In these unprecedented times that call on all to join forces and to use everything in our toolkit to stem the spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease it causes. In this spirit, I am reminded of a Bukusu proverb on self centeredness that I first encountered in childhood. It goes: Engokho netima nekamala ke yasie euka eli yosi seli nako ta! Whenever a living chicken gets a chance to run with the insides of a chicken that’s been slaughtered, it runs as fast as it can not knowing that it too has insides.
Be INFORMED Be PREPARED Be SMART Be SAFE Be READY to fight #COVID-19.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
- Kibisu and mwamba: How a Maragoli folktale can help fight covid-19 by localizing and familiarizing the message of social distancing, quarantine and isolation
- Kibabii University’s linguistics lecturer Wakoko Makarios Wanjala insightful Facebook post on 20 useful terms relating to COVID-19 mu Lubukusu
- Engokho netima nekamala ke yasie euka eli yosi seli nako ta! This Bukusu proverb on self centeredness is a timely warning in the fight against COVID-19
- In western Kenya and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms? Know of a suspected case? Do you have an inquiry or report on novel coronavirus?Here are the Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Kakamega county COVID-19 hotline numbers
- Infographic: Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus in Lubukusu – khukhwepanga ne sifuba sia COVID-19 yino (share widely)
I first heard the Bukusu saying on self centeredness ‘Engokho netima nekamala ke yasie euka eli yosi seli nako ta!’ one lazy Sunday afternoon so many years ago. I was hanging out with my guka, Jairus, under the huge mango tree in the center of lukoba lwewe.
As the norm we would be listening to tapes of Bukusu folk music blasting through the singular speaker of his four battery cell battery powered Panasonic radio wrapped in a green yellow crotchet tablecloth. In between the strumming of litungu and percussion of chisasi, through his sparse commentary on the music, kuka would imbibe the wisdom of our ways into my young mind. This time, the wisdom came from a Kisache wa Mwasame* song.
A legend, a song and a proverb
Kisache wa Mwasame, Requiescat in Pace, is a legend of Bukusu music whose compositions were pregnant with wisdom. The messages in his music were often on our history and thoughtful commentary on the contemporary times he lived in.
Perhaps, his most known song is the dirge Muliro. It’s a song in honor of and a notation of the final moments of the Kenyan hero. I mention this song because it readily available online (check YouTube); and thus a perfect starting point to begin appreciating Kisache’s gravitas in these matters for the uncultured. But today is all about one of his lesser famous compositions**. In this song, he urges Bukusu sons and daughters to be mindful of the suffering of others.
Meaning of the Bukusu proverb – engokho netima ne kamala ke yasie euka eli yosi seli nako ta!
During a break in the song, Kisache wa Mwasame shifts into spoken word and uses the art of the spoken word to pass a message on altruism. The literal meaning of his message that’s packed in a proverb that he mentions — engokho netima ne kamala ke yasie euka eli yosi seli nako ta — is as follows. Whenever a living chicken gets a chance to run with the innards of a chicken that’s been slaughtered, it runs as fast as it can not knowing that it too has entrails.
This saying simply warns all and sundry not to be indifferent (or even worse predatory) when calamity or misfortune befalls others. As a life lesson, this Bukusu proverb on self centerednesss calls on us to promote, protect and preserve the common good; the spirit of mulembe. The song’s tag on our utilitarian ideals is precisely what the doctor has prescribed as we fight COVID-19.
Value of this Bukusu proverb on self-centeredness in the fight against #COVID-19
In particular, maintaining social distancing calls on each one of us to suspend our personal needs for social contact in order to protect the most vulnerable in our society by blunting the spread of this new coronavirus.
Worrying reports on social media and mainstream media on practical real life challenges and personal acts of irresponsibility that threaten the expected gains of social distancing hint at the situation humanity finds itself in.
While acknowledging the life and death choices facing daily wage earners across the world as they grapple with the demands of social distancing, we have to echo what the experts are saying: Stay at home if you can. That drink with you pals is simply not worth it. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been advised to self quarantine for any other reason, do it for the elderly and otherwise vulnerable.
You might be healthy, young or both and thus, as far as we know, better placed not to suffer the worst of COVID-19; however, kindly heed the timely advice of this Bukusu proverb. Deters from dancing on the graves of those who have lost this battle. Don’t be the one to socially stigmatize once you know of another suffering from the disease. As this proverb reminds us, it’s always happening to other people, until it comes around.
Editor’s Note
* When researching this article, the author couldn’t unequivocally find evidence that it is Kisache wa Mwasame who sang the song. A finding that more than anything, is a stark indictment of the state of preservation of Bukusu music — and on the wider scale Bukusu and African culture. For completeness, allow us to mention that there have been suggestions that the song in question was sung by Wanyonyi wa Khatundi or Wanjala Mandari.
** The title of the song is also lost on us. However, everyone that we spoke to does remember the tune, style and message of the song as we have tried to represent it in the article.
To help clear some of these doubts you are welcome to use our comments section or send us an email by filling the form on our corrections, clarifications and compliments page.
