If you missed the function for some reason, it was a great day when a cosmopolitan crowd of almost 100 people descended at a Lokal in Norsborg to welcome the little baby Destiny, not just in the world but also in the little but complicated Kenya-Stockholm. Everybody could not fit into the hall so others stood outside.
Naturally, majority of the crowd was Kenyan and Wananchi appeared to have gone for their “Sunday best” clothes to shine during the occasion. The ordinary Swedish dressing mode may not pass as “stylish” to a typical Kenyan so you rarely see Kenyans in their “Sunday best” when you pump into them unexpectedly in town.
If you want to gauge the latest sophistication in general Kenyan attire, you have to wait for a function. For the ladies, there is always “no taking chances” and if you are keen enough, you will notice that they rarely “repeat the same clothes” and you may begin to wonder the size of the closet.
Apart from Kenyans, there were Swedes, Middle Easterners, Asians and Latin Americans, making the crowd composition one of the most international in recent Kenya-Stockholm event. In fact, I was made to understand that information about the event was limited to close contacts otherwise the number of attendees could have swelled because Destiny’s father – Makan Macharia – is a man of the people who is very much known in Norsborg and beyond. Some contacts had come all the way from Göteborg to be part of the action.
Besides, the Ngatias, Makan’s parents, constitute a cross section of the oldest members of the Norsborg community, having settled in the area in the early eighties. Their tentacles spread far and wide in the region and it was fitting that the celebration of the event was placed at the very region where Makan himself grew up as a youth before departing to take up his responsibility as a devoted father of many children.
The last similar event was that of Mr. Daniel Mwaura and one could notice the proximity of the Mwaura’s to the Makan’s almost instantly as Mwaura had won the prestigious position of “Master of Ceremony” and he did it with his usual charismatic style.
The venue was extremely fitting. There were two floors where guests could take it easy and those below could view what was happening upstairs. The dining area was upstairs and food was there in plenty. Both carnivorous and vegetarian foods stuffs were on the menu and you just had to choose your liking. The Kachumbari was strong but the good thing is that an immaculate lady dressed in “high fashion” was strategically placed at the food area to advice on the various food stuffs on offer. When I began to dig into the kachumbs, she humorously reminded me that it was Kali and suggested that may be, I could have a “test drive” then measure my scoop. I understood her signal and avoided messing up my plate!
Song and Dance
As the crowd began to swell and time continued to tick, the event began in earnest. The spectacular Kikuyu songs to welcome the child rent the air and there was no debate about “Women’s take-over” of the real action. Regardless of how loud some men tried to sing, their voices were drowned by the chorus of women’s voices.
For the Swedes who were attending an event of this kind for the first time, it must have been an occasion to remember because one could notice their elation patched on their faces as they marveled at an African (or Kenyan) child welcoming ceremony. You could notice from their faces that they had never seen anything like this before.
It was a time to listen to all the vital Kikuyu songs during the occasion and there was no let down. Both Wellokamu and Nenyuo were on the DJs list. You don’t have to have mastered the lyrics. You just have to learn them when the song breaks out and it’s that simple. When it was time to take up Mugithi, a human train quickly formed itself in the hall then it moved all the way outside to join the crowd that could not be in the theatre of action because the hall was filled to capacity.
Kenyans present seemed not to have been concerned with carrying presents because this was not a birthday Party. However, there were enough envelopes to go round and in a show of solidarity, almost each and everyone had something to dump in the Kiondo when the time came.
Everything was free of charge (including machozi ya Simba) and if you think economically, it was easy to notice that thousands of Kwachas had gone into the event. The “envelop culture” is a positive thing which Kenyans need to stick to because everybody understands the economic magnitude of such functions.
In Kikuyu culture, you don’t just carry a new child without thrusting something in the baby’s hand and other cultures seem to be following suite!
This explains why everybody tried to carry the baby as they delivered their presents and it was sometimes tricky because the little baby sometimes appeared surprised and began to cry, prompting her Mom who was on stand-by to take over to cool things down before others could take their turns.
It was nice meeting Winnie Mukaru, her baby and her Mom after a long time. Jane Wanjiru, Waithera, Nyori, Cathy, Ofore, Rapper Billy Boy, Mark Gaya, laban Mberi and family, Chairlady Mrs Hellen Opwapo, the entire members of the Ngatia family, Jacinter Njoroge, the Mukundis, Rapper JJ, Pastor Beatrice Kamau and her sister Margarett Njihia, Man Nzoro, Man Gitash and family, Lady Winnie, “Wedding couple” Njenga and Wambui, William Twiteok, Mary Kamuiru, Naomi Wambui, Serah Nielssen, Papparazzi Keegan Kagwe, Nelly, Mrs Kiboi from the Kenyan Embassy, brother Muirani who recently accepted Jesus Christ as his personal saviour and others all took their time and suspended their activities to be at the event which was full of pomp.
Mrs Nyambura Ngatia, Makan’s mom who called the event, has thanked everybody who attended the function. Speaking to KSB, she said that the whole family was happy with and hoped that the solidarity within the community will continue now and in the future.
Okoth Osewe
About the Author
I would just like to congratulate the Ngatias on their new addition to the family, and apologise for my absence, which was due to an unexpected development.
God bless!