1st June of 2020 marked the 57th Madaraka Day commemorating the day in 1963 when Kenya attained independent self-governance after decades as a British Colony. Any other public holiday as this one would have been the perfect Madaraka Day for yours truly to do Luhya things, but not this one deep in the mare of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Traditionally, being on the first of the month Madaraka Day falls on or about payday. It is also smack in middle of the year. Far from the usual demands of school fees and such like obligations. Therefore, there’s more than a half chance that there’s a little more to go around during this public holiday than most. Then, there are years like this one when the holiday falls on a Monday.
For a Luhya like me, such gifts of long weekends are rare to come by. It’s like a second Easter and thus the chance to do me: be a Luhya in Nairobi. Which means, escape the city’s clutches and reunite with the spirit of mulembe at every chance. Thus, were it not for the pandemic which continues to disrupt our way of life, this is how it would have gone down.
The pilgrimage home
For the lucky among us who have good employers, read: the government, this starts on Thursday taking the night bus to ingo. For most of us, you’ll find us at the bus stops from Friday 3 pm onward ready for slaughter as operators hike fares with demand outstripping supply.
It wouldn’t be Madaraka day without Kibyego’s kamakhalange products
Saturday morning is spent debating within yourself whether your people’s tea and mandazi will affect your later exploits. Kibyego’s fermented kamakhalange‘s products are some of the things that root’s me when I get home. And you don’t want to head over to Kibyego’s with our tummy too full.
Mornings spent hunting for bubwoba in the dew of the morning grass
On your way to church decked in city clothes, your wallet as healthy can be in anticipation of an impromptu harambee to repair the leaking roof of the Sunday school, you train your eyes on the ground as you head out. It’s getting more rare, but if luck is on your side, one might just chance upon bubwoba.
Fresh fruits
At this time of the year, my homeland of mulembe is full of fruits both from without and within. Talk of avocados from the tree growing mu chandangu or oranges from Marakwet; just what one needs on Sunday afternoon under the tree, as they nurse themselves back to health whilst catching up with the village.
Makhalaba… just kidding!
Monday branch caps it all. Not makhalaba but soft likhubi, engoko ne obusuma. Nothing like a taste of home just before hopping on the afternoon shuttle for the ride back to the city.
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