Page 22 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 31

Community
into the ocean, one thing kept popping up
in my mind, that is, what was life like in
Africa before the European disturbance that
invaded our communities? I am not really
seeking an answer but just a reflection on
what could have been if Africa had note
been so viciously invaded and contaminated
by Western ideologies around money and
individualism.
So, whether you’re an avid photographer,
nature lover, or simply someone who enjoys
the quiet peace of a morning stroll, Malindi
offers a unique glimpse into the natural
beauty and simplicity of life on the Kenyan
coast. There are loads of tourist sites you can
visit in Malindi. One such site on my bucket
list while still here would be to visit the Gede
ruins in Watamu and the Arabuko Sokoke
Forest.
About the river
The Athi-Galana-Sabaki River is the second
longest river in Kenya (after the Tana River).
It has a total length of 390 kilometres (240
mi) and drains an area of 70,000 square
kilometres (27,000 sq mi). The river rises in
the Gatamaiyo Forest as the Athi River and
enters the Indian Ocean as the Galana River
(also known as the Sabaki River)
The Athi River flows across the Kapiti and
Athi plains, through Athi River town, and
then takes a northeasterly direction where
it is met by the Nairobi River. Near Thika,
the river forms the Fourteen Falls and turns
south-south-east under the wooded slopes
of the Yatta ridge, which shuts in its basin
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on the east. Apart from the numerous small
feeders of the upper river, the only other
tributary is the Tsavo River, from the east
side of the Kilimanjaro, which enters at
about 3° S. It then turns east, and in its lower
course is known as the Sabaki (or Galana)
River, which traverses the sterile quartz-land
of the outer plateau. The valley is low and
flat, covered with forest and scrub, containing
small lakes and backwaters connected to the
river during the rainy season. During the
rainy season, the river rises as much as 10
metres (33 ft) in places, now strongly flowing
with a turbid yellow colour; navigation is
interrupted by the Lugard Falls, actually a
series of rapids. Flowing east, it enters the
Indian Ocean 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of
Malindi. (Source: Wikipedia)
Final thoughts
I mentioned that I wasn’t so surprised that
Lama didn’t seem to collect any money
from most of the people I watched him ferry
across the river within the time that I was
there, and my reason is simple; Most parts of
Africa still hold community and community
service in high regard. And this I have seen
from the various places my family and I have
lived in Kenya. Ubuntu is not dead, we just
need to give more voice to its use.
Speaking about Ubuntu which means “I am
because we are”, we must also understand
the other side, that is “I am not because we
are not”. Think about this for a moment.