Whenever I contribute here, I am frequently accused of being a tribalist. Specifically, I am regularly found ‘guilty’ of hating on Jaruos – my brothers from the lakeside.
But what is tribalism? What is the boundary between good-natured humour and ethnic prejudice? Should we shy away from pointing self-evident truths because they are politically-incorrect?
Let me use some examples.
When Gor plays at Nyayo, the whole area is engulfed with tension. Why? Because the club’s supporters who are predominantly Jaruo almost invariably cause chaos, throwing stones helter-skelter whether their team wins or loses. Random cars are damaged and pedestrians harassed. This is almost a hallmark of Gor supporters.
Now, in these circumstances when I make a comment like “Jaruos bana, what’s with you and stones?” am I stereotyping and being tribal? Or am I using proven events to provoke a discussion on social etiquette?
Let me use another example. According to the Ministry of Health and the WHO, Luo Nyanza has one of the highest HIV rates in the world. No sane human being can celebrate the suffering of others, surely, and definitely not me who has worked in this area. But we can use that unfortunate fact to raise awareness, and yes – controversially - score political points.
So when I say that Raila should concentrate more on helping ‘his’ people battle Aids before insulting Uhuru by calling a thief am I being tribal and petty? Am I stereotyping? Does it mean that I don’t have empathy with my brothers and sisters from across the valley? I don’t think so. In any case, how can we hope to deal with the problem when we don’t mention it?
I know I am walking a thin line here so let me use an example from the US, where Blacks are killing each other like there’s no tomorrow. Is it racist or tribal to point out, as some people there have, that far more Black men are killed by fellow Black people than are by White police officers? IT’S THE FERKING TRUTH, BUT SOME PEOPLE STILL THINK THAT IT IS RACIST! I don’t!
Let’s the deal with humour.
@Jirani has institutionalized the description of Kikuyus as shiny-eyed, meno-browned wakora here. Most of us Kikuyus find those descriptions funny, and we often repeat them ourselves. Why? Because life is short, and we can’t be serious all the time. We have to have the intelligence and wit to laugh at ourselves. Which is why, for example, we say that the average Luhya cannot do without “kaukali kitogo na chai mpirika tatu tu” although some Luhyas don’t even eat ugali.
Is this tribalism? I don’t think so. But wait until I tell @WuTang to go get cut and all hell breaks loose. Yet, traditionally, the Luo did not cut and performed a far more painful ritual of removing six lower teeth. To his credit @Tiriitiondo usually replies with two words: “Kihii wewe”. No chills, no catching. Why would a simple jibe based on a traditional fact elicit so much furore to the extent of one being taken to court?
Why do some people get all hot under the collar when we, for example, say Jaruo ladies have ‘hard’ faces, yet Kikuyu ladies are daily being told they have match-stick legs and no hips and they roll with it? Surely, anybody with any intelligence must know that this is harmless leg-pulling?
So what’s my point?
There’s a very thin line between North Korean kind of censorship and free speech. If @Jirani wants to call me shiny-eyed, let him knock himself out. It’s just like saying the Irish are drunks – people have always made fun of each other.
People also need to develop the maturity and thick skin to take what is dished to them. If I jokingly call you a baboon and you get all emotional and weepy it shows that you have esteem issues. You are emotionally immature.
It is not that I am a tribalist. It is that you think I am.