Recollections of Mau Mau (Oral History Project)
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Selma Cardoso
Feb 12, 2012, 4:46:14 AM2/12/12
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Recollections of Mau Mau
The oral histories of British-Goans project presents a five-minute clip recollecting the lived experiences of Goans during the time of the Mau Mau uprisings predominantly in Nairobi, Kenya. This video is not a statement on the legitimacy or otherwise of the uprisings but an recalling of events as experienced by them. "A young Hindu man would run through the fields to try and help that man who was attacked..." says one witness.
To watch on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_uKf4EtrmE&feature=youtu.be
To watch on our website: http://www.britishgoanproject.com/
Selma Carvalho
Project Manager
George Menezes
Feb 14, 2012, 10:03:31 AM2/14/12
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I love what you are doing with your oral histories
project
George
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Jeanne Hromnik
Feb 22, 2012, 4:19:28 AM2/22/12
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I grew up in Nairobi in the 50s and have vivid memories of Mau Mau although I was oblivious then and for a long time thereafter to the horrific treatment of detainees and natives in the reserves and on farms.
I came across the following in a book my father, J M Nazareth, wrote about his political career in Kenya in the years preceding independence. The book is titled Brown Man, Black Country: On the foothills of Uhuru.
The pusine judgeship that Rawcliffe [D H Rawcliffe, The Struggle for Kenya, 1954] mentions was an acting judgeship in 1953, expected to last about three weeks to try Mau Mau cases carrying a mandatory death sentence. Offers had been made to N.S. Mangat and Jall Sorabjeee, both of whom had served as presidents of the Kenya Law Society ... My wife was against my accepting, fearing the danger believed to be involved. Asians had been complaining for many years about not being appointed to the Judiciary. For that reason and because I considered it to be the duty of citizens to assist in the maintenance of law and order I felt bound to accept this unwelcome offer. However, I thought I would consult Apa Pant, the Indian High Commissioner. As he was of the same opinion, I had any doubts removed, and I accepted. In the event the tenure lasted about five weeks instead of the expected three weeks. When, however, the registrar suggested that I continue or serve for another period I declined. The obligations of my practice demanded my return and I found the strain of trying a bullet case (being found with a bullet in your possession) which also carried a mandatory death sentence, unbearable. In that case I had been able to acquit the accused, for it was not until the third search, after he had been in police custody for an hour or some hours or possibly days, that the bullet was claimed to have been found in his shirt. But I felt myself unable to face another trial of a bullet case. I bought a revolver on accepting this appointment and used to sleep with it near my pillow, the first and only revolver I owned. I had done some target shooting with my brother's revolver at Nakuru, but from this new revolver I never fired a shot. When I went for a holiday to England I surrendered it and, having had enough trouble looking after it and preventing my Kikuyu house-servant from any certain knowledge that I had it, I did not reclaim it. The government ultimately retained the revolver without my receiving any payment or compensation for it.
Brown Man, Black Country, p. 174
I came across the following in a book my father, J M Nazareth, wrote about his political career in Kenya in the years preceding independence. The book is titled Brown Man, Black Country: On the foothills of Uhuru.
The pusine judgeship that Rawcliffe [D H Rawcliffe, The Struggle for Kenya, 1954] mentions was an acting judgeship in 1953, expected to last about three weeks to try Mau Mau cases carrying a mandatory death sentence. Offers had been made to N.S. Mangat and Jall Sorabjeee, both of whom had served as presidents of the Kenya Law Society ... My wife was against my accepting, fearing the danger believed to be involved. Asians had been complaining for many years about not being appointed to the Judiciary. For that reason and because I considered it to be the duty of citizens to assist in the maintenance of law and order I felt bound to accept this unwelcome offer. However, I thought I would consult Apa Pant, the Indian High Commissioner. As he was of the same opinion, I had any doubts removed, and I accepted. In the event the tenure lasted about five weeks instead of the expected three weeks. When, however, the registrar suggested that I continue or serve for another period I declined. The obligations of my practice demanded my return and I found the strain of trying a bullet case (being found with a bullet in your possession) which also carried a mandatory death sentence, unbearable. In that case I had been able to acquit the accused, for it was not until the third search, after he had been in police custody for an hour or some hours or possibly days, that the bullet was claimed to have been found in his shirt. But I felt myself unable to face another trial of a bullet case. I bought a revolver on accepting this appointment and used to sleep with it near my pillow, the first and only revolver I owned. I had done some target shooting with my brother's revolver at Nakuru, but from this new revolver I never fired a shot. When I went for a holiday to England I surrendered it and, having had enough trouble looking after it and preventing my Kikuyu house-servant from any certain knowledge that I had it, I did not reclaim it. The government ultimately retained the revolver without my receiving any payment or compensation for it.
Brown Man, Black Country, p. 174
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B MENEZES
Feb 22, 2012, 11:01:52 AM2/22/12
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Hi Jeanne,
I have only just laid hands on your father,s book (Benegal Pereira had an extra copy). I am currently in Goa and would love to talk with you on my return to Toronto c. march 8.
where are you based?
Cheers
braz
Sent from my iPad
Sent from my iPad
Jeanne Hromnik
Feb 23, 2012, 11:18:33 AM2/23/12
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Hi Braz
I gave a number of copies of my father's book Brown Man, Black Country to Leroy Veloso in Mumbai last December. The books were stored in my aunts' flat and most were badly damaged when the roof developed a major leak. About 30 copies remain. They are a valuable source of primary evidence.
I live in Cape Town but will be spending the next two months in Mumbai, possibly visiting Goa. My cousin bought a copy of Just Matata in Nairobi and gave it to me as a gift when we were together in Goa in December 2011. We then gave it to Tony de Sa, her first cousin, an ex-E African. And so it goes ...
Best
Jeanne
I gave a number of copies of my father's book Brown Man, Black Country to Leroy Veloso in Mumbai last December. The books were stored in my aunts' flat and most were badly damaged when the roof developed a major leak. About 30 copies remain. They are a valuable source of primary evidence.
I live in Cape Town but will be spending the next two months in Mumbai, possibly visiting Goa. My cousin bought a copy of Just Matata in Nairobi and gave it to me as a gift when we were together in Goa in December 2011. We then gave it to Tony de Sa, her first cousin, an ex-E African. And so it goes ...
Best
Jeanne
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