WHERE DOES OUR CHILDHOOD CREATIVITY VANISH TO??

I photographed this boy in a neighbourhood in my village during funeral of my beloved dad, recently.

I would like to dedicate these photos to all friends and comrades who in one way or the other were there to encourage and console me. It is my special gift to those who emailed me; sent me sms; called me; prayed for us and all those who mourned with us silently in their hearts. May you please accept this!!

This boy reminded me of those times; his age and a little older or younger;

when most of us did almost the same and a lot more (probably)

when we were that creative and innovative that we managed to create lots of stuff;

We made toy cattle, huts/houses and pots using ‘clay’ soil etc;

We created toys using part of banana plants;

we made foot and netballs from useless paper waste and banana materials;

we made cars, trucks, vans etc using bananas (like this boy), wires, remains of iron, tins, boxes (scrapers???) etc etc etc

I strongly believe the photographed boy is creating that great truck out of insights and imaginations; no copying. As I wondered why he is creating a truck; and it came to me that probably his being near a new secondary school (where trucks frequent bringing construction materials) has exposed him more to trucks than otherwise and that has motivated him.

I as I reflect and focus, I wonder why and how am not or we are not, any longer that creative or even more creative now that we are grownups and learned or rather why only a few of us live up to be usefully creative? Where do the creative and imaginative minds or endowments vanish up to? What happens and why?

I hopelessly wonder whether this village boy will continue imagining and creating as he grows and goes to school (without learning?) Will the education system favour his empowerment for him to sustain his insights and imagination?

Karibu. Changia mawazo