Freedom fighter Mekatilili wa Menza Feted

By Mwakwaya Raymond

Email, thecoastnewspape@gmail.com

In an effort to fete the Midzichenda freedom fighter, a GenZee opted to pen a book, tracing the life and times of Meka tilili wa Menza.

She is the only female freedom fighter who led the coastal people to resist British colonial rule in the early 20th century. 

It is this rare bravery that has attracted the GenZee, Neema Gakweli Warrakha, honored Mekatilili through a book titled, -Empress-of-Revolt.

Neema, the author, told journalists in Mombasa on her excitement to write a book on the legendary, Mekatilili, who gallantly fought for independence from British colonial rule.

Born in 1840, she has always been seen as one of the nation’s heroine and brave warrior during the colonial era.

Mnyazi wa Menza, the name given to her by her biological parents when she was born at Mutsara wa Tsatsu Ganze village of Kilifi County, before she later acquired the name Mekatilili wa Menza.

This fearless and courageous woman organized her Giriama people to rebel against the British who were threatening their sovereignty and freedom through forced labour and taxation.

Long after undergoing torture and jailed far from her homestead she died in the 1920s of natural causes and that occasioned the Mekatilili wa Menza festival held every August for her memory in her native Kilifi county.

The book on the freedom fighter – ‘Empress of Revolt’ –  is set to be launched at the Port City of Mombasa next week where the author will take the stage to curtain raise its multiple perspectives being offered in her new book.

Neema, whose writing is deeply rooted in her Midzichenda heritage invites readers on a captivating journey through the landscapes of imagination and the essence of cultural heritage.

She says the story of the Midzichenda is one of courage, resistance and the unbreakable bond between a people and their land.

The author stated that Mekatilili was among the few genuine heroes and heroines who had fought gallantly and laid down her dear life while safeguarding the motherland.

Neema, accompanied by her German partner Christian Weiss, says she is happy to pen the 268 paged book that brings to life the almost forgotten history of the great heroine of Kenya’s colonial past.

She says that together with her German partner they undertook the task of writing the book on Mekatilili and had uncovered many hitherto hidden aspects of the freedom fighter’s life and times.

Mekatilili wa Menza was one of the highly revered heroes and freedom fighters of Kenya and was once exiled to Kisii by the British for launching a relentless struggle against the colonial regime.

Neema says she hopes her new book will help the people remember Mekatilili wa Menza’s rich legacy and emulate her heroic spirit and also to celebrate women who fought for independence.

Born in Mombasa and later honed by the disciplines of nursing in Germany, the author stands at the nexus of neurology, psychiatry and profound storytelling.

Neema a native of Kwale, says as a child growing up in Mombasa she found solace in book reading and writing short stories.

According to her she traversed Kilifi the home county of Mekatilili and met with revered Kaya elders who told her the sacrifices laid down by the heroine who had fought gallantly against mighty British forces.

“There is a need to immortalize the memory and reflections of freedom heroes and heroines since their sacrifices and services for the motherland were matchless,” she says.

She went on: “…as a budding writer I have decided to venture and write about the life and times of Mekatilili wa Menza and I want to encourage other writers to document the lives of our unsung freedom fighters and great personalities whom the young and upcoming generations must know.”

Neema says it is her hope that the book on the freedom fighter will find favour with the ministry of education and have it introduced as a set book in schools and create awareness among the younger generation on the great freedom fighter.

The author urges Kenyans to embrace the reading culture saying she is happy to play a role in promoting the importance of reading and storytelling for posterity.

Christian Weiss says he decided to support his partner, the author, in recognition of the great services she rendered to society in terms of book writing on people who fought gallantly and laid down their life while safeguarding their motherland.

Alawy Abzein, a Mombasa based book lover, praised the writer’s work on the female freedom fighter and urged other like-minded authors to do more research on the life and times of other freedom fighters of the motherland.

Abzein says there is a need to search for lesser known freedom fighters in Kenya’s freedom struggle and historical battles and chronicle their roles in books for posterity.

According to him books have the power to make people feel they could make a difference in the world aligned with global competitiveness.