Word: jomo
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
When the British sent Firebrand Jomo Kenyatta to jail eight years ago for starting the Mau Mau revolt, they thought they were putting "Burning Spear" away for good. To offset any lingering loyalty among his supporters, they put out reports that he was growing senile and increasingly alcoholic. But in the wake of Kenya's February elections, the triumphant African leaders made clear that Kenyatta was not forgotten. They demanded his immediate release. British Governor Sir Patrick Renison refused. The Africans responded by refusing to take their seats in the new government. The governor began to retreat, moved Kenyatta...
Bobbing Beard. As the television cameras whirred and the reporters scribbled, Jomo flashed toothy smiles, produced charm, vigor, and quick answers in a three-hour verbal marathon. Belying the stories of his senility, Kenyatta looked at least ten years younger than his admitted 71 years. He wore a fly whisk chained to his wrist with a band of silver, sported a gay red tie and a brand-new leather jacket. As he spoke, the old, grey-flecked spade beard bobbed emphatically: "I shall always be an African nationalist to the end . . . but I have never been a violent...
...repudiate your Communist affiliations?" asked a reporter, recalling Kenyatta's residence in Moscow in 1929 and 1933. Retorted Jomo: "Anyone who says I am or was a Communist is a liar. I went to Russia for an education. I also lived in England for a long time, but that doesn't mean I became an Englishman!" In fact he was all for keeping the cold war out of Africa. "I recall an old Swahili proverb," said Kenyatta. " 'When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.' If East and West fight over Africa, only...
...James Gichuru and Tom Mboya, vowed to sabotage the new constitution until Kenyatta gets his freedom. Both Gichuru and Mboya now refer to Kenyatta as "our national leader," openly profess their intention of installing him as Kenya's first African prime minister. In part, this deference to Jomo is dictated by fear of the almost godlike status which 30 years of nationalist struggle has won Kenyatta among Kenya's black masses...
...second biggest African party, the K.A.D.U., may yet be persuaded to participate in the new Kenya government. But the realistic prospect is that no African faction will dare oppose Kenyatta's wishes for long. The Africans who visited him last week insist that, contrary to earlier reports, Jomo is neither ill, feeble nor alcoholic. Recently, he produced a child by his young third wife, who shares his Lodwar cabin. Said Tom Mboya: "I can assure people who consider that his age has impaired him mentally and physically that they are quite wrong. For the Europeans, this...