Wildlife Conservation in Angels of the Wild

Why Teen Literature is Every Young Person’s Love Story: Ng’ang’a Mbugua’s Angels of the Wild

Average book readers would easily testify to you how children stories enthralled their tender minds and tantalised their taste buds thereby setting off their love for poring through story books. Such persons would passionately and with a lot of abandon engage you with endless banter on how teen literature helped shape their world views and contributed immensely in fulfilling their childhood fantasies. Indeed, it is teen literature which brings the adventurous soul and spirit of a restless teen to a tranquil moment. Thus, it can be argued that this is made possible by the vicarious connection of the young mind with the boundless possibilities in fiction writing.

Image courtesy of Google Images

The key ingredient in teen writing is adventure. Psychologists have fronted the argument that the human brain is captivated by adventure since, innately, every human being desires to succumb to a reckless expedition bereft of the laws that govern human interactions. This would perhaps explain why some people love road trips, especially random ones that have not been painstakingly planned. It is this hunger for a sense of escape into the “unknown” that drives our desires to read adventurous stories. Some call it escapism literally!

Somehow, the reader imagines that s/he is able to traverse an out of the norm world that is probably and hopefully inhabited by “aliens”. Besides, teen literature appeals to young readers because it tends to respond to their immediate desires. Cornered into a structured adult world of dos and don’ts that hardly put into consideration their aberrant demands, teens are generally happy to read stories in which their age mates are heroes and individuals who appear to have a sense of freewill in their thinking and action – their free spirit like life dominates.  

It is this freewill and desire to do things in their own way that teens lack. It brings to mind kids love for the cartoon series Tom and Jerry in which roles are reversed and it appears that the mouse has clout and outmanoeuvres the cat. In this set up, the kids feel vindicated because they perceive the possibility of a world in which their hapless selves would be transformed to powerful individuals who call the shots and turntables over grownups. It is a world of reversals where laws of nature are defied and the impossible appear possible.

Mbugua’s Angels of the Wild may not be a story of a one-eyed ogre, it is neither a story of sci-fi equipment and destruction of aliens but it is a story of a young man’s quest to fight for wild animals’ right to life. In his characteristic nature, Mbugua attributes Birgen’s desire to protect the wild, especially elephants and rhinos, to a dream he has as a young boy. The dream motif is also found in his other novella Terrorists of the Aberdare. In this dream, a giant bird talks to Birgen and offers to take him for a ride because it wants to show him something; thereby arousing both Birgen and the reader’s curiosity. On this particular journey, Birgen witnesses first-hand the brutal massacre of an elephant and the callous extraction of its tasks.

The horrendous act fills Birgen with indignation. He is appalled by humans’ ravenous appetite for wild game and trophies without thinking about the decimation of the animals. Birgen can hardly conceptualise of a world without this nature’s beauty. He tries to think of a generation being taught in a history class of a species of animals that have become extinct and his soul is filled with extreme sadness. He vows to fight poaching. However, his noble quest is overtaken by events when he finds himself encased in a web of intricate activities that sees Birgen branded “Poachers” by his schoolmates. This is owed to his ignorant interaction with poachers, a Benjamin Saliti and others, who end up being nabbed and prosecuted in court.

Image courtesy of Google Images

Indeed, Saliti’s name betrays his cunning nature as it symbolises a betrayer. He preys on Birgen’s innocence and Tomsons, Birgen’s uncle, good nature and generosity to cover up his evil acts in Shaba Game Reserve. He ends up betraying their good course to preserve wildlife by aiding poachers thereby betraying the wild animals also by having them killed. On the one hand, the plot’s twists and turns are easy to follow and a young reader will easily identify and connect with the story. Besides, Birgen’s escapades in school appear factual and realistic something that would easily resonate with young school goers. On the other hand, Birgen’s emotional excitement about his uncle’s fiancée unearths his unfolding awareness about relationships and his own sexuality; thereby, it reveals his romantic expectations and affirms the average teen’s fantasies and aspirations. Read about Wangari Maathai and her conservation efforts here: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/   

As far as school work and learning is concerned, Birgen and his fellow classmates represent a typical class setting with its juvenile rivalry, teasing, and the general sense of ease and play that pervades their environment. The thematic issues highlighted in the novella are current and the writer weaves the issues around other contemporary aspects such as Kenya’s new constitution and current economic affairs with the East like the Chinese trade relations. The writer, for example, mentions the three arms of the government, makes reference to counties and enables the reader to ponder over the challenges bedecking devolution in the nation such as politicking. Also, the novella subtly critics the Kenyan government’s blind engagement with the Chinese government without due consideration of the repercussions on our wildlife or any other wonky issues such as trade imbalances.   

Other names that have carefully been crafted in the text are Kumbuko, the history teacher whose name appears to borrow heavily from Swahili’s Kumbukumbu or Kumbuka, meaning memory or to remember; hence signifying his career. Also, the government prosecutor, William Wellington Wefwafwa’s name alliterates. Consequently, the musical touch on the name makes it memorable and helps to broaden the dramatic attributes of the character. In a way, one can argue that Angels of the Wild provides an apt story for young readers which not only entertains them but also moralises them on virtues such as hard-work, self-belief, and honesty. This is of course contrasted against vices such as greed, dishonesty, and wanton destruction of Mother Nature.

Image courtesy of Google Images

Therefore, this novella is likely to stimulate young people’s minds and ignite their passion to fall in love with reading. I submit that such kind of writing would be useful to mentor young minds on the importance of safeguarding the natural environment for posterity. It also helps instil good values by extoling the spirit of togetherness and the need to unify, face challenges and hopefully surmount them. This is best illustrated in the science congress project that earns the team from Shompole school commercial prospects through mentoring by General Electric. The simple language and structure would easily appeal to teens and young adults to immerse themselves into the world of literature and hopefully fall in love with reading. Read more about the author here: https://www.bigwriters.blogspot.com

Redefining Patriarchy

Reflections on Dr Mamphela Ramphele’s “Ndiyindoda! Yes, you are a Man”

Had I not attended the 2^nd International Leah Tutu Symposium held at Odeion, University of the Free State, I would have remained believing that masculinity is only a preserve of the ignorant! Yet, masculinity, which is at the root of questions and problems surrounding gender, identity and contestations thereof about defining gender equality, is a problem of the world at large. The deliberations that ensued in the course of the day shook me and left me quite afraid of where my country, Kenya, is hurtling herself towards in lieu of men, masculinity and feminism.

UFS Nelson Mandela Gate: UFS FaceBook Images
UFS is here: http://www.ufs.ac.za/homepage 

Mamphela Ramphele’s keynote address inspired me so much that I decided to pen a blog post in honour of her presentation whose title and content is the source of my reflections and summations. Drawing largely from African traditional knowledge, cultural practices and other social norms, she noted that the true spirit of Ubuntu demands that we have to make it our business to touch the lives of the people we encounter and not to bask in the limelight of dominance and oppression. But it was her discourse on masculinity; the expectations of the society about men that elicited animated rejoinders from the audience. Her paper was predicated on the Xhosa initiation phrase Ndiyindoda – shouted at the moment of circumcision meaning “I am a man” – I have become a man through initiation.

After listening to her, now I am more than ever convinced that what ails the society is the ideal alpha male figure that we have propped up and imagined that every man/woman should strive to become in the course of their life. It is this alpha male myth that we celebrate; a narrative that thrives on the triple heritage of dominance, power and control. I can surmise convincingly here that it is the biggest problem that bedevils Kenyan politics, economy and social life and perhaps that of Africa at large. Otherwise how can you explain the voracious appetite for pieces of land, political power and the widening economic and social gap between the rich and the poor; the men and the women? Besides, the alpha male narrative flaunts sexuality and sexual prowess through belittling and undermining other males as sissies, wimps, moffies, weaklings or losers.

It thus bears mentioning that if we are to correct this image, we have to define masculinity differently and teach young men that they can define themselves outside the realms of the alpha male figure. This definition must occlude egalitarian values such as amassing wealth, wielding power over others, being a hero etc. As such, the mere adoption of a constitution by a country, like Kenya for example, does not directly translate to upholding of human rights and other gender related issues.  Also, being initiated through circumcision does not necessarily qualify one as a man and neither does hoarding or having havens of wealth and money transform one into a man. Thus, civic education must be stepped up to teach young generations of the ethos and values that define a holistic society – the need to embrace the value system of a human rights culture.

Image courtesy of University of the Free State website

One of the best ways to begin conversations about questions of identity is at school. We have to create safe spaces for teachers and mentors to discourse on matters of gender, identity and sexuality. As many developing countries grapple with emerging issues of LGBTI, homophobic behaviour and other sexually oriented issues, we must find apt means to confront and deal with them. If this does not happen, the phantom of the alpha male will keep haunting humanity. It is good to note that education can help negate aspects such as subjugation, disempowerment and alienation which are a resultant effect of the ideology of dominance.

It is also worth noting that women end up being collateral damages of subjugation. When the narrative of the alpha male dominates a society, this leads to other males being ridiculed and in turn they turn their angst towards the women in their lives. In their bid to remedy their broken egos, the men turn to crime, violence, drugs and anything else that can help fill the void of the feeling of vulnerability. Consequently, they rape, batter, maim and other times kill women and children. An example given in the discussion demonstrated how a man murdered a woman and when asked why he did so he said that he wanted her to respect him and recognise that he is a man and that as a result the society would see him as a man and respect that!

Of interest to the discussion was the fact that the increase in adult shops and other porn related issues is tied to the alpha male narrative that projects man as an insatiable being. This leads to human trafficking and the casting of the female body as an object of male desire, conquest and satisfaction. As a result, misogynistic images thrive as men compete to outdo each other in showcasing their money and power; again reflecting domination. This raises the question: Why do men feel they have to control and command? How can we teach alternative masculinity? Thus, as long as we uphold the alpha male – where the winner takes all, we will continue to nurture conflict and violence amongst ourselves!  

It simply emerged that human rights is an issue that resides in the realms of an ideal world, one which is far removed from the reality of the problems on the ground. We need to teach men that they can be real and that there is nothing wrong with crying. The traditional notion of a tough heterosexual man who is privileged as a provider, protector and leader must be challenged. If not, the men who do not exude such valour will continue to be ridiculed and when they suffer inferiority complex all manner of psychosocial issues will break loose. The detriment of such a situation might explain the isolated cases of Kenyan men massacring their entire family and committing suicide. In fact, if unchecked, the moral stability of the country will eventually crumble leading to a society of lawlessness and anarchy – a phenomenon that is already common in parts of South Africa and other places such as the USA.   

Image courtesy of UFS FaceBook Page 

Questions around the triple burden of poverty, unemployment and inequality undermine identity formation. For example, a man who cannot provide feels inadequate. If a boy is born to such a man and he grows up being asked to man up, he will have a warped imagination of what masculinity is because he is already traumatised by his father’s figure of a man who comes across as a loser thus encouraging transgenerational trauma. This tells us that we are overburdening men by telling them to be men and yet we are not equipping them with the requisite resources to be so. The corollaries of such a situation are gender based violence, indulgence in substance abuse, suicide and other crime related matters.

Care must be exercised so that we do not define men only as providers, protectors and leaders without providing them with the means to actualise the same. If these men are disempowered, such a perception, of an alpha male, will lead to destruction of the self which can only spell doom for the society at large. We have to find a way of initiating men into manhood without setting them up for failure. Ramphele reiterated that boys need to be socialised to understand that they can be gentle, communicative, and caring persons who can express emotions. But we must protect this and dissuade ourselves from joining ranks with those who demean them for being so. Both men and women must see each other as complimentary as opposed to competitors. Indeed, women cannot abdicate their responsibility of protecting men and helping men to understand their identity as well as position in society and vice versa. Read more about Ramphele: http://whoswho.co.za/mamphela-ramphele-4739

Last but not least, the African culture had no alpha male and everyone was equal. Social gatherings were held with all the men sitting in a circle on equal apparatus without even the chief being elevated. In this setting, everyone contributed equally and was listened to with mutual respect. Therefore, we must refuse quoting things out of context or selecting social constructs that satisfy our selfish whims such as the bible verse that women must be submissive. Ramphele ended her speech by quoting Fredrick Douglass’ statement that “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”.