The Land Of Black And White 2. Benna Meets Colour.

The day was as usual for Benna. After the end of his shift, he decided to go out and have a good time with his friends. This was a routine that developed after making friends in Sweden, in his short stay in the Land Of Black And White.

Benna has immensely fallen in love with his new found home and every little things it has to offer. Talking about love, Benna has a Swedish gal by his side when winter gets…well too real.

He works hard to earn his bread and sees no reason why he should bother the kind Swedish authorities.

It turned out to be a good evening for Benna and co. The laughs and the usual jokes among Kenyan friends of course with the help of the very acceptable frothy liquid created a tropical atmosphere off the otherwise very cold winter. The more the kanyuaji arrived, the merrier the evening got. But of course ‘twas not just about flowing the frothy, the colourless and sweet scented liquor, there was tomorrow, as another day.

Benna and co. left in good hours to sleep it off and make a working day out of the coming light. They cherished the laughs and made promises to revenge on another one of these days. With hugs and the accompanying final excitement, they bolted out of the shelter of the purposely so created fun by drinking…den. You own it when you can afford it.

Seriously though, Benna and co. easily (it was harder coming in) slipped out of the watering place, high voiced with a right, and joined the rest of the human stream flowing up and down Götgatan. All is normal right? There is nothing like walking trough the streets of Stockholm at night. No fear, lights everywhere and at such a time, friendly, though under the influence Swedes.., (read people) willing to pass a yap.

Wasup! here, how you doing! there.., and all is good. Benna being a happy one at that, appreciating the general rule of smile and earn a smile was all grins! Joking and throwing bombs (mchonguano) with the co. All was well where well is meant.

From the watering hole to the tube is not that far and there was no hurry. It was a late evening and by the city lights, the jovial street flock and by the safety feeling, the world was a paradise.

Yep, except for the demonic souls that prowl the night, intending to not just corrupt your mind, but severely cause bodily harm. The scary situation here is that you might never see them coming. Like the cowardly creatures they are, they hide in the darkness, or pretend to be one with the mass. They are among the people, and you are not a favourite. You are on a foreign ground.

Benna had nothing but an extension of happiness to expect of the street.  With his friend they move in a well meant march. Well, but the unfolded is yet to the eyes of innocence.

“Hey hey hey hey!” comes a new voice. “Hey, hej, hallo there!” Is the rejoinder from group of Benna. No suspicion, no ill expectations, another happy human being. Jolly he looks and by his looks you would not expect a representation of evil.

“How are you African brothers!!? You are Africans right?”

“Yeh yeh! ‘fcourse we are! C’mon now man! Watssup!?”

“Sorry about my state. You know the one and two finally adds to too many, but who is counting?..Heheeheeee!!”

“What you got?” One of the new comers asks.

“What you mean?” asks my boy Benna.

“You gotta have something. Some marijuana, cocaine you got LSD? you gotta have a personal joint tacked in somewhere, where you hiding it!?” A sarcastic tone.

Benna observes these fellows in a very new sober manner. His alarm bells go on and ring and his senses are at the alert thanks to the streets of Nai. But he keeps his cool. The thinking is, having been quite a brotherly evening; there is no need for a negative confrontation. Benna of course has no ill intentions and so any rude turn of events would only turn this beautiful night into ugliness for him and the co.

They choose to ignore the intruder and proceed towards the nearest train station.

“Hey, I said I want something!” screams the not very nice new comer.

“C’mon you are blacks, you gotta have some drugs yah?” He offers his wisdom.  

“Sorry but we do not use drugs and we don’t deal with such either, just let us be” Benna kindly tells.

While Benna and his friends move on in a happy mood, the evidently unsatisfied little gang of racist lurch behind them as if in a fuelled hunting spree.

Benna, having momentarily forgotten about the wannabe enemy was surprised when he felt someone grab him by the jacket from behind. He turned thinking that it was one of his friends working to get his attention about some exciting development, only for him to come face to face with the unwanted friend.

“Why are you walking away when am talking to you?” the grabber asks.

“What tha! Don’t grab me like that! Cant you tell we don’t wanna talk to you!” “What’s your problem man!?” Benna asks as he wriggles and frees himself from the grip and walks on.

“Goddamn black skin!” Comes a screaming voice from behind Benna and before he turns, a force crushers into him send his body flying to unexpected fall to the cemented pavement.

Luckily Benna used his hands to break the fall. What was meant to be a disastrous fall amounted to a few bruises on his hands and knees. But hurt they did and worse so the soul did. Aware of the now eminent danger, Benna quickly turned on the floor to face his attacker.

There was this noisy mouthed body threateningly hovering over him waiting for the slightest provocation. Benna realising the situation and judging it for the scary scene it was slowly got up and slyly threatened to call the police. He was willing to end it here even though he had already been violated. But though so he chose to try to not to place the call and instead insisted on the rude boys to kindly leave to avoid any more scene.

“Ok, you have done what you wanted, can you please leave us alone now?” He humbly requested. But that just made a laughable event for the determined provocateurs.

“Just share with us your stash and we be friends. After all, it’s you black people who have brought drugs into this country!”

Calling the situation for what it was, my friend Benna decided to call the police. There was no other way to solve this situation without the involvement of the trained peacekeepers. So he threatened the evil doers that he was about to make the call and when they didn’t barge, he pressed the call button.

“Yes, mine name is Benna and am being attacker by people I perceive to be racists, I need help ASAP!”

“Am at Götgatan here and there and the soonest you come the better. We need help!”  My friend Benna yelps!

Well, being a land of duty, the cavalry was not long away and in a matter of minutes, with screaming sirens the boys in blue were at hand! All ready and hands in gloves.

When they arrived at the scene, Benna, since he was the one who called them went to meet them. What happened is the purpose of this reporting.

One of the cops came hurriedly and applied a chock hold on Benna. It did not matter that he pointed out that he was the one that called, that he was rightfully protesting while informing that the real perpetrator was on his heels for a run!

While he was explaining that he was indeed the victim and the villain was gaining ground on the run, his friend decided to do the otherwise unthinkable. He ran after the perpetrator.

Not far from the site, the friend applied a rugby tackle bringing down the possessed discriminator. While wrestling on the ground, the boys in blue arrived to release Benna’s friend from the termination grip he had on the bad guy.

Benna was still recovering from the pushed fall and chocking grip around the neck which was just as unexpected and very much shocking!

He was observing all these from his holding position. He could not move, he could not act, watch he could, and so he did.

“Identify your self!” the cop demanded!

“Am the one that called you, it’s me Benna. I gave my name!”

Benna had a hard time convincing the authority be that he was indeed the victim. But ultimately, the normal procedure took shape. The case is now in a court and besides the perceived justice, Benna’s hope is weak!

But we will be there in prayers that pay, and hope that promises. Our day will come.

This case continues.

P Bryan Njoroge.