A flag in Paris
By Gichaba Nyantino.
PARIS 2024 Opening ceremony was like a gem that came down from the skies freshly minted by an incredible heavenly machine!
It’s was drop dead gorgeous
It was fascinating
It’s was arresting
It was ensnaring.
It’s that time.
It’s that season
It’s that moment
When we shove aside our negative ethnicity.
It’s time to glue our eyes on TV yelling
Cheering
Screaming
Watching and waiting for the medals to start coming in.
It’s that time we cheered our world conquering athletes not giving a moment’s thought of their ethnic origins or political affiliations.
They’re kenyan! Period!
Nothing moves me than the sight of kenyan athletes arms raised as they race on strong legs and fierce determination to the finishing line.
Climbing onto the podium to receive their medal sends wild raptures across the nation. If there is a joy surpassing this then tell me what it’s!
And that’s the kenyan flag that they proudly parade round the track in the lap of honour and during the award ceremonies.
Nationalism surfaces but mostly briefly when our athletes win major races at the Olympics and other international events.
All we do is shout ourselves hoarse applauding a kenyan victory not an ethnic one.
Then the strains of our national anthem drifts around the stadium as our beautiful flag flubs elegantly in a cool breeze.
It’s the only moment that’s been making the slogan PROUDLY KENYAN make sense, until Gen Z phenomenon came about.
Something in me stirs and touches a chord in me that brings tears to my ears.
Hey! Good people,let’s put aside our differences and cheers our GREATEST AMBASSADORS!
