A LITERARY GENIUS

Kenya is known to have produced some of the most gifted writers this world has known. Their mastery of this craft has been showcased in libraries worldwide and still continue to get recognition beyond our borders. Many of these writers have inspired me to also curve a niche for myself, and in particular, one incredible talent, the legendary Oyunga Pala. This writer is a fire brand when it comes to penning ideas on paper. His word play is flawless, combining wit, together with his melancholic nature, and giving it a satirical twist, to form a master piece. This is only possible if one has a mastery of rules for any language. This is why I am fully convinced that white folks cannot come close to Oyunga’s proficiency, for he will give them a run for their money, while chewing and spitting grammar on their faces like fire works.

I believe that Infact, he is the English whisperer, alongside his fellow counterpart, Dr. PLO Lumumba. In fact, these two personalities are well known and respected in the writing circles of our great nation. On this note, someone once tried to deceive me by pumping me up and insinuating that I am Mr. Pala’s equal when it comes to prowess as a writer. But before toxic pride could seep through my head, I had to control myself and check her at the same time. She obviously did not know who she was talking about, foolishly speaking of a living legend like he was her rural cousin. But I swiftly digress.

This man Oyunga is an ascended master in his craft, swimming with the industry sharks in the deep ocean, while I am still struggling to get out of the aquarium, into the pond, before I can manoeuvre myself into a lake, to find a river that will lead me to the ocean. Oyunga is the teacher, and I am the student that is taking notes in his class and living in his world. He was writing a series of exciting tales as a columnist, since before I could conjure up a properly punctuated sentence in English. Oyunga is William Shakespeare and I am Mariama Bâ. Granted that the late Madam Mariama was a skilled writer in her own right, but we all are aware of  Shakespeare’s ingenuity in crafting timeless pieces of artistry.

Oyunga has long been a crusader of the male folk, taking on their plight single-handedly like Moses, writing them a set of commandments, designed to trigger and activate their inner-alpha, thereby re-directing them to tap into their Adam. He knew that this Man Talk agenda was a dangerous mission, for it did not sit well with the women folk, as it posed a threat to their new found freedom and empowerment, not desiring to be slip back into the dark ages.

As a result, Mr. Pala low-key endured the backlash of this master plan for years, with a slew of angry feminists on his tail, baying for his blood. Nevertheless, he dismissed them as crazy Kenyans, kept fuelling his passion, posting weekly reads in his column, becoming more bold in his expressions, fanning his fellow brethren into action, while lashing out at his critics in cold satire.

Meanwhile, I was on the other end, silently watching and learning from this sensei on how to blend emotion and craft. I did not want to get entangled in the love-hate relationship he has had with his collective readers, since I am his biggest fan. I desired to be neutral and instead, focus on him being an alchemist. Yet, I at times took sides with his naysayers, when it came to the accusations of chauvinism thrown on his path, for I am a fierce advocate for the girl child. Therefore, can you really blame me?

But is Mr. Pala at war with the females? Does he hold a grudge against them? Or is he just another controversial writer, trying to earn his coins? Only he can answer that. Nonetheless, all these shenanigans do not take away the fact that Oyunga is a professional when it comes to the art of story-telling. On my part, Oyunga’s writing flow is like a Mad Max Fury Road plot, where the more you read, the more you begin to visualize the all the eccentric characters burst out into action. I tell you all, it does not get better than this. These days, Mr. Pala has settled down, has become a doting father, still penning various cultural topics that fuel his passion, and not about to lay his stylus to rest.

Here is a laudation for a remarkable talent; a true alchemist you are Oyunga. Let your pen and your imagination take you to places you have never been before.