Life is not all that serious. So today I want to talk about
how I acquired a life skill and mentored so many afterwards. The story may have
lessons here and there, especially on how we can co-exist regardless of where
we come from, but it is purely for the read.
For starters, ugali is a rarity in Somali households. Kenyan
staple food it may be but Somalis cook it only once in a blue moon. It is never
cooked when visitors are around. When it is on the menu, those who don’t like
it are informed well in advance so that they make arrangements for an
alternative meal.
Personally, I have been eating Ugali as long as I can
remember. It literally flows in my blood. I went through boarding schools both
in primary and high school where ugali was a daily affair. In high school,
ugali nights were my favorite. At least you get to fill your stomach with
something heavy. Murrum (Githeri) and quarter Maji (quarter bread and cabbage
soup) were in such small portions that they were just meant to keep soul and
body together. Though my favorite, I never bothered to know how it is prepared.
I reported to the University of Nairobi as a fresher on a
Monday morning. On that first day, I picked the key to my hostel room and
disappeared for a week. When I came back with my luggage, I found someone in
the room. I quickly scanned the room and realized there was only one bed. I remembered
there were two beds on the first day. I inquired from the guy where his roommate was. He said he
was alone. I told him, “I am the one”. I asked him in an authoritative voice,
“Where is the other bed?” he told me it is under there, pointing to his bed. He
immediately assisted me in retrieving and assembling it. On his own admission,
he contemplated asking for a change of room because he was scared of living
with me. within the first day, the initial mistrust dissipated and we became close friends. We were roommates for two years
and neighbors even after we moved to single rooms in third and fourth years. I
introduce this guy because he plays in the story the same role that won Lupita
the Oscar Awards; Supporting actor.
