Ikiwa ni siku chache baada ya kuadhimisha siku ya kumbukumbu ya Mtoto wa Africa, nimeandika insha hii ili tuendelee kutafakari pamoja dhana hii adhimu ya “Mtoto wa Afrika”.

Nauliza uko wapi Mtoto wa Afrika? Sio kwa sababu sikuoni, la hasha! ila ninashindwa kukutambua kati ya haya mabilioni ya watu. Kwa nini hauonekani? Ni wapi umejificha? Ni nani alikuficha ili usijitambue wewe ni nani? Nina maswali mengi kuliko majibu ndio sababu nauliza uko wapi ili unikate kiu yangu.

Huyu niliyeambiwa ni Mtoto wa Afrika, ninashindwa kumtambua. Huyu amesahau tabia njema alizofunzwa na wazazi/walezi wake. Amepuuza lugha yake, mila, desturi na tamaduni za watu wake badala yake amekumbatia na kuhusudu za majirani.

Huyu amemsahau Muumba wake na kuanza kuwaabudu watu na kuvitumikia vitu alivyovitengeneza mwanadamu. Ndio maana akiamka asubuhi hushika simu yake kabla/badala ya kumshukuru aliyemuumba kwa kumpa nafasi nyingine ya kuishi na kufanya mabadiliko. Amesahau kuwa uwajibikaji, utu wema na familia imara ndio nguzo ya ustawi wa jamii bora.

Huyu amepuuza kazi, bidii na staha badala yake amekumbatia anasa, starehe na lawama.  Ana sababu chungu nzima za kumlaumu kila mtu kwa kushindwa kwake kasoro yeye mwenyewe. Huyu anatumia muda mwingi zaidi kujiburudisha kuliko anavyojipatia muda binafsi kuyatafakari maajabu ya ulimwengu, kutafuta maarifa, kuzienzi tunu za taifa lake na kuwasaidia wenye uhitaji.

Huyu amesahau jina lake, la watu wake na kujinasibu kwa majina ya kigeni yasio ya asili yake. Anapenda aitwe Angel hataki kuitwa Malaika. Anapendelea zaidi aitwe Diva sio Mrembo. Mara mwingine ‘King’, mwingine ‘The great’, wakati huku kwetu tunawaita wafalme na miamba kama yule wa kaskazini. Ila mimi ni nani kuwa hakimu?

Naomba usinielewe vibaya, sijasema unakosea ila ninachotaka nikusihi ni kuikumbuka asili yako. Nakusihi kuchunguza imani na mifumo uliyorithi. Chunguza kama bado inakufaa au inahitaji mtazamo mpya. Mchunguze uliyerithi kwake, chunguza kusudi lake halafu uchunguze matokeo yake. Mwisho, nikukumbushe hekima walizotuachia wahenga waliosema, "Jasiri haachi asili" na pia kwamba, "Mwacha asili ni mtumwa"

Nauliza tena, uko wapi Mtoto wa Afrika? Nina kiu na majibu kutoka kwako.

Isn't it strange that it takes 2 individuals to produce a baby? Why wasn't one enough? why should it only take a male and a female? As I was contemplating these questions I realized everything God made was purposeful. He does everything with intent and it is possible that he made reproduction a 2-people job because it takes one to give life and the other to give life meaning. 

On November 24, 2018, I became a father to a baby boy. We named him Lincoln after the 16th American President, someone whose story I have come to be very fond of. I remember looking at him for the first time and I was so happy I couldn't hold back my tears. It was a surreal moment that I was privileged to be part of the creation process of someone so magnificent & whole. But as I was still savoring the moment, something else happened. I was confronted with the harsh reality that I was now responsible for the life of another human being. That reality hit me like a blow on my face because I didn't feel I was prepared enough. I am not referring to material preparation, God was good on that front but I am referring to preparing for fatherhood. The reason I felt that way is that I was still growing myself trying to find my way and my place in the world, I was only 24 years of age. How could I show someone else the way if I wasn't sure of it myself? I thought. As I thanked God for the gift we had just received, I asked him for answers and he told me he had already given them to me. I was raised by a loving, God-fearing father and he gave me 4 more fathers as a bonus to make sure I have all the answers I need from their collective wisdom. 

Being a father and becoming a father are 2 entirely different things. It is my opinion that you become a father when a child of your making gets born but being a father starts when you decide to take responsibility for your creation. Being a father begins when you decide to live a meaningful life so that through yours, your child(ren) can find meaning in their own lives. Being a father means being a role model as our heavenly father is to us, a figure to look up to and that was something I wasn't ready for. Although I had made many conscious decisions before to be a better child, a better student, a better man, and a father until that point, I hadn't made a conscious decision to be a better father. A father my son can look up to. So, in my quest to learn how to be a better father I looked at and carefully studied the lives of 5 men who I deem to be my heroes and role models and try to figure out how to be one myself. Although I hold these five men in the highest esteem, I am not blind to the fact that with all the goodness & greatness they possess, they are still flawed human beings and also have their shortcomings as humans just like you & I.  This is not a story about perfection but it's a story about progress and the relentless pursuit of high ideals.

The first man on this list is a special one. My maternal Grandfather, Babu Simon Magereli, and from him I have learned the FEAR OF GOD. Back in the day, he used to own a phoenix bicycle and there weren't many of those where I grew up and there were even lesser cars. On it, these words were written, "Kumcha Mungu ni chanzo cha maarifa". Mithali 1:7. It is a verse from the bible that according to the New King James Proverbs 1:7 translates in English as, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge". Writing about something you value on their most prized property is how people from their generation communicated who they are and what they believe in. It is the equivalent of a BIO in today's world. As I grew up and lived in his household for a few years during my formative years I came to learn more about the man he is and the man I aspire to be. I learned him to be a man who loves God and wants his people to do the same. He has been a preacher for most of his adult life and he walks the talk. I remember being in trouble with him many times when I slept before or dodged prayer time which was mandatory for everyone and everyone in his household had to actively participate, he was uncompromising on it. I have memories of the whole family fasting together to pray when we were faced with hardships or problems we couldn't find solutions to on our own. Through him, my faith in God was grounded and I am able to see God's work through him and his teachings. My faith was even further solidified when I joined Lutheran Junior Seminary (LJS) in Morogoro for my secondary education whose motto coincidentally is Proverbs 1:7.

The second man is my father Boniphace Keraryo from whom I have learned INTEGRITY & RESPONSIBILITY. My father spent most of his life as a merchant and he is famously known as Kampango in our township because during the times when supplies were low he was able to maneuver and find his customers what they needed. Later on, he ventured into and pioneered mobile money services and still is something he still does today. I was privileged to work with him in his shop for many years and I got the front seat experience on how he dealt with people whether customers, colleagues, friends, and even regulatory authorities. From him, I have learned to be honest to a fault and owning my mistakes when I err. Kampango is a proud, Kurya man but he is not too proud to admit when he has fallen short and he will quickly do the needful to make amends. My father is also big on responsibility and whenever people deal with him he will make sure they clearly understand what they need to do and what he needs to do in order to achieve a common goal and he will hold them to it. While at it, he will move mountains to make sure he holds up his end of the deal or die trying. He also believes that people shouldn't achieve less than they are capable of and he will always ask for the 8% after he had congratulated me for a 92% exam score. It is tough to be raised with such a demanding figure and one might even confuse his way of showing love and appreciation as tough love but I see it as a relentless pursuit for greatness. People do not become great by doing the bare minimum but their absolute best.

The third man on my list is my Uncle, Emmanuel Magereli, the only son of Babu Magereli. He & I have a long history together from my early years as we both shared a love for football. He would take me to his football practice and there I got to hang out with him & his teammates and it made me feel like one of the big boys. It's one of the highlights of my childhood. He also used to take me with him to watch football matches at night most of which I slept throughout the game but those moments created a strong bond between us. Although he is an avid Young Africans fan I am sure deep down he acknowledged the might of Simba SC which is the club I support and love. From him, I have learned DEPENDABILITY from him as an important quality for a father. My uncle will spare me many things but not the truth. I can always depend on him to check me whenever I go astray, and he will give it straight whether I like it or not. If you read my last blogpost I wrote about a misfortune that befell me and how later on I realized it was in fact a blessing in disguise. In my darkest hour, I turned to him and he embraced me, took me in, and created a safe space for me to process my situation without judgment. He told me that life can take different turns but I had to stay on and fight my way as it has and still will be many times. Many of these times he has become my guardian angel and pulled me through when it counted the most. I learned as a father, that my child(ren) has to be able to count on me even at their worst, to show up and be there to offer the much-needed guidance. It is not a coincidence that he also went to Lutheran Junior Seminary (LJS) for his high-school education.

The fourth person on this list is my brother, Emmanuel Marwa who is a father of 2 beautiful children, a savvy businessman, and Group CEO of Kampango Group of Companies. From him I have learned LEADERSHIP and that there are different ways of being an effective leader. It is said leaders are born not made and from knowing my brother I believe it. He is very much responsible for the person I have become today as he is the person who taught me English, sparked my interest in reading/writing, and inspired my mind to want to innovate and lead. As a child, I idolized him, liked the things he liked, and even wanted to be like him. He has a way with money the same way I have with words and always has been since we were young. I think he started investing/owning stocks before he was 15 and was reading business books, clipping out business columns from newspapers, and even at one time tending his dog until got pregnant, woke up every day at 5 a.m for months to find food at the slaughterhouse so that his dog can be healthy, give birth to healthy puppies when they were born he sold them so that he could make some cash to buy his own clothes, not that he didn't have them. He was about 10 years old and he actually managed to buy some clothes for himself & me but the entire time I had no idea what he was doing. But as we grew up we started arguing more and more and our relationship was severed for years. More often than not, we had different opinions regarding how to go about certain things and I wouldn't understand why he would do some of the things the way he did. I later came to learn that he is a different kind of a leader, the leader I couldn't identify with at that point and so my instinctual reaction was to be defensive and stubborn to protect my own beliefs & principles. It was a daunting period for both of us because we knew we had a problem with no solution that seemed to help sort them out. I also learned that some leaders organize people, share with them their vision and ask them to join together to accomplish it while other leaders organize themselves and the resources they need, and execute their vision so that people can see how it is done and be inspired to follow. They want to do the heavy lifting themselves so that others wouldn't have to and that kind of selflessness isn't something they can even control because that's how they are built. I want to think he is the latter and I'm the former. That experience has taught me to be more open-minded to things, methods that are different from my own, and that different things work for different people. You can all want the same things but the approach each one take is deeply affected by who they are and what they believe. Did I mention he is also an LJS alumnus?

The last man but not least is someone to who we are not related by blood but by faith. He has played a role of a father and became a role model for me as I trust many people. His name is Dr. George Fihavango who was a rector at the time I was attending Lutheran Junior Seminary in Morogoro, the school I mentioned earlier, and is now a Bishop of the Southen Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT). I have learned ACCOUNTABILITY from this man of God and a scholar of theology. Dr. Fihavango loves John Maxwell who is a world-renowned writer on Leadership. He quoted him in many of his speeches and one quote stuck with me through the years and it said, "Everything falls and rises on leadership" by John Maxwell. He taught us that every one of us is a leader and we should be accountable for what God has put under our care. Success or failure of anything is a measure of its leader. The most important part of his teaching was that as a leader it is important to involve the people you are leading in the efforts to achieve your common goal and that's how you produce other leaders who will carry on your torch. 

I remember one time as he was championing an initiative to repair/revamp the school buildings and facilities, he managed to mobilize resources from many well-wishing groups, alumni, and friends of the church across the world but he insisted on involving the people he was leading. One day he was going to a neighboring church to rally resources for that project and he asked for a student representative to accompany him. The gentleman who was supposed to go with him for some reason was not able to so he instead asked me to take his place. The trip on his Volkswagen was quite special and very pleasant to me because he was so easy to talk to and inside me was an unexplainable excitement to be in the company of a man of such intelligence and vision. A visionary like Mwl Nyerere who also coincidently once said, "If real development is to take place, the people have to be involved". When we got there he asked me to stand in front of the crowded church with hundreds of people, introduce myself and say a word to plead "our" case, not just his. As I was sitting there in my school uniform and listening to him preach, I was in awe of his mastery and articulation of the word of God but most importantly I could feel his sincere passion for progress. After the service we were given a hen as a gift and some cash for fuel but as soon as we got back to school and we were about to part ways he gave the money that he was given for fuel to me and thanked me for joining him. That was a grand gesture and it touched my heart in a memorable way not just because the money helped me a lot in school which it did, but because he taught me humility. On that day I learned as a leader it is important to share the spoils of the "war" with the people you fight with even when you don't have to. It boosts their morale and teaches accountability in practice.

I believe it is through men like these that we learn to become better men and if we are lucky better fathers. Mwl Julius Nyerere once said, "You cannot develop people. You must allow people to develop themselves." It is the same for children and fathers. At a young age, many children consider their fathers to be real-life heroes, god-like figures but I also understand that growing up some didn't have fathers to look up to or some were raised with the type they wouldn't want to learn from or aspire to be like. Although you can not control how a child(ren) will turn out in life, the best you can do is to live a life that is meaningful and true to you so the young ones can aspire to be like you in their own right or can model their lives from your example. And you don't have to be a biological father, anyone who plays this role for someone else is being a father, regardless of their age, occupation, or even gender (some of the greatest fathers some have are mothers).

To my 5 fathers, I thank you. I pray God to keep you long enough to see the seeds you planted bloom, the people you have inspired become better fathers. Transmuting better values & principles from one generation to another is how we progress as people.

Tweets zake ni darasa huru la maisha lililosheheni mafunzo, busara na hekima mtambuka. Hapo nyuma mara kwa mara alikua akalichangamsha darasa kwa nasaha za washahuri wake mbalimbali. Watu wengi mimi nikiwa mmoja wao tulifurahishwa sana na nasaha kutoka kwa mshauri wake wa mambo ya anasa na starehe. 

Katika maktaba ya tweets zake kuna moja ilinigusa kwa namna ya kipekee zaidi na ilisema, “Tunaamka kuhangaika tena sababu bado tuna chembe ya tumaini kuwa leo yaweza kuwa bora kushinda jana na hata tusipofanikiwa leo, pengine tutafanikiwa kesho. Katika maisha, poteza vyote lakini usipoteze matumaini. Ukipoteza matumaini, umepoteza sababu ya kuishi.” Ilinigusa kipekee kwa sababu katika maisha yangu kwa nyakati mbili tofauti binafsi nilihisi kupoteza matumaini na hata kufikiria ni afadhali kufa kuliko kuwa hai. Ni imani yangu hali hii ni hadithi ya watu wengi na leo nimeamua kuisimulia nyakati mojawapo na pengine hadithi yangu inaweza kumpa mtu mmoja sababu ya kutopoteza matumaini.

Mara ya kwanza nimehisi kupoteza matumaini ni siku niliyopokea matokeo yangu ya kidato cha sita yaliyovunja moyo wangu. Nilipata Division 0 katika mchepuo wa fizikia, kemia na hisabati mwaka 2014. Ni hadithi ndefu yenye visa na mikasa hasa ukizingatia kwamba nilipata Division 1 katika mtihani wa kidato cha nne. Mungu akinijalia nitapata nafasi ya kuisimulia siku moja ila leo naomba nikusimulie kuhusu matumaini. Baada ya kupata taarifa hiyo nilisikia uzito wa dunia yote umenielemea, nililia kwa uchungu kuliko nilivyowahi kulia hapo awali. Nilitamani dunia ipasuke niingie ili niikwepe hatma yangu. Niliwaza namna taarifa hiyo itakavyomvunja moyo baba yangu Mzee Boniphace Chacha ambaye amenilea na kunisomesha mimi na ndugu zangu katika mazingira magumu. Nakumbuka siku moja mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2008 akiwa ananipeleka kujiunga na kidato cha kwanza Morogoro Lutheran Junior Seminary alinisihi nijitahidi kusoma kwa bidii na yeye atajitahidi kunisomesha hata kama atalazimika kuvaa bukta badala ya suruali ili kusave hela zaidi ili tusikose ada. Niliwaza walezi wangu ambao kwa hakika walipigwa na bumbuwazi kutokana na namna walivyokua wananifahamu, kunipenda na hata kuniamini. Niliwaza nitaificha wapi aibu yangu mbele ya walimu walionifundisha na hata wakati mwingine kuwekeza muda wao wa ziada ili tuweze kufaulu. Nilijiuliza ni vipi nitawakabili rafiki zangu tuliosoma na kukua pamoja ukizingatia kwamba nilizoeleka kuwa mwanafunzi anayefaulu vizuri na mara kwa mara kuwa katika nafasi za uongozi. Binafsi pia, nilikua nakabiliana na msongo mkubwa wa mawazo maana waswahili wanasema uchungu wa msiba aujuaye mfiwa. Nilihisi kukata tamaa ya kuendelea kuishi, ila Mungu akaniokoa.

Baada ya kulia na machozi kuisha nilipiga moyo konde na kumuomba Mungu anionyeshe njia. Nilimwambia niko tayari kuendelea kupambana nikamuomba anionyeshe namna. Akanikumbusha kuwa kila mtu ni wa kipekee na ana sababu ya kuwa hapa duniani. Hakuna mwenye akili yako, hakuna mwenye mwili wako, hakuna mweye maono yako, hakuna mwenye kipaji chako na kutokuendelea kuishi kabla ya muda uliopangiwa na Mungu mwenyewe ni kuidhulumu dunia mawazo yako. Ni sawa na kulikimbia jukumu. Usipofanya wewe nani atafanya? Je, hata akifanya mwingine anaweza kufanya kama wewe? Jibu nililoanza kupata lilinipa tumaini. Tumaini la kuendelea kupambania sehemu yangu katika dunia. Niliamua kuanza tena. Kuanza na yale ambayo nilikua nayajua, yale yaliyokua yananinyima usingizi na kunipa sababu ya kuamka kila siku. Hapo nyuma nilitazama filamu moja ya kimarekani na kuna mahali muigizaji kinara anasema ,"When you do not know what to do, do what you know”. Katika maisha pamoja na kutafuta ni jambo la muhimu kutosahau kuishi, kufanya yale yanayokusisimua na kukupa furaha. Hii balance ndio fuel ya matumaini. Pengine namna nyingine ya kupata tumaini ni kuangalia watu/vitu unavyojivunia na kufanya matendo yanayougusa moyo wako na/au mioyo ya wengine.

Mwenyezi Mungu ametuumba kila mtu kwa kusudi lake na ndani ya kila mmoja wetu kaweka tayari kila unachokihitaji kuliishi hilo kusudi. Ukipata nafasi soma andiko lililopita KILA MTU NI MAHIRI KWENYE ENEO LAKE LA KUJIDAI ila kupata ufahamu zaidi juu ya kusudi la Mungu kwako na namna ya kulitambua. Ziko ingredients nyingi zinazoweza kukusaidia ufanikiwe katika kusudi lako ila ingredients zote ambazo ni za muhimu zaidi (core ingredients), zinazokutofautisha na wengine ziko ndani yako, hazitoki nje (sio external factors). Nafikiri ni sahihi pia kusema kwamba Mungu ameuweka uwezo wa kupambana na kila changamoto itakayokuja mbele yako katika safari ya kulitimiza hilo kusudi, kila mmoja wetu kwa kadri ya ukubwa wa jukumu lake. Watu wengi wanafikia hatua ya kupoteza matumaini pale ambapo sababu yao ya kuishi  inapokua matatani au kushindwa kwa kiwango kikubwa (catastrophic fail). Kushindwa kunaweza kuleta maumivu, fedheha na hata kukata tamaa. Ila ukweli ni kwamba bila kushindwa hatuwezi kukua. Matatizo yapo ili kutukomaza zaidi na kupima kiwango cha imani na utayari wetu kupambania kile tunachokitafuta. Kwa maneno mengine kushindwa ni kiungo muhimu katika mafanikio kama ilivyo gravity ili kitu chochote kiweze kupaa.  Ndege inaweza kupaa na kubakia angani kwa sababu ya uwezo wa kutengeneza nguvu zaidi (lift) kuishinda nguvu hiyo ya mvutano kutoka chini (kani mvutano au gravity).

Msongo wa mawazo uliokithiri ama sonona (depression) ni tatizo kubwa sana katika jamii yetu. Tatizo ni kubwa zaidi kwa wanaume/vijana wa kiume ambao kwa asili tunategemewa kuwa jasiri, kujikaza, kupambana na hata ikibidi 'kufa kiume'. Msanii Dizasta Vina alisema, "uanaume sio cheo, uanaume ni jukumu" na unaposhindwa kutimiza majukumu huweza kuleta mawazo ambayo yasipodhibitiwa yanaweza kusababisha sonona na hata hisia za kukata tamaa ya kuishi. Ukiwa katika hali hii nakushauri utafute msaada badala ya kufa kiume. Kuomba msaada unaposhindwa ni ishara ya nguvu si udhaifu. Zungumza na mtu unayemwamini, atakaye kusikiliza bila kukuhukumu au mtu mwenye busara, hekima na mwenye kukutakia mema. Pia unaweza kuchukua wasaa peke yako kumuomba Mungu wako ili akuelekeze namna unavyoweza kuibadilisha changamoto yako kuwa fursa ya ukuaji. Jambo baya zaidi kukutokea linaweza kuwa jambo jema zaidi kuwahi kukutokea ila huwezi kujua kama utakata tamaa. Kwa wale wapenzi wa kusoma, kuna self-help books nyingi zinazoweza kukusaidia kupata mtazamo mbadala. Jambo la msingi usipoteze matumaini, kama bado unaweza kupumua, unaweza kuendelea kupambana. Usipoteze matumaini, tafuta sababu ya kuendelea kuishi.

Maisha ni safari na kila unachopitia siku hadi siku bila kujali ni kibaya au kizuri ndio maisha yenyewe. Kinachowatofautisha watu wanaofanikiwa na wanaoshindwa ni mtazamo na haswa pale unaposhindwa au kukutana na changamoto. Japokuwa nilishindwa mtihani wa shuleni, sikukubali kuamini kuwa ndio kushindwa pia mtihani wa maisha. Mwaka 2012 nikiwa kidato cha 5 niliasisi wazo ambalo baadaye tarehe 4 Septemba 2014 lilizaa kampuni ya ubunifu iitwayo BRAINBONGO kwa kushirikiana na marafiki zangu wachache niliofahamia nao hapo shuleni na kugundua uwezo wao wa kipekee. Tumekuwa tukishirikiana kwa takribani miaka 10 sasa na BrainBongo imekua daraja la kila mmoja wetu kuishi ndoto zake. Nafikiri ni sahihi kusema bila kukutana na hawa vijana wabunifu na kushirikiana BrainBongo isingekuwepo leo. Nafikiri pia kushindwa ule mtihani kulinifanya kuzipambania ndoto zangu kwa nguvu na akili zangu zote kwa kuwa sikua na kitu cha ku-fall back on mambo yalipokua/yanapokua magumu. Nina shabaha moja tu, kufuata na kuziishi ndoto zangu na kuwasaidia vijana wenzangu kufikia ndoto zao. Ni kati ya maamuzi ninayojivunia sana kuyafanya katika maisha yangu. Sina majuto kwa sababu niliamua kumwamini Mungu, kuamini maono aliyonipatia na kuwaamini wenzangu. Muda ndio msema kweli. Nakukaribisha kuungana nasi katika hii safari yetu ya matumaini. Let's re-define the African consciousness and re-discover what is possible in Africa!

Kufahamu zaidi kuhusu BRAINBONGO na shughuli tunazofanya angalia tovuti yetu www.brainbongo.co.tz

"Nasi twajua ya kuwa katika mambo yote Mungu hufanya kazi pamoja na wale wampendao katika kuwapatia mema, yaani, wale walioitwa kwa kusudi lake." - Warumi 8:28

Nilipokua shule ya msingi tulifundishwa maana ya methali HUJAFA, HUJAUMBIKA ni kwamba mwili wa binadamu unaweza kubadilika kimaumbile wakati wowote angali wakati akiwa hai. Hivyo basi haifai kwa sababu yoyote ile kumcheka, kumdhihaki au kumkejeli mtu ambaye ana ulemavu wa kiungo mwilini mwake. Aliyekufa ndo amekamilika, safari yake imefika mwisho. Binafsi nakubaliana na hii fikra kwa asilimia mia moja lakini sio muumini wa dhana ambayo elimu yetu imetuaminisha kuwa kuna namna moja tu ya kufikiri na hiyo pekee ndio sahihi. Ukiwa na fikra tofauti umekosea, unastahili kufeli. Leo naomba nikosee maana nina fikra tofauti juu ya maana ya methali hii. Ungana nami...

Watu wengi hupewa sifa na heshima wanazostahili wakishakufa. Wakati wa uhai wao watu huwachukulia "poa", hawautambui au kuuthamini mchango wao mpaka wakishakufa na pengo lao kuonekana. Watu wachache sana katika historia walifanikiwa "kuumbika" angali wakiwa hai. Kwa haraka na kwa uchache watu wanaokuja kichwani ni kama Nelson Mandela, Michael Jackson, Steven Hawkings, Muhammad Ali na wengineo. Wapo pia wenye bahati zaidi ambao wanapewa tuzo za heshima sana au kupendwa na mamilioni ya watu angali wakiwa hai kama Barak Obama, Pele, Beyonce, Dalai Lama, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim,  Abdulrazak Gurnah na wengineo.

Binafsi, walikuwepo watu watatu (3) ambao japokua sikuwafahamu kiundani ila vifo vyao viliniumiza sana kama walikuwa ni watu wangu wa karibu. Kwa bahati nzuri niligundua uwezo wao mkubwa kifikra na hata kuweza kushawishiwa na maisha yao. 

Mwaka 2012 nilipata bahati ya kushiriki maazimisho ya kumbukumbu ya kifo chake wilayani Butiama, mkoani Mara ambapo nilijifunza zaidi kuhusu maisha yake. Nilifurahi kujifunza kuwa pia alikua msomaji mzuri wa vitabu na nilipata nafasi ya kutembelea maktaba yake. Kwa wasiofahamu, Mwl Nyerere alikua akichunga mifugo ya baba yake na akiwa na umri wa miaka 12 alilazimika kutembea takriban kilomita 35 ili kufika shule aliyokua akisoma, shule ya msingi ya Mwisenge iliyoko Musoma Mjini. Niaamini kuwa uzoefu alioupata toka akiwa mdogo mpaka alipokua Waziri mkuu na baadaye Rais ulimpa mtazamo mpana zaidi juu ya maisha na mahitaji ya kila mwananchi wake bila kujali vipato au hali zao kimaisha. Maisha yake ni deni kubwa kwangu na nafikiri linapaswa kuwa deni kwa vijana wengi wa kitanzania. Swali kubwa kwetu ni kwa namna gani tunaweza kuitumikia Tanzania yetu ambayo nilisoma mahali kuwa akiwa katika nyakati za mwisho wa uhai wake alituusia kuipenda "kama tunavyowapenda mama zetu".

Wa pili ni Steve Jobs aliyefariki mwaka 2009 akiwa na miaka 50. Huyu ni mwanzilishi wa kampuni ya Apple Computers inayotengeneza simu za  iPhone, iPads, iMac n.k. Filosofia na mitazamo wa huyu bwana kuhusu maisha na kazi pia umenishawishi kwa kiwango kikubwa katika maisha yangu binafsi. Miongioni mwa mambo ambayo Steve Jobs aliamini na yalinivutia ni pamoja na kuishi kila siku kama ndio siku yako ya mwisho maana ipo siku utakua sahihi. 

Steve Jobs aliamini watu ambao ni "wendawazimu" kiasi cha kuamini wanaweza kuibadilisha dunia au kubadilisha jambo fulani katika dunia ndio haswaa huweza kufanya hivyo. Watu wengi wa aina hii katika jamii huonekana kama wendawazimu, wakaidi, wanaojikweza au wasiokubaliana na uhalisia. Alihoji, nini maana ya uhalisia? Aliamini sheria, kanuni na taratibu zilizopo na tunazozifuata ziliwekwa na watu kama mimi na wewe hivyo tukiona hazitunufaishi au kutusaidia kufika malengo yetu tunapaswa kuzibadilisha. Watu wengi huogopa kufanya haya mabadiliko na kulazimika kukubalina na hali ilivyo (status quo) badala ya kuibadilisha kuwa namna wanavyokata. Mwingereza George Bernard Shaw aliwahi kusema “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

Pia, aliamini namna pekee ya kufanya kazi nzuri ni kupenda kile unachokifanya. Maneno haya nimeyabandika katika ukuta wa sebule yangu kwa zaidi ya miaka saba sasa na ni makusidio yangu mwanangu Lincoln (3) akue akiyasoma. Ukipenda unachokifanya si rahisi kukata tamaa na utafanya kazi kwa kujituma na kwa moyo wako wote. 

Aliamini kuwa watu wako radhi kununua bidhaa au kulipia huduma kwa bei yoyote ile utakayo endapo tu hicho kitu au hiyo huduma itaongeza thamani katika maisha yao. Kuna mifano mingi ya hili na yeye alilithibitisha kwa vitendo kwa namna alivyobuni na kuuza bidhaa mbalimbali za Apple ambazo zimeenea na kupendwa duniani kote pamoja na kuwa zinauzwa bei ghali kwa mtu mwenye kipato cha kawaida. Hii fikra kwa kiasi kikubwa imechangia muelekeo wa kibiashara wa kampuni ya BRAINBONGO niliyoanzisha mwaka 2012 nikiwa high-school na marafiki zangu wachache ikiwa na lengo moja kuu; kuwasaidia watu, biashara, makampuni na taasisi kusimulia stori zao kupitia picha bunifu za mnato na nyongefu (creative photography & film) na kwa kupitia ubunifu wa matangazo ya kibiashara kama vile matangazo ya TV, redio, mabango ya barabarani na mitandaoni. Kila mtu ana stori. Kazi yetu ni kukusaidia kuisimulia ya kwako kwa ubunifu na kuifanya kuwa yenye ushawishi. Umeishawahi kujiuliza ni kwa nini unatumia bidhaa au huduma fulani? Vipi kuhusu mwanasiasa uliyempigia kura katika uchaguzi? Kuna msemo unasadikika kusemwa na mwanafilosofia aliyeitwa Plato unaosema, "Those who tell stories rule the world." 

Mtu wa tatu na wa mwisho ila sio kwa umuhimu ni mwanamziki na mfanyabiashara wa kimarekani mwenye asili ya Eritrea, Nipsey Hussle. Jina lake kamili ni Airmiess Joseph Asghedom na alizaliwa  August 15, 1985 Los Angeles, Marekani na kufariki March 31, 2019 akiwa na miaka 33 pekee kwa kupigwa risasi nje ya duka lake la mavazi linaloitwa The Marathon Clothing. Nipsey anaweza kuwa chaguo la tofauti sana na watu wengine kwenye hii list ila Nipsey ni maana ya halisi ya "Don't judge a book by its cover." Sehemu kubwa ya mwili wa Nipsey uko "covered" na tattoo za kila aina na ukimtazama huwezi kudhani ni mtu wenye upeo mkubwa kifikra na aliyekataa kuruhusu mazingira aliyozaliwa  na kukulia kumzuia kuishi maisha ya ndoto zake. Nilimfahamu Nipsey miezi michache tu kabla ya kifo chake na pamoja kuwa kifo chake kilivunja moyo wangu lakini nilikua na nafuu fulani kwamba nilimjua na kurecognize his genius akiwa hai.

Nimefunza mambo mengi sana kutoka kwake ikiwemo uvumilivu na kuwaza long-term katika kufanya maamuzi au kupanga mipango. Nipsey aliwahi kusema, "The highest human act is to inspire". Tafsiri yake kwa Kiswahili ambayo inaweza kuwa haijanyooka sana ni kwamba tendo kubwa zaidi la kibinadamu mtu anaweza kufanya ni kumfanya mtu mwingine aamini inawezekana. Hichi ndicho haswaa kitu Nipsey amekifanya katika maisha yangu. Japokua maisha yetu ni tofauti sana na tumekulia katika mazingira na tamaduni tofauti kabisa ila alithibitisha kuwa chochote kile unachokiazimia kinawezekana ukikipambania bila kukata tamaa. Katika maandiko yajayo nitagusia kidogo kuhusiana na maisha yake na mambo kadha wa kadha aliyoyafanya katika maisha yake binafsi na kwa jamii yake huko Crenshaw, jijini Los Angeles Marekani.

Kutoka kushoto: Samiel (Kaka yake Nipsey), Baba yake, Nipsey Hussle na Adam (mwanzilishi mwenza wa All Money In LLC)

Nipsey pia aliamini kuwa biashara kama zilivyo mbio za masafa marefu (marathon) na inahitaji uvumilivu mkubwa mwisho. Alizipa bidhaa zake nyingi majina yanayoanzia na neno Marathon kwa sabau aliamini katika mbio za masafa marefu uwezo wa kukimbia umbali mrefu kwa mwendo wa wastani ni muhimu zaidi kuliko kwenda mbio na kuwahi kuchoka wakat umbali bado ni mrefu na vivyo hivyo katika biashara. Katika marathon pia japokua atakaye fika wa kwanza kwenye mstari wa mwisho atatuzwa kama mshindi wa kwanza ila KILA atakaye maliza mbio na kufika kwenye mstari wa mwisho ni mshindi pia, kosa ni tu KUKATA TAMAA. Mara nyingi pia mshindi nambari moja hakuongoza wakati wote wa mbio. Uongozi ni kupokezana. Kuna wakati inabidi upunguze mwendo kidogo kuvuta pumzi, unywe maji na utafute nguvu tena ya kuendelea. Sio ishara ya udhaifu bali ni ishara ya ubinadamu.

Nipsey Hussle akiwa na wanawe Emani na Kross enzi za uhai wake.

Nipsey pia alisistiza sana katika umiliki wa kazi zake. Na ili uwe mmiliki wa jasho lako ni lazima uwe mzalishaji sio mfanyakazi. Aliamini kama una haki miliki ya kazi yako hususani kazi za sanaa ambazo umiliki wake haushikiki (intellectual property) unajiweka kwenye position nzuri zaidi ya kupata kipato siku za mbele sio tu kipindi umetengeneza. Hii ilidhihirika baada ya kifo chake kilichotikisa ulimwengu wa burudani kwa sababu familia yake iliingiza na inaendelea kuingiza fedha nyingi sana nadhani kuliko hata Nipsey mwenyewe alizoingiza enzi za uhai wake na hii ni kwa sababu alikua anamiliki kazi zake za sanaa kwa asilimia 100% na watu wengi duniani walimfahamu na kuzifuatilia kazi zake baada ya kufariki. Nipsey hadi alipata tuzo 2 za Grammy wakati alishafariki na kuna watu wamefanya mziki miaka nenda rudi, wana majina makubwa na Grammy hawajawahi kupata. Kwa wanaofuatilia sanaa kimataifa wanajua tuzo hizi ndio za heshima zaidi dunia katika maswala ya muziki na ni ndoto ya wanamuziki wengi angalau kupendekezwa kwenye kinyang'anyiro. Hakikisha una miliki kazi yako!

Yapo mengi sana nimejifunza kutoka kwa watu hawa watatu na ni hakika siwezi kuyaelezea yote katika andiko moja na kwa kuwa pia naendelea kujifunza nitaendelea kushare nanyi kadri Mungu atakavyonijalia. Lakini usihadaike, yako mengine mengi ambayo sikukubaliana nayo kutokana misimamo na imani zangu binafsi. "Baba" alishatwambia za kuambiwa changanya na za kwako.

Kwa kuhitimisha, mwandishi maarufu aliyeishi zaidi ya miaka 100 iliyopita aitwae Mark Twain alisema, "Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered — either by themselves or by others." Kwa lugha ya kizalendo alimaanisha maelfu ya watu wenye uwezo mkubwa kiakili/kifikra wanaishi na hadi kufa bila kutambulika - wakati mwingine hata wao wanakufa hawajitambui au watu wengine hawawatambui. Naomba nimalize kwa kukuacha na maswali kadhaa; Je, unatambua uwezo wa kipekee ulioko ndani yako? Unafanya nini kuwasaidia wengine wenye uwezo wa kipekee wajitambue au watambuliwe na watu wengine? Au unasubiri mpaka wakifa upost picha ya R.I.P na maneno kedekede ya namna ulivyokua unawahusudu? Majibu unayo mwenyewe ila itakupendaza unaweza kutushirikisha mawazo yako mimi pamoja na wasomaji wengine katika sehemu ya kucomment hapo chini. Ahsante kwa muda wako!