Pokomo Royal Nation In Kenya Welcomes African Diaspora Home.

The AIDO Journey of Reconnection Part 2 that started from the 14th to 29th of October 2023 has ended successfully and with all delegates now back to their respective countries.

AIDO Network International through its Reconnection agenda is engaging African Traditional and cultural institutions across the continent to adopt notable men and women serving the realization of AU’s dream of the Africa we want by reconnecting Africa and her diaspora with a purpose to promote brotherhood, Cultural Tourism, Trade and investment opportunities.

The Carribean Royal delegation was led by Her Majesty Queen Asianut Acom II (Dr. Hilary Brown), the Director of Education, Youth and Culture at the CARICOM Secretariat, the royal delegation included Queen Mother Prof. ChenziRa Davis-Kahina of the Virgin Islands of America , Princess Jenny Abbensetts of USA , Chief Arley Salimbi Gill of Grenada , Mr. Carlton Darby of Canada and Dr. Damien Dublin of Dominica Republic.

After Uganda, the Delegation made their maiden journey to Tana River County where they were to be welcomed and hosted by H. R. M Dr. Haye Macorani A. Mungase VII, a Profesor and the reigning King of the Pokomo Nation that lives along the River Tana, the longest river in Kenya.

River Tana is of a symbolic importance to Kenya with its source originating from Mount Meru connecting to the Indian Ocean. The water body holds so much more to this community being a place where great battles were fought and slave trade with Arabs and colonial masters defeated.

The Tana River apart from having plenty of fish and crocodiles, among the Pokomo people, it’s also the seat of their ancestral power and life.

The Pokomo elders took the African Diaspora delegation through rigorous induction processes, which included learning their history, food and lifestyle.

After a successful four days induction, the group was taken to the river where the Pokomo Kings and Council of elders, carried out the Enstoolment process a long the the banks of river Tana.

Hundreds of thousands of people turned up to witness this historical event, of spiritual and physical reconnection.

The elders performed Naming rituals as per their customs and honoured each of the delegates with a chieftaincy recognition in the Pokomo Royal Kingdom. The names given we’re relevant to their culture and history of the Pokomo people.

_1. Princess Jenny Abbensetts was adopted with a stool name of Ghamachana which literarily means “the lady of the river”

2. Queen Mother Prof. ChenziRa Davis-Kahina was named Hajila meaning “the Lady of festivity”

The three chiefs were named after once great rulers in the pokomo kingdom namely: Chief Arley Salimbi Gill was given the name Haicha in association with a once great nobleman of the pokomo community Chief Haicha.

Chief. Carlton Darby and Chief Dr. Damien were given the chieftaincy Titles of Chief Baiba and Chief Abiyo respectively. Dr Hilary Brown aka Queen Asianut Acom II was Enstooled as the Queen of the River River Tana with full honours among the Royal Nation of Pokomo Community ._

However, there is a common tale about the Pokomo people of Kenya’s Tana River valley that once the people of this great nation worshiped a god represented on Earth by an awe-inspiring 2 by 7 meters long drum. It stood taller than any man. Rubbing the cowhide stretched across its gigantic body, fashioned from a hollowed-out tree trunk. The drum made a sound that could be heard throughout the villages clustered around the Pokomo king’s compound.

That drum, the ngadji, was the alleged source of power and pride for the Pokomo, but for a long time now it has been relegated to a storage room in the British Museum in London for over 111 years.

The theft of the ngadji by British colonial officers is a story well-known among the eldest Pokomo. The British Museum, too, acknowledges the ngadji was “confiscated” before being donated to its collections in 1908.

After the warm reception the royal delegation received, the group embarked on a compaign to make sure this significant royal regalia is returned to its rightful owners.

The delegation donated Singer sewing machines for teaching and more to Moslem women in the Pokomo Kingdom.

In addition, the Aido Royal delegation donated 70 Zinc roofing iron sheets and 40 bags of cement to complete a community mosque at Kipindi community in Pokomo.

The project had stopped for a while but on the occasion of the AIDO Royal delegation visiting the kingdom, the Imam took them to see the mosque where the group contributed over 100 roofing sheets and 40 bags of cement enough to finish the mosque.

Written by: Agnes Namale
AIDO SECRETARIAT.
Email :info@aidonetwork.org
Web : www.aidonetwork.org