"You Lazy Intellectual African Scum!" ::::: "You called my lord?"

If you have not already done so, start by reading this:  http://mindofmalaka.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/you-lazy-intellectual-african-scum/.  Are you done?  Now, let us talk honestly.

I am grateful for this perspective, and I do contend, we cannot just call African Intellectuals lazy.  They do their thinking best, and it is up to government to fill in the gaps.  The shilling plummets, and it is because Banks are speculating.  People are dying of hunger and it becomes there is a famine, no mention of the new bumper harvests prior.  They blame the weather, violence, famine, disease, many excuses to help us explain why we are failing miserably.  However, one thing I want to point out, is that thinking in and of itself, clever papers does not translate to anything.  Many of the innovators who are credited with "discovering" or "creating" anything usually faced stiff opposition or despondency from their governments.  In fact, for most of them, it was after their passing that the full extent of their contributions were discovered and felt.

Move over to people like Henry Ford.  He had not the mind, but he had the business sense to put the mind to use.  A famous story is told of how top scholars of that day confronted him about his mass production of vehicles whilst knowing nothing of how the car runs.  The countered he was dabbling in something dangerous.  He replied he knew all he needed to know.  The panel shot questions at him "how does the combustion engine work" "what of the braking system" "can you explain about the process of ignition"  With each question, Mr. Ford would pick up his telephone and ask someone the same question and relay the answer to the panel, he could answer none of the questions asked, without help.  Exasperated, the panelists felt they had made their point, and as they rose to storm out. As they shuffled their papers and feet, Mr. Ford calmly pointed out, that he did not need to KNOW anything, as long as he had hired the people who DO know, to do the job, he was fine.  As they say, the rest is history.  Cars now are commonly mass produced everywhere, and he made his money.

What am I saying?  African Innovators and Intellectuals need each other, it is a symbiotic relationship, mutually beneficial.  Intellectual thinks, and the Innovator builds.  Add another group here called Investors.  If we use the money we already have in circulation, and help those with the ideas to find people with the skills to convert the ideas from blue print to reality, then we will have hit the jack pot.  What Government participation was involved in the innovation that is M-Pesa?  Time has come for us to stop hiding behind our excuses and own up.  Look at our education system, book smarts is given preference, nay, pre-eminence over the arts, talent and "blue collar skills".  The people who may not excel in book smarts but can do magic when given a screw driver and some wires, those are the guys we should be building up, with as much gusto as the guys who make up the formulae.

As a Kenyan intellectual, I stand guilty as charged in http://mindofmalaka.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/you-lazy-intellectual-african-scum/. I want my intellectual property protected.  I want for every thought, every contribution, I want the monetary value clearly spelled out, otherwise I am reluctant to get involved.  Sometimes I even hold off sharing a simple solution staring at me simply because I think my idea will be "stolen" and someone else will reap the whilrwind.  Infact I not only want it, I usually demand it, and very uncompromisingly so.  Our society now is very "Haki Yetu" oriented.  Haki Yetu means "Our Right!"and is usually accompanied by varying degrees of toddler temper tantrums displays, depending on the group chanting it in the street.

Time has come for us to put common good ahead of private gain.  We must protect our intellectual property, I agree, but can we move from only using the big money ideas to help our own families, and move to doing what we can wherever we can.  As we are doing this, then the one big money maker will land and sort out our money issues.  What happened to Job Satisfaction? Bragging Rights? Distinction and Recognition?

It seems, African Intellectuals, much like American Gangster Rappers, have fallen into the trap of "Get Rich or Die Trying"  Problem is quite literally, many are dying, as we are busy trying.

Let's make 2012 sing us a better song, 2011 was off-key!

Kenya has had one tragedy after another, there is no day that passes by without a new report of fatal road accidents, massive deaths from fires started at leaking fuel pipelines.  The latest has been the KCPE results fall out.  Children committing suicide because they have "failed" their end of primary school examinations.  Teachers who also do likewise, since they perceive they have failed as teachers.  Principals and teachers being chased away from schools with sticks and stones, irate parents shutting down schools.  I read in a local daily, that there was a suggestion to turn the worst performing school's facilities into a brick making business, since clearly it cannot be used as an institution of learning.

There is talk of changing the education system.  My opinion is, we must realise, when people feel the need to end their lives, it is very rarely because of one event.  Usually, the event is the final straw that breaks the camel's back.  The cost of living is so high, most of us are wound up as tight as a guitar string.  Many of the comforts we occasionally enjoyed have long been forgotten, and now even what we considered bare necessity, we have to do without.  Many families are down to one meal a day dinner.  Many now use charcoal because LPG and Electricity prices are unbelievable.  The festive season has just ended, characterised by high prices of everything, the fuel, the food, the fun, everything cost twice as much, and many did not bother to celebrate at all, they simply sat it out.

Add on top of this the threat from the Al Shabaab.  No fireworks, no street parties, because we could be bombed any time.  There are families that had Christmas without their daddies, because they are in Somalia in Operation Linda Nchi.  Now the year has begun, and we are all waiting to hear the decision from the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC on the fate of the "Ocampo 6" as they are now famously known.

This is an election year, parties are being formed every morning, and then there is the new Political Parties Act, (that is a whole topic on its own I tell you) that has changed the ball game completely.  Everyone is scrambling to hold party elections to remove politicians from office.  The politicians don't seem to get it, they cannot "own" or "run" parties legally anymore.  Their mistake my gain, since I belong to a newly registered party too, and all our ducks so far seem to be in a row.

We need to pray for this land.  We need a newness, a freshness, so that all we hope to achieve in the implementation of the Constitution as far as Institutional Strengthening is concerned, is actually achieved.  I voted No during the Referendum in 2010, but I have since realised, I had more interest in seeing real change than some so-called "Reformists"  who do things more out of personal gain and political expediency than real genuine love for this land.

This is the year folks, we sink or swim.  Unless we get fed up with all the man-made tragedies and disasters around us, we shall keep having the same issues plaguing us over and over again.  Let us take stock, stand up and be counted.

Welcome 2012! (2011 exit Stage Left)

Happy New Year Everyone,

I have really neglected writing for a while, mainly because towards the end of last year, my life became such a roller coaster that I wanted to get off the ride, but it was going too fast.  I have started this year by trying to de-clutter my life.  That is easier said than done, because everything I do is important, every commitment I make I have every intention of honouring, and I still want to be a wonderful mother, and a fit wife for Divins.  This makes the decisions that I have to make this year all the more difficult. "Should it stay or should it go?"

There's a very disturbing show on TV called "Hoarding, Buried Alive"  The programme follows the life of hoarders, who have the urge to acquire everything and throw out nothing, until their homes are as full and as dirty as the Dandora garbage dumping site.  Some collect new stuff, but most get the stuff from buying other people's junk.  Others take it a notch hire and don't clean at all, so the clutter is mixed with their own waste.  They literally bury themselves alive in their sub-urban homes.  Worst part is, they do it to themselves, they go for shopping, they spend all their life's savings on junk, they drive away family and friends, and die slowly in the cess pool of stuff accumulated.That show always amazes me, and saddens me.  Crazy, but makes for good television reality show, better than the Kardashians for sure! But I digress.

I do not have a problem of physically hoarding stuff, but I do have a problem with hoarding commitments.  I am swamped, but I still say "Yes" to requests to join this committee, become that trustee, look at this document for me, I have a case and I think only you can help me, can you pray with me?  On top of all I take on, I have guilt over friends who have been bereaved that I have not visited, others who have new babies, or recently got married (and I missed the wedding)  I have more guilt over stuff that I have done and not given my best, since I had no time to be thorough, or I had no more energy.  The cherry on the top is the family.  Whenever I walk through the door, mummy has to be on top of everything, and wifey knows how I like my dinner.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a whining post, there is a point in there somewhere (I promise!)  Point is, now that I have a new year, I have a chance to actually pass go, and collect $200 (hope you play monopoly) and maybe get me a get out of jail free card.  Instead of taking every single module in the order they are put out, I shall do one and skip one.  Masters will take me twice as long, but hey, what is the hurry?  I shall say "No" to any request that is being made.  Of what is already on my plate, I shall start trashing anything that increases aggravation, and reduces productivity.  However, the biggest change I will make, is people.  Anyone who does not add value to my life, or actually causes me stress is going.

I am 35 years old this year (so when my birthday rolls round, you now know).  Like Miguna Miguna famously said, I am not seeking acceptance, I am comfortable in my own skin, I have faith in my abilities, and in the favour bestowed upon me by God.  I do not need anyone to affirm me, yes, not even Divins.  I know my worth and my pedigree.  I have learned how to love and keep and how to let go.  I have seen what is really important in my life is my God and my family.  The rest  are details.

Yep, 2012 is MY year.  I had declared 2010 the year of Joy, but the Constitution review process, and run up to the August Referrendum made me rethink that position.  So this year I have decided to declare it the Year of Joy.  Not joy the feeling, but Joy, me, the person.  I shall take the whole year putting no one before me but God.  He is the only veto power.  Everybody else, get in line!

I know, I have cheated you out of a real post, but hey, I said it was my year, didn't I?  However, not too long now, I shall resume regular posts, because I have realised, posting on Joy's Musings is part of my emancipation.  Now, off to get me a cup of tea.  Happy New Year once again!! Make it Count, won't you?