PART ONE: THE
JOURNEY.
“Dere simamisha hapo
kwa kichaka” (driver stop next to the bush). I think I heard this phrase
for several times before Marsabit. I found it normal because nature always
calls at any time. I must confess that this was the longest journey I have ever
travelled and maybe the last in my lifetime. You can’t imagine that we saw the
sun rise and set twice before we reached our destination. More than 36 hours of
nonstop travel. It was by the grace of the almighty. Praise to you Lord Jesus
Christ!
Those stopovers were so nice! That shopping at the first
stop over, my goodness! ‘Kwani ananunulia
gari mzima? ” (Isn’t that shopping too much). This question crossed my mind
but I immediately withdrew it when I realized I was carrying twice the shopping.
In fact the journey was so long for the food to see you through even a quarter
of it. My consolation was to pretend a sleep just to lie to my mind. You know
at this state BMR * can suffice.
“Why is there much movement in
the vehicle? Is it another kichaka?
“Maybe I was dreaming! Oh no. we were at Nanyuki for our first meal. Some went
for rice and sijui what whereas most
of us settled for ugali beef. Wait! What about the nyam chom? Imagine it had numbers! I heard no. 10 was the best. “Hii
no. 10 bwana! Sikutupa pesa zangu” (I didn’t waste my money on this no. 10),
said Adommy seconded by mwalimu. Now
that made sense for the stomach. Off we go!
Isiolo. We were almost covering a quarter of the journey.
The seat belt had to be tightened further. Waambieni
wenye moyo safi jipeni moyo (the strong in spirit should never give up). I cannot forget those ‘hustling’
mothers at ____________hawking the
famous toothbrush roots. ”Mswagi ni
shillingi kumi” (toothbrush at ten shillings). That was at night! They left
me tempted to do a remix of Awillo Mike’s song-Riziki.
That puncture really messed us! I was really annoyed. I
think whoever woke me up should have gone back to sleep and complete my dream.
Maybe he would have eaten the nyam chom
if at all it was there. No. 10 was
almost ready when the chicky guy interrupted my dream. I have never done choir
practice in such early a morning. It was so chilly. Thank God we managed to
sing with the trembling mouths blending well with the song rhythms. The Catholic
Church across the road allowed for a sign of the cross to be made. Interaction with
those Rendile ladies was great! I wonder why they ran away when Dommy
approached them.
There we were at Marsabit for the real journey. I think some
of us ate ourselves sick at this second meal site. A shower was highly
prohibited because where we were headed could not spare a smart or grubby
person. There was no compromise for the dust ahead. Though it took us long at
this town, I must admit that all the travelers had a great urge of cooperation.
For that reason, I salute you all!
North Horr! Here we come! The journey inside made everybody
filled with ecstasy however rough the road was. By the way a musician could
have composed a thousand tunes from the snoring sounds produced in the vehicle
due to the ruggedness. I think the close-to-the-window guys enjoyed best the
picturesque scenery. A real ASAL * panorama. Vast land extending for kilometers
with scanty vegetation and stones piled all over to create hilly sceneries. The
famous ‘kichaka’ phrase had to be amended
because there no more bushes.
A very small stone made us stay in the foreign and unknown
land for hours. It caused a burst of the big tire. This confirmed to me that
David really killed Goliath. The few hours of stay at this place was a quick
reminder of the Israelites’ journey to the promised land. We were in the middle
of nowhere just like the Israelites. Thanks to our Moseses’ who assured us that
everything was in control. We were headed to Canaan to spread the good news and
the very Lord who saw the Israelites through would not have let us down.
Somebody say amen! Alleluia!
I bet it was the
first time creatures around that place heard of a generator sound. How could we
be idle for that long? We heard to have fun as the puncture was being worked
on. We danced ourselves mad praising the Lord who had already seen us that far
and still prayed for His favor in the journey ahead. Some had an opportunity to
explore the ASAL biodiversity and strengthen their bond too. The only
difference between us and the Israelites was that we never dared to deviate
from the norms neither did we worship any idol though manna did not fall. I
guess the next stop will be North Horr or at least kilometers away. Well,
accompany me as I give every bit of the story.
The few minutes at Maikona were great. Delicious mandazis accompanied with well-prepared
tea calmed the hunger. I think next time we will pass by to say bye, we will demand
for the same but in a magnified manner. May Dr. Goddana’s soul rest in peace.
Finally! Officially! At last! There we were. Please close your
eyes for a moment to thank the almighty for that far had taken us_ _ _ I cannot tell you that we got lost in Chalbi
desert neither can I say that we had to reverse for route relocation. That was
very normal in such a long, engaging, tiring, sleeping, stopping, standing _ _
_ journey.
Thanks and ululations that filled the atmosphere. We had to
hurriedly take food, have a shower and a few minutes of sleep. Some said that
the first lot of food tasted great but I bet they were wrong. I can confirm to you that one of the attractions
that can take me back North Horr, the only thing I can die for to have on my dinner
table, was that dry fried meat! That meat was just wao! I enjoyed the eating all
of my stay there. After 48 hours of
missing a mattress, we had a chance to rest for 2.5 hours because the day ahead
was fully scheduled. In the name of the father, _ _ _ amen. Nice sleep!
PART TWO: THE MISSION.
The 5-day stays at North Horr seemed like one or at most two
days to me. It felt nice being around there. From the first ululations
immediately we arrived, no word could describe how I felt in my heart. It was
just a humbling experience.
We celebrated a mass full of record breakings. First, choir
sang so well without a keyboard accompaniment. The liturgical dancers did what
they know best. I also danced. The Ulfinni guddaani (Kyrie) song was an outstanding
one. I would have given a link to its audio to confirm this but it is not
available for now. His eminence, bishop Kihara of Marsabit diocese, led the
confirmations. Thanksgiving song moves from the kids were awesome. Nobody felt
a single doze off during the whole mass though we had slept for very few hours.
Record broken!
It was a total contrast of what most of us thought! They
proved us wrong. Welcoming nature, friendly, cooperative _ _ _ any word that
refers to a good person: “I can compare your kindness to that of the
Tanzanians”, if my memory serves me right, then it is mwalimu who said these words during an evening gathering with the
locals. It was so amazing that the 15% Christians, 15 % Muslims and the rest %
of pagans peacefully coexisted. Whereas most parts of the world including
Africa are highly affected by terrorist attacks between rival religions, the
North Horr people know the meaning of appreciating religious diversity. After
all we worship one God!
Some of us were humbled to the extent of acquiring new
names. For instance I was and I am still the self-proclaimed Galgallo (born in
the evening). According to the Gabra culture and tradition, a child is named
after the day, time of the day or the season s/he is born. Nicknames didn’t
miss too. I remember a certain choir lady was called sororo (means brown in Gabra language).
The following are
some of the events and experiences that may find me in Allangas back to North
Horr once again just to admire and re-experience them:
KUNDIANDARA NIGHTS:
“Leo ni kundiandara”
(tonight will be a hot seat), Fr. Anthony spoke these words in his pure Italian
accent and they sounded beautiful. Emcee Adommy kept the crowd entertained and
contained. Young man you have a talent. Thumbs up! The Gabra warrior song
scared me to the core. All the performances kept the attendees on their feet to
the last minute. Liturgical dancers and the live choir songs said it all. There
is this thing that kept some of the children if not all smiling back to their
homes. It was not the sweets. I mean those greetings created a totally
different environment to them.
All the nights were specially organized to fulfill a
particular purpose. Cultural and traditional shows, talent displays among
others. The grand dinner crowned all the nights in a very colorful ceremony
full of memories. The three goats we were given which are already a history and
the nice pictures during gift presentations for the website display. I liked
it.
CRUSADES:
I learnt that you will never know somebody’s potential
unless you put them into the ultimate taste. We were accompanied by very great
preachers. I think these guys are in the wrong place performing the right career
while ignoring a call. Pastor Munywoki, pastor Masha and praise and the worship
team did what they know best. People really turned up- over 2,000! That was
mission beyond mission. Everybody was so impressed. The songs, dances and skits
left the congregations with a very strong message - the Lord never neglects His
people. Our friends, parents, guardians or the Government may do that but not the
Lord! I was not impressed when I heard most of people send greetings to Kenya
as if they were not part of it. It is a very big challenge to the responsible
authorities.
SCHOOL
VISITATIONS:
We had to traverse through all the centers of excellence in
this locality. What a great privilege for the students to interact with
University guys. The few minutes of
mentorship were very helpful to them I guess. I liked the entertainments from
the North Horr boys and girls, Malabot, Dr Goddana Memorial, Nomadic Girls Boarding
and of course Elgade.
FUN DAYS:
Every minute of the stay at North Horr just seemed to be
accompanied with fun. The clothes wre drying within minutes, jokes during
supper, walks and bed time. The long ride on the long lorry used to be a
peak. Who were the first guys to reach
the Dandable hill top? I think they are the ones who disturbed that hyena. I saw it. This time not in a documentary but
live. The presence of stone-constructed cross declared the hill top sacred. I
bet those picture are just among the paparazi’s
selection. I remember some guys flexing muscles by throwing stones down the
valley. Who threw the furthest? I need to propose him/her to more training in
hunting down enemies using stones.
What about the nomadic (migrating) sand dunes? How do they
manage to move yet they are not living things? Nature knows best. Those races
across the place burnt some calories of the goat meat we were consuming in
large quantities. Bare feet felt uncomfortable in the hot sand. It was a day
well spent.
The oasis fun moment still linger in my mind. Walking in
water in the desert! It immediately reminded me of the swimming streams at
home. Clean clear desert water. Wash your feet, face, take a bath or carry some
home for domestic uses including drinking. The date palms along the oasis
produce very tasty coconuts! I fought over one as we were living the place. Its
shinny appearance attracts a craving for one.
FOOD:
For lack of a better word, I can say that those people can
cook. Please don’t misunderstand me. The kitchen mums always did it! Delicious mandazis complemented with high quality
tea, githeri _ _ _Imagine just relaxing waiting for self-delivery
of food. No movement! No visitor was allowed to wash any utensil or even show
up at the kitchen. For them once visitor always a visitor. I wonder how many
can do that.
Who can ever forget the mengich? That special skin you are worn on the hand to
indicate a warm welcome? It could be from either ngamia (camel) or goat depending on whose meat you ate. I still
have two of them. The more the mengich,
the higher the number of goats/ngamia
consumed.
REUNIONS:
Some of us were happy to find people we could identify with.
At North Horrr and Elgade. They were long lost guys from our localities. I
think I need a copy of that photo.
Now that was more than an experience. It was a very short
time but I learnt so much. Culture and traditions well blended with the
spiritual world. For instance, the traditional wedding parties then later wed
at church. People of North Horr, it was nice sharing with you. God bless you.
