An African's Encounter With Life *

Resisting the System

* * *

Here is my story: I was born, went to primary school, passed high school and graduated from college – That's it, and I am done with telling my story. This is how I felt when I was asked to reflect upon my life, and to come up with my life's "story of resistance".

"Me - Resistance? What resistance?"

I did think about it though, and I discovered how amazing it was that when we do look back on our lives, we are able to find numerous stories of personal resistance. The point is that our lives, in many ways, seem to run diametrically opposite from the sort of life 'The System' would like to mold us into. I use the term, 'The System' to mean the major structures and institutions in modern society aiming at common goals. The processes, goals and objectives of these institutions flow from basic structural facts, relationships, a common history, and a set of values which they have together internalized. The element of control from the top-down, and an elite bias are however the most distinguishing characteristics of 'The System'. The kinds of things we cherish, our dreams, the kind of relationships we hope for with our fellow human beings, rarely factor into 'The System's' hard and fast rules.

Growing Up Connected with the Soil, Family, and Society

Early on in my life, I had fewer questions than I do now. But, I still had enough of them to keep life interesting. During the primary school holidays, my dad would take us to visit my grandfather. My grandfather, Jadoun'g Ayim), drew immense honor and prestige from 'living on the farm'. He would get virtually all that he needed from the farm. I particularly admired his self-reliance, that he would do things with his hands – plant, construct, mend – with such supreme ease. I contrasted this with the formal, daily, work routine I saw my parents go through. Though my parents worked as full-time professionals, I still preferred my granddad's way of life, because there seemed less formality, and protocol surrounding it.

My grandfather would let us do a lot of planting and gardening too.; so when we returned from school for the school holidays, we would each be eager to check on our plants. Then there were the details of farming that we were introduced to – he either familiarized us with these or some things we would just stumble upon: the topography, the types of soil, crop rotation, the nutritional and hydrological cycles, the weather patterns, the organic fertilizers and irrigation patterns. All of this connected in a unique set of linkages, one necessarily influencing the other. For example, the soil was predominantly clay, and when we let in the water, we had to keep in mind the low absorption rate of this type of soil, so as to prevent water logging. It was most interesting when, at times, my grandfather would let us use our discretion on the farm. He would, for example, refuse to specify the seed spacing or the quantities of organic fertilizer needed, telling us instead, in his inimitably spoken Luo, to "… see for yourselves".

My dad graduated from Makerere University in neighboring Uganda. It was said, that this was one of the most prestigious institutions of its kind in Africa. But luckily he, like my grandfather, remained very connected to the soil. My mum was firm, and she made it a point to have us pray every evening "for everybody" before going to bed. Each of us were to ask for forgiveness if "… you had done anything wrong to offend your sister/brother during the day". The atmosphere in my family, like in many families I guess, was friendly and sincere. I do not once remember being spanked, but I do remember being "spoken to" by my parents whenever I displeased them. I do not remember any of my brothers or sisters being coerced into doing things, nor having "curfews" imposed on us.

Looking back, I think these experiences cultivated in me a sense of regard for human beings and nature, as well as a profound sense of concern for whatever was happening around me. One of the reasons we were always enthusiastic about leaving school for he holidays was because we liked the way our relatives spoke with us – none of them ever ordered us around, shouted at us or intimidated us. We also saw that the non-schooled (our relatives at home), would demonstrate such warmth and concern towards us, whereas the people we met in school always seemed to be issuing orders!

My impressions of life through childhood were fairly mixed. On the one hand, there was life in boarding school – rigid, uncompromising, spiteful, regimented, competitive, pretentious and immensely exacting. Then there was life outside of school (during the school holidays) with my parents and family – warm, caring, respectful, even though we still had to complete the "holiday homework assignment".

Look out for Part Two

Encountering and Resisting Hierarchy

* This article is republished, with no modifications. The original can be found on An African's Counter.

Isaac Ochien'g has been deeply interested in initiatives that seek to provide space to the flowering of diverse identities around the world. Most of his learning has come from interating with people who are open like him, to learning opportunities. Together with a number of colleagues, he is currently 'working' with young people interested in theater and modes of self-expression.