Mzee Ramadhani, a delightful old man who I had the pleasure of meeting along the road on our recent trip to Pangani. He gladly posed for a photo ! We hear it so often as children “You must respect your elders”. Of course people have to earn each other’s respect and you can’t respect everyone – no matter how old they are – especially if they are really criminal/evil old people, but in general, here in Africa, it is a very strong teaching in all communities to “respect your elders”.
We are taught to respect our elders as they are older and wiser than us, they (generally !) know much more than us and can guide us in all decisions that we, the younger generation need to make. They are to be obeyed, looked after and treated with care. Respecting your elders – and showing them that respect – is never in question.
I have yet to see a local African child be cheeky, talk back or show any disrespect to an older person. (Which can’t be said for some of the children I’ve encountered in other countries – ha !)
All villages here have a “Monja Kiti” (excuse my Swahili spelling, not sure if this is the right way to spell it !) - this is the village chairman, who is almost always a village elder & he is looked upon whenever there are any problems that need addressing, or decisions to be made. For example, if we have a problem with villagers bringing cattle to graze illegally on the farm, we will go to the Monja Kiti of that particular village and ask for his help. If we are having problems with someone from the village (like a person who a few years ago attacked Justin when he was walking home one night) then we will go to the Monja Kiti & ask him to assist us with the discipline of this person/course of action to take. If the village need our help with something (access to grazing through the farm, water pipes etc) then the request will come to us through the Monja Kiti.
I don’t know about you, but I think that in the world today there is a terrible breakdown of family units and values, I am horrified to read – daily – of reports in the press from far flung countries of the elderly being beaten, mugged, robbed, killed (many times by the youth). Vicious attacks on the elderly by anyone – let alone those younger than them – are unheard of here - or very, very rare indeed. I believe that everything starts in the home, I cannot believe how a child could grow up not having the utmost respect for the elders around him/her and I believe that if we all respected - & took advice from - the elders in our community, the world would not have as many problems as it does.
It is our elders who have the wisdom, the knowledge, who can guide us and support us and be there with advice that just cannot be bought. Why are they so ignored, neglected in so many parts of the world ?
I am always very respectful of the elderly I encounter here, and when we went to Pangani recently we met a delightful elderly man called Mezee Ramadhani as we were crossing the Pangani River by ferry. My Dad actually got talking to him on the way over. He had pedaled into the village that day on his bicycle to sell some of the fruit he had harvested the day before from his small ‘shamba’ (farm), & was on his way back home.
After saying goodbye to him, several km’s up the road we stopped to repair a puncture, and he cycled past us again, stopping to offer his assistance. We thanked him, gave him an ice cold soda and said it was okay ! He told us how he had been born in Pangani and did not know how old he was. “I was born in 1920 … 1920 something … ahhhh …. 1920 so-long-past” he eventually said, as he could not recall the year. His age was not important to him, but what was important to him was having his family all around him, the fact that he had a small farm of his own, a roof over his head, food in his tummy, good health - and a bicycle to ride.
“Next time you are here” he said to us “Just ask anyone in the village where Mezee Ramadhani lives, and they will bring you to my home. Welcome !” What a wonderful old man, and maybe next time I am there, I will take him up on his offer. I’d love to spend an afternoon with him, asking about what life was like here in the 1920’s, how he came to speak such excellent English and a million other things.
Yes, the elderly amongst us are true blessings and I am honored to have met so many wonderful old people, and heard their fascinating stories, in the time I’ve lived in Tanzania - because my life is all the richer for it.
We are taught to respect our elders as they are older and wiser than us, they (generally !) know much more than us and can guide us in all decisions that we, the younger generation need to make. They are to be obeyed, looked after and treated with care. Respecting your elders – and showing them that respect – is never in question.
I have yet to see a local African child be cheeky, talk back or show any disrespect to an older person. (Which can’t be said for some of the children I’ve encountered in other countries – ha !)
All villages here have a “Monja Kiti” (excuse my Swahili spelling, not sure if this is the right way to spell it !) - this is the village chairman, who is almost always a village elder & he is looked upon whenever there are any problems that need addressing, or decisions to be made. For example, if we have a problem with villagers bringing cattle to graze illegally on the farm, we will go to the Monja Kiti of that particular village and ask for his help. If we are having problems with someone from the village (like a person who a few years ago attacked Justin when he was walking home one night) then we will go to the Monja Kiti & ask him to assist us with the discipline of this person/course of action to take. If the village need our help with something (access to grazing through the farm, water pipes etc) then the request will come to us through the Monja Kiti.
I don’t know about you, but I think that in the world today there is a terrible breakdown of family units and values, I am horrified to read – daily – of reports in the press from far flung countries of the elderly being beaten, mugged, robbed, killed (many times by the youth). Vicious attacks on the elderly by anyone – let alone those younger than them – are unheard of here - or very, very rare indeed. I believe that everything starts in the home, I cannot believe how a child could grow up not having the utmost respect for the elders around him/her and I believe that if we all respected - & took advice from - the elders in our community, the world would not have as many problems as it does.
It is our elders who have the wisdom, the knowledge, who can guide us and support us and be there with advice that just cannot be bought. Why are they so ignored, neglected in so many parts of the world ?
I am always very respectful of the elderly I encounter here, and when we went to Pangani recently we met a delightful elderly man called Mezee Ramadhani as we were crossing the Pangani River by ferry. My Dad actually got talking to him on the way over. He had pedaled into the village that day on his bicycle to sell some of the fruit he had harvested the day before from his small ‘shamba’ (farm), & was on his way back home.
After saying goodbye to him, several km’s up the road we stopped to repair a puncture, and he cycled past us again, stopping to offer his assistance. We thanked him, gave him an ice cold soda and said it was okay ! He told us how he had been born in Pangani and did not know how old he was. “I was born in 1920 … 1920 something … ahhhh …. 1920 so-long-past” he eventually said, as he could not recall the year. His age was not important to him, but what was important to him was having his family all around him, the fact that he had a small farm of his own, a roof over his head, food in his tummy, good health - and a bicycle to ride.
“Next time you are here” he said to us “Just ask anyone in the village where Mezee Ramadhani lives, and they will bring you to my home. Welcome !” What a wonderful old man, and maybe next time I am there, I will take him up on his offer. I’d love to spend an afternoon with him, asking about what life was like here in the 1920’s, how he came to speak such excellent English and a million other things.
Yes, the elderly amongst us are true blessings and I am honored to have met so many wonderful old people, and heard their fascinating stories, in the time I’ve lived in Tanzania - because my life is all the richer for it.
