As I begin my blogging journey I would like to begin by defining "Ndugu ni makinya".
Guka (grandfather) once asked Mwao (my cousin) to read a moto he had posted on the wall of his living room, Mwao read the moto in an English accent and we all burst out laughing, till this day we still make fun of him. Guku went ahead and talked to all of us his children and grandchildren regarding what ndugu ni makiya meant. I wish I listened but I was too young to understand and distracted by all the laughter and giggling from all my other cousins making fun of Mwao's.
Guka has since passed on but the moto remains posted in a picture frame at his house. The last time I was at the house looking through the old pictures as Cucu (grandmother) sat by the fire i realised that the moto was the only form of writting on Guka's wall. The rest of the wall is decorated with pictures of Guka's grand children and children.
So why would Guka post ndugu ni makinya on his wall? What did it mean to him, that he found it so important to buy the writting and post it on his wall? I may never full know, if i do get a chance to see Cucu one more time i will be sure to ask.
A translation of "ndugu ni makinya" from kikuyu to English is "A friend is footsteps" That is silly! It doesn't make sense! is my first reaction but now in retrospect it does make sense as i apply it to my friendships and personal journey all my ndugus have been makinya if thier is anything like that.
Ndugu ni makinya to me strikes a chord about how hard it is to make and keep friends. It always seems to be a two step forward and five steps backwards kind of progression. My friendship have been of no exemption of this progression. I have had amazing friendships along the way that i have wished we would remain on the same step forever, i have had others that we have taken so many steps apart that we nolonger relate, and i have friends that are still walking with.
My blog is dedicated to Guka may his moto be of meaning to me and may this blog be a testament of my lifes footsteps and serve as a diary of when our paths cross.
