I think it is extremely important to indicate someone's tribe. It is wrong to politicize such an important question.

In the passport? Or with a big star on the coat like Adolf Hitler and his nazists did?
Or like the occupants of Rwanda made sure was done as well?
Does it really matter what tribe we belong to? How we look like or how we speak?
In Uganda tribal origin seems to of much less importance for people in general. Wonder why some Kenyans find it so important. Still. After what has happen.

Nini,
Stating your ethnicity in the census has nothing to do with stating your ethnicity in your identification documents. Ethnic numeration is an important element in any multicultural society. Cultural preservatuion and revitalization need not be a an element of ethnic cleansing. In fact, failure to respect other people's culture usually is.

Suppose Hitler told Jews to discared their Jewish identity and cultural practices and assimilate to the German culture, or the Hutus simply asked Tustsis to forget their ethnicity. In both cases, the problem was not the ethnicity of the victims, but ****** politics of bigots, tyrants and greedy politicians.

And yes, what we speak matters a lot. The fallacy of monoculturalism and monolingualism erroneously lead us to believe that humanity can be a plunged melting pot to yield a homogenous society. It has not worked anywhere in the world and it is the wrong prescription for Kenya. Can you tell me why Norwegians, Finns, germans, and Frenchment still insist on their languages, ins pite of acknowledging the power of English? I believe ethnic diversity can be celebrated without animosity.

How do you suggest that the tribal belonging shall be "indicated"?

Yes, europeans from different corners speak different languages and have different cultures but we still have fun together. We also carry on with languages that for each and every one are far stronger than "the power of english".

I would claim that any ethnic origins, cultural values or languages worth preserving, preserve themselves.
No laws or indications can neither kill or preserve a culture.

Nini,
I think we are off the topic here. All I was saying is that statistics of ethnic conposition in Kenya are important. How can we justify affirmative action for the marginalized so that they do not become annihilated by the the dominant tribe. How can we ensure that these tribes, with their rich cultural heritage do not die?

I disagree that cultural values and langauges will preserve themselves. This is only true to an extent. In most cases, languages are killed by monster languages, and faulty arguments that speakers have no role in the preservation of their native languages. Myths that they encourage tribalism, or that they have no economic value, or that they are inferior compared to international languages are used as justification for their neglect. Your statement below is quite appropriate

quote:

Yes, europeans from different corners speak different languages and have different cultures but we still have fun together. We also carry on with languages that for each and every one are far stronger than "the power of english".

With the right attitude, there is absolutely no reason why Kenyan from different ethnic groups cannopt have fun together. In fact they do on many occasions. Languages or tribes have little role to play in conflict. Let us promote this positive attitudes to get the sin out of our tribes.

Let us encourage the use of our langauges, and if they are not competitive, then they have a right to die. But we should not say that we ignore or discourage the use of those languages and then claim that they were not viable.

Sajini,

What you say sounds nice but after what we have seen in Kenya it tastes bad somehow.
The last election showed how ugly tribal issues can be and I think many of the Kenyan politicians are still digging in that rubbish heap.
If one can turn traditions etc into what it should be - something positive - and to accept differences - fine.

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