Intertextual Visual Art RepresentationArtist Statement
As we develop as a society, we are going to change in several aspects. Change is almost as inevitable and unstoppable as time moving forward. And it’s absolutely nothing to be scared of, because humans are meant to adapt and overcome obstacles and uncertainties. But the change we are seeing in today's scarcity around materialism may not be the most beneficial path for the human race. Change is bound to happen, but that doesn't mean we have only one option for how we will turn out or the path we’ll take. But it also doesn’t mean that because everything seems to be working out, that it’s the right one. I for one don’t believe it is, and is the inspiration behind my art piece “Exploration 1”. Physical objects are the motivation of most Americans, if not most of the individuals on this planet. We work, get money, save, work, get money, save, spend, work more, and then save a bit more. And once in a blue moon, we enjoy the fruits of our labor. And that’s completely fair and logical; earn what you want by working for it and then enjoy said thing. But we are now almost fully submerged in a new age where we rarely ever have the head space to enjoy what we have or think about other things other than working for more. Working for more so we can stay a float and get more. How long do we do this for, I don’t know. We are so obsessed with material objects that we now let them guide our lives and decisions. My personal belief is that we could do with less materials, but abolishing them entirely is a bit of an extreme and unrealistic goal for living a more free and eye opening life. We can live surrounded by materials, but we shouldn’t let them determine our actions or perspective on life. I have a few things myself that I enjoy having and have no regrets using. But if they were to be destroyed tomorrow, it wouldn’t have any effect on my life; not in the slightest. I think certain objects and materials are great to have around, and aren’t wrong to have. We can appreciate them but not obeyed by them. Which is what we see society falling into. Because we all think that if we have more, then we will be more happy or better off in life. Just like how it’s truly your perspective that matters when it comes to materials and having them or not, same goes for the perspective you have on what will bring you happiness. There is a damn good chance that earning more and buying more will not make you happy. To find true happiness, we all need to do a bit of soul searching. And there is never one answer or a straightforward answer for us all. Finding true happiness is hard, probably harder than winning the lottery. But once we do find it, find out meaning, and live a life of independent thought and actions, it pays off more than any paycheck ever could. That’s why I chose a maze for my art piece; a maze that seemingly goes on for the eye can see. Yet beyond the maze on the other side, there is dawn, a new dawn, a new hope, and a new life to live. But you don’t have to go through the maze, I mean no one is telling you to. And besides why would you when you already have all of the luxury and wealth you could want right there. You don’t have to search for it, it’s right there ready for you to spend your life trying to obtain as much as you can. But for what, what will it all work towards? What will happen to all this stuff once you’re no longer here, once you spent your life getting all of this just so you could have it for a moment? Before the next guy wastes his life collecting it? Happiness isn’t given, happiness isn’t bought, happiness isn’t collected, it’s found. To find something you need to search for it, explore places or thoughts it could be. But no one else can find it for you, cause they aren’t you; you are you. Only one person can do it, and that’s you. Exploration 1 Rhetoric and Ideology ProjectArtist Statement
Our nation is far from perfect. Time after time we have been beaten, but we are not broken and never will be. Now we face another battle of minds and emotional agony. BLM has brought out the best and worst in our nation. Some seek unison and conducive means of national equality and peace. While others see it to be more of a medium to commit despicable crimes and acts of violence. The mixed views on this hot topic aren’t even closely bound or related. Many people see different sides of the narrative and many people have formulated their own different views. And the shift of conflict has diverted more and more from supporting BLM to correlating our opinions and beliefs for BLM. Some see it as a movement the this nation has needed for a very long time, while others see it to be an act of domestic terror and unpatriotic. But one thing is clear, and it is that we are nowhere near to hearing and seeing one another on this. As more hatred is thrown around, the walls on each side become more fortified. It’s disheartening and depressing to see from the perspective of most. Which is what my art piece is about. Almost all debates are for the same outcome but with different tactics. For instance some agree that we the people should own firearms while others think they should be abolished. In the end, we all want a safer and more prosperous nation. Some of us believe the education system is broken and should be rewritten for a modern world, while others want it to remain. In the end, we all want a strong and secure education. These are just a few examples of several national issues that we can’t see eye to eye on yet want a similar if not same solution. And with my art piece, I want others to see how exhausting and dreadful our methods of debate really are. A lot of adults aren’t even civil anymore when discussing sensitive issues like BLM or abortion, gun rights, the economy. And we have forged this idea that you can win a debate if you can yell the loudest; it’s untrue, and a major setback. We can hear one another, take in new ideas and views to build off of. We would be surprised at how much each opposing side has in common. But we refuse to accept differences; it’s the way of mankind. Everyone on the planet thinks they’re right, and almost everyone on this planet has a prefixed belief of something that they have convinced themselves of being unchangeable from the start. He is wrong, she is wrong, they have to be wrong, because it’s different from what I believe. And out of any topic I have ever studied, I see this phenomena within BLM the most. My art piece is called “What Now”. And the style of it is linked to my argument of difference and the effect difference takes on our judgment. Not just from skin color or ideology, but with every factor within our lives that we have known ever since we can remember. Every small bit of news paper on my art piece is unique. Most have different words and labels on them, some are one color, others a different color, some are bigger and smaller, some are different shapes, etc. These pieces are not separate from one another, they are cohesive and unified. Not only that, they create a masterpiece when all together. We are all different, and there is nothing wrong with that, we should all be different in some way. But when we all combine minds, ideas, forces, compassion, we create something beautiful. We create solutions, inventive concepts, and a path forward. We human beings are different, but we are not separate and should never be. But going back to reality. Riots flooded a large proportion of 2020. People were hurt, structures were torn down, division widened. We tried telling one another why we are right and you aren’t, and still are. But we have gotten almost nowhere. What now? Satirical Rube Goldberg MachinesProject Description:
For this assignment, we have constructed Rube Goldberg machines with a satirical message integrated into them. A RGM is an overly complex sequence of machines that ultimately complete a simple task such as pouring a glass of water or opening a door. The task that my RGM performed was an arm delivering a punch to a dummy. Project ReflectionSatirical Piece/Reflection
By Asher Rehman Along with constructing our Rube Goldberg Machines, we created a separate satirical piece to complement them. This could take the form of a drawing/cartoon, writing piece, sculpture, etc. For mine, I created a 3D render of a man sitting on a bench looking down at his phone, while the moon is being hit by an asteroid behind him. The goal of my satire and what my message represents is how much humanity has fallen to and relies on technology. To the extent of us sometimes being completely crippled from completing work or schooling when it shuts down or cuts off. Not only retaining to work and education, but to self confidence and enterprise. I use caricature for the individual on the bench and the size of his freakish bug eyes fixed on the phone. And a heavy amount of hyperbole for the moon being destroyed by an asteroid right behind him almost illuminating the entire world. Outside of the content for this project, I really wanted to do something different and eye catching for my satire. Which is why I resorted to a 3D rendering, in which I have prior knowledge to creating. For a brief explanation; my satire is a man sitting on a bench looking down at his phone reading about/listening to a new article explaining how there will be a huge astronomical event tonight. He then proceeds to continue looking at his device completely missing the said event happening just right behind him. Making this my topic of satirical criticism was important to me because I want to be and others to be, fully aware of what technological advancement is doing to us. It is something that has been discussed life times over of how we are going to completely rely on it one. Yet this is quickly becoming a reality and there are barely any individuals who understand this. This plays a role in reality but also in a portion of a bit of cartoon style fantasy. The reality bit kicks in when upon second or maybe third glance the viewer realizes that the dummy is staring down at a phone or they themselves have been in a similar situation. What makes a powerful and moving satirical piece is when someone can look at a piece of satire and almost instantly relate to it in some fashion. This was represented by a piece of satire that we saw in class where there were a bunch of kids by a park bench. And a sign read “Slow down, there are kids playing”. Yet all of the children were on cellular devices completely glued to them ignoring one another. This is also the piece that inspired me to make the topic of my satirical message around technology. When self assessing my work and performance for humanities so far this quarter. I feel very confident in giving myself a 9. The reasons for this are mainly within my work ethic. I always try my best to complete work to my best on time. And if work is not complete on time, I will make time for completing it for late credit. A good example would be my DP update and this reflection. During the time of finalizing my Rube Goldberg Project, it would be an understatement to say that I was encumbered with work. And I completely overlooked updating my Humanities section on my DP. Once I found out about this, I spent time to update my humanities page with all of the proper work needed. I listen to my teacher Lori from beginning to end and complete all of my starters. I will also contact Lori if there are technology or school related concerns or hiccups that may draw me back. The largest thing would be managing an agenda/ planner for completing work. There have been times in humanities where I will completely overlook an assignment and receive an unacceptable grade for it; this reflection would be one of them. I feel shame and disappointment in these errors because they could have been avoided. And this comes down to sloppy orientation in completing my work and trying to juggle my schedule. Moving forward I would like to plan out my days briefly, and know that I can only work on one assignment/ topic at a time. And continue to turn in my best work even if that means it is late. |
Exploration 1
Collage: "What Now"Reflection
For this project I wanted to go the visual route for a change. I felt as if rather than having the audience unpack my thoughts and writing, I would create this piece to show my message and answer any questions about the artist's statement, yet mostly allowing the audience to do the thinking. My art piece is called “What Now”, and it is a collage, newspaper styled canvas. My message to the audience is that within the hot topic of BLM. Despite our difference in opinions and values, there is a way we all can hear and be level with one another despite said differences. The differences within us have always been the root of our division, because we all think we are right. And I wanted to showcase how pitiful and insignificant our differences are; that they do not make one another greater or lesser. No matter what skin color, values, religion, or beliefs we all hold to, they should not divide us; rather unite. And if anything, represent how we all compliment one another and can build off of different views. Each individual piece of paper has different words on it, some are different colors, different shapes, different size, each piece is unique. But rather than have them all seperit, they are cohesive and bond to create something beautiful. We all can be greater together. Yet some choose to not see one another and only have interest in bickering and restating why everyone’s wrong but them. This has been going on for too long with virtually no end so, what now? If anything, the most important value I have gained is the willingness to accept opposition. That I might possibly be wrong or misinformed potentially. And it truly is a wonderful thing to utilize because if you show that respect to an opposing side it will swing back around. Everyone wants to be heard, but not everyone wants to be told they are wrong so sadly a lot of us choose to set up mental barriers and deny differences. I’m glad I have strengthened my ability to truly listen and understand other sides of a debate because I have found commonality through it. It’s one of the reasons I have such mixed beliefs from the left and right. And I’m thankful that I have developed the principles of constructive debate and dialogue. I’ve learned that rhetoric is the cornerstone of progression. And that doesn’t necessarily mean manipulation and deceit. Because 70% of convincing someone or some people is delivery and usage of language. Nobody wants to be told that they’re dumb so they shouldn’t have dropped out of school. But rather convince them of how school is beneficial and the future it will unlock for them as opposed to shaming and pressure. It’s all about letting the apposing side know that the playing grounds are level through showcasing your argument in a non bias and factual manor. Now you could represent the evidence and data of your argument and then discuss how that puts you where you are, but you won’t get very far by stating that your ideas and values are better simply because. I think that rhetoric could play a huge role in our political system and be beneficial. Well...I take that back, rhetoric is utilized through the form of yelling, interrupting and power to the crowd. However, rogerian rhetoric could change the game of political development for the better. Where any and all oppositions are out there and furthermore are explained and justified. Then we the people could decide how we perceive them. But sadly in today's world you’re lucky if you get to finish a phrase before being shut down and shoved away. Think about the last argument or debate you had. Were you listening to what the other had to say or were you wondering when you would get to speak. |
Africa Imperialism
Over the course of the past couple of months. We have immersed into the rich history of Africa and It's development as separate nations and content. We all then went our separate ways to study key points and time lines of imperialism and war. I have chosen a topic that is arguabley one of the most interesting historical landmarks of Kenya's history. The Mau Mau war.
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Imperialism Project Reflection
Paragraph 1: Pride
I am mostly proud of the Op Ed I have written; but more specifically, the time that was put into its creation. Typically I am all about visual art pieces with projects when they are a part of it. But during the research for my topic and Mau Mau war, I was pulled into the information and history of Kenya. This project oddly enough engaged my interest more than anything else I have done before. And eventually I found myself looking for spare time to research and work on this assignment. For this, I could not be more proud of the final product after it’s revisions.
Paragraph 2: Difficulties
One of the difficulties I ran into was finding primary resources. Researching a topic from a third person point of view is one thing, but proving that information worth through first hand information was a challenge for the research. However, this was not exactly a challenge for me. I was lucky enough to have support from Lori in finding the primary sources that I used for my Op Ed. After they were implemented, everything came full circle and was linked. Because if you just simply have Information without evidence, reading feels a bit more like a story than an article. So when I was able to explain a region of this topic and then provide evidence for it, the information was strengthened. The only thing I feel Like I could have done differently to make this write up easier was reaching out for help sooner. Nearing the end of the time we had to create our rough draft for critique, I found myself rushing a little to get these primary sources into my Op Ed. Which made them look a little forced and choppy. But after some feedback and revision, I was able properly format the evidence and follow up.
Paragraph 3: Learning
Looking over the past two months of research and work we have done for this assignment. I have not only discovered more about Africa and its rich history. But the importance of looking over both sides of a story or realizing that there are more perspectives for any story. That there is never one direction or viewpoint, but countless ones. I know this because it shocked me when I was researching Kenya for my topic. I have never fully gone into the history of the imperialism or colonization of Africa but I had general background knowledge of it. It was knowledge that I developed over the course of my life hearing about how deprived of a continent Africa was. Which is why when I was in elementary school leading up into middle school. It shocked me a little bit seeing all of the huge vast cities of Africa like Lagos or Durban That looked very similar to what we would see in the states. This may be unrelated to imperialism, but it just comes to show how powerful only seeing one side of a story is. This project has helped me dive further into information that I am given; possibly question it, find out more, find different sources. And it has shown me that it will do more good than bad to keep an open mind and accept all possibilities. For the benefit of me as a learner.
Paragraph 4: Writing Growth
I have grown in my depth in thinking. Before hand and even still now when I write about something or someone. It can just flow out and seem like nothing when I am in the process. However, this has taught me to think about what I am writing and to pay attention to what my words mean. Sometimes I do not often mix my opinion in writing that is descriptive or informative. However, in a project such as this, it is a report from the perspective that you view the history.
A great example would be this quote and follow up I created in my OpEd: “They came with guns and machine guns and whips to beat all of us …. We all suffered the consequences: those who were in the forest, those who were in the villages, those who were in detention or in the prisons.” -Jane
If a first hand explanation and perspective like this; of what a human can do to another doesn’t captivate the savages behind this conflict, then I don’t know what will.
They were forced to give up information they they did not have through groosume violence, torture and asult. What happened to the victims, and the village tribes that were raided with whips, guns, and torment was the definition of inhumane. The Kikuyu stood no chance against the numbers and power of the british and their reinforced settlements.
I believe I have become a more diverse yet concise writer through this write up and topic.
Paragraph 5: Self-Assessment
In this class so far into the school year. I would give myself a confident 9. I know the hard work that I have put in to catch up has been true near the beginning of this year. And I am aware of what I am doing with my time and can say that I use it effectively if not all, 99 percent of the time. I am always on time to every zoom meeting and/or in person class. When I do not understand an assignment I will always ask for help.
This applies to all, but my math teacher Andy gave me some very good advice for if I am ever falling behind or lost. “Too much communication is the best communication”. And it has helped me dig myself out of the whole of make up work that had built up early this year. And thankfully I have been able to catch up in time for this assignment. Aside from getting off task every now and then I always aim to get work completed on time. And I have held that promise every since and am still improving.
Paragraph 1: Pride
I am mostly proud of the Op Ed I have written; but more specifically, the time that was put into its creation. Typically I am all about visual art pieces with projects when they are a part of it. But during the research for my topic and Mau Mau war, I was pulled into the information and history of Kenya. This project oddly enough engaged my interest more than anything else I have done before. And eventually I found myself looking for spare time to research and work on this assignment. For this, I could not be more proud of the final product after it’s revisions.
Paragraph 2: Difficulties
One of the difficulties I ran into was finding primary resources. Researching a topic from a third person point of view is one thing, but proving that information worth through first hand information was a challenge for the research. However, this was not exactly a challenge for me. I was lucky enough to have support from Lori in finding the primary sources that I used for my Op Ed. After they were implemented, everything came full circle and was linked. Because if you just simply have Information without evidence, reading feels a bit more like a story than an article. So when I was able to explain a region of this topic and then provide evidence for it, the information was strengthened. The only thing I feel Like I could have done differently to make this write up easier was reaching out for help sooner. Nearing the end of the time we had to create our rough draft for critique, I found myself rushing a little to get these primary sources into my Op Ed. Which made them look a little forced and choppy. But after some feedback and revision, I was able properly format the evidence and follow up.
Paragraph 3: Learning
Looking over the past two months of research and work we have done for this assignment. I have not only discovered more about Africa and its rich history. But the importance of looking over both sides of a story or realizing that there are more perspectives for any story. That there is never one direction or viewpoint, but countless ones. I know this because it shocked me when I was researching Kenya for my topic. I have never fully gone into the history of the imperialism or colonization of Africa but I had general background knowledge of it. It was knowledge that I developed over the course of my life hearing about how deprived of a continent Africa was. Which is why when I was in elementary school leading up into middle school. It shocked me a little bit seeing all of the huge vast cities of Africa like Lagos or Durban That looked very similar to what we would see in the states. This may be unrelated to imperialism, but it just comes to show how powerful only seeing one side of a story is. This project has helped me dive further into information that I am given; possibly question it, find out more, find different sources. And it has shown me that it will do more good than bad to keep an open mind and accept all possibilities. For the benefit of me as a learner.
Paragraph 4: Writing Growth
I have grown in my depth in thinking. Before hand and even still now when I write about something or someone. It can just flow out and seem like nothing when I am in the process. However, this has taught me to think about what I am writing and to pay attention to what my words mean. Sometimes I do not often mix my opinion in writing that is descriptive or informative. However, in a project such as this, it is a report from the perspective that you view the history.
A great example would be this quote and follow up I created in my OpEd: “They came with guns and machine guns and whips to beat all of us …. We all suffered the consequences: those who were in the forest, those who were in the villages, those who were in detention or in the prisons.” -Jane
If a first hand explanation and perspective like this; of what a human can do to another doesn’t captivate the savages behind this conflict, then I don’t know what will.
They were forced to give up information they they did not have through groosume violence, torture and asult. What happened to the victims, and the village tribes that were raided with whips, guns, and torment was the definition of inhumane. The Kikuyu stood no chance against the numbers and power of the british and their reinforced settlements.
I believe I have become a more diverse yet concise writer through this write up and topic.
Paragraph 5: Self-Assessment
In this class so far into the school year. I would give myself a confident 9. I know the hard work that I have put in to catch up has been true near the beginning of this year. And I am aware of what I am doing with my time and can say that I use it effectively if not all, 99 percent of the time. I am always on time to every zoom meeting and/or in person class. When I do not understand an assignment I will always ask for help.
This applies to all, but my math teacher Andy gave me some very good advice for if I am ever falling behind or lost. “Too much communication is the best communication”. And it has helped me dig myself out of the whole of make up work that had built up early this year. And thankfully I have been able to catch up in time for this assignment. Aside from getting off task every now and then I always aim to get work completed on time. And I have held that promise every since and am still improving.
Humans vs Africa
The human race dominates the planet; we are the most intelligent life forms in the world. We have the ability to work together or apart, to create or take, to be one or separate.
The Mau Mau. Dehumanized and stricken of everything. Pushed away to the side as if they were not human, and only in the way of the bigger picture; British colonization and imperialism. I see how they were only used for what they had and thrown out; served no purpose to the British government, therefore were outcast and ignored. To not be ignored you need a voice. For the Mau Mau’s final retaliation, violence was their voice. But a voice is a human's voice, as if the impact of dehumanizing their own race resulted in a separate race. Who are they?
The most dominant and widespread ethnic group in Kenya was the Kikuyu. The Kikuyu were being stripped of their economic power and support nearing the 1950’s. And had no claim of their highland properties which were rightfully under their possession. Earlier on before the beginning of the rebellion, nationalist Jomo Kenyata had been fighting for there highland claims and political rights amongst the British settlers and government figures for other Kenya nationalists. However, the progression of British settlers and in Kenya left them powerless and without any claim to their land or economy. The British saw Kenya for their own economic considerations and increased power. They did not see Kenya as an independent landform with a functioning civilization(s), but as a potential source of wealth. They saw Kenya giving them prestige to compete with other European powers. They were terrified of what was to come; more so the unknown. Not knowing if they were going to be killed for their land and resources, or forced to stay under british command. Treated as if they were animals/non human, they resorted to nonhuman forms of defence. Groosum, unethical, violence. So began the rebellion, the Mau Mau.
In 1952, when the negotiation for nationalists to reclaim what was rightfully theirs failed. Racial activists began the plot for retaliation through attacking white settler farms and other British authority figures. But there was no clear left or right side; it wasn’t all just shirts vs skins. Loyalist that were by the idea of imperialism by the British government were revoked of the oath taken by the Kikuyu and were hurt and even killed amongst the British. The Kikuyu was the largest ethnic grouping for the rebellion or more specifically Kenya. And they all swore under an oath entering the rebellion to fight for their land, economic strength, and independence as a country.
The following oath segments are pieces of the entirety of the oath that had been documented at the time. All members of the rebellion were bound by the following words: “I have today become a soldier of Gikuyu and Mumbi and I will from now onwards fight the real fight for the land and freedom of our country till we get it or till my last drop of blood. Today I have set my first step (stepping over a line of a goat’s small intestine) as a warrior and I will never retreat.”
“I will obey the orders of my leaders at all times without any argument or complaint and will never fail to give them any money or goods taken in a raid and will never hide any pillages or take them for myself. …”
Although there are many documents that claim to have information on the specifics of what the nationalists of Kenya went under during this war. A woman in particular; Jane Muthoni Mara, is a survivor of the timeline that took place. She describes being accused of being a part of the Mau Mau; fighting. Where she was then arrested under false accusation and sent to a detention center. The British troops that were of the overlook for the center tortured and assaulted the victims there. She describes dehumanizing and despicable things that happened to her and the other women there. In her own words: “There was a certain British man, Waikanja as we called him, and he forced the soldiers to beat us and to insert the bottles into our private parts … They wanted us to say that we’d been given oaths by some of those who had gone to the forest. So we were forced to say who gave us the oath.”
“The British never came to prevent anything here, they colonized the land and they denied the people of Kenya their rights, snatching their land and their freedom,” Jane laments. “They came with guns and machine guns and whips to beat all of us …. We all suffered the consequences: those who were in the forest, those who were in the villages, those who were in detention or in the prisons.” -Jane
If a first hand explanation and perspective like this; of what a human can do to another doesn’t captivate the savages behind this conflict, then I don’t know what will.
They were forced to give up information they they did not have through gruesome violence, torture and asult. What happened to the victims, and the village tribes that were raided with whips, guns, and torment was the definition of inhumane. The Kikuyu stood no chance against the numbers and power of the British and their reinforced settlements. Eight years of protest, killing, toture, and loss in humanity, the state of emergency had been revoked. The killing was over, but what was it all for. Just so they can wait for Europe to decide when enough was enough? The year was 1960; the war was over.
A few years later in 1963, the British government revoked all British claims and powers within the country and Kenya gained its independence. And Jomo Kenyata (activist and nationalist) had become the first president of the newborn nation. He was the country's first indigenous head of government and played a significant role in the transformation of Kenya. From a colony of the British Empire into an independent republic.
It’s over, but is it really? What did the 20,000 plus deaths of nationalist of Kenya really mean? What did the eight years of violence truly stand for. And why did it have to come to it?
Why did we as humans turn our backs on humans? We have never looked at each other eye to eye. There always will have to be aspects that separate us. The survivor Jane went under nothing but toture for something she didn’t want anything to be a part of and begged/ pleaded for it to end. But the only thing that changed was time moving forward.
We see victims being dehumanized through senseless actions such as the Mau Mau having everything taken from them and furthermore. But how could a human make someone not human through actions such as this. Unless they aren’t human themselves.
Were the British even human? Or better yet,
What does it mean to be human? Are we all human?
The human race dominates the planet; we are the most intelligent life forms in the world. We have the ability to work together or apart, to create or take, to be one or separate.
The Mau Mau. Dehumanized and stricken of everything. Pushed away to the side as if they were not human, and only in the way of the bigger picture; British colonization and imperialism. I see how they were only used for what they had and thrown out; served no purpose to the British government, therefore were outcast and ignored. To not be ignored you need a voice. For the Mau Mau’s final retaliation, violence was their voice. But a voice is a human's voice, as if the impact of dehumanizing their own race resulted in a separate race. Who are they?
The most dominant and widespread ethnic group in Kenya was the Kikuyu. The Kikuyu were being stripped of their economic power and support nearing the 1950’s. And had no claim of their highland properties which were rightfully under their possession. Earlier on before the beginning of the rebellion, nationalist Jomo Kenyata had been fighting for there highland claims and political rights amongst the British settlers and government figures for other Kenya nationalists. However, the progression of British settlers and in Kenya left them powerless and without any claim to their land or economy. The British saw Kenya for their own economic considerations and increased power. They did not see Kenya as an independent landform with a functioning civilization(s), but as a potential source of wealth. They saw Kenya giving them prestige to compete with other European powers. They were terrified of what was to come; more so the unknown. Not knowing if they were going to be killed for their land and resources, or forced to stay under british command. Treated as if they were animals/non human, they resorted to nonhuman forms of defence. Groosum, unethical, violence. So began the rebellion, the Mau Mau.
In 1952, when the negotiation for nationalists to reclaim what was rightfully theirs failed. Racial activists began the plot for retaliation through attacking white settler farms and other British authority figures. But there was no clear left or right side; it wasn’t all just shirts vs skins. Loyalist that were by the idea of imperialism by the British government were revoked of the oath taken by the Kikuyu and were hurt and even killed amongst the British. The Kikuyu was the largest ethnic grouping for the rebellion or more specifically Kenya. And they all swore under an oath entering the rebellion to fight for their land, economic strength, and independence as a country.
The following oath segments are pieces of the entirety of the oath that had been documented at the time. All members of the rebellion were bound by the following words: “I have today become a soldier of Gikuyu and Mumbi and I will from now onwards fight the real fight for the land and freedom of our country till we get it or till my last drop of blood. Today I have set my first step (stepping over a line of a goat’s small intestine) as a warrior and I will never retreat.”
“I will obey the orders of my leaders at all times without any argument or complaint and will never fail to give them any money or goods taken in a raid and will never hide any pillages or take them for myself. …”
Although there are many documents that claim to have information on the specifics of what the nationalists of Kenya went under during this war. A woman in particular; Jane Muthoni Mara, is a survivor of the timeline that took place. She describes being accused of being a part of the Mau Mau; fighting. Where she was then arrested under false accusation and sent to a detention center. The British troops that were of the overlook for the center tortured and assaulted the victims there. She describes dehumanizing and despicable things that happened to her and the other women there. In her own words: “There was a certain British man, Waikanja as we called him, and he forced the soldiers to beat us and to insert the bottles into our private parts … They wanted us to say that we’d been given oaths by some of those who had gone to the forest. So we were forced to say who gave us the oath.”
“The British never came to prevent anything here, they colonized the land and they denied the people of Kenya their rights, snatching their land and their freedom,” Jane laments. “They came with guns and machine guns and whips to beat all of us …. We all suffered the consequences: those who were in the forest, those who were in the villages, those who were in detention or in the prisons.” -Jane
If a first hand explanation and perspective like this; of what a human can do to another doesn’t captivate the savages behind this conflict, then I don’t know what will.
They were forced to give up information they they did not have through gruesome violence, torture and asult. What happened to the victims, and the village tribes that were raided with whips, guns, and torment was the definition of inhumane. The Kikuyu stood no chance against the numbers and power of the British and their reinforced settlements. Eight years of protest, killing, toture, and loss in humanity, the state of emergency had been revoked. The killing was over, but what was it all for. Just so they can wait for Europe to decide when enough was enough? The year was 1960; the war was over.
A few years later in 1963, the British government revoked all British claims and powers within the country and Kenya gained its independence. And Jomo Kenyata (activist and nationalist) had become the first president of the newborn nation. He was the country's first indigenous head of government and played a significant role in the transformation of Kenya. From a colony of the British Empire into an independent republic.
It’s over, but is it really? What did the 20,000 plus deaths of nationalist of Kenya really mean? What did the eight years of violence truly stand for. And why did it have to come to it?
Why did we as humans turn our backs on humans? We have never looked at each other eye to eye. There always will have to be aspects that separate us. The survivor Jane went under nothing but toture for something she didn’t want anything to be a part of and begged/ pleaded for it to end. But the only thing that changed was time moving forward.
We see victims being dehumanized through senseless actions such as the Mau Mau having everything taken from them and furthermore. But how could a human make someone not human through actions such as this. Unless they aren’t human themselves.
Were the British even human? Or better yet,
What does it mean to be human? Are we all human?