Kenya is a beneficiary of strong education systems adopted from
its colonizers the Britons and down south, Nelson Mandela, the first President
of South Africa, said that education is the most powerful tool one can use to
change the world. It is by far a true claim that Pan Africanism is close to a swindle
by the nature of our schools and education systems here in Kenya despite calls
from its various stakeholders. Nonetheless, it is through the footsteps of our
ancestors that we are in tune with the African spirit. With reference to time,
it is indeed possible to unite Africa with ink and the mighty pen. We have had
great writers such as Socrates and Plato, apparently, the two used to study
together regardless of their age difference. Their combined effort clearly is
what benefited them as they lived a life of purpose and they are remembered
today in Greek literature and on a global platform. Question begs, where are the
true African literature heroes? Those scribes that would travel deep, find our
stories from the purest of sources, and write diligently for the sake of unborn
generations.
Looking at
contributions of other continents, I could say that Africa is at the bottom
when a list comes through. With such, we could outdo the famed stereotype of
Africa being the motherland, the home of slaves, the home of disease and
poverty; at such a point, I would say would the real African laureate please
stand up. With education being the golden ribbon that could turn around the
African narrative, then and only then, could Africa start raging with other
continents on the global map. In Asia, China spearheaded its campaign to
champion for its international recognition. It is so as on global world
ranking; China as by 2021, the country is number three after the United States
and Russia. Economic dependence of the country catapulted the nation to a
global recognition. The time was in the late 1980’s, (I was not born yet) where
their leaders championed for a robust industrialization program. By mid-1990’s,
almost every home in China had an industry of its own and after the year 2010,
China flourished, as technology became its signature weapon in the fight for
global supremacy.
In the
traditional African society, informal education was effective in that heritage
and culture retained its potency from generation to generation. It was an
obvious signature of the literacy level of the traditional African person. It
was the day before I wrote this creative nonfiction piece I read a verses from
1 Kings Chapter 1 to 3. It was then I realized that in deed African is legit,
like 4,000 years plus legit. It was right after King Solomon became the King of
Israel, that he paid Pharaoh a visit in Egypt. It was in this context that King
Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter and returned to Israel with her with the
intent of building a palace for the Egyptian princess. Looking at this keenly,
it is clear that even before the writing and compiling of the New Testament.
With such revelations, it is a pride to be an African, especially in the 21st
Century. Consequently, it is crucial to ask the question, where is African
literature headed and where are these scribes that are devoted to the cause of
putting to paper their ideologies for the future literate young African
persons? It is indeed our responsibility as African literature laureates to
store and stack up African heritage and culture in this period of the 21st
century.
Writing is
compared to the history of the trees. Trees were present in the era of
dinosaurs and are still there today. I would bet looking out the window you
would see a tree or two. During the creation of literature, trees played a
significant role in the development of words. Then, the trees were a source of truth,
were known as treow, and were 10,000 years old. With these, it is true to claim
that learning was a core essential in the development of literature. In the era
of Socrates, education was a basic essential in the functioning of a society.
There were elites who advised Kings and then there were given honor. In Africa,
informal education was a proper means of education and in the traditional days,
there were classes. For instance in the Kikuyu tribe, age was a determinant in
the level of status one could get. Boys and girls grew separated in groups
advancing to later stages of life depending on their ages. For example, with
circumcision and initiation rites, girls were initiated between the ages of
12-15 with their male counterparts being circumcised between ages of 16 and 18
with men becoming warriors and women becoming potential wives. It is this retrospect;
we realize the traditional African had a robust social order, a component that
is crucial for the development of literature and education systems in the
modern African setting.
In today’s
African societies, content creation is becoming a trend. In addition, it has
become of more an education trend in that online platforms are being used in
classroom settings. It is with this approach that the children are able to
integrate with technology and science in their later stages of education say
institutions of higher learning. Reading is becoming an in-thing amongst people
in the street. Before the world was hit by the deadly Covid-19, reading in our
streets, homes, and even work places was not that a casual thing. Nonetheless,
during this hard time, people across the world are turning to books. Barack
Obama released his “A Promised Land,” which sold close to 850,000 copies on its
first day. I would bet that literature in Africa has a bright future.
Readership in Africa in this age and time should catapult especially with the
presence of science and technology.
Concerning
readership, Africa is at an advantage in that there were the learning channels
instilled during the time of our ancestors. It was in this time that informal
education was quite the order of the day. Nonetheless, the challenge of having
numerous languages is significant in the campaign for an educated Africa.
However, with the rise of African writers across the continent, it could turn
out to be a cohesive discussion and obviously a platform to discuss and expound
on the possibilities of having African Literature, similar to the likes of
European and Asian literature. In addition, the translation of such indigenous
languages could catapult the possibilities of having a wholesome dialogue. As a
crayon is the first pen a student uses in their early phase of education,
African literature could use such a framework that would see the same student
advancing to using pencil then to the use of a pen.
