which we react, and why we react as we do. While writing for Africa Youth Journals, a Kenyan doctor, Paul Bundi Karau, summarized his observation as follows:

Amazingly, neither tribe, nor party, nor riches or poverty transcended the unity of Kenyans during this trying moment. Everybody became a brother, sister, mother or father. Any enemy became everybody’s enemy. Any friend became a friend for all. 

Kenyans reacted with unity. Some of my friends remind me that what we are/were experiencing is not unique. A similar phenomenon erupted in the US following 9/11, when all Americans (who like finding ways of dividing along party lines e.g. recent US government shutdown) banded together in solidarity against a common threat.

And indeed, this phenomenon is not unique to Kenya either. In 2011, during our worst famine yet, we started the initiative Kenyans for Kenya and raised over 600 million to support Kenya Red Cross efforts. This year, we have done the same. We face our common tragedies with patriotism, as evidenced by the messages and acts of goodwill, and the millions raised through the #WeAreOne campaign. We face our common tragedies with patriotism. I underline common because the same can’t be said for all tragedies that happen in Kenya, especially the ones that occur along ethnic/tribal lines, read 2007-08 post-election violence. What does it mean for a society if common tragedy becomes the uniting force, if some tragedies become less important than others?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.kenyan-post.com/2013/09/some-creative-photos-that-show-united.html

http://kenyastockholm.com/2013/10/02/kenya-we-are-not-one-no-we-are-not/