Kenya 2007 - MHWebsite

In childhood the first contact with Africa was through the children’s novels about Tarzan, the king of the apes. Later, the stories about the expeditions to Africa and the explorers carrying them out kindled the interest. The stories about this big Dark Continent as white man called Africa at that time were thrilling reading. Wild nature difficult to penetrate, flora and fauna very different from the one known in our part of the world and a population with completely different skin colour from that of the white man as well as a completely different culture.

What were the drivers of these explorers? Some had a well intentioned wish to convert these so-called savages to Christianity, some went of love of adventure, some were fortune hunters without future in their own country, and some came of pure greed and to exploit the peoples and the lands, encouraged by enterprises and states. Most of these people completely lacked the ability of recognizing other cultures. They did not understand that many of the African cultures they met, were very rich cultures. They only saw their own culture being superior to all other cultures. Alas for the Africans the white man took control of their lives. However, it is the fate of irony that the cradle of humanity is Africa.

In adulthood Karen Blixen’s story “Out of Africa” has rekindled the interest of seeing Africa and especially Kenya. Certain Kenyans are criticizing Karen Blixen of being a racist, and they want her name wiped out from any place in Kenya. However, you have to bear in mind that Karen Blixen came to Kenya almost a hundred years ago, and that she belonged to the upper class in Denmark; so, she had an aristocratic approach to other people.

In our opinion Karen Blixen is describing the native population and Kenya with much affection and love and she maintained a life long contact with her Kenyan and African staff. Although that time will never return she has been a mental midwife to us in our wish to visit Kenya.

To access the complete album via our Our photo gallery go to: Our photo Gallery, Countries - Holidays / album: C-H_Kenya-2007.