Pain of the left-handed as they navigate the world 'meant' for right-handed

People who are left-handed trying to use many everyday items is like a game permanently set on ‘difficult’ mode

Stories abound of left-handed people being forced to use their right hands by teachers and parents

While audiences are enthralled when Isaac Mugunda plays the guitar, what most never realise is that he is playing it upside down. Mugunda is left-handed, yet most guitars are designed for right-handed people.

That is what navigating the world is like for a left-handed person. A world designed for right-handed people. For the 10 per cent of people who are left-handed, trying to use many everyday items is like a game permanently set on ‘difficult’ mode while it is permanently set on ‘easy’ mode for the other 90 per cent, who never have to think about it.

“I play a right-handed guitar with my left-hand but upside down. The other difference is that when a right-handed person plays the guitar, if he’s plucking downwards, I’ll pluck upwards. So my interpretation is very different,” says Mugunda.

He explains that some people think it is a mirror-effect but it’s not and is actually completely different.

“If I played a left-handed guitar maybe I could use a mirror reflection to interpret the chords but for me using a right-handed guitar I have to play opposite in every way,” he says.

Left-handed guitars exist, but they are very difficult to come across. Mugunda once found one but when he tried playing it, having played since 1991 when he had to learn by ear and interpret how to play left-handed, he had already gotten used to his method and using the left-handed one proved to be too difficult, as it usually is for most left-handed guitarists accustomed to right-handed.

“All the left-handed guitarists I’ve met in the country, like Dave Otieno and Eddy Ndeda and the bass guitarist for Them Mushrooms play it upside down. When you ask them why, you find out that it’s because they were around right-handed people so they had to learn on right-handed guitars,” says Mugunda.

Scissors

For Eric Kiambati, who works in towing and recovery and is therefore involved in a lot of rescue, something as simple as using scissors proves to be a challenge during an emergency.

“Cutting through a bandage, or a piece of cloth using scissors is usually a problem because scissors are made for right-handed people, including first-aid scissors, so if I need to help someone using that particular pair of scissors, I have to use my right hand,” he says.

He has also encountered problems culturally and in everyday situations.

“You can imagine my shock the first time I went to serve tea in the village using my left hand, and people refused to take the tea because I had served it using my left hand!” he says.

“Even when making payments or giving money, some people refuse to take the money just because you have given it to them using your left hand. I had to learn to give money using my right hand.”

“Secondly, if you go for a dinner or you’re in a boardroom for a meeting writing is a challenge when seating next to a right-handed person. Our elbows will bang against each other. I have had that challenge since my school days,” he recalls.

Genetic

Scientists say that left-handedness is biological. Innocent Wahome, a student, may have inherited the genetic trait from his parents, who are both left-handed.

 “Right from the time I get to class, it’s all about begging to sit on the left side of my deskmate because you see if I sat on his right side our elbows would collide when we’re taking notes or any type of writing for that matter,” he says. However, in his opinion, being left-handed can come in handy sometimes.

“Having to use my left hand has its advantages when it comes to sports, specifically rugby. Not to brag, but I am the best at ‘flowing’ the ball farthest and most accurately, so I guess it evens out everything else,” he says.

“I feel that my left hand side is stronger than my right, that is including my legs because I tend to take the first step with my left leg.”

Online feedback

Stories abound of left-handed people being forced to use their right hands by teachers and parents, as evidence by feedback online when we posed the question to people:

Akura Charles said: My left hand had to be tied. I was warned that I can’t be a priest cause hostia is given using right hand, but I survived, class was hell how lefties hold books is very unique, thanks to my Hm who was our maths teacher and a leftie I enjoyed maths and he made me a small king.

Faizo Ameso Diedre said: I was forced to, with beatings at school, one day I even had a nosebleed because of a beating. I shifted to right yes but with a bad handwriting and I couldn’t finish my exams, I was always behind time. My son is left-handed and I won’t allow anyone to force him.

Bonny Imeleny said: I was a lefty until my teachers inflicted injury to my left hand just to discourage me. The scar is still visible. To date there are some tasks I can’t do with my right hand.