Who did this to Bantu?
Philo Ikonya remembers . We might never know, but we need to say we want to know what happened to him, says Ikonya.
Thank you Shailja Patel and Pambazuka for this great tribute to Bantu Mwaura. It is precious in many ways. And as we wake up to new dawns that look like sunsets without Bantu Mwaura in the arts, we take courage. But we are wounded in our souls. We are wounded in bodies. Our tears peep all the time from the corners of our eyes and sometimes we yell and let them flow... let them flow. And quietly somewhere in us, Bantu stokes more courage. The sun must rise. I have to say that seeing and hearing Makeba and Mekatilili his children speak of a 'happy family’ at Bantu's memorial at the Kenya National Theatre was sorrowful. Why? Who did this to Bantu? To the children and wife and us and the country? Why? I asked these questions there too. And am glad you still leave the doors open in your piece. We need to know what happened even if it might only help us begin to close a chapter of pain that we will never fully close... We might never know but we need to say we want to know.