Author: Father Kizito
Date: January 13, 2007
Type of article: Commentary
Source: The Daily Nation - only available online by registration and paid subscription fee

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Friends in Italy recently asked me to write “a few words” to help them to understand Nairobi when they come here for the World Social Forum. I obliged.

Nairobi deceives. Its centre, seen from a small hill overlooking Uhuru Park — the talks’ official opening and closing venue — is that of an ultra-modern metropolis. 

A few kilometres away, less than an hour’s walk, is Kibera. 

With a population of about 800,000, it is considered the largest slum in Africa south of the equator, and an icon of misery and injustice. 

The two sights are so shocking in contrast that they could capture all attention, distracting one from encountering the true Nairobi. 

Yet even when one looks beyond this tortured landscape and meets the people, difficulties in understanding the city do not diminish.

Italians and Kenyans come from two different traditions, and our common humanity is expressed differently. The imposition of Western habits — the way to dress, to shop and to relax so well promoted by the mass media — could initially give one the impression that Kenyans are just people of black skin, but live and behave like dwellers of any Italian town. 

But this is not the case. The appearance hides a world view quite different from one’s own. Not better or worse, but simply different. 

Very often one will have the delusion of being in tune with one’s hosts, because, for instance, one will talk the same language and shout the same slogans. 

And when one speaks of matters that are basic human experiences, such as life and death, family, politics and social transformation, human rights and participation, one will think the people understand one another. 

But this is not the case. Very often one will miss vital dimensions of what one’s hosts say. What are the most basic differences in this world view? 

Maybe the fact that in the Kenyan culture interpersonal relationships are much more important than anything else — even the truth. 

I cannot even start to try to describe the differences. I would need more reflection and space. 

However, in this difference there is great richness, and to understand and savour the richness one must make a personal effort, approaching it with attention and respect. 

But is this not obvious? But believe me, from what I observe it is a very difficult approach for people who belong to a culture such as Italian, or European, with a great and unjustified assumption of superiority. 

Too often I see in Kenya Italian tourists who display arrogance and disrespect. 

There may be a pill for malaria, but unfortunately there is none to prevent the superiority complex. 

At the end the carriers of this complex are the real losers because they fail to understand a place and its people. 

They have simply shifted their bodies from Italy to Kenya, but their minds and hearts have remained in Italy. 

Any time we approach other people with a sincere desire to understand them we should be able to see a new horizon and perspectives, and not just with the eyes. 

It is the attitude, the initial disposition of your spirit towards sharing life that will later light the beauty of the landscape and of the people you meet during the journey, however long or short. If one’s attitude is negative, the trip will be dull and fruitless.

Beyond the sessions one will attend during the talks, this attitude of openness and sharing is extremely important for people who want to fully live and grow in today’s world. 

It is a basic truth that domination and the imposition of economic, cultural and religious injustices are at the roots of the ills of the world. 

We all need to learn how to meet the others, to understand that peaceful and positive acceptance of different societies, cultures and religions can begin only from the ability to respect the others and to meet them with real empathy as fellow human beings. 

We must recognise that not only social justice, but also identity, culture and religion are vital aspects in the building up of the possible new world we dream of. Most probably these few words will not help one to understand Nairobi.

But if one could at least come with the awareness that one will meet a different culture, a different world, and that one can understand these things more with an open hart and mind rather than with one’s brain, it is already a good starting point.