In February 2005 I designed a blog meme specifically for Kenyan Bloggers and in particular Kenyan Blog Webring members. The meme did it rounds and still continues to do so. A year and almost 100 KBW members later, I feel compelled to revisit the meme. In so doing I hope to get the newer members involved and also to give all KBW members a chance to celebrate the aspects that we love about our country and our people.

To do this I have taken the original meme along with the responses from KBW members (whose memes I could find) that I considered amusing, original or just plain crazy.

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Favourite Kenyan food:
In the midst of the Ugali, Chapati and Nyama Choma this response from the blogger whose mama made him change his blog name, aka Githush, really stood out.

KCC salted butter. I could eat this stuff alone, its so goddamn good.

Favourite Kenyan drink
Alpha Rwath’s response deserves a mention not least because he also includes a recipe and directions on how to consume this drink;

Goat-head soup: I don’t know how many of you would retain the head of the goat as you roast the rest of the meat. This is boiled in hot water (duh!) until all the contents of the brains etc are reduced to soup. But it has to be served in those metal mugs, the ones we use in shagz these days but we used to have in our digz in the eighties.

Favourite Kenyan TV programme
This gem from Magaidi needs no explanation;

Weather with Wandimi Muchemi. Dude rumored to have claimed “Tomorrow there will be no weather!”

Top Three Kenyan hang outs
Judging by the responses to this question we may want to change our anthem to the Venga Boys, We Like to Party, with nearly all of us listing at least one club, bar or discotheque. Apart from KenyanGal. Representing for the shopaholic geeks she offered these three venues:

20th Century
Bookpoint (yes i am a geek)
Sarit center (and a shopoholic)

Top Kenyan holiday destination

With one or two exceptions, the Coastal province was our top holiday destination, thankfully this post along with comments offers some alternatives….

Three Kenyan phrases you use a lot (ati, nini, nani DO NOT count and neither does bilaz!)
What really came through is how we have taken every day English words and re-claimed them as Kenyan. In written form and to an outsider these words are English but we as Kenyans know; it is all in the pronunciation. So here they are along with my own pronounciation guide.

(a) Obvious (MentalAcrobatics)- pron Oh-Veeeee-aaahs
(b) Imagine (Kenyan Pundit)– pron. Ee-maa-geen or E-maa-geen-Ee

Completing the list is Bankelele’s answer;

(c) Beeeeeeeeeep! (Use my horn ALOT when driving)

Three things about Kenya/Kenyans that make you go ‘hmmm’
I think MentalAcrobatics got off too lightly last time when asked to explain how came up with this answer;

How you are not allowed to catch strokes in your car at a heng. If you retreat back to the car for a little slap n tickle you are guaranteed to have a watchi bang on your window to ask you what you are doing.

He may want to change his game and be like the Kenyans that Alpha Rwath mentions;

Very Romantic: On sunday afternoon,under every single tree (and you can take me up on this) at Uhuru Park, there is a couple seated having soda and buns and holding each other. It relaxes your mind and reminds you that depsite the harsh conditions in the country…romance still abounds.

And I am sure Afro Musing is not alone in noting that some Kenyans do this;

The weng/shrub rolled into one. Nothing like it. Especially a Kamba weng/shrub…and a kale pronouncing ‘thirty’ but trying to sound American. It ends sounding like “Thurdee”.

Three things non-Kenyans say about Kenya/Kenyans that make you go ‘hmmm’

So many of us could relate to Mocha’s response:

Do you see lions/elephants where you live? Err…..NO!

Most of us have may even know someone who behaves in the manner Mshairi describes:

When you meet a person who has only been to Kenya for a 7-day visit who thinks they know about Kenya and by extension, Africa better than you.

But…when it comes to Nick’s experience…I think he is on his own….

you are actually funny?!

Three things about Kenya/Kenyans which non-Kenyans ought to know.
Ms K speaks for all of us when she says:

There is more to Kenya than the athletes!!!

As does Nyakehu

I speak English because that is what we were taught from the time you entered Standard one

In true Shopaholic style KenyanGal has tips on how to keep your money safe:

Those maasai dancers aren’t really maasai and those carvings don’t have tribal significance

Complete this sentence: I am Kenyan because…..

Thinker says it best:

No matter how thick things become I can always have a good long laugh about it. That there epitomizes the very essence of being Kenyan

At this point most people would pass the baton to three KBW bloggers who had yet to complete the meme. I have chosen to leave it as a free for all. If any member of KBW would like to take part - go right ahead. And since KBW is home to many bloggers who are not Kenyan - please do not hesitate to amend the questions accordingly. Lastly, as a member of KBW you can post your response right here on Open Blog.