Eng'iti
Elder Lister
SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
The time was midnight on Thursday, December 12, 1963. The venue: Uhuru Gardens on Langata Road. As if the heavens had joined in applause, rippling waves of thunder clattered across the midnight sky as drenching rain spattered on everyone, except the few lucky ones who were in the covered pavilion.
As a newly arrived surgeon in Nairobi — at the time you needed less than the fingers on one hand to count the country's surgeons - my wife and I had the privilege to sit in the State Pavilion, All the same, the awesomeness of the approaching moment made the crowd standing in the downpour exude similar exuberance as those seated in the special tent. After all, rains were a good omen in African culture and the heavy downpour could only enrich the traditional good luck that went with it.
But the rains had a perfect sense of timing too and, when they stopped, a jubilant and exultant mood swept over the crowds, who roared to welcome their freedom.
More than 1,200 dancers shook the arena as they massed in a bewildering display of colour, sound and movements.
The last governor of Kenya, MacDonald, arrived with Prince Philip who was representing the Queen of England. Mzee Kenyatta, the designated Prime Minister, and the Governor went to the centre of the arena as the British anthem, God save the Queen was played for the last time. The Kenyan flag was hoisted to the sound of Kenya's national anthem, which was drowned by the ululating crowd.
All in all, I still cannot find enough and exact words to capture the glory and splendour of that moment.
On the following day, the famous duo of Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba performed at the concert of African music. Among the many numbers they sang, Fadhili William's eternal classic, Malaika, received the biggest applause. This was their first visit to Kenya and they instantly fell in love with the song when they heard it. Apparently, Makeba had asked Tom Mboya, their official host, to write the words for her and I suspect this was their maiden effort. They were followed by our own home-made, local talent/ Sal Davis, who sprang into action with his recording of, Unchain My Heart.
Daily Nation July 31st 2003
