Thursday, March 7, 2013

Kenya and the Mau Mau, By Tracey Vale


The Mau Mau, were an anti-colonial group who instigated the rebellion, known as the Mau Mau Uprising, in 1952. Rebel leader, Deden Kimathi, was captured on October 21, 1956, only two weeks  before our arrival in Kenya. His capture signalled defeat for the Mau Mau and the end to the British military campaign against the rebellion.
One of the soldiers told us that Kimathi had been found in the jungle and was wearing a tiger skin as a disguise. We had also been informed that the Mau Mau were highly dangerous and that, before retiring for the night, we should shift heavy furniture behind the doors of our rooms for added protection. As we travelled, we saw many villages burnt out and were informed that this was the work of the Mau Mau. We also heard terrifying stories of killings and torture.

Despite the claim that the rebellion was over, however, the Mau Mau  continued to be oppressed by colonisation and were yet to have their original grievances met. They were forced to remain in concentration camps, termed a policy of ‘villagisation’ by the British Government where they were to be rehabilitated, or so the British propaganda went. In truth, they were held in huge camps surrounded by fences and barbed wire. Deep trenches surrounded each camp with barbs in their bases. Diseases spread quickly under unsanitary conditions and malnutrition and torture were rife.

Land reform was still necessary and the economic grievances, such as this, still failed to be acknowledged, let alone met. It was Kenya’s fertile land that attracted the British to Kenya in the 1890’s, with rebellion for land reform occurring from that time on. The Mau Mau uprising followed a series of revolts caused by oppression of its original inhabitants. Land had been allocated in such a way as to give Europeans the most, with limited amounts left for the inhabitants, forcing them to continue to be lowly paid workers, unable to better their position.

The Mau Mau seemed to be everywhere in Kenya and we continued to be ‘on guard’ as per our warnings. We travelled a lot, even by train from Nairobi to Mombassa and saw a great deal of the country.

We did some shows in Mombassa on a makeshift stage near the beach. There was a tent allocated as our dressing room and we were warned that we had more to fear than rebel Mau Mau. We were told “Watch out for snakes and Mombassa trains!”

“Mombassa trains?” we’d asked, having just arrived on one that seemed perfectly safe.

“No, no!” A soldier informed us. “These are huge centipedes.”

It was not long before we saw one—and they were indeed huge. The tent became inundated with them and we had to shake out costumes thoroughly before donning them, with centipedes flying out with each swish of fabric.

Moving on again, we stayed near Nakura, in motel-style accommodation and soon discovered that the actor, Victor Mature, was also staying there. Nicknamed ‘The Hunk’, Mature was a leading American actor who had become one of Hollywood’s busiest since World War Two with starring roles in My Darling Clementine; Kiss of Death; Samson and Delilah and The Egyptian, among others.

As he stayed holed up in his room unless he was filming, the army boys wanted to force him out. They thought it would be hilarious sport to have the man who usually portrayed powerful and fearless characters, to be fooled into the opposite extreme. We were duly warned that a mock attack was to take place to test the so-called fearless film star. That night, pretending to be Mau Mau rebels, a group of soldiers stormed, banging, shouting and crashing outside the back of his room. We witnessed the result through a gap in our curtains, stifling laughter at the sight of the six-foot-two man racing out of his room in a terrified frenzy and running, screaming for help, in a white night-shirt.

Following our return home to England, we were interviewed about our experiences in Kenya. The article was as follows:


'The Sharratts were subject to a certain amount of danger from Mau Mau, especially during their trip through the Baharti Forest, which some girls in there party elected not to undertake.
'One remote base was Gil Gil (Windy) inhabited by 98 men. Ninety-six soldiers saw their show--the other two had to remain on guard."
'"In all these bases," said Paul, "There was a great spirit. It gave us a good feeling of doing something worthwhile."
'"After the show we would go to the messes for parties, which usually lasted all night and during which the show started all over again."
'One day their bathing costumes were stolen--by monkeys. The monkeys took the costumes from a verandah on their seafront bungalow, then buried them in the back garden.
'Paul and Joan are both from Walsall. Both are 24 and their puppet act has been going strong for three years.'


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