If some
people have made a marked impression on one’s heart during one’s youth, Mwalimu will forever be
etched in my heart and my memory.
None of us
knew his real name. None of us knew
where he lived. None of us knew what he
did for a living. But everyone knew him
as Mwalimu.
What we did
know, however, is that he loved to perform all kinds of antics on his bicycle
especially for the young and the young at heart. He was not a young man...far from it. One
would have guessed that he was past fifty.
His usual
haunt was opposite the Majestic cinema.Â
It is my belief that this spot was chosen because deep in his heart he
probably had the spirit of a clown, except that he never dressed like one, and
that he was aware that many young children would be passing by the Majestic
Cinema after their games at Mnazi Moja, on their way home, and he would be able
to pass on to them a few moments of joy and laughter by performing some antics
on his bicycle.
His
performance was both comic and athletic. At the sound of his name, he would
lean way back on the seat of his bicycle,(virtually in a sleeping position) and
twist the front wheel at right angles giving the impression that he was about
to fall, but then he would make an abrupt turn that defied the laws of motion.
This brought a great big applause and much laughter from the crowds that seemed
to form very quickly to watch his act.
In a short
time, every young child recognized Mwalimu and when they saw him, there were
yells of Mwalimu, Mwalimu! and he never disappointed them.
He virtually became a Pied Piper on an old rusty bicycle with
kids and adults running along while he performed his many feats.
Many of us
were so enamoured by Mwalimu’s tricks on the bicycle that we were drawn into
hiring bicycles for ten cents an hour and attempting to try and become an embodiment
of this great athlete. A few of us still
have the scars from trying to copy his bicycle tricks. I have dedicated my
scars to the memory of this wonderful icon that made our lives as children so
full of laughter, joy and happiness at regular but brief interludes.
Perhaps
someday, Zanzibar will build a long overdue monument to the memory of Mwalimu for he certainly
represented all that was good and decent in the human spirit
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