Рет қаралды 12,110
Nagorno-Karabakh is a small plateau in the Southern Caucus ridge between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The 4400 KM2 region has been a cauldron of rag-tag between Armenia and Azerbaijan for over 4 decades. The Lock-down morning of September 27th of 2020 marked the merciless shelling between the armed forces from the two countries. Truce is on for now!
When the Persians and Turkish came to Eastern Africa (today’s Kenya, Ethiopia, the 2 Sudans, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti) between 908 - 1327 AD, then land there already belonged to the natives
Fast-forward to 1960s, the 55 African countries begin to secure the limited autonomy which all the countries call “Independence!” and which they celebrate on specified dates every year.
So, what is the connection between this song (original title; Museweni be Nunyal = now that you’ve given-up, will you ever try another quest?), Odongo Agwata and Land issues?
Despite attaining the limited autonomy on December, the 12th of 1964, the Forestry Department under British colonial rule remained active even with the Jomo Kenyatta presidency. By 1965 many regions across Kenya had been relieved of the Squatter status; However, an in-charge from the colonial govt. of the renamed Lands Commission recommended that Western Kenya and some parts of the Coast remain under Squatter status.
By mid 1970s, the Lands Commission was totally under native African command hence the obvious was expected. Both the colonial govt. and new Kenyan govt. were formed hundreds of years after the natives had settled in Kenya hence it would only be prudent to return the ownership of all the occupied land to natives.
This failure drove strings of issues.
After Moi took over in 1979, he applied the divide and rule card and issued title deeds to a majority of Western Province and parts of Coast but almost none to Luo Nyanza.
After 1982 skirmishes, Moi sought opinion of his cronies. A man named Kuria Kanyingi had a suggestion; revoking previous title deeds and turning the whole lake region into squatter status. Moi heeded the call and natives became Squatters in their ancestral land.
With it came a nightmare! all the land in Luo Nyanza became govt. property.
Local activities like logging, mining, grazing the livestock and even brewing the millennium old traditional drinks became illegal. The Forestry Department with the help of Civil Police conducted raids on pastoral lands, mines, and villages in Police Mahindras known as “Nai-Nai,”.
Any cattle found grazing outside the homesteads were rounded up and taken to the posts. The release fine was 900 shillings (considering the rates then of 1$ to KShs.5) = US$ 180 ; a sum which many couldn’t afford hence surrendered at least 3 heads of cattle to pay the fine. Women brewing Busaa were arrested and released on KSHs.50,00 fine, gold miners in the rural were arrested and fined KSHs 120.
The regime with full support from Thatcher and Reagan administrations wreaked havoc on the region. Kuria Kanyingi acquired big tracks of land in Ruma National Park in then Homa-Bay District. Other Nyanyo loyalists from Central and Rift Valley acquired Muhoroni and Miwani lands.
Feeling hopeless, 3 men from Nyanza, the MPs: Horace Owiti Ongili, Peter Oloo Aringo and Raymond Oloo Ndong´, decided to court and befriend Moi. They then negotiated some title deed issuing for some natives.
Odongo Agwata was released from Naivasha Security Prison in late 1984 in a deal likely brokered by MP Horace Owiti. Soon after Odongo's release, Owiti Ongili was murdered in unrelated event. When he did this song mid 1985, he couldn’t risk return to prison so he made a veiled criticism of the Nyayo regime, while mourning his godfather, late Hon. Owiti Ongili.
In the 1st line he sings; Samoro lit kaingo ni aonge dala kuma nonyuola = at times I grieve on realizing that I’m no longer in my ancestral home]; I’m now a Squatter
In the 4th verse he sings; Janeko lich kaboroni dhiang´e lela dheri no nyalo thoo = It’s scary when a mad-man drains blood from your cow in daylight, you might lose the cow} in reference to the confiscation of the herd so that the owner pays a fine for release.
Land issues have spelt deadly fates all over the world. Israel-Palestina conflict is about land. In the early 1990s there were land clashes in Kenya in Sotik, Tinderet, Molo, Kano-Nandi border, Burnt Forest; The Ethiopia-Eritrea war, Kigoma conflict between Tanzania and the Idi Amin led Uganda, The Mau Escarpment issue, the Greco-Turkish-Macedonia War and most recently, the Migingo Island scuffle, all over land rows!
It is unbelievable that today, June 4th of 2023, a majority of Luo Nyanza and many people in Kenya are still Squatters in their ancestral lands.
Land ownership issues are still following the Pareto Principle: in Kenya 20% of individuals own 80% of all the land nationally
Closing from "Changes" - Lesane Parish Crooks(1971 -1996)
“Some things will never change”