Our writers and artists deserve a little more respect

The ‘Letter from Seattle’ written by Jared Angira and Godwin Siundu’s contribution to ‘Literary Discourse’ happened to be on adjacent pages of the Saturday Nation of January 23, 2016. This was maybe an editorial coincidence, but it could also be because a

common thread ran through both articles.

READ: Letter from Seattle

Agreeing whole-heartedly with Angira’s opening statement, I have often argued publicly along the same lines in the past. The more lasting cultural value of a nation lies with writers, scientists and artists, and unless civil society and the State recognise it in a

tangible way, the ‘soul’ of the nation will wither away for lack of watering.

This may be also partly responsible for the “progressive decline in the number of undergraduates who wish to specialise in literature”, as lamented by Dr Siundu. My favourite author and role model Somerset Maugham lived in France because, as he put it,

France put authors on a pedestal in contrast to his country, Britain. It was not only authors but painters and artistes who received bouquets from the public and government in France and in turn they enriched the cultural life of the country. In this

connection, the fact that Jared Angira, an economist and one of Kenya’s foremost poets, lives in Seattle, is equally telling.

How can the State and society help to rectify the situation? The State needs to decorate more ‘artistes’ in the Honours List announced on national holidays. Roads and other vantage points could be named after them. Both the public and private universities

should consider them favourably when conferring honorary degrees. It seems that currently majority of these are dished out to the rich, donors and politicians.

Attending the funeral service at All Saints’ Cathedral, Nairobi, of our eminent author, Marjorie Oludhe-Macgoye, I was wondering how many universities would grant her posthumous honorary degrees and what decoration the State would confer on this

Kenyan icon who has made us proud locally and on the international literary stage. I have not noticed a big rush in that direction.

Focusing on authors alone, institutions of higher learning must prescribe more books by local authors. Publishers must treat authors with respect and consideration, pay them their meagre royalties regularly and market better their creative literature, thus

augmenting their own income and that of writers who entrust their work to them. They owe it to the authors once they accept their work for publication.

Socrates, the great Greek philosopher and physician, said many centuries ago that every time a writer dips his pen in the inkpot, he leaves a piece of his flesh behind. The eternal statement remains true to this day in spite of the dotcom era. Writers deserve

better treatment than they are getting now.

PROUDLY FLAUNT BOOKS

Our book sellers must not put our work apologetically on the back burners, but proudly flaunt books by local authors in their shop windows. In this connection, I remember going into a bookshop in Mombasa looking for a copy of Facing Mount Kenya

because I wanted to do some research on circumcision of Kikuyu boys for my book, Eye of the Storm. Not finding Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s book anywhere in the shop, not even on the back shelves, I went to the manager to inquire which part of the shop I

could find it. She quite casually replied: “We don’t keep African literature!”    

I now touch on the other point raised by Jared Angira, which is encapsulated in his statement, which states that unfortunately the Kenyan society has become a hostage to money and its various appendages. Sadly, many of us would agree with that

contention. As Magesha Ngwiri said on the editorial page of the same issue, in our country it has become fashionable to get rich through any illegal means.

As the recent survey shows, almost half the country’s youth admire people who have made money by hook or crook. Less than half also believe that there is nothing wrong in either receiving or paying bribe.

Having taught medical students for almost half a century, I have put my faith in the youth of our beloved country and strongly believe that our university students will eliminate tribalism, corruption and impunity. These statistics have come as a rude shock to me.

It seems that the heartening aspiration of the students who obtain high marks in primary and secondary school leaving examinations in wanting to become doctors, in general, and neuro-surgeons, in particular, is not borne out of a vocational urge to serve

people. It may be the glamour, respect, prestige and the money that goes with it.

I heard on the BBC Radio this week that 91 super rich people in the world own as much wealth between them as the rest of the world. Most of it is held in tax havens. It is believed that if they only paid legitimate tax, it would improve health, education and

social services in the entire developing world. One member of the discussion panel said: “Rich people are not like you and me. They are different.”

Another quipped: “Moneyed people all over the world get away with crimes for which lesser mortals would go to prison.” With longer and better lives the rich live, and the genetic manipulation they can afford, there is a danger that in time they might belong to a different species altogether!

Making money fairly and within limits is a natural human need and ambition. Remembering Maugham again, he wrote that money is the sixth sense without which one cannot adequately enjoy the other five. Put it another way, money is a means to an end.

Accordingly if one earns enough to live in the life style one desires, educate children in the best institutions of learning, take holidays, provide for sickness and retirement, finally leave a decent amount for the lawful successors, making sure that it is not eaten

by inheritance tax man and lawyers, one has achieved one’s goal. Any endeavour beyond that is courting a new disease known as Affluenza in medical jargon and adding zeroes to the bank account.

I hope that with this contribution, Siundu will withdraw his allegation that literary intellectuals are silent despite literature being under siege and Angira will continue to provoke the silent majority!