Late 1940s Kaloleni, Kilifi County. A time when the white man was passing the responsibility of running schools to educated Africans. Pictured here is Japhet B. Mumba, Principal - Kaloleni School, together with his family. His deputy at the time was Ronald Ngala. Short thread...
Educated at Alliance High School and Makerere, Japhet B. Mumba was deemed ready for the Principal role. The English-style house in the background was handed to him for occupancy. The previous occupant was a CMS Missionary, Miss E. Bodger.
Miss E. Bodgers was somewhat a legend in Kaloleni & the larger Kilifi. She founded the Kaloleni Vocational Training Center in 1927, where tailoring, carpentry, masonry & agriculture was taught. Popularly known as 'Bibi Bodger' by locals, she spoke fluent Giriama.
Fondly remembered for teaching tailoring & needlework in Giriama, Miss E. Bodger was fond of a phrase while teaching the backstitch style..."Dunga tunduni uomboze chimbere".
Students at Kaloleni Vocational Center came from as far as Taita, Nairobi & Nakuru. Those who excelled then proceeded to Kabete Technical College. Just as those who came to Kaloleni learnt Giriama, so did those who graduated to Kabete return speaking Kikuyu (e.g my grandma).
Back to the English-style house pictured. It was later occupied by Dawson Mwanyumba, Wundanyi MP & Minister-Works, Communications & Power in the 1963 Kenyatta cabinet. The stadium in Wundanyi is named after Dawson Mwanyumba.
Mumba & Ngala are remembered for their time in Kaloleni School as a formidable pair that proved that Africans 'were ready' for greater teaching/administrative responsibilities. For their efficient management of school funds, Ngala was promoted to a Principal role in Mbale School.
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Ever used the word 'kibarua' or phrase 'niko kibaruani'? Well, the word 'kibarua' gained prominence on the Kenyan Coast in the 19th century to mean a system of day labour for slaves at the docks. They in turn paid their 'masters' half their daily earnings. A thread...
We must first understand the slavery/utumwa set-up as it was at the Coast. Utumwa was in contrast to what was considered 'uungwana' (civilised/freeborn). Some of the qualities of uungwana were being 'cultured', 'graceful', 'fashionable'. Utumwa would later morph into 'utumishi'.
'Mtumishi' was a servant as opposed to a slave. The difference being 'mtumwa' worked for free. The terms associated with utumwa were 'mzalia', 'mjakazi', 'mtwana', 'suria', 'suriama', 'mtumwa mjinga', and at the bottom of the pile...'mshenzi'.
There is nothing new under the sun, a short thread of data & correspondence at the Coast during the Spanish influenza outbreak (1918-1920) that mirrors the Corona pandemic. Vanga represents Kwale, Nyika represents Kilifi. Data from Tana River & Lamu wasn't readily available then.
The data above is for the period of Sept. 1918-March 1919. The outbreak globally was in waves, those that experienced a first wave (March 1918-August 1918) built up immunity & had a less severe second wave than countries that had first interaction with the flu in the second wave.
As is commonly known, Spanish influenza arrived in Kenya when a ship carrying World War 1 troops & carrier corps docked at the port of Mombasa from India in September 1918. In it were ailing persons that would introduce the second wave of the virus to our shores.