News from Nairobi

By James Chege
Head librarian
Maryknoll Institute for African Studies

MIASMU January Semester Begins

The second semester of the 2014/15 academic year at the Maryknoll Institute of African Studies began with a day of orientation on Jan. 23. The orientation brought together a host of new and returning students as well as field assistants. The total number of students hit an all time high for semester programs with a total of 36 students and 53 class registrations spread over six courses.

Students and field assistants listen keenly to the opening address by Father Michael Kirwen.

Proceedings began with a preliminary address by program founder and director, Prof. Michael Kirwen who welcomed the students and gave a brief introduction on the MIASMU programs by highlighting their focus on a systematic study of African cultures while at the same time fostering understanding of one’s own culture of origin. The assistant director Denis Odinga outlined what is expected from the students and field assistants during the semester, followed by the program editor, Father Joseph Oindo, a recent MIASMU M.A. graduate, who spoke at length about the unique MIAS method of learning.

Students and field assistants have a chat and a coffee break during orientation.

The students and field assistants mingled and socialized over coffee and mandazi (a form of fried bread that originates from the Swahili Coast). Soon after it was back to business as the first research workshops were conducted in an interactive manner. The foundational class tackled among other things interview techniques that the students would be using in their field work, and the advanced class looked at some critical areas in writing M.A. thesis proposals as they ready themselves for thesis research and writing in the near future.

Veteran field assistants, from left: Francis Kumunya, Emma Massau and Victor O'Kubasu converse over coffee.

The semester has six courses: Spirituality, Personhood and Psychotherapy in an African Context taught by Drs. Hubert Pinto; African Spirituality taught by Prof. Laurenti Magesa; African Cultures: An Overview taught by Prof. Edward Oyugi; African Marriage and Family: Challenge and Change taught by Prof. Mary Getui, Justice; Peace in East Africa taught by Dr. Emmanuel Manyasa; and Moral Teaching and Practices of African Traditional Religion taught by Dr. Michael Katola.

News from Nairobi

By James Chege
Librarian
Maryknoll Institute of African Studies

Public Lectures Held at MIASMU

The sixth week of the semester program was buzzing with activities as two public lectures were held.

Students taking notes during Professor Aseka’s lecture.

Political and Economic Realities: Professor Eric Aseka, a MIASMU lecturer, who is currently the vice chancellor at the African Leadership University and was formerly the chairperson of the History Department and dean of the School of the Humanities at Kenyatta Un., delivered a public lecture on “The Contemporary Political and Economic Realities of Kenya.” He spoke at length about the colonial legacy and how many of Kenya’s current political and economic challenges can be traced back to the nation’s colonial roots. These problems include geographical and structural disarticulation, land issues, ethnicity and distorted class structure. He also dedicated some time to speak about what is known as the ‘politics of the belly’ and the role of corruption in underdevelopment. These areas generated a lively exchange in a question-and-answer session held at the end of the lecture.

Professor Klein stresses a point during his lecture.

Slavery in East and West Africa: The second public lecture was on “Slavery: East and West Africa” and was delivered by Professor Emeritus Martin Klein from the University of Toronto. Before retirement, Professor Klein had taught African history for 29 years at the University of Toronto and had lectured at Berkeley, Wellesley College, Carleton College, Stanford, Lovanium University in Kinshasa, and the University of Rhode Island.

The lecture covered the origin of slavery in Africa and touched on forms of indigenous slavery in West Africa as well as in East Africa. Very few of the participants were aware of the extent of slavery on the North coast of Kenya centering on a settlement called Witu. He highlighted fundamental differences such as the  West African slaves’ rights to make money through trading unlike their East African counterparts who did not enjoy such privileges. Professor Klein spoke of the role of Islam in slavery and how it was used as justification to enslave “pagans” by some of the more prominent Islamic slave traders. Other justifications used were racism and gender. At the end of the lecture some thought provoking discussions ensued with particular reference to contemporary forms of slavery in the Middle East.

News from Nairobi

By James Chege
Librarian
Maryknoll Institute of African Studies
Editor: Father Michael C. Kirwen, Director

MIASMU director Michael Kirwen addresses new and returning students together with their field assistants during the orientation.

MIASMU Welcomes New Students

The Maryknoll Institute of African Studies began its new academic year in full gear welcoming new and returning students. Seven new students, coming from different countries including Malawi, Mexico, Uganda, DR. Congo and Kenya, were registered. This variety of students adds to the cultural diversity of the student body.

This semester features the following courses: Contemporary Political and Economic Realities in Kenya, taught by Edward Oyugi, African Culture: An Overview, by Prof. Mary Getui, African Religion: Major Beliefs, Practices and Contemporary Forms, by Dr. Michael Katola, and Sage Philosophy: The Root of African Religion and Philosophy, by Dr. Oriare Nyarwath.

After the orientation session, field research workshops for both foundational and advanced groups were held as part of the opening day’s activities. The foundational workshop is especially helpful to new students who may not have prior experience with ethnographic research, and it acts as a useful introduction to the MIASMU method of learning in which there is a required hour of professional-quality field research for every hour of class.

MIASMU students and field assistants discuss the questions raised by the PR skits.

First Pastoral Reflection
During the fourth week of the program a pastoral reflection (PR) session was held. The PR  is an assembly of all MIASMU students and field assistants where different classes make presentations to share various themes and subjects they are currently covering. The students groups discuss questions arising from the presentations and then share their findings in a plenary session. Two classes, African Culture: An Overview and Contemporary Political and Economic Realities in Kenya, presented.

Where Will I Be Buried?
The first class presented a skit in form of a discussion among elders regarding a death in the family. The discussion focused on the burial rites where a deceased lady had a child out of wedlock and the father of the child could not be traced. Strictly following the traditions and despite protests from younger members of the family, the elders prescribed that she should not be buried within the homestead as she is considered to belong to the clan of the child’s father. This brought to light some challenges facing the practices of African cultures in contemporary times.

For Whom Should I Vote?
The second skit featured a female politician seeking election at a political rally. She spoke well and had good plans and policies that would tackle the problems the community was facing. However, mid-way through the rally another candidate emerged from nowhere and ‘hijacked’ the crowd’s attention dishing out money and hand-outs. The crowd left the woman and followed the money-man promising to vote for the hand that feeds. This illustrated how voters in poverty stricken areas are prone to electoral malpractices.

After the PR discussion and reports, the second sessions of the foundational, and advanced field research workshops were held.

Black to share experience in Nairobi at faculty lunch

The Faculty Development Committee will host the first of its lunches today, Friday, Sept. 19, in the faculty dining room. Dr. Kyle Black, Modern and Classical Languages, will  share “Contemporary Kenyan Culture in Context: The MIASMU Experience and Beyond” from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Lunch is available to faculty and academic staff in the cafeteria beginning at noon. (Note at the front that you are attending the FDC lunch).

In this session of “Sharing Faculty Development Over Lunch,” Dr. Black will share his experience with the Maryknoll Institute of African Studies’ immersion program from this summer in Nairobi, Kenya. Complemented by photographs taken on the trip, he will share some of the reasons why he chose to participate in the MIASMU program, along with how the experience was central to his professional development as a member of the Saint Mary’s community and his role as an educator.

For example, Dr. Black hopes to develop a course that will explore Kenyan/African culture through literature, film, and anthropological texts acquired on the trip. He also will describe the class in which he was enrolled (“African Cultures: An Overview”) and the ethnographic study carried out on the concept of work, identity, and labor roles in Kenya.

Let’s Do Ice Cream raises $210.50

The Volunteer Committee’s ice cream sundae fundraiser Thursday raised $210.50 for the students on our Nairobi campus. Thanks to Chartwells for donating ice cream to make this event successful.

News from Nairobi

By James Chege
Librarian
Maryknoll Institute of African Studies
Editor: Father Michael C. Kirwen, Director

Prize Giving Ceremonies

On July 9 the students, field assistants and faculty gathered for the final day of the second immersion program.  The day began with summary lectures given for each course, followed by a coffee break and thereafter a plenary session.

Professor Waruta addresses students and field assistants during the final assembly.

During the plenary session, the lecturers spoke briefly about their courses and invited students who had not taken their respective courses to join their classes. Certificates were handed to field assistants who had qualified for three  levels of certification. Foundational certificates were given to those who have worked in at least six courses and scored a minimum “B” in their course essays. The intermediate certificates were issued to those who had worked an additional six courses, and the advanced certificates were issued to those who had worked in a further six courses for  a total of 18 courses.

All smiles as Judith Onyango receives her intermediate certification from Francis Kimani who was representing the Chairman of the MIASMU board, Fr. Lance Nadeau. 

Another highlight of the day was the prize giving ceremony for outstanding field assistants. Here, the three best male and female field assistants, as chosen through balloting by field assistants and MIASMU staff, received gifts for their hard work and dedication. For the men  field assistants position 1, 2 and 3 went to Victor Okubasu, Francis Kamunya and Lawrence Ofunja respectively. On the ladies side Sarah O’kubasu lead the way followed by Grace Onalo and Emma Masau. All the remaining field assistants were also given a small token of appreciation for their continued efforts in the program.

Francis Kamunya receives his gift from MIASMU assistant director Dr. Edith Chamwama.

The day ended with a celebration featuring the famous ‘nyama choma’ – roast goat meat-- that was enjoyed by all.

MA Student Successfully Defends Thesis

Zacharie Kyungu, a citizen of the Congo,  successfully defended his M.A. thesis on July 2. His thesis was on death and burial rites among the Bukusu Quakers of Bungoma County in western Kenya. His examining panel consisted of the chairperson and thesis adviser, Professor Douglas Waruta; thesis reader Professor Mary Getui; and MIASMU program director, Professor Michael Kirwen.

The thesis committee listens to Kyungu’s thesis defence.

The thesis presented the mindset of the Bukusu regarding death and burial rites.  It highlighted how there must be continuing ties between the living and the departed, even though the dead person is physically absent. One of the strongest ties is through his/her children and through the rituals which unite the two world as relatives and neighbors come to bid farewell and mourn the deceased. The Bukusu sacrifices, rituals, and the memorial services are expressions of “Bukusu Spirituality” regarding death and burial. The challenge for Christians is to find ways to integrate, in a holistic manner, their Christian and Bukusu spiritualities when faced with death and burial.

Zacharie stands between the MIAS director Professor Kirwen and Professor Getui

with Professor Waruta in the foreground.