THE MEMOIRS OF AN AFRICAN SHOE

Shoes have a story to tell...

The most heartwarming tales are told, 

Not by that new, frequently-changed pair, 

But by that single beloved pair that is worn day-in, day-out. 

It is a story of long thirsty walks, of scorching sweaty days, 

It is a story of pain, hunger, and the struggle to survive. 

Above all, that rugged shoe is still the beacon of hope;

That if you survive this day, with the shoe still on that weary blistered foot, 

There will be a brighter day. 

The story of hope is the story of humanity,

The very essence of life!

PLASTIC SHOES - THE STORY OF THE MASAAI BOY

I went for a CSR visit at a local primary school outside the company town of Magadi. 

I met this young Masaai boy who beamed the brightest of smiles...

What gave him away were his PLASTIC shoes. 

The sages of old tell us to walk a mile in his shoes to appreciate his tribulations. 

I am not sure I could do a day in his shoes... 

The temperatures in Magadi can sometimes get to a searing 44  degrees centigrade. 

The boy leaves home at 6 am every morning and gets to school by 8 am. 

For a promising Masaai Moran, that could be 10km, maybe more; 

20km every day for 8 years of primary school life and perhaps even more in high school. 

He may as well have circumnavigated the earth...  

Yet, he just stood there smiling and appreciating the little we had to offer.

At that moment, he restored my belief in humanity. 

No matter the circumstances, 

His dreams, his hopes, and his PLASTIC SHOES will take him across the earth.

AKALA  - THE TURKANA  VERSION

During a recent medical camp in the semi-arid County of Isiolo, 

I had the (mis)fortune of visiting a far-flung village (manyatta) called Attan. 

Attan is surrounded by jungle on four sides, 

And only full-blooded 4WD vehicles can access the village,

Via a mostly indeterminate, treacherous dirt road. 

It's so hot, dry, windy, and dusty; 

By evening, you look more like a monkey,

With all your orifices brimming with dust. 

In this harsh, forsaken, dusty corner of the earth, 

There exists an utterly hardy tribe of Turkana herdsmen;

Surviving against insurmountable odds. 

Somehow, they survive with little food and water,

And almost no healthcare facility within 30 miles. 

When they heard of our medical camp, 

They walked for hours to get whatever little medical attention we could offer.

Believe me, the feet in the picture above belong to women!

These women have seen it all - yet, they know no limits. 

Theirs' is a story of isolation, neglect, survival, hardship, and tribal clashes, 

Thirst, hunger, famine, adolescent motherhood, disease, and early death. 

Yet, here they were, queuing for hours,

Unfazed by the sweltering equatorial sun.

Just to get some medicine for their younglings. 

Maybe, just maybe, their children will survive to see the next morning. 

AKALA - THE MAA VERSION

The legend of the Akala is the ultimate African epic. 

The history of the Maasai (aka, the Maa) will not be complete without a mention of the Akala.

Maa tribesmen are the authentic archetypes of the tall, dark, and handsome avatars; 

Yes, those clichéd chiseled unicorns of pop culture!

Enter the Akala - the not-so-sexy shoe made from sombre old tyres.

Notwithstanding, the legend of this shoe is as romantic as they come.

The Akala is a metonym for the fearless Maa warrior - the Moran;

The epitome of tenacity, vitality, and valor. 

It's a vignette for the imposing elongo (shields) and the menacing glint of the deathly assegai,

A spectre of glistering black skin, dicey red ochre locks, and placid scarlet kikoys.

The drab shoe proudly recounts tales of countless feral battles in the Savannah;

Of hunted lions, rustled cattle, and shanghaied damsels.

It's an immortal witness to the conquest of lesser tribes and unbounded territories.

It enbosoms the spirit of the Mara, the Serengeti and, the Amboseli.

The seal of the Akala will forever be carved into the history of the land.

Enkare Nyrobi, Enkare Nanyokie, Enaiposha, Nakurro, Eldore, Uasin Gishu...

(Nairobi, Nanyuki, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu - towns/cities in Kenya)

The Akala also embodies the spine of the colonial resistance in Kenya;

A terrifying tormentor in edgy imperial nightmares.

It is the legend of Mbatian, Letoya, and Lenana;

A generous serving of indomitable indigenous pride.

It's a peek at divinity and mystic African spirituality,

The Mountain of God - Ol Doinyo Lengai.

It is like peering into the darkness of hades, the black hole - The Ngorongoro;

An odyssey into antiquity, the very cradle of mankind - Ol Dupai

So you see, the ignoble Akala shoe,

Is an integral element of the Maa DNA.

PATI PATI - THE REBEL IN THE SERENGETI

I went down to Western Serengeti and was absolutely intrigued by this gentle giant.

I know what you are thinking...

No, I did not commune with rebels in the ilk of Joseph Kony. 

This was an honest-to-God sentinel of the lodge I was staying at. 

What surprised me most was his casual manner with the gun; 

And of course, the pati pati (sandals)

The sandals tell a story of a relaxed middle-aged man,

Who doesn't give a rat's ass about what the world thinks of him. 

In a snake-infested park, 

He'd confidently prance about, in sandals, like he's some kind of snake charmer.

He has probably seen it all and lost all sense of fear...

All the same, what lifted my heart was his thirst for knowledge. 

This guy was always the first in class.

He'd lay down his gun, don this grave studious face and get down to some serious learning.

Oh well, you know what they say about books?

If the world is a book, those who don't travel, read only the first page.

HEELS - BY VALENTINO

Some say I am obsessed with legs;

I think not...

Give to Ceasar what's due to him; her in this case.

And where credit is due, do not be measly with your praise.

Shoes can have a way with love stories. 

Bought these springy heels for my "significant other" on Valentine's Day.

There's this movie.

"The Devil Wears Prada"

Well?

Maybe she does...

SAHARA'S  - DANDORA L.O.V.E

Safari Boots!

This is the shoe that says, "You know Kenya!"

All tourists visiting Kenya must buy at least a pair before returning home.

It's the law!

In the seedier districts of Nairobi,

These world-beaters are called "Saharas". 

Now, I have never trusted any young man (or woman) wearing them Sahara's. 

For some reason, the thugs in Dandora and Kayole would die for these boots.

These boots have a story tell,

Straight outta the encyclopedia of hardknocks.

Theirs is a story of absentee fathers, gnawing hunger, knives, and guns.

A tale of Gully vs. Gaza, of violence, crime, blood, and youthful death. 

So, the next time you meet a guy wearing Saharas in a dark Nairobi alley,

You better be running for dear life!

CREDITS

I got the idea of telling the story of the African shoe a while ago,

After a friend, Joy Wango, did a pictorial on "The doors and windows of Zanzibar". 

At that time, the idea of a blog had not quite caught up. 

So I took some pictures and stowed them away on some cheap CDs. 

Years later, the CDs are all scratched,

And it's almost impossible to retrieve the pictures. 

I still want to tell my story...

So I will begin somewhere and build the story in time...

Shannon Jensen beat me to this. 

She did a very powerful pictorial "The Long Walk".

Told the story of the Sudanese Civil war refugees,

Better than any words could ever do. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson gave us this great quote,:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail".

Jensen, you've earned my eternal respect; SALUD! 
http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/moving-walls/21/long-walk 

And then, along came this awesome Kenyan boy band,

H_art The Band...

They killed it with their song, 

"Uliza Kiatu - ita-testify" - Ask my shoe, it will testify.