Page 53 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 34

Art & Culture
in my white vest and kikoi greeting a refreshing
breeze from the sea. The vest helped to regulate
my body temperature, and the kikoi kept my lower
half cool. The sebule (bedroom) had a notable six-
by-six bed made of carved mangrove wood with
a rhythm of floral design. The bed had a specific
name, pilipili, which is a Swahili word that means
green chili pepper. The bed has a top rear part of
the bed resembles how the chilies actually grow
on a real tree. Far in the corner, there was a two-
by-four bed made of coconut leaves called ushutu.
It was used by pregnant mothers and a woman
nursing a baby. Opposite ushutu was bembeya (a
swinging baby carrier) made of mangrove wood
wrapped with pieces of leso and kikoi.
I reclined on the pili pili bed with my stomach
facing down, then turned right, rolled left and
eventually l was asleep, dreaming vividly.
Abruptly, l heard a hard knock on the door and
sprinted out of the pili pili bed. Mzee Bakari was
Kichochoro (pathway), Source: Wanyama Ogutu
at the door waiting to take me for
breakfast at the sea of Lamu Island.
The sunrise warmed the calm sea
causing sparkles of light to dance
on the mashuas. Fishermen emerged
from the sea carrying buckets of fish,
while passengers were still sailing on
mashuas. People jovially exchanged
cock crow Islamic greetings “As-
salaam alaykum “ with one another.
A small crowd of men enjoying cups
of kahawa tungu, kahawa tamu, and
chai ya mwarabu. They hold pieces of
viazi karai, mitai labania, kahimati,
mahamuri, and keki ya wali (Swahili
breakfast). Bakari instructed the man
serving breakfast, “yu mgeni wangu
mtafiti chuoni mpe chai kaka!” (he
is my visitor and a scholar from the
ISSUE 34 | FEBRUARY 2025 53