For Kenya’s young, Ojwang’ never lived

Benson Wanjau, the Kenyan comedian better known by his stage name, Mzee Ojwang’, passed on earlier this week after a long illness. He was 78.

At about the time the news of his death broke, three students from Aga Khan Academy, Nairobi, were on an internship programme at the Nation Media Group, and we asked them to share their thoughts on Mzee Ojwang’ and the void he leaves behind.

We would never have been prepared for what they said of the man...

Mystery of the ‘unknown’ Kenyan acting hero

Benson Wanjau, popularly known as Mzee Ojwang’, is a name that I’m now seeing everywhere, from the front pages of newspapers to the currently trending hashtags on Twitter.

He has been described as man who “taught us what Kenya could be without stifling tribalism” and an actor who “epitomised the modern, urbane, cosmopolitan Kenya of a dying generation”.

Such mighty praise for a man I have never heard off! I’m puzzled by the way in which my country stridently mourns the life off a “hero” we allowed to die poor and unnoticed.

Is it only in death that a man can truly reap what he has sown?

It’s not only confusing, but also saddening, that a man who seems to have impacted the lives of so many in this country with his humour and heart died without being mildly recognised by almost all of my peers.

I wonder whether it’s our arts culture to blame. If the man who’s trending all over the media ever existed, why wasn’t there any effort to commemorate his works prior to his passing on?

Have the media become a construction of economically friendly goods that are there to only sell and not make a difference in this ailing society? Are they forgetting to display the works of those who aim to gain so much more than a lucrative salary?

My not knowing Mzee Ojwang’ could also be a result of personal ignorance. Maybe I have allowed myself to be consumed by the international cloud of art, thereby neglecting the vast local talent pool.

Mzee Ojwang’s death, which triggered his final five minutes of fame, cued a necessary epiphany that informed me of what both the media and I need to integrally do; and that is to appreciate our artistic heroes and heroines. Let not what has occurred repeat itself, let not our local talent go unnoticed.

-By Cindy Makau (17 years)

How I wish I had laughed with you, but now it’s too late

Benson Wanjau, a 78-year-old actor born and brought up in Nyeri, was better known by his stage name, Mzee Ojwang’. Before becoming a comedic actor, Ojwang’ worked at White Rose Drycleaners, then as a technician at the Mater Hospital, Nairobi.

He started acting for VOK on the show Darubini, and then Vitimbi, Vioja Mahakami, Vituko and Kinyonga.

Despite all those nice things about him, despite that colourful career, I must confess that I had never ever heard about this great man until this week, when everyone started talking about his death, and I am pretty sure that a lot of my generation hasn’t heard of him either.

Which begs the question: Why is it that many people, mostly the youth, haven’t heard of a man who, on his death, was eulogised by the nation’s president? Why is a man who perfected the role of a Luo on screen despite being Kikuyu not known to me?

Most of the youth are more interested in the younger artistes, watch videos on YouTube and buy bootleg TV series and movies, yet they don’t bother flipping through local channels, where Ojwang’ made his name.

I think Mzee would be a good role model for many people aspiring get into TV acting, and he has taught a lot of lessons with his shows.

He, for instance, has taught me that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it like he did, from a technician to a comedic actor. Laughter is the best medicine,” they say; and “family is the most important structure in the society”.

Hats off, Mzee Ojwang’!

-By Tahsin Jamal (14 Years)

Ojwang’? Ask me about Churchill or Mwala

I grew up just as comedians began to take centre stage in Kenya. When I was a child, I would watch the likes of Churchill and Inspector Mwala on local television stations, but as I grew older, I sort of transitioned and began watching Western comedies.

These included TV shows starring comedians such as Kevin Hart and Adam Sandler, and that explains why I asked myself the following this week: who was the legendary Mzee Ojwang’? Why don’t I know him?

I first heard of his name on Monday as I began my internship programme at Nation Media Group. I honestly thought he was just another politician who had died! But as the day wore on, I kept hearing people talk about how amusing he was, how his roles on TV were never mediocre, and how hilarious his accent was. And without much concern, I began to wonder what kind of politician he was.

It was only when my schoolmates and I entered the Nation FM radio studios that I found out that he was an actor who starred in TV shows such as Vitimbi and Vioja Mahakamani. When they told me this, the blank look on my face provoked them to ask me how I didn’t know of “the legendary Mzee Ojwang’”.

Although I didn’t have an answer at the time, I realised it was because I don’t watch a lot of TV, much less local television. Also, Mzee Ojwang’ was 78 when he passed on, and I doubt I knew how to use a television remote during his era of comedy. I cannot say whether I liked him, or whether he was funny. All I know, all I have heard, is that he was a pioneer in the Kenyan comedy industry, and that he will be missed. I want to believe those who have told me that.

By Kirunda Kunyiha (15 Years)