Growing Up In Kenya

Growing Up In Kenya

A propos of my book A Kenya Childhood I have been reading two interesting books recently – An African Childhood by Janet Lewison andMishkid: a Kenyan Childhood by David Webster. Janet Lewison is the daughter of Charles Granston Richards, whom many will remember from...

Safari Rally Part 2

Two generations have passed since 1953 when the East African Coronation Safari Rally was born. That first race was named for the coronation of the beautiful young Princess who went to sleep in Treetops one night and woke up a Queen. All that seemed necessary for this...
Tammu or Jook

Tammu or Jook

Translation of the Scriptures into another language is an intriguing exercise. The translator is challenged to find terms in the receptor language for such key Biblical concepts as Holy Spirit, cross, Satan, evil spirits, savior, prayer and God. If these key terms do...
East African Safari Rally part 1

East African Safari Rally part 1

If you ask any male from the developed world or Kenya over the age of eighteen, “Can you drive?” he will probably be irritated with what he considers a totally unnecessary question and will reply that of course he can and he will think to himself, and better than...
Northrup Book Available

Northrup Book Available

Northrup – The Life of William Northrup McMillan  is now available to purchase online.    In the US it can be purchased for $15 at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com  In Europe it is available for £9.50 on Amazon.co.uk Book details: Northrup is the story of a...

Just Coincidence?

I have reason to believe the phenomenon I am about to describe is not peculiar to myself as several of my contemporaries have found it so. I wonder if it was also so in settler days and if any other geriatric Kenyaphiles have experienced it. Mine is an extreme example...

Comments on the Poem, African Memories

I just posted a poem about Africa and the memories one has after leaving the continent. It was posted on a facebook group called Kenyan friends reunited. We are wondering if any Old Africa readers or friends knows who wrote the poem. As I read it, it brought back...

More African Memories

I was born in Africa and its seasons shaped my soul.
 I knew my place beneath the sun, the warm earth made me whole,
 Those arching skies and brilliant stars fixed my position there,
 That brooding space my boundary, the far horizons clear.
 I belonged to Africa and...

When a Little Bribe Benefited Everybody

Anybody who ran a car in Kenya during the 1950s or 1960s will recall the name ‘Hassanali,’ because that was the name of the Asian parts dealer in River Road, Nairobi. He sold large amounts of spare parts for motorcars at half the price the main vehicle agents sold...
Kenya High School

Kenya High School

I was pleased to read the article ‘Kenya High School Days’ in the October-November Old Africa. I was one of those who helped with fundraising for the new school chapel. We were each given some money at the end of a term and told to increase it with work in the...