#ALEPPO

By: Nilu Bachani

There's the image of fire reflecting through my eyes

Flames burning little children as they cry.

With that, innocence is turning to bones and ash

Syria is falling, on its way to crash

Oppressors think they're winning

But Allah, we all know He is watching

The world has turned to a blind eye

Ignorant and nonchalant, with no reply

People are always fighting for what's happening on the other side

Yet, here everyone has closed their ears, their mouths, their eyes

to something I call a genocide

Each tear, each scar, every drop of blood of an innocent soul is nullified

This is inhumane and atrocious

Yet with blood all over them

every whisper consists of His name

Al-aziz, The Victorious

They lost hope in the world, but they know who to fear

Despite knowing that death might be near

Fathers mothers brothers sisters constantly weeping with the words inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiuun.

More bodies are piling up, praying that all this will go away soon

Aleppo, oh Aleppo, how can I be silent Aleppo

Ya Allah bring the Ummah together, to fight for their tomorrow...

understanding why the Prophet cried for us so much

women pick death rather than being raped, over my stomach my hands clutch.

Yet here I am envisioning it

while they're actually going through it

thinking how unbearable the screeching of their screams must be

Feeling helpless, as I prostrate towards Allah accepting reality

That this is cruelty

and I question have we forgotten humanity?

But with guilt inside me I pray for forgiveness that all the damage that's done is because I was silent all along

I, another human watching more blood being shed, seeing that it's all wrong.

Tick Tock, look at all the time that's been gone.

Tick Tock, now all their flesh is bone....

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Nilu recited her poem after the prayers for Aleppo on Thursday (and it honestly gave me a chill). She was also one of the organizers of the event.

Alhamdulilah the turn out was not bad. Around 100 people (both men and woman) attended while the organizers reported to have collected around 130, 000 Kshs which they are still collecting until Monday then send the money in shaa Allah. May Allah bless the organizers and all those who participated in one way or another, the ones who attended from far and near, and even those who wished to be present but couldn't; may God grant you well in dunya and akhera. I hope we can do better than this next time because I believe we CAN DO better. Alhamdulilah ala kul hal. Let us keep praying for Syria, for Yemen, Palestine, Burma...all the countries suffering. May Allah grant them victory. Ameen ya Rab!

LET'S MAKE IT THE HUMANITY WEEK

At the moment the whole world is talking about Aleppo, arranging vigil events, donating, doing sincere prayers and all this just makes me fall in love 

So this is our week, Mombasa folks. On this thursday (tomorrow) 3 p.m. there will be prayers at Light house mosque. There will be a donation box at the event where people can donate for Aleppo folks. If you are wondering how the money will get to the white helmets then this is how:
One of the organizers of the 'vigil for aleppo' event is a member of the foreigner's students of Turkey. The group is collecting funds to buy medical equipment, blankets, medicines, food, clothes and other necessities. This is the first time we are doing such a wonderful initiative in Mombasa, so please be available when history is being made. Come and connect to the world. Come and be inspired. Come and have your faith in humanity be restored 

For those who can't attend but wish to donate you can mpesa me at 0704 731 560: Lubnah. Please I can only accept donations until tomorrow around 2:30 before the event starts in shaa Allah. I already have 15k donated...please bring in more. Let us make a difference and in shaa Allah our rewards will be from God 

Talking of making a difference, we have someone else who desperately needs our help. A brother of ours was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in early December.

He requires Kshs.203,768 to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Nairobi Hospital for five weeks.

We are appealing for your help as this matter needs to be attended to urgently. We will greatly appreciate on behalf of the family, In Shaa Allah.

You can make your contribution through MPESA- 0790488333 Amina Khamis.

We all know how deadly cancer is and I can't insist enough how much the family needs us right now. Compared to the Aleppo appeal, his funding is still far behind and we all know how doctors won't treat him unless he is paying meanwhile. Charity starts at home people. Let's help him with the little much we can offer.

These are his medical records 

Please note that I am only taking donations for Aleppo while Amina khamis mentioned above is receiving for the patient. We can all make it possible. A little here a little there and in shaa Allah we will have helped save some people's lives. Ameen.

I know some would be confused on which to donate for. My idea is you can divide the money and get rewards for both. If your have little money then you can attend the prayers for Aleppo and donate the money to the patient. But that is just my idea to make you participate in both, you can always do what you wish most 

Do remember however small your charity is, it makes a difference. Your small and my small makes it big. So let's start M-pesaring 

God bless you abundantly and grant you well. Ameen. Thanks in advance!!

KINYONGA NA TAUSI (sehemu ya 5: mwisho)

Mwandishi: Naima Baghozi

Unaweza kusoma sehemu ya 4: http://strokesofmypen.blogspot.co.ke/2016/12/kinyonga-na-tausi-sehemu-ya-4.html

Mbele ya macho yao kulikuwa na jiwe na ubavuni mwake kulikuwa na maua ya rangi ya manjano kijani na nyekundu. Rafiki yao Kinyonga alikuwa amelala usingizi mzito juu ya hilo jiwe mfano ni kama alikuwa anaota jua, asilolijua ni kuwa dua yake imejibiwa. Rafiki zake ndio walikuwa wameona. Kinyonga alikuwa amerembeka kweli. Rangi yake ya mwili iko sawa na rangi zile za maua ubavuni mwake, yaani ngozi yakeimejigawanya rangi za manjano, kijani na nyekundu.

Kwa furaha nyingi hawakuweza kujizuia, kwa shangwe na nderemo na hamu wakamwamsha Kinyonga. Naye Kinyonga akaonyesha ni kama ametoka kwenye usingizi mzito. Akifungua macho yake vizuri akaona rafiki zake wanaruka ruka kwa furaha na kuimba: 

“Kinyonga amefaulu, Kinyonga amefaulu, sasa ni mrembo…”

Akawauliza: “Munasema nini?” 

Tumbiri akamjibu: “Umepata ulilotaka, sasa mwili wako umeshakuwa una rangi rangi.”

“Unasema kweli?” Kinyonga akamuuliza akiwa na tabasamu kubwa. 

“Naam, hapo ulipo rangi yako iko sawa na maua karibu na wewe.” 

Tausi na Kombamwiko pamoja na Sungura wakaongezea: “Ni kweli Kinyonga, hata sisi sote tumeshangaa na urembo wako.”

Mara Kinyonga akafanya kuondoka karibu na hayo maua, zile rangi zikapotea, wenzake wakakatiza furaha zao na kunyamaza kimya, wakamtizama rafiki yao na macho ya kusikitika. Kinyonga akawauliza: “Mbona ghafla furaha imewaishia? Muna nini, na mbona munaniangalia na macho ya huzuni hivyo?”

Aliyemjibu ni Tausi: “Kinyonga hizo rangi tayari zimekupotea.” 

“Haiwezekani, sikubali.” Kinyonga akajibu na huku machozi yanamtoka. 

Sungura akamwambia Kinyonga asilie naye akajibu: “Nisilie vipi? Baada ya dakika tu kujihisi ni mrembo kwa furaha mulizonionyesha, urembo umenipotea tena.” 

Halafu akaondoka na kurudi kwenye jiwe lake na mara zile rangi zilimrudia tena na rafiki zake wakarudi kufurahi tena. Kinyonga akashangaa, na rafiki zake walishangaa zaidi, wakamweleza hayo waliyoyaona. Wakawa hawafahamu ni nini kinachoendelea.

Kinyonga aliwaomba rafiki zake wamtizame akiondoka tena zitafanyika nini. Basi aliondoka hapo na kutembea juu ya mchanga. Rangi za maua ziliondoka na mara alikuwa rangi ya mchanga, alipopita juu ya nyasi akageuka rangi ya kijani. Yaani kila rangi aliyopitia Kinyonga akawa anabadilika kuwa rangi hiyo.  Hata alipokuja karibu na Tausi na mkia alikuwa amechanua rangi yake ikawa ya Tausi.

Rafiki zake waliona ni maajabu na kumwelezea yote haya Kinyonga hata akawaambia: “Natamani ningeweza kujiona…” akiwa na wingi wa furaha.

Kombamwiko akasema: “Sungura, wewe ndie ulio na mbio kuliko sisi sote, ni bora ukamfuate Yule mwanadamu, umuelezee kilichotokea na umuombe aje na kioo ili Kinyonga aweze kujiona…”

Sungura akakubali mara moja na hapo hapo akazitoa mbio zake zote mpaka kwa mwanadamu. Njiani alipishana na Paka hata hakumsemesha. Paka akawa anajiuliza mbio hizo Sungura anakwenda wapi? Haikupita muda mrefu akamuona anarudi na mwanadamu akiwa amebeba kioo. Usabasi ukamshika akaamua kuwafuata ili ajue kinachoendelea. Akawafuata kwa kando kando mpaka wakafika sehemu akawaona tena Tausi, Tumbiri na Kombamwiko lakini Kinyonga haonekani. Rafiki zake walikuwa wamemwabia arudi kwenye yale maua ili aonekane na hizo rangi. Basi walipofika walipokuwepo ndio wakamuona Kinyonga na uzuri wake wote. Mwanadamu akamwambia akiwa na mwingi wa tabasamu: “Eh, Kinyonga- umepata ulilotaka sasa nimekuja na kioo ujione ulivyokuwa mrembo.”

Basi akamsimamishia kioo na Kinyonga hakuamini macho yake kwa urembo alouona, akauliza: “Yule ni mimi kweli?” Akajibiwa: “Ni wewe kweli na Sungura amenieleza kuwa unabadilika kila rangi, hebu nionyeshe…”

Kinyonga akaondoka kwenye maua akawa anajionyesha kila sehemu anaposimama anabadilika rangi ya hiyo sehemu. Mwanadamu akamwambia: “Hakika nimekufurahia kwa kupata ulilotaka. Usisahau kumshukuru Bwana Mola kwa kukupatia ulichotaka.”

Kinyonga akamjibu: “Siwezi kusahau, na wewe pia nakushukuru pamoja na hawa rafiki zangu kwa msaada wenu.” Mara akagundua Paka yuko hapo hana la kusema ila mdomo ulikuwa wazi tu, macho yamemkodoka ni kama hayaamini aliyoyaona mbele yake. Kinyonga akamuuliza: “Paka, leo huna ufidhuli wa kusema, si ulituona sisi sote ni wajinga na ukanicheka tu kwa matamanio yangu. Basi leo tunakucheka wewe…

“Hahahaha-hehehehe-hahahaha-hehehehe.” Rafiki zake pamoja na mwanadamu wakamsaidia. “Hahahaha-hehehehe-hahahaha-hehehehe,”

Paka akaondoka kwa unyonge, kichwa na mkia ukiwa chini. Kinyonga na rafiki zake wakaendelea na sherehe zao za kufurahia maisha mapya ya Kinyonga. Yeye mwenyewe aliendelea kuringa ringa, akijigeuza hivi, mara vile. Akaendelea kuishi maisha yake kwa raha mustarehe akijuwa popote anapopita anageuka rangi ya anapopapitia.

Jina la Kinyonga linamaanisha kugeuka geuka na yeye ndivyo alivyo wa kugeuka geuka rangi.

                                               

                                              MWISHO.

KINYONGA NA TAUSI (sehemu ya 4)

Mwandishi: Naima Baghozi

Unaweza kusoma sehemu ya 3: 

Rafiki zake nao wakazidi kutilia mkazo ombi hilo: "Tafadhali Tausi, tafadhali sana, msaidie maskini amesumbuka sana..." wakaendelea hivyo kwa muda kumnasihi Tausi ili akubali. Wakati wote huo Paka alikuwa amejificha juu ya mti karibu kuanguka kwa kujizuia na kicheko maana kila akikaa anastaajabu kwa nini Kinyonga ana lazima ya kujibadilisha rangi yake.

Tausi naye alipoona Kinyonga ananyenyekea sana pamoja na rafiki zake moyo wake ukaingia imani na kuamua: "Sawa nimekubali kumpatia Kinyonga manyoya yangu...lakini sijui kama yatamsaidia..."

Basi hapo hapo Tausi akaanza kujikukuta kukuta na kuyapiga piga mabawa yake na mara mbele ya kikundi hicho manyoya kadhaa yakamtoka na kuanguka chini wote wakafurahi na Tumbiri akasogea na kuanza kuyaokota hayo manyoya. Halafu akamwita Kinyonga: “Sogea karibu na mimi rafiki yangu tuanze kazi ya kukurembesha.” Basi Kinyonga akamsogelea na wenzi wao pia wakajisogeza ili wapate kuona vipi manyoya ya Tausi yataweza kumbadilisha Kinyonga rangi ya mwili wake.

Tumbiri akachukuwa manyoya na kuyaweka juu ya mgongo wa Kinyonga na kuanza kuyasugua kwa ustadi na umakinifu mkubwa. Wote wakawa wanazuia pumzi wakisubiri kwa hamu kuona mabadiliko yatakavyoanza kutokea. Tumbiri aliendelea kufanya ufundi huo kwa makini na subira kubwa mpaka mikono ikaanza kumuuma kwa machofu lakini hakuna hata dalili moja ya mabadiliko iloonekana.

Paka, muda wote huo alikuwa akizuia kicheko chake hapo juu ya mti, hakuweza kujizuia tena. Mara wote waliinua macho waliposikia: “Hahaha-hehehe-hahaha- Nyinyi mnachekesha kweli kweli, hahaha, hehehe! Hata mbavu zinaniuma. Vipi mnaweza kubadilisha tulivyoumbwa? Hahaha...”

Wote walioko chini walikasirika sana na Paka. Kinyonga akamjibu Paka na kumwambia: “We Paka, we endelea tu kunicheka, iko siku hicho kicheko chako kitakukwamia kooni…”

Wakiwa bado wako hapo hapo alitokea mwanadamu akiwa katika matembezi yake. Akaona mkusanyiko wa wanyama hawa utadhani wako kwenye mkutano muhimu, basi akawakurubia na kuwasalimu.

“Habari zenu?” Wakajibu kwa pamoja: “Nzuri.”

“Mbona mumekusanyika? Mna mkutano?”

Akajibu Kinyonga: “Huu mkusanyiko ni kwa ajili yangu na pengine wewe ndie utakaeweza kunisaidia.”

“Ni msaada gani unaouhitaji kwangu?” 

Basi Kinyonga akaanza kwa utaratibu kumweleza binadamu shida yake tangu mwanzo hadi mwisho, naye binadamu alisikiliza kwa makini na mwisho akatabasamu tu.

Kinyonga akmuuliza: “Utaweza kunisaidia?”

Mwanadamu akamjibu: “Nimekusikiza kilio chako na nimekufahamu vizuri. Lakini si unafahamu Muumba pekee ndie anaeweza kubadilisha maumbile yetu?”

“Sasa nifanye nini? Mimi nataka  sana niwe na mwili wa rangi rangi…”

Mwanadamu akaonyesha ni kama yuko kwenye mawazo mazito. Basi wote walibaki kimya wakisubiri atatoa uamuzi gani. Mwishowe akasema: “Kinyonga, mimi nimefikiri sana na nimeona umwombe Bwana Mola akupatie huo mwili wa rangi rangi unaotaka. Yeye ndie aliekuumba hivyo na yeye peke yake ndie atakayeweza kukubadilisha, basi muombe usiku na mchana na akipenda atakupa hizo rangi uzitakazo kwa mwili wako, sawa?”

Kinyonga na rafiki zake wakakubali kuwa hilo ndilo jawabu la sawa na wote wakamshukuru mwanadamu, akashika njia yake na kuondoka.

Kombamwiko akasema: “Kinyonga, usijali hata sisi kama rafiki zako tutakusaidia kumwomba Bwana Mola, au sivyo wenzangu?” Wote wakajibu: “Naam, sote tuko pamoja.” Paka alipoona bado wanaendelea na wazimu wao aliondoka na kuenda zake akiwaacha na ujinga wao- ndivyo alivyofikiria yeye. 

Ibada ya Kinyonga na rafiki zake zikaanza.Usiku na mchana, wakipumzika kidogo tu. Kila kukipambazuka wakimtizama Kinyonga hawaoni mabadiliko yoyote. Lakini hawakuchoka wakaendelea kuomba sana na kwa unyenyekevu. Kwa machofu mengi usiku wa kuamkia siku ya saba usingizi uliwashinda nguvu wakapotelewa na usingizi bila hata ya kuhisi. 

Asubuhi na mapema, kulipopambazuka tu na Jua kujitokeza, wa kwanza kuinuka alikuwa Sungura, akawatizama wenzake akawaona wote bado wako usingizini, akajiuliza: “Hivi sote tumeishia kulala bila ya kumwombea rafiki yetu Kinyonga?”

Kisha akageuka huku na huku kumtafuta Kinyonga amelala wapi, akawa hamuoni. Akafanya wasiwasi na kuwaamsha Tumbiri, Tausi na Kombamwiko. Wote wakashtuka kuwa wamelala usiku huu uliopita. Wakauliza: “Kuna nini?”

Sungura akawajibu: “Sote tumepitikiwa na usingizi na hata hatukuweza kumwombea rafiki yetu na sasa hata simuoni, hebu sasa tumtafuteni.” Wakazunguka zunguka wakimtafuta rafiki yao kwa wasiwasi kwani usiku wote walikuwa pamoja.

Hawakufika mbali mara kwa mshangao mkubwa walisimama kwa pamoja midomo yao yote ikiwa wazi isitoke sauti hata moja…

Mbele ya macho yao kulikuwa na jiwe na ubavuni mwake kulikuwa na maua ya rangi ya manjano kijani na nyekundu. Rafiki yao Kinyonga alikuwa amelala usingizi mzito juu ya hilo jiwe mfano ni kama alikuwa anaota jua, asilolijua ni kuwa dua yake imejibiwa. Rafiki zake ndio walikuwa wameona. Kinyonga alikuwa amerembeka kweli. Rangi yake ya mwili iko sawa na rangi zile za maua ubavuni mwake, yaani ngozi yakeimejigawanya rangi za manjano, kijani na nyekundu.

Kwa furaha nyingi hawakuweza kujizuia, kwa shangwe na nderemo na hamu wakamwamsha Kinyonga. Naye Kinyonga akaonyesha ni kama ametoka kwenye usingizi mzito. Akifungua macho yake vizuri akaona rafiki zake wanaruka ruka kwa furaha na kuimba: 

“Kinyonga amefaulu, Kinyonga amefaulu, sasa ni mrembo…”

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Ungana nami katka kipande cha mwisho wa stori hii karibuni in shaa Allah...

KINYONGA NA TAUSI (sehemu ya 3)

Mwandishi: Naima Baghozi

Unaweza kusoma sehemu ya 2: http://strokesofmypen.blogspot.co.ke/2016/12/kinyonga-na-tausi-sehemu-ya-pili.html

Maskini Kinyonga akajitizama na kuona michirizi ya rangi iliyokuwa ikitiririka kutoka mwilini mwake. Moyo ulimuuma na machozi kumbubujika buji buji akiuona urembo wake huooo unamtoka. Kombamwiko alimbembeleza sana na kujaribu kila njia ya kumnyamazisha lakini wapi…ndio mwanzo Kinyonga alikuwa anazidisha kilio mpaka mwisho Kombamwiko akamwambia: “Sikiza rafiki yangu, usilie sana. Naona ni bora urudi kwa Tumbiri umuombe akusaidie tena na sasa umeshajua ukiona mvua ukimbie wala usikaribie maji yoyote, sawa?”

Kinyonga hapo akapata moyo kidogo na kuamua kufanya hivyo. “Shukrani sana Kombamwiko kwa nasiha yako nzuri, naona ndivyo nitakavyofanya. Kwaheri kwa sasa , wacha nianze safari ya kwenda kwa Tumbiri , tutaonana.”

“Kwaheri ya kuonana na nakutakia kila la heri.” 

Kinyonga akashika njia ya kurudia huko huko alikotoka. Safari yenyewe ilikuwa si fupi lakini aliamua kwenda hivyo hivyo maana lengo lake ni kubadili rangi ya mwili wake. Basi akaenda kwa mwendo wa kasi kadiri alivyoweza mpaka alipofika nusu ya njia akakutana na Sungura katika shughuli zake za kuchimba chimba akijitafutia chakula. 

Akamsalimia kwa furaha : “Aah! Sungura rafiki yangu, habari za siku nyingi?” Sungura akamjibu : “ Nzuri Kinyonga. Ni kweli tumepotezana kwa muda mrefu sana. Hivi unaelekea wapi?” 

“Kwa vile nimekuona wewe pengine sina haja ya kwenda nilikokuwa ninaenda.” 

“kwani ulikuwa unaenda wapi? Na mimi ninaweza kukusaidia vipi?” Sungura akauliza tena.

“Wewe Sungura, sote tunakufahamu kwa ujanja na werevu wako ndio nimeona wewe utaweza kunipa ushauri bora nipate lengo langu.” Basi Kinyonga akaendelea na kumweleza kisa chake tangu mwanzo hadi mwisho. 

Sungura akamuuliza: “Kwa ufupi unataka uwe na rangi kama za Tausi au sivyo?”

“Ndivyo,” akajibu Kinyonga. 

Sungura akamwambia : “Mimi naona bora uende kwa Tausi umuombe akutolee manyoya mawili matatu hivi ujifutilie juu ya mwili wako na pengine utakuwa na rangi kama yeye.”

Kinyonga akashangaa sana na na huku akiwaza vipi tangu mwanzo hakufikiria hivyo. “Aah! Sungura si nimesema wewe u mwerevu sana, utakuja na mimi unisaidie kumwomba Tausi?”

Sungura akakubali kurudi naye. Walipotaka kuondoka walimuona Tumbiri anakuja. Alipowasili aliwasalimia na kuuliza kilichokuwa kinaendelea na sababu ya Kinyonga kutokuwa na rangi. Basi Kinyonga akamweleza kile kilichotokea na walichokuwa wananuia kufanya yeye na Sungura.

Tumbiri akamuonea huruma na kumwambia : “Usihuzunike rafiki yangu hata mimi nitakwenda na nyinyi tukamtaradhie kwa vizuri Tausi ili akupatie hayo manyoya yake.”

Basi safari ya watatu hao ikaanza kwa mwendo wa haraka. Mara njiani wakamkuta Paka, nae aliona mbio walizokuwa wanakuja nazo. Mwanzoni alikuwa hajamwona Kinyonga lakini walipomkaribia akamuona Kinyonga bila ya rangi rangi zake akaanza na kicheko chake: “Hahahaha, hehehehe Kinyonga hahaha ziwapi rangi zako?” Kinyonga kwa hasira akawaambia Tumbiri na Sungura: “Mwacheni huyu Paka na ujinga wake. Twendeni zetu.” Wakaondoka kwa haraka.  Paka akaamua kuwafuata nyuma nyuma ajue wanakwenda wapi na wanakwenda kufanya nini.

Bila ya kujua kama Paka anawafuata kisirisiri, Kinyonga na maswahibu zake waliendelea na safari yao ya kwenda kwa Tausi. Kabla ya kuwasili kwa Tausi wakampata Kombamwiko mbele yao. Akamuuliza Kinyonga: “Mbona rafiki yangu umerudi hivyo hivyo bila kupaka rangi zako?”

Kinyonga akamweleza nini wameamua kufanya. Basi Kombamwiko akaamua kuwafuata. Msafara ukaendelea mpaka kwa Tausi. Tausi kama kawaida alikuwa akizunguka zunguka kwa maringo katika bustani. Mara akauona msafara unamwingilia wa Tumbiri, Sungura, Kinyonga na Kombamwiko.

Asiyemuona alikuwa ni Paka maana alikuwa amejificha wasimuone. Hamu yake nikutaka kujua kuna sababu gani ya wote hawa kuja mpaka kwa Tausi.  Tausi mwenyewe aliona ajabu kuwaona wote hawa pamoja kwani kwa kawaida kila mmoja huwa kivyake. Akaona bora awaulize: “Habari zenu? Muna nini leo, mbona mmeandamana kuja kwangu?”

Akajibu Sungura: “Nzuri Tausi. Sisi tumejikusanya kwako na ombi dogo tukutaradhie kama utaweza kutusaidia. Tausi akashangaa huku akiwaza ombi gani hilo lililowafanya hawa wote kujikusanya na kuja kwake. Akaamua kutaka kujuwa: “Ombi gani hilo? Hebu niambieni na nikiweza nitakusaidieni."

Tumbiri akapata moyo kidogo akasongea mbele na kusema: "Tausi, wewe unajua vizuri vipi Kinyonga anatamani kuwa na mwili wa rangi rangi kama wewe sivyo?"

Tausi akajibu: "Naam ni kweli, kwa hivyo munataka mimi nifanye nini?"

Kinyonga akajisogeza mwenyewe na kumweleza mambo yote yaliyojiri tangu alipoachana na yeye mpaka muda ule walipofika kwake. Akamalizia na kusema: 

"Sasa nakuomba unisaidie na manyoya yako mawili matatu ili nijipake mwilini mwangu na pengine nitakuwa na rangi nzuri kama zako."

Rafiki zake nao wakazidi kutilia mkazo ombi hilo: "Tafadhali Tausi, tafadhali sana, msaidie maskini amesumbuka sana..." wakaendelea hivyo kwa muda kumnasihi Tausi ili akubali. Wakati wote huo Paka alikuwa amejificha juu ya mti karibu kuanguka kwa kujizuia na kicheko maana kila akikaa anastaajabu kwa nini Kinyonga ana lazima ya kujibadilisha rangi yake.

Tausi naye alipoona Kinyonga ananyenyekea sana pamoja na rafiki zake moyo wake ukaingia imani na kuamua: "Sawa nimekubali kumpatia Kinyonga manyoya yangu...lakini sijui kama yatamsaidia..."

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Itaendelea karibuni in shaa Allah :)

8 KINDS OF WOMEN YOU WILL FIND IN MOMBASA WEDDINGS

Photo Courtesy: Butterfly.4.Weddings (http://www.imgrum.net/)

There are 8 kinds of women you almost never miss in a Swahili/Mombasa wedding:

1. The epitome of beauty: The most beautiful lady in the room. You would almost confuse her to be the bride. She is gorgeous and she knows it. Make-up done perfectly with a Cinderella gown that makes her the princess of the night. She walks gracefully, head held high, appears in the dance floor, interact and doesn't miss out in the photos.

2. Selfieeee: You will never miss a selfie freak. Always taking photos from the moment they step at the hall door, to when they are walking, seated, dancing, eating, all poses you can think off. She could have 50 photos of just a single evening.

3. Make-up gone soo wrong: The kind of lady who makes you question whether you are too ignorant about make-up or she really looks the way you see her. You question her brain, her mirror, her friends, her family, the entire humanity who walked right by her and never said a word. Not even, "honey, I think some water on your face will do you good."?!!

4. Always the dancer: She is the great dancer. She knows her moves well and all songs can be danced even the one you would just sit and have your hand hold your chin? Yeah, that song too. She can dance it. So of course, you never miss her being in the dance floor.

5. Fashion police: The keen eyes scrutinizing what everyone is wearing, what colour, which jewelry, what they should have done differently and what would match best with what. Plus they never miss someone to discuss the fashion NO-NO's with at the wedding.

6. Family-tree narrator: This is the historian. "See the lady in blue? she is the daughter of the woman in green. The woman in green is the step-cousin to your late mother. And your late mother had a great step-grandmother; she is the old lady talking to the young lady. The young lady is your step aunt" bla bla bla... They know most people in the wedding. They can connect the dots of family lineage back to your ancestors. 

7. God! I_AM_BORED woman: She is mostly at the event because she has no choice. She is just staring at people, rarely interacting at all, appreciates the food being served, has a faint smile on her face and the moment the bride sits on the stage, she is gone!

8.The psycho kind of writer ME: The moment she takes a seat, she starts eating. She wants to get done with it already and forget about food. Next she is in pauses between chronic texting syndrome and staring at people silently like a serial killer and psychopath studying her victims. She looks at people like story materials and study expressions, impressions, abbreviations you name it :D She stares at the corner of the eyes of the bride trying to find tears, study body language and think of all the story ideas she can get from one event. There is no selfie taken at all because she is the same way you'd see her on the street buying tomatoes. She can't interact much because hey! 'I am just from greeting someone across the hall. I can't dare do that again. Too much attention.' She is always looking around just in case she sees a familiar face or an old friend. Not that she will walk to go say hi, rather she'll just wave and plaster a big smile like, 'if only you were closer i'd give you a hug.' You know, Mombasa weddings are partly re-unions, everyone knows everyone sorta thing. She looks confused and lost. All people are going to take photos with the bride she is still seated at the far end row alone with empty seats beside and around her. She is trying to dissect the song lines and read between the lines and sometimes question the sanity of the singers with very cheesy lines. She waits until the bride is walking right beside her so that she can hug her and congratulate her. Then hurrah! 'I think I just got something to write about from this.' :D Okay I know I am bizarre and weird but at least you got something to read today! ;) Have a blessed weekend lovely people :D

FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GONE

Photo Courtesy: http://cbsnews2.cbsistatic.com/

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS VERY DISTURBING CONTENT

For those who know me well enough, they'd tell you you'd rarely see me in the middle of a crowd. It makes my head spin. In any event or occasion i'd either be within the two/three rows and most probably at the side-end of the line. It is always easier to get away you know. The nearer to the door, the better. So yesterday I was at the Iqra Youth foundation seminar and they had us to follow the lines. I ended up right at the middle of the third line. So before the event started, we had almost two hours. There were some nasheeds being played. One of the songs was one of the songs my late Mama two loved. Immediately upon hearing it, I could feel her face right in front of me. The memories, the laughter, her jokes...I started crying. I thought it would just a be a tear or two but then it almost became like an outburst of a spring. I was nervously and anxiously searching for my handkerchief in my bag with my head bowed so down almost getting buried in the bag. Obviously I didn't want anyone see me cry. It was too early in the morning for anyone to be seen crying. I could't find my hanky so I just used my hijab to wipe the over-streaming tears. My younger sister was seated next to me, I could see how deep in thoughts she was. I guessed that she probably was thinking about her too but no, I wasn't about to let her see me in tears and make her cry too. I am the older sister remember? In that roller coaster of thoughts, my mind replayed all those depressing videos I had seen the previous night of Aleppo. I started crying even more. Here I am crying for losing one important person what about them?! Losing everything all at once; homes, schools, hospitals, families...Seeing your sisters being gang raped right in front of their eyes...God! It made me feel miserable. The helplessness, the burning feeling...God knows how many times I kept my head bowed down in my bag, pretending to still be searching for the hanky. Looking behind after every two minutes to check whether my best friend had arrived to my rescue. My head was spinning, I could hear the laughter around, people busy chattering away, heads bowed down to their phones with no easy exit to the washroom so I stayed put, had a monologue trying to stay calm while taking deep breaths. God knows how many times I've wanted to disappear in such situations; be invisible, dissipate totally if possible. That is what helplessness does to us. Makes one angry, stressed, sad, frustrated all at the same time. It makes one question humanity, question God, question so many things...

This is perhaps one of the worst times to live in, one of the worst centuries to exist in. You see the humanity burn away into ashes. You see misery. You see rivers of blood flowing in a river-less town. You see children being tortured. You see women being raped. You witness a lot while you can do NOTHING about it. NOTHING.

https://youtu.be/I4L-UyMOHxE (please follow the links to watch full videos)

But then this isn't about Aleppo or Syria only. This is not about religion, race or politics. It is about the lives of innocent people. This is about Yemen, Palestine, Burma and many MANY other places around the world. It is about humanity. It is about the universe.

                                                   https://youtu.be/BvdLdrF8928

(The above video is of a child being electrocuted in Burma and his crime? His mother, his parents are Muslims)

They cry, they scream, they die. They are calling unto us? Where are we?! Where are we in helping them? As much as we keep tweeting, updating, blogging, instagraming about them, we have to REALLY ACTUALLY LITERALLY pray for them. Let us not just say, 'let us pray for them.' We need to take action NOW! We need to organize protests. We need to organize tahajjud for prayers for the whole world. We need to go back to Allah because He? He is the only one who can help them.

                                           https://youtu.be/GWgvxyGvJ6U

I am not trying to torture you too with these videos. I hope you can see the importance of your prayers and protests at this moment, to see the blessings in your life that you barely thank God for...to see how much privileged you are. Alhamdulilah ala kul hal.

Take heart people. God is seeing this all. He is watching and He is preparing great reward for all these people. Take heart that God has a greater plan. That He is still in control; always has been, always will be. Let's all turn towards Him. Let's complain to Him. Let us beg Him. Let us PRAY PRAY PRAY! Let us pray for the sake of all those who are gone and those still clutching onto the feeble straws :(

https://youtu.be/L96ywCmUCtk

Ameen thumma ameen! ;(