OP-ED: “Eh Mungu Nguvu yetu, Ilete braka kwetu, haki iwe ngao na mlinzi na tukae na uhuru, amani na undugu raha na tupate na ustawi!” These are the lyrics to the Kenyan national anthem which is a familiar tune among the Kenyan people. The song is written both in English and Swahili which are the official languages of the country.
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of the country, tasked the then Minister for Constitutional Affairs Tom Mboya, to form a team that would compose a national anthem which truly represented Kenya. The commission that was formed consisted of 5 people led by Mr. Graham Hyslop, an organist and choir master at the All Saints Cathedral. The other four were: Prof Washington Omondi, a music expert; Uganda-based Kenyan Prof George Senonga-Zake, a musicologist and later lecturer at Kenyatta University; Peter Kibukosya, a music teacher at Eregi Teachers College and after whom a primary school is named; and Thomas Kalume, a music teacher at St Paul’s Theological College and later a politician.
The tune of the national anthem originated from the Coastal tribe of the Pokomo people. It was based off a lullaby song sang by mothers to their children. Mzee Galana Morowa Menza and his team are credited for coming up with the anthem. They were among Kenyan music composers set to compose lullabies. The song was recorded because of its simplicity and originality and taken to Nairobi where it was submitted to the National Museum as part of the country’s cultural heritage.
The tune was chosen as it represented the rich cultural heritage of the Kenyan people. It was first sang on Independence Day in the year 1963. There was high anticipation for the new national Anthem since no Kenyan had heard it before, and that night of independence was going to be the first time it was played to the public. Excitement filled the air when it was played after the Queen’s anthem. The new anthem caused jubilations, cheer and a renewed sense of patriotism. Finally, the liberty that had been yearned for years was nigh, the birth of the independent nation of the Republic of Kenya.
That night was not like any other. The air was different and lighter with shouts of jubilation echoing through the skies. The first stanza of the anthem being a prayer unto God. In recognition of Kenya being a country that believes in God as the source of all things even for the nation’s prosperity and providence. It then goes further to ask God to uphold justice in the land which is a shield and defender of its people. The stanza concludes by calling for the citizens of the country to dwell in unity as God blesses the country with abundance of resources.
The anthem is a symbol that clearly depicts the foundation of the nation of Kenya. It is a well-known truth of life that without knowing or having a strong foundation of anything, it is sure to crumble. There is no one who has ever put it so clearly like the man of God who is a Prophet to the nations, Prophet Elvis Mbonye of Zoe Ministries based in Uganda.
In one of his ministrations, he shares from the scripture of Isaiah 51: 1 which states that “: Look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence ye are dug.” In context it admonishes believers to look at their foundations. Where they were initially called from for them to know their specific purpose and calling in what they ought to do. In another example he shares on the principle of reflection of where the image reflects the object. The image cannot exist without the object. For the image to be fully mirror the object it must capture the essence of the object it represents.
As a nation, as a people, have we long forgotten the rock where we were hewn? Would going back to our roots as nation which puts God above everything be the solution to all the corruption, tribalism. greed and violence that run rampant about the nation? Even in the spirit of celebrations of Utamaduni Day of our rich cultural heritage, let us remember our first love. Who we are as a people, the foundation that brought us liberty, peace and justice. We are a nation of prayer, who recognize God above all things.
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