Book Launch: Tales of the Savannah  

• Tales of the Savannah, a collection of short stories published by Isahara Centre, is a publication and production of the sons of the soil from Savannah. 
• The author is an indigenous storyteller and a renowned social media storyteller.
• The event was graced by the elite from Savannah: the political class led by Mogotio Member of Parliament Reuben Kiborek, Baringo County speakers, and Members of the County Assembly, among others. 

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When your father speaks, it is a norm in the Savannah that you keep quiet and listen, watch, and see how the elders speak and engage each other in all sorts of matters, be it peaceful, family talk, or even business talk. 

Then, from there, you learn the art of speaking at different times. 

Only your mum would have tried so much to have a conversation with your father or interrupt him, but at this age, I would know why, ‘they are friends and partners for life.’ 

Children are there to be seen, not to be heard, and sometimes totally supposed to disappear from eavesdropping in elders’ discussions.

Such are the tales in the new book Tales of the Savannah by Amkich Karanja.

In my situation, I’m not fit to participate in a farting competition with an elephant. 

This elephant has learned its tactics and way of life through the tough and harsh realities of life in the Savannah in Baringo. 

Unlike me who, has gone through the system to comb my passion, this “elephant has finessed his passion by himself.

Meet the newest author from Savannah, Kibet Cheruiyot aka Amkich Karanja, “The Elephant” in this matter. 

He made history by gathering the Savannah clan from all over the world to his book launch that took place during the sunset of Saturday 27th, January 2024, a colorful event at Hope Cottages, Kapchereren village, Marigat in Baringo County.

The event’s success was confirmed by showers of blessings, a sign in the Savannah where when it rains in your ceremony, then indeed you are the chosen one and blessed.

Tales of the Savannah is a collection of tales passed down as we grew up, with each short story bringing tears of joy as you relate each story with what your folks told you or what happened to you.

The 42 short stories are purely relatable and help many reflect on whether their own offspring would appreciate this path in such a modern generation.

The day coincided with the birth of a new single hit from a daughter of the Savannah, Emmy Kosgei, “Kalewenoik” (proverbs), a song that reminds the Savannah community of its roots. 

“Tangoch?” meaning “Kitendawili?” one would stand and engage the people who would keenly turn to his or her direction.

This would be repeated twice and everyone would be silent and reply keenly with.

“Tiondo” meaning “Tega” to avoid the long Savannah translation because it really is directly translated to an animal. 

Then one would give his story in the form of a riddle and wait to be answered, if there is no answer, then one would dare tell the initiator:

“Agonin teta” meaning I am going to give you a cow, “nipe mji…” then the answer would be given. 

This would evoke joy and laughter as the answers are usually pretty easy and the mind needs to be jogged.

The book

Tales of the Savannah, a collection of short stories published by Isahara Centre, is a publication and production of the sons of the soil from Savannah. 

It is an anthology of short stories from rural Baringo Kenya, reminiscing of the past. The collection captures the many tales of indigenous origin, which now fading away due to modernization, and reincarnates them for today’s and the future generations.

Karanja, the author, is a Biology and Agriculture teacher at Lake Bogoria Girls High School in Baringo. 

He is an indigenous storyteller and a renowned social media storyteller. He is a Master of Ceremony through his talent in Public Speaking.

Proceedings

During the launch, he took to the podium and tampered with emotions as he narrated his journey. 

He spoke about being born in 1984 when historically there was starvation. 

He is well conversant with his roots taking us back four generations before his. 

His grandmother, he says, was the best “busaa” (illicit brew) brewer who perfected her art every 4 a.m. 

He says his sleep-overs at her grandmother’s place would have him study the art. “Busaa’” is currently an illicit brew, but to Amkich, the process of distilling it is pure, unlike how it is brewed.

Karanja comes from a humble background. His father, who managed to finish his CPA level of education, was a cook at a primary school in Baringo County. 

His mother never went to school but was an aggressive chicken vendor who operated from Emining to Nakuru. 

Through his father’s earnings, he would make sure he bought English Aid for his 9 children, who would take advantage of it.

He says that just like his parents, parents, and guardians play a big role in the upbringing of their children. 

He applauded his father, who was the best English speaker, when tipsy. He says the passion trickled down and his siblings too are better writers. 

Karanja was admitted to the prestigious Kabarak High School. 

He says reality clocked in in time and he had to adjust to the fact that he was marginalized by his fellow students due to his mother tongue’s influence on his speech. 

This crushed his self-esteem; he, however, managed to fight it with time.

‘’Now I speak and the world listens,’’ he says, proudly.

His passion was to one day address the public, presently a dream come true, through his public speaking and being a Master of Ceremony, a teacher and a book author.

“Identity precedes destiny. The book is for generations to come, and we should be proud of powerful stories from our indigenous identity; the stories speak of respect and tolerance,” he explained during the event. 

‘’I know girls hate being called children, but this is a prestigious title where in the savannah, the children are held very high and should be protected, cared for, and loved,’’ he adds.

‘’Due to respect in the past, girls would go away and still come back home regardless, because of the culture, unlike now,’’ he pointed out.

Toroitich Yegon, Chief Executive Officer of Isahara Centre, has published hundreds of books, his motivation being Discipline, Inspiration, and Motivation.

He noted that in his experience as a publisher, Karanja’s book launch has broken limits by selling more books than his other books. 

This being the first Edition of Tales of the Savannah, Yegon offered a free mentorship session to Amkich Karanja`s students at Lake Bogoria Girls High School.

The event was graced by the elite from Savannah: the political class led by Mogotio Member of Parliament Reuben Kiborek, Baringo County speakers, and Members of the County Assembly, among others. 

Intellectuals, non-governmental organization leaders represented by Jamii Asilia Centre (JAC) founder Carson Kiburo, a preserver of the Savannah Culture, EIWEN founder Christine Kandie, and local and international dignitaries who connected online.

For Karanja, his success is a reflection of what the Savannah offspring should emulate. 

The book costs KSh 1000 and can be purchased at Isahara Centre bookshops, Nakuru, Kenya.

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The abilities that come forth from it are beyond limitations, unlike the adverse insecurity reports from Baringo County; finally, Savannah is awakened.