i imagine most people have heard news snippets about the violence accompanying recent elections in kenya the past month or so. if you're entirely in the dark, check out this [oversimplifying, but still helpful] article about the dangerous ramifications of the recent political chaos. dave anderson, my professor, is quoted in the article and has been quite active in the media trying to prevent unintelligent journalism on the issue. people see violence in africa and jump to immediate conclusions of 'entrenched traditional tribalism' and 'genocide like rwanda' all over again. we must put these events in a more accurate historic and local context, or else we simply exacerbate the issues. dave was explaining the other day how kalenjins in the rift valley applauded when the media claimed their actions 'genocidal,' because it put so much fear into gikuyu living among them that they all packed up and left: exactly what the kalenjins intended.
so anyway, this past week at oxford a group of african studies students (mostly kenyans) organised events to raise money for the kenyan red cross - i was asked to be the official photographer (throwback to my days as historian at cerro villa!). here are some shots of the open mic night in my college's bar, and the following night's panel discussion on 'kenya: the way forward' held in rhodes house, one of my main libraries. they were really good events that raised some funds, brought issues forward. the panel discussion was quite pessimistic in tone, unfortunately... we continued discussion at the pub afterwards and there was definite disagreement: dave, having spent so much of his life in the rift valley province, is increasingly pessimistic about the future of kenya (you can see his views in this ny times article). nic cheeseman, another one of my professors, however, felt that practical economic necessities will bring people away from the machetes and into productive life again. it's hard to say, and they may both be right - it's an exaggeration to say the country will fall apart completely (the 1992 elections had just as much violence accompanying them), but economic boom and prosperity are not likely either.
above is a south african gumboots dance performance... and below - that man sitting on the far left is dave anderson
pray for kenya, as it holds so much sway on a continent that has simply been marginalised and beaten up for far too long.
