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Luanda Reggae Defenders - what is your long term agenda?

Luanda Reggae Defenders is a now a popular movement with roots in Vihiga and border Siaya and Kakamega counties Attention is brought to the manner and conduct the movement has gained fame and followers, mainly the Youths. The movement capitalizes on funerals. With a poor culture of putting the dead to rest, the Reggae Defenders have taken it by storm and rebranded the infamous ‘Disco Matanga’ – disco at funeral. Reggae Defenders on move. Pic: Charles Rankings: Facebook They mobilize quickly on the day the dead will be discharged from the mortuary. They have this huge old school sound system that is over buzzing to no clear reggae song - that they hire a pickup to carry - and it has a young DJ mainly standing there than mixing anything. Often, against the rules, the casket is grabbed from a hearse vehicle and tied to a motorbike. There it will be swayed and jerk breaked between other motorbikes on the narrow roads. That, is, how a fellow soldier, often a young dead, is mourned. ...
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In the absence of kinship ties...

Hello Family, here is a case that may make an hair stand on your body if you so appreciate togetherness and family ties. Please give it a thought. 

A dear friend of mine comes from a poor family, I mean alienated in the ways they associate with fellow cousins, uncles, neighbours save the vwifwa side. 

It happens that the father is a drunkard and the mother often mentally disturbed. His elder siblings schooled difficultly and are all out of home while the young ones at the mercy of the non attached parents. 

His younger brother, of now 24 years, fought with a fellow lad and unfortunately the lad died a day after due to head injury. The brother has been a motor cyclist and had earlier married with now a child, living by a rented room. He was arrested and now is in cells. 

The deceased family, in wait for any emissaries, decided to go see a member of the family when no one was coming. And my young friend 'was the sober one' to be addressed. In fact the father was asked to the discussion and he arrived drunk. The middle aged men wanted a hand in burial preparations, not accusatory. 

Such a situation always calls for elders, sober leadership to give hope and guidance. 

His immediate uncles are afraid to step in. He does not know his fathers' cousins. He does not know his immediate kins. He says he has never been told who they are. And of course he had never had the desire to know them. And the maternal side, which he relates well, cannot be actively involved. 

It therefore bothers that individuals, families and societies suffer in the hands of the 'state' because we have in several ways kept us away from one another. 

In my sympathetic view, I think that the imprisoned lad is not the main character in the whole tale but this friend of mine who carries the family stone. As Sisyphus. How can such a family redeem itself? 

I have known the family for 7 years now and I may answer other queries if there are. The friend is a confidant and I share this story to pass a message of kinship importance. May it strengthen us. 

With Thanks. 😓

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