Otieno Amisi - A Tribute, by Tony Mochama
Written by Tony Mochama · April 10, 2008
Otieno Amisi’s last critique was published about a month ago (Literary Discourse, February 17, 2008), post-humously - a month after his death on January 16.
The problem with dying during a period when a nation is undergoing the proverbial Chinese “interesting times” is that one’s demise is buried under an avalanche of stampedes.
On the day Amisi died, Pentagon member, Mr Najib Balala, was running helter-skelter through Kenyatta Avenue, with GSU officers wielding tear-gas cannisters in hot pursuit.
These were dangerous times; live bullets were being used to disperse demonstrators in the Opposition strongholds. In fact, the police shooting of an unarmed protester was captured by a KTN cameraman.
A jolly George O was making fun of a ‘psycho-cop’ and paid dearly for his harmless antics. His last words: “Why have you killed me?”
Amisi’s death was a quiet affair, sad and I do not know what his final words were. I do however know what his final critique was on my poetry anthology What If I Am a Literary Gangster? and what his last words to me were.
On December 2, 2007 at Impala Grounds, Nairobi, where Story-mmoja was holding an event, he took the book from me and said: “I am going to do a review of this anthology.”
Then blinking bright owlish eyes at me, and smiling impishly, he added: “I look forward to reading your response.”
When I learned of Amisi’s tragic passing, from fellow-journalist, Francis Ilahaka, as I loitered along Loita Street several weeks later, I told my editor, Ms Jane Godia, that I would do a tribute to Amisi.
Then I thought of our decade-long amiable relationship with Amisi over the years (1997-2007) and realised it was actually a series of literary skirmishes that never degenerated into personal hostility.
Amisi was playful, sometimes biting in his literary criticisms. He sharpened his pen, without poisoning the tip, and fenced wits careful not to hurt.
And so instead of the usual ‘lionising’ and eulogising, I will simply bid him farewell.
Dear Amisi, in your last critic Critics divided as ‘gangsters’ invade the literary scene, you sounded the alarm that men such as Kiraitu Murungi (Song of my Beloved), Raila Odinga (An Enigma in Kenyan Politics), Kalembe Ndile (My Squatters, My Struggles, My Dreams) and myself (What I if Am a Literary Gangster?) have joined ‘the literary fray.’ This is better than the mass history fed to our youth.
Back to my book, you wrote that some say this “footloose underground writing with urban lingo should be encouraged.”
I tend to agree with those some, in the sense that I think poetry ought to move beyond the merely ‘heavy letter’ stuff, so that high school students can see the art as the foundation of both critical thought as well as recognise all that is beautiful about the ‘lingo’.
You said that my approach to serious international issues like global trade imbalances and freedom is light-hearted. True, but not quite. Look at the irony, as demonstrated in the poem Trading Places.
I prefer, Joe Ngunjiri’s views on my work as showing “a soft heart,” to Egara Kabaji’s who merely sees “defiance, with no poetry or art in it.”
My poem Sad Dodo begins: “A girl I knew once told me, that I thought it was ‘cool’ to be sad, and spitting Dido at me she told me I’d end, my life dead as a Dodo ”
Is that not poetry? Don’t we all end life dead as dodos?
This story was originally published in the Standard newspaper on March 23, 2008
Tony ‘smitta’ Mochama is a poet and journalist who lives and works in Nairobi. A Law graduate, Tony is also a vodka connoisseur, gossip columnist extraordinaire, and has a collection of short stories coming out soon titled – ‘The ruins down in Africa’. He has also been called a ‘literary gangster’, from time to rhyme. His collection of poetry, ‘What if I am a literary gangster?’ was published by Brown Bear Insignia in 2007.
i first read Atieno Amisi on Business Daily on the Article ‘Nairobi voices from the underground
I don’t think i like Smitta for a dead minute. The guy has never written anything serious worth sharpening a mind, and oh, who is Tony Mochana? Are they somehow related? The guy should stick to law, for God knows, off it, he breaks it more that any other gangster out there. No hard feelings.
Very sad that we loose people the community need so much because of police carelessness.
Being a policeman does not make you less of a human being and using your power to brutally intimidate others, is wrong, they will pay one day. God Rest Amisi’s soul in eternal life.
We’ll miss Amisi. He was a great chap, extremely committed to the literary movement in the country. RIP brother.
Tony,
I have to inform you that Otieno Amisi was way off the mark when it comes to your writing. He was indeed being very polite and kind and I will go bare knuckles on you friend. I support Sitiffin above. Stick to law, stick to the wall, stick anywhere! just avoid writing. You call yourself a journalist and poet. Additionally, a vodka connoisseur. I think all your articles are written when you are engaged in connoisseuring (pardon). Your columns, especially smitta, are tedious, hard to read and forgettable. You try too hard and achieve too little. What you lack in originality is not compensated for by your plagiarizing. Like a Kenyan MP you earn a dishonest pay at the end of the work period. You can not be literal or gangster. For you lack the literature and you lack the balls to be a gangster. The best piece of writing you have produced is an eulogy! hint!,hint! hint!
Aiii!
Now, how does a tribute to the late, great Amisi turn into a ‘I don’t like Smitta’ diatribe?
Waug, it’s obvious you don’t know me - otherwise you would know being popular, esp with the likes of you, is the least of my concerns. I am not a politician, so i do not need your vote to write, thank you very much.
I work for a paper, have had my poetry published and drink quite a bit - so what’s your problem? If you find some of my columns hard to read, perhaps that is due to your own tiresome personality and average grasp of language. Fortunately, thousands and thousands of readers don’t share your view, and that is why I earn honest wage..
Who have I ever plagiarised, you nicompoop. You? Why don’t you send an original sample of your own writing(s) if any so that folk here may judge your literary ability? Jealousy, or its twin brother idiocy, is no excuse to talk baseless nonsense.. Have you ever even met me, been in a Kwani? function, or imagine that just coz you have fingers, and a few daft thoughts, this is a perfect forum to spew meaningless sentences like my ‘best writing is a eulogy …’
I have the sneaking suspicion that you are one of those twats whose talent was stillborn, and you go life conning yourself that the world doesn’t recognise your ‘brilliance’ when you really are a worthless fellow with zero to offer this world! (other than the mundane meanderings of low quality mitochondria)…
But if you ask nicely, you asinine wag, I’ll do an ode to the obituary of your stillborn sensibilities, free of charge. And while you’re busy ganging up with your friend Stiffin above, as you’ll no doubt do, perhaps you would help him with his grammar …?
It is hysterical n hilarious getting critiques from a fellow who writes a phrase like ” anything serious worth sharpening a mind” .. (sic) T Mochama.
This has come as a kind of shocker to me. Hamisi molded my gray literal edges when I was still struggling to put my thoughts under control.
We will truly miss his wits and humour.
It’s very unfortunate that we only speak of our heroes when they pass on. For me Amisi was one of my literary ‘ academiks’ .I met him once in a literary forum and he really carried my heart. R.i.p Amisi
Amisi Otieno’s demise was the worst tragedy to have ever visited the world of literature and poetry.
I read Mochama’s tribute to his colleague, friend and foe in the literary circles with much admiration.
If you ask me, i think that was the best send-off he could give to his fallen comrade.
As much as Waug is entitled to his opinion on Tony, my contention is that he went too far and such comments should be checked. In the same vein, Tony’s rejoinder was also a blow below the belt.
Folks, lets keep it going
John
Seriously though, Smitta has got to be the best 12 year old writer out there. What confounds me is why a 12 year old is a vodka addict?? Please get in touch with this boys ‘parenstki’s’ and tell ‘themski’ their child is consuming too much ‘vodoski’.
Holy crap.
I think this should just be a tribute to the late Otieno Amisi and not a forum of diatribe. Whoever has beef should start a separate forum! Thanks.
Strongly agree with Carol.
Smitta- Surely a person of your stature in the public eye needs to develop a thick skin. Why use a mallet to kill a mosquito? How tiring it must be to be you.
That said, Otieno Amisi will be missed.
The fact that a forum to eulogise Amisi (RIP) has turned into a smitta-this-smitta-that shows that there’s something about Smitta’s writing that is just right. Smitta might have broken all literary rules imaginable - remember Literary Gangster? - but methinks that Smitta is a phenomenon that probably warrants closer attention - probably academic - that he currently gets. Remember also that the late Wahome Mutahi aka Whispers wrote in an almost similar fashion. The academia today is full of students studying his works.
Smitta don’t let the likes of Waug bring you down. Although I sometomes don’t get somethings you say in your column, I think you are onto something.
Word of advice: Go easy of the Vodka, for the sake of your liver
I have always admired Tony’s work. Where can I get hold of Tonny’s book: “So what if I am a literary Gangstar?” I have walked around all libraries and bookshops in Kisumu but I have never seen that book. I want to read it…Otherwise, thank you for the nice piece of work. Your story moved me.