Flanked by professors, doctors, literature lovers and students, Prof Micere Mugo held all under the spell of intellectualism.
She was delivering a public lecture at Riara University, in Nairobi, on Thursday, titled 'A home away from home: A biographical sketch (working in the Diaspora: working within the context of the African- American- African-African dialogue).'
The lecture from the renowned poet, playwright, scholar, political activist and literary critic, despite drawing insights from oppression had the message of hope and the lesson that, despite our perceived differences, we are one.
This was especially driven home using two unfortunate life experiences. She had been arrested twice in a London airport on different occasions.
“In the first instance, I was mistaken for a Nigerian woman, whom Interpol was seeking. The second time I was mistaken for a Jamaican.”
This, she said, symbolised that “the other person is me, and me the other person.” But the world does not work that way, and people have always been in conflict with each other, which is Micere’s story.
Exiled 33 years ago, Micere captured her experience early on in the lecture with a moving poem, Birth, dedicated to her daughters, Njeri, who died of cancer in 2012 and Mumbi, who lives with her in the United States.
“I wrote the poem, which is published in the book 'From My Mother’s Poem and other Songs' after an interrogation session (in the 1980s before going into exile, during the one party rule where perceived dissent was severely punished). At the time I was told I was not fit to be a mother, that I am an animal.”
Her then young daughters were her only comfort, her “companions, friends and unfailing comrades and especially in the mountainous time of exile.”
Exile in the poem symbolises bondage, which she mirrored with her narration of the history of the transatlantic slave trade, 1502 to 1841, which saw Africans in the West African coast whisked in chains to America.
The slaves’ descendants are now known as the African-Americans, who are met with many stereotypes and misunderstandings. But Micere says to understand them; one must learn what they went through during slavery.
“I find it easy to relate with them as I recognise their pain.”
A pain of leaving home, which Micere says is difficult even when it is voluntary, and frightening and painful when it is forced.
But Micere had, despite the pain made a home first in Zimbabwe then in America, where she taught at the Syracuse University for 22 years at the department of African American studies. She recently retired from this post, in a ceremony titled 'The Tireless Pursuit' where her lifelong colleague during the struggle, Chief Justice Mutunga made an address.
Dr Mutunga was also present at the Riara lecture as was Micere’s sister, Dr Eunice Kiereini, and Jeremiah Kiereini among others.
While away from home, whether voluntarily or not, Micere said, you either have to create another home, or live in desperation.
She chose the former, and even extended a hand to others. She founded the Pan African Community of Central New York, and the United Women of Africa organisation.
She also noticed prisons in the States were full of black and Latino men whom she advocated for and taught English and also Kiswahili.
During the question and answer session, the audience engaged Micere especially on the role of the Diaspora in development.
She expressed optimism on the direction the country is taking saying that infrastructure is one of the indicators of this change.
“Ten years ago, we had potholes where a Mercedes Benz could go in never to come back,” the audience roared even as she said she was employing the literary license of hyperbole.
But she expressed concern on the level of corruption, lack of youth participation and the huge gap between the haves and the have-nots.
Micere fled Kenya in 1982, a week to the attempted coup with her two daughters. At the time she held a historical position as the dean, faculty of arts at the University of Nairobi. No other woman in the East African Universities had been to that position.
By then she had authored books, including The Trial of Dedan Kimathi written with Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Mau Mau Freedom Fighters with Wanjiku Kabira. Prof Kabira introduced the session at Riara, hailing Micere as a great scholar.
