By Princess of Harare, Princess Eugene Majuru.
London, England. (News of The South) – Britain acknowledged they have the Ngadji drum stolen from Kenya over a century ago. Communication has been made to Britain to request for the stolen drum as far back as 2016 after it was spotted at a museum in London by the brother to the current ruler of the Pokomo. The Pokomo royalty was recently re-established.
The Ngandji drum is of great importance to the Pokomo people because of its sacredness and is a source of power. The return of the Ngadji will fulful what is missing from the Pokomo culture.
It is a sickening to see how countries like Britain value their own culture and preserve every aspect of it but think African cultures do not matter. Arrogance shown by Britain has seen them hold on to stolen artifacts as well as human remains looted from as far back as 1896 when they colonised Africa thus depriving African people of restoration of their culture. The Pokomo are Bantu people who migrated from Shungwaya in Somalia, they live alongthe Tana river in Kenya. This community is a farming one which depend on the seasonal flooding of the river Tana which they call “Chana Maro”.
Pokomo people strongly believe in their culture and they also influenced formation of Kiswahili language.
The Ngadji drum which forms part of the traditions and culture is a massive drum taller than any living man, it was made from the hollowing of a trunk of the mzinga tree, cow hide was then stretched across it’s openning.
The Ngadji drum according to the Pokomo is the
earthly representation of the God that the Pokomo people worshiped and that when it was struck, it made the sound of a roaring lion.
Such was it’s power that it vibrated and all within rangewould stop and listen. The drum was a unifying tool for the people.
To add insult to injury the British are keeping the drum in a basement storage where its gathering dust and most likely not well looked after. Africans across the continent are fighting to get back their posessions from the British who destroyed many Africans cultures by brainwashing them to believe everything about African culture was evil and involved witchcraft. African royal systems were also destroyed and Africans have the task of restoring their royal systems. Many Africans are yet to wake up from such brainwashing. African Presidents are not bold enough to demand for the return of stolen artifacts as many are selfishly busy looting from their own countries.
Before the British stole the Ngadji drum it was the centre of power to spiritual and communal life of the Pokomo. Soon after the drum was stolen the Kidjo, a key ruling class of the Pokomo which had spiritual and governing authority, lost their strength.
The greedy, selfish, heartless, bloodthirsty colonial bandits and thugs took all objects of spiritual significance to weaken the power and authority and cause spiritual capture to African countries. The colonial bandits who raided Africa are arrogantly refusing to hand over stolen loot as can be seen by their holding on to stolen property yet they preach the gospel of goodwill and moving on. Who in their normal senses moves on without sorting the ills of colonialism?
Despite hearing the demands of the Pokomo people, Britain continues to hold on to looted property with the childish mentality that it now belongs to them. It’s time for some people to grow up and act responsibly and do what is right for the masses of Africans who are being deprived of their heritage.
Colonial Britain should return all the property they looted from Africa. Its just a matter of time before some of the stolen artifacts start to cause serious problems because they have been in foreign land for around 112 years. This is true to the record according to African Ancestors who are fighting for justice.
The Pokomo people have the right to get back their Ngadji drum and for sure they should hear the loud vibrating roar of their “lion”.
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