Michael Nyakundi

Tributes and Tributaries

The poem explores geo-historical connectivity through migration for the Maasai people, the Mara River, and the Wildebeests, as all three have had to navigate the changing landscape of East Africa’s Rift Valley. They are linked by space, movement, and their coexistence across two geographic borders: Tanzania and Kenya*. The poem demonstrates multidirectional memory by acknowledging the historical background of colonialism and its impact on the Maasai people's movement patterns while simultaneously emphasizing the shared experience of migration across different species. Just as colonialism disrupted Maasai migration patterns in the 1900s, so does climate change in the twenty-first century. The use of fragmented words and spacing in the poem creates a sense of urgency and instability, reinforcing the fragility of these ecosystems and the need for action to protect them. The poem includes hydro criticism as it addresses the value of the Mara River as a life-giving force and the potential implications of its disruption. Understanding the connectivity between the Mara River, the Wildebeests and the Maasai, is vital for the comprehension of the impact of climate change on local habitats and ways of life.

*The Mara River flows from Kenya to Tanzania. The Maasai pastoralists are found in both countries. And the Wildebeest migrate, annually, between Kenya and Tanzania. Had there not been colonial maps separating them, they would be living their way of life in one large tract of land.

Poem, 2023