Leave alone other communities, a Somali lady would hardly marry from the neighbouring tribes

A Somali woman talks on the phone. (Courtesy)

By: Yasmin Mohamed

Come to think of it, however much an African man was a chauvinist and degraded women, he never stood in public to call a woman names and defamed her. That’s what makes him a man.

Less words and vast actions. Words don’t stick but they expose your character, they give you a a name,they give you a position among people; they filter your worth.

Of late, a blogger emerged by the name Nyakundi and all over social network his fame flew as he “exposed women who exploit men.”

He and his so called followers think is a good name but just shows how backward and lost they are. This whole idea of fighting women with vulgar, ugly words on public domain is an act which will make our ancestors roll in their graves. Where are the ethics?

Talks went on and now it’s come to the Somali community. He profiled them for having so many kids and overtaking most of the businesses in the big cities. Is this still a fight for the boychild? Is this a fight to regain the lost glory of the “boy child”? Is this a fight for the well being of men or it’s a fight against the community? Because the boychild fight doesn’t get concluded with ethnic profiling!

Somalis by nature are a proud lot, far much more than most cushites. With that, they still uphold the African culture and norms. Leave alone the idea of marrying from another tribe, Somalis find it hard to marry from their neighboring clans.They want to maintain the name and pride amongst themselves. 

However ancient this is, it is the royalty that bred our ancestors. Let us a little bit push away religion when it comes to getting intimate before marriage. Didn’t our ancestors condemn this? wasn’t this a taboo? So, we’re now brave enough to mention the unmentionable not for good but for evil just because a section of the society is still strict with the rules.

Religion came with Arabs and the whites—we were all Africans before. So, discussing sex and what it comes with in an African set up was something to be said in whispers or even with caution. 

Such words are sacred and delicate and had to be uttered with dignity and respect. And if offended by any individual, the law is there to take action. 

So who has the right to profile a certain section of the society just because they do what you don’t like? Because they don’t give you what you want?

And if you see a lost individual in a whole lot, not all birds were made to fly in one direction. 

We always have lawbreakers. Dirty words and individuals and bitter feelings from an individual who is doing that just to gain cheap publicity shouldn’t stand in the way of Kenyans.

Enough said, of how he stands to point fingers at the leaders and businesmen who do their best to improve the name and status of Somali Kenyans, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission should be all eyes because as seen, prominent bloggers are joining in this too.

This is stronger than it looks. If we won’t nib this in the bud, they’ll surely grow into gigantic trees and destroy the much achieved.