Two friends who have not met for quite a while bump into each
other in town in a busy street. One of them is called Marcus, the other Garvey.
This is the conversation they have, and as it is, it turns out to be a serious
chat in modern day Kenya
Marcus: (Garvey has not
seen him. He taps him on the shoulder and extends a clenched fist) Son of Woman…long
time…
Garvey: (Gets excited
on seeing him…) A man of the people…
(He hits him with a clenched fist too and gives him a serious look) you
look like you have been running on empty?
Marcus: (Looks at Garvey with a “I am not sure of
what you are telling me stare”) What do you mean…that…eeeh…
Garvey: (Cutting him short) That you look like
one who has spent three days on the cross?
Marcus: (Finding the statement
funny…adds laughing) And
one who found the devil on the cross as well while there…I mean while spending the
days as you allege…
(All the
while they have been standing on a foot path…They move aside)
Garvey: (As
they move aside) This is a busy street…
Marcus:
Yes…like Miguel Street…you know it…it’s where they cry the beloved country…all the time…
Garvey: You
are right…I once worked there…
Marcus: As
a…
Garvey: As a
mine boy… (Garvey seems to get an
idea…he is in deep thoughts)…eeh…have you seen Aminata of late…
Marcus:
No…but I hear she has blossomed with beauty…
Garvey:
(With a serious look…as if to stamp some authority) The beautiful ones are not yet born...
Marcus…and if they were they
wouldn’t be found just anywhere…they would be found at the anthills of the savannah that serve as the river and the source…not in this place where the wind sweeps
with the smell of carcuse for hoounds…
Marcus: But
I also hear she has become a deadly money
maker…
(After this they move to a nearby
café for a cup of coffee)
Garvey: (As he pulls a seat) It’s a cool place
here. Now I can share with you dreams
from my father…
Marcus: (As he sits down) And I will tell you
how I have been Re-membering Africa…
Garvey: Mine
are dreams in a time of war
Marcus: And
mine are about how I have been made a
second class citizen… (stressing) how I have been striving for the wind…
Garvey:
Well…let’s go back to Aminata…did you say that the last time you saw her she was coming to birth?
Marcus: No.
I said…the last time we talked she had written me so long a letter…
Garvey: Was
it like the epistles of St. Paul…or the confessions
of St. Augustine?
Marcus:
Mmmh…it was full of words…words that melt
a mountain…she said if I gave her a chance to act as the concubine…
Garvey: You
have just used ‘the’…it gives a definite stand…
Marcus: And
that defines ‘the me’… (he clears his throat) so she said if I gave her what
she wanted she would sing me a song for
the sun in us…a beautiful song like the song
of lawino…
Garvey: (Beckoning
a waiter) It’s our turn to eat…
Marcus:
(Reading the waiters t-shirt) peeling
back the mask: a quest for justice in Kenya…just see that…
(The waiter
comes and Marcus is looking at the menu…)
Garvey: (Pointing at the writings on his t-shirt)
for how long are you going to do that…
Waiter: For
as long as it’s not yet uhuru…
(They order and the waiter turns
showing his back)
Marcus:
(Reads again) raila odinga: an enigma in kenya’s politics… (shrugs)…this fellow
is a voice unstilled…I feel like he
speaks about me…
Garvey:
(Pointing at him) you… (beckons to imply
how?)
Marcus: Yes
me…a second class citizen and many
other people who have been in this journey…the long walk to freedom…
Garvey: Let
us just say he has a way of decolonizing
the mind to talk about a question of
power…
Marcus:
Yeah…he is opening spaces for that
discussion the way the mau mau author in
detention did…
Garvey: I accuse the press in all this
though…they have been a real enemy of the
people by fueling a season of blood
in the whole discussion…
(They are brought two cups of coffee)
Marcus: (As he takes a sip) you were to tell me
a story…
Garvey: I
got many…which one… (makes as if to count) sunjata epic…epic of gor mahia…which
one?
Marcus: Tell
me the one of betrayal in the city…
Garvey:
After you tell me where you live…
Marcus:
(Places his cup on the table) I live in the house
of doom…just across the bridge…
(shows the sign of crossing over) I have to cross the river between to get there…
(They are through with taking
tea...they wake up to go)
Garvey:
(Pats Marcus on the shoulder) Keep waiting for my story…I will write it…
Marcus:
Writing?
Garvey: Yes…one day I will write about this place…of
my life in prison and my life with a criminal…so compact will
it be in its description it will beat the expressions in heart of wilderness…
(They get out and embrace to say good
bye)
Marcus: It
has been nice meeting you…let me go home…before this street is engulfed in heart of darkness…
Garvey: Or
we could meet tomorrow… (hands Marcus a
business card) or any other day…now that you know how to get me…
Marcus:
(Checks card and places it in his pocket) any time…as long as it is after 4.30…
(They shake hands)
Garvey: Good
bye…keep facing Mt. Kenya…
(They part)
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