Jumped, Mugged and Torn in the Rain
This next series of entries is a description of a terrifying mugging experience I had this past Sunday in Nairobi. My intention is to take the proper time to understand everything about what happened with the proper analysis is requires. Like most post-colonial emerging economies - violence is an incredibly common result of systemic poverty. Five young men came running at me tackling me to the ground and ripping my bag off my back, and as I screamed and yelled at the only one who hadn't run away - yanking desperately for my belongings - he looked me straight in the eyes as much to say - "Let it go" and so I did.
Almost every country in Africa has cheated and mugged and fought it's way out of an awful indigenous slavery then colonial exploitation followed by a brief window of democracy from independence (ie. Nkruma in Ghana, Lumumba in the DRC) usually closely met with a dictator next (as in Moi, Kenya) and now, in the beginning of the 21st Century - foreign investment fighting it out for the huge profits to be made in the massively underserved consumer market.
So besides crying, being terrified, bleeding and having to borrow money from strangers to get home in my torn clothing in the pouring rain - history is what I think about as an important lesson explaining why I got mugged. I have been given dozens of thoughts on why this happens, and happen it does - EVERY SINGLE PERSON I told has also been mugged in Nairobi - some many times. My favourite reason I think is the best, the most meaningful and maybe most worth exploring for all of us when we think about the cancerous marriage of fear and Africa. It comes from a spiritual perspective, from a time when in this place of cold water, nobody got mugged and people lived safely together.
My friend Alphayo sat with me and shared the following theory in my gorgeous newly painted t-shirt design studio, a tiny room I could never abandon despite what happened to me because in it's own little 300 square foot way, it represents to me the future for Kenya and Africa. To partner with and invest in young people who aren't discouraged by all the misery and sadness of the past, who desperately want to use their skills and ideas to build and rebuild their lives into something extraordinary. The ones perhaps who are lucky enough to believe it is possible.
More later. No photos for a bit - digital camera stolen in the mugging.
Movie of the Week - Tsotsi (South Africa)
Almost every country in Africa has cheated and mugged and fought it's way out of an awful indigenous slavery then colonial exploitation followed by a brief window of democracy from independence (ie. Nkruma in Ghana, Lumumba in the DRC) usually closely met with a dictator next (as in Moi, Kenya) and now, in the beginning of the 21st Century - foreign investment fighting it out for the huge profits to be made in the massively underserved consumer market.
So besides crying, being terrified, bleeding and having to borrow money from strangers to get home in my torn clothing in the pouring rain - history is what I think about as an important lesson explaining why I got mugged. I have been given dozens of thoughts on why this happens, and happen it does - EVERY SINGLE PERSON I told has also been mugged in Nairobi - some many times. My favourite reason I think is the best, the most meaningful and maybe most worth exploring for all of us when we think about the cancerous marriage of fear and Africa. It comes from a spiritual perspective, from a time when in this place of cold water, nobody got mugged and people lived safely together.
My friend Alphayo sat with me and shared the following theory in my gorgeous newly painted t-shirt design studio, a tiny room I could never abandon despite what happened to me because in it's own little 300 square foot way, it represents to me the future for Kenya and Africa. To partner with and invest in young people who aren't discouraged by all the misery and sadness of the past, who desperately want to use their skills and ideas to build and rebuild their lives into something extraordinary. The ones perhaps who are lucky enough to believe it is possible.
More later. No photos for a bit - digital camera stolen in the mugging.
Movie of the Week - Tsotsi (South Africa)
posted by Sue Stanfield at 4:18 AM
4 Comments:
Sue – you are courageous for not giving up. You put this horrible and terrifying experience into to humanistic and spiritual context. You should be admired for forgiving Kenya. And appreciated for continuing on with the business you setout to build.
Hi sue, I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I've been robbed - in my apartment - me holding one side of my laptop and the robber holding the other - us looking into each other's eyes - perhaps 1 foot apart - and the endless time it took for me to let go of my end and say "take it".
Fortunately I was not physically assaulted - he was carrying a crow bar which he used to break in through the door. Who knows why we have these experiences...i have learned to accept the experience, learn what I can from it, let it go and forgive it. I now can share in your troubled times as I have been there...that is a gift! Please email me anytime if you want to get into a dialogue about your expereince. I'm here for you. xo Jeanie
Keep up the good work. thnx!
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Hey what a great site keep up the work its excellent.
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