Haiya!!

Listening to Harry Kimani’s "Haiya" brings back loads of memories come flooding in

I grew up in Kikuyu land; post mau mau and pre-underground garages and on to post nyayo.

They were a lovable lot- eccentric in their ways but focused.
I remember my mum’s kyuk boss passing through home on Christmas eve to dropoff some of his farm produce in the Christmas spirit, and what was he driving a Pajero!!!

Now kids don’t get me wrong- but in the nineties this was like the cat's pajamas (always wanted to use that !!)

Kids (basketball team- not bad) scrambled out to stare and marvel at one of the latest Pajero models; mouths agape- and kid brothers absolutely animated…. And then

"Meeeee"

No it couldn’t be- we didn’t keep any goats….

"Meeee"

Yes- right there inside the well carpeted brand new carpet of this brand new paj's boot was a goat- we looked over to Mr Maina- who by the way didn’t look one bit like the amount of money he was worth- his jacket looked like it had been washed in water, hang out in the sun and ironed- it was all lumpy at the seams, with a curious sheen all through- he completed the look with gum boots and crowned it with uncombed kinky african hair!

"I just came from the shamba- and I brought some thing for Christmas"

Yes- literally from the garden, but since the goat- now seriously humping the back seat- wasnt ours it was one of two things it was meant for someone higher up the rung- or from a neighbour competing in generosity.

it is not a stereotype- kyuks tend to be hardworking folk who could make money out of anything- always jolly, loved their drink but always had a firm woman waiting in the wings to reel them back in lest they stray.

I didn’t realize it then- but I do miss the ‘buggers’, their mannerisms, profusely expressive ways that includes pointing the direction of someone of a place with their lower lips, and their willingness to laugh at themselves and others in good humor.

back yo Harry Kimani....