bwenyenye wrote:I see @Humbergler's point. For those born and brought up on this city... Tribes mean zero and native languages even less.. The reason is you are all a mix of everything and nothing breeds tribalism amongst your friends. You then develop your own 'tribe'.. Nairobians and language called Sheng.. That's how you roll. You never belong to any tribe. I know some people turning almost 50 who were born and raised here only to discover the tribe of their friends in 2007. They have not much connection with those who speak their parents languages. By they way, many of them speak to their parents in fluent mother tongue and that's it.
Tribe and languages and belonging are however, really valued by those who grew up mashinani... Why because that's what everyone spoke and they have bonds with those people.. Unfortunately, many of them moved into city life after campus and still imagine that their kids are like them... Your kids are urbanites...they will never value your tribe or customs or language like you do... You are among the last to value that language...
Yep,
I'm a 2nd generation Nairobian with some years growing up in Mombasa as well.
I remember one day in my early teens in shags gathering some courage to speak up in front of some folks and the repressed laughter that resulted..(cant blame them). I consciously made a decision not to ever bother trying again, i remember thinking, will this 'come in the exam? (KCSE).
That was the end of my trying.
Na kukaenda hivyo.
As for banning languages/tribes? I don't support.