Page 21 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 31
P. 21
Community
More
passen-
gers for
Lama.
Photo:
Samuel
Phillips
The other side of the riverbank was lined a well-worn footpath leading to another
with coconut trees, creating a scene that village, which was surrounded by lush
reminded me of the African moonlight stories coconut trees. I could only imagine the
we heard as children—stories of nature, stories and lives unfolding in that small,
rivers, and life in rural communities on the peaceful community. Since I had no plan to
African continent. cross the river to the other side, I just took
my time on this side with the thought that
Meeting Lama, the River Ferryman maybe one day I would make the trip across.
As I sat by the river, I met Lama, a young Reflections on Malindi and the Kenyan Coast
man who ferries people across using a canoe As I sat by the Athi-Galana-Sabaki River, I
which he pushed along with a long pole. He couldn’t help but feel a deep connection to
calmly transported people from one side to the land and its people. Although my initial
the other, and I noticed that he didn’t seem mission was to photograph trees, the walk
to collect any money from the passengers he turned into a journey of discovery—one
brought to the side I was, except for one man that revealed the quiet beauty of rural life
who gave him some money. Out of curiosity, in Malindi, Kenya’s coastal region. The
I asked Lama how much it would cost to experience reaffirmed my love for morning
cross the river, and he told me it was 50 walks, the joy of photo hunting, and the
Kenyan Shillings. Whether this was a special serendipity of finding unexpected treasures in
price for outsiders like myself, I couldn’t say, nature.
but his humble demeanor and dedication to
his work left a lasting impression. Outside of all that I had already written about
this peaceful village with this beautiful river
On the opposite side of the river, I noticed flowing across the land to pour its treasure
ISSUE 31 | NOVEMBER 2024 21
