“Hi Steve? Steve?” He called me but I hesitated. “There could be many other Steves around. Furthermore people know me by the name Siloma.” I thought. I turned back and with his usual old man’s hat, he edged a piece of paper at me. I turned to my right to surely confirm it was really me he was drawing attention to.
He is usually silent, a clammed up guy who entertains only those in his circle. His vintage or rather archaic wear makes him stand out from his fellow hibernating crickets. He is the unconventional guy who doesn’t really flow with the current but rather remains conspicuous with his tide. I turned back and strolled to his direction. He handed me the flyer, a beautiful well-crafted piece of graphical art and outright, like a compass well-aware of its needle’s pointer next landing, I asked,
“How much will it be this time?”
“It will be free this time round!”
I looked into his face as if on an intense culprit interrogation session where my biggest task was to maintain eye contact. “Free?” I asked in awe. “Yes, but don’t worry, the photos will be auctioned!” And breathing like a perturbed maniac in shock, I muttered, “Ooooh!” Someone would think that I’m planning to be the highest bidder. It is sad that I wasn’t in the last event.
For those who are already confused and think that this is some fiction or creative writing piece, sorry it’s not. Biko Macoins Mashilingi runs Slum Photography. He uses his God-given talent, photography for a good cause. This challenges me the same way a tortoise would want to get off its shell and explore the world. I mean Biko(the Tortoise) has gotten off his shell and he is now in a new sphere exploring what exists beyond his waking up, dressing, hanging out and farting. Sadly, I have barely got my head out to peep what exists my eyeball’s shortsightedness.
Biko believes in education. He believes that education is the mainstream necessity that will fast-play the toil and sweat that comes from lack of it. He gives me an example of a kid who stood beside us with a bowl of roasted nuts. There’s something he did that intrigued me. He delved his hands into his pockets and got some coins in which he bought a ‘packet’ (for lack of a better word) and smiled to the kid. He then asks the kid as he pursues with his explanation,
“How old are you?”
“12” She replies
He then proceeds to state that in 10 years the kid will be 22. Thoughts in my head run, “Biko, I never had a D in Maths. I know the simple arithmetic of addition. What is your point exactly?” He waits for that to sink in. The same way you would pretend to go MIA and wait for a tortoise’s ugly head pop off it’s rugged shell, just for the fun part of it. (Damn, I love my childhood)
He then proceeds, “Where will this kid be without education?” And that is when those wild thoughts whisk their way in your brain, “You are right Biko, very right. But do you want me to educate the world? I got enough problems of my own, just the same way they have theirs.” These are thoughts that strike most people when someone tells them their cause. Do you take them in? Or do you let them scuffle their way out of your brain?
“The funding that comes from that exhibition will educate these young ones,” he ultimately remarked. I nodded. I get inspired by every sight, every encounter and every conversation I have with people. I let the world challenge me. I let positive inspiration in the world drain in me. I never want to be comfortable, sitting my bums, giving the laugh and finally to the hearse. I always want to run my talents for a good cause. The question is, do you? How do you plan to change the world with the little you have? With the much talent at your disposal? Where do you get your inspiration? How do you plan to inspire others? And most of all, whom do you have around you? Are they as negative as culprits of continuous addiction or are they the cornerstone that pillars your vision?
I had no real plans for Saturday the 28th of November but thank God for this flyer, I have a place to go and get inspiration and get challenged. The exhibition will be held at The British Institute in East Afric,a Laikipia Road in Kileleshwa Nairobi. It will run for both the 28th and 29th as from 11am-5pm.