Country of Origin…Kenya Flag Bracelets
Country of origin…these are common words when one fills out the paperwork for a visa to visit, study, or settle in other countries. It wasn’t until it was my turn to fill out the paperwork with a couple of countries that it occurred to me; the magnitude of what origin means. Living away from my country of origin for nearly two decades, it becomes clearer on the significance of one’s country of origin, especially when one has children and is intentional of educating them on where they came from.
The country of origin is someone’s birthright as much as one immigrates and even acquires new citizenship of another country. The culture of a people, devoid of different tribes, different languages, different religion, different attire, different foods, or different education levels, is unified by one symbol, the national flag of that country. When the flag is hoisted in public buildings, or in people’s homes in the front yard, used as a license plate frame or a flag sticker on someone’s vehicle, you get to know that they identify with that country in one way or another. The pride of a nation is represented by the flag. Just a look at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics where citizens of those nations rose their flags high, affirms that they are the countries representatives. In addition, most Kenya’s representatives wore their Kenya flag bracelets.
The more one travels, the more they appreciate their country of origin because of what it represents. It represents home and the familiarity with the common language, music, among other things. It is the human instinct that when one travels, especially for studies or settlement, due to work or marriage, they look for common ground with other people from their country of origin. For universities, the international students’ association is where people from different countries have the most success in locating a person from their country of origin. A camaraderie is developed, and friendships even ensue just because they come from the same country.
In recent years, it has become significantly easier to identify a Kenyan, or someone who has visited Kenya or got a souvenir from Kenya because of the Kenyan flag bracelets. It is the flag that you wear every day. I have been immensely grateful for the friendship, the conversations and even tourism marketing that my Kenyan bracelet has afforded me, as an opportunity to express myself to others. We have met three families (two Indian families) from our children’s elementary school because of the Kenya bracelets. Always good to meet people this way. In addition, from doing my research on the origin of Indians in Kenya, I landed two autobiography books: Leave Only Footprints and Kartar, by Dr. Jaihind Sumal. The books detail his family’s journey from India to Kenya and their experiences as immigrants in Kenya from 1927 to 1949. Dr. Sumal was born and raised in Kenya, making Kenya his country of origin.
The Kenyan bracelet with the striking colors of the Kenyan flag and its shield symbol, made from bead work, has not only showcased the artistic, entrepreneurship of Kenyans but also the pride and branding of the country to other nations. Just as I wear my wedding band on my left ring finger without fail, I wear my Kenyan bracelet on my right wrist as it reminds me of my roots.
The human psyche of finding another person from their country of origin is intense when one is in the diaspora. I was successful in locating other Kenyans in Uganda where I studied and in Djibouti where I worked, without difficulty. However (in 2012), it took me five years to find Kenyans when I settled in the U.S. My online search was not successful in locating anyone, but the Kenyan flag sticker on someone else’s car, saved the day.
On Christmas Eve of 2017, highly pregnant with our third child and with determination, I sought to know who lived in a certain residence whose driveway had a vehicle parked. There was a sticker of the Kenyan flag on the rear of the vehicle. The house was a couple of streets away from my husband’s cousin’s neighborhood, a little further from where we lived. So, my husband parked the vehicle by the mailbox. I gathered courage, walked out of the vehicle towards the door, not knowing the reception I would receive. A tall, beautiful woman with a friendly attitude answered the door. Before she could say a word, I introduced myself, apologizing in advance that I understood how unusual and strange my request was. I told her that I was a Kenyan and that I wondered who in the household was Kenyan because I had seen the Kenyan flag sticker on their vehicle, and that I hadn’t met any Kenyan yet. I informed her that I meant well and that my husband and two kids were waiting for me in the vehicle by their mailbox. She smiled broadly which reassured me that my search was over.
Since I didn’t know what to expect, her smile reassured me that at least I was safe and that my search was over. She immediately called her husband who came by the door. Instead of briefing her husband on what I had told her, she nodded in approval, with a smile, to suggest I redo the introduction, which I did.
“Karibu sana Shiko! Mimi ni Owino” the man said excitedly, in Swahili as he introduced himself and his lovely wife, Katrica Owino.
“Oh, my goodness, finally nimepata Wakenya! So nice to meet you!” I said joyfully, as I motioned my husband to come over and meet them.
I was elated! Finally, I had found a Kenyan family!
They welcomed us into their home and introduced us to their two daughters. I introduced them to my husband, daughter and son. We spent around half an hour in delightful conversation. Owino offered to make us tea. Here was a stranger, at the time, welcoming us into his home and offering us a cup of tea. That request by itself was so Kenyan you could taste it! He invited us to a Christmas Eve party later that night. The party was at another Kenyan's house, where we met other Kenyans who had been in the country for many years. It was a memorable Christmas as we found the Kenyan family. Over the years, we have become a bigger tight-knit group of friends, more like family.
