Using African proverbs during our January, 2008 political crisis here in Kenya

[Storyteller]

During our January, 2008 political crisis here in Kenya African proverbs are being used regularly in the media and in daily conversations. The most commonly used Swahili proverb worldwide was used as our "African Proverb of the Month" in November, 2001: "When elephants fight the grass (reeds) gets hurt" (Swahili, Eastern and Central Africa). See our website for the complete expanation. Now it is being applied to the strong disagreements between our two major political leaders -- President Mwai Kibaki and his main challenger Raila Odinga. And sadly it is the poor people who suffer. The "African Proverb of the Month" in April, 2007 was: "If you rattle a snake, you should be prepared to be bitten by it" (Gikuyu, Kenya). See our website for the complete expanation. In yesterday's (21 January, 2008) "The Standard" newspaper on page 7 this proverb is rewritten as "If you rattle this sabre it'll bite you." It refers to the hawish, controversial comments of John Muchuki, the new Minister for Works and Housing.

[Storyteller]

You will be interested in this update on the Kenyan situation that has been creatively packaged in the application of a famous African saying. Go to the "Cover" Story of

"America" Magazine
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10670

"A Tale of Two Elephants"'
Overcoming the postelection crisis in Kenya

By Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator | MARCH 10, 2008

The author, a Nigerian Jesuit priest with whom I work at Hekima College here in Nairobi, Kenya uses a popular saying to characterize the current postelection crisis in Kenya: "When two elephants fight, the grass suffers." What I find particularly original is how he applies the saying eight times to President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga who may become the new Prime Minister and to the local situation here in Kenya in the article.