Peter Wasamba

Dr. Peter Wasamba, a professor specializing in the study of African Oral Literature at the University of Nairobi, visited Messiah College on March 31st, 2008, to discuss the importance of oral literature to the Kenyan nation. In a small group setting, Dr. Wasamba explained how oral history brings change to our communities, and shared how he is using it to address several socioeconomic issues within the Kenyan nation.

Dr. Wasamba told the group that he uses oral history to approach the constant poverty problem in Kenya. There is a history in Kenya—and, of course, in many other nations—of problems arising when new social or political policies are introduced. Many times, these policies are insensitive to lower-level classes. Dr. Wasamba expressed that instead of the upper-class citizens making policies that do not directly affect them, those who do feel the weight of the policies should have a say in policy-making. In this way, Kenyans would be forced to look at the past effects of policies as a way of correcting and building the present.

How does this happen? Dr. Wasamba has taken it upon himself and a group of others to gather oral testimonies from the locals. The locals hold a wealth of knowledge that would otherwise be lost, if it were not for the sharing of their testimonies. These oral testimonies give the necessary proof of whether certain policies worked or whether power was abused in seeing them out. The oral testimonies are two-fold: they provide information to the testimony-gatherers (like Dr. Wasamba) to relay to officials if necessary; and also, they provide a platform for the locals to vent their frustrations and anger about wrongdoings performed against them (in a sort of therapeutic method), making someone else aware of the corruption within the government. This transfer of information through the sharing of oral testimonies builds a sense of camaraderie among the people of Kenya, which is important in a time when most feel alone and abused by the government.