That we wouldn't make it was almost written.
Only a miracle could have saved the "Great Old Man of Kwachoca, the millenary baobab of the village in the immediate outskirts of Malindi, from destruction.
The plant, a symbol for centuries of a territory and a community of people, a meeting place that has certainly seen events of all kinds, from the tribal rites and ceremonies that were once celebrated in its presence, to every other kind of manifestation of being together and lately delimited the football field, generously shadowing the spectators of the matches.
Unfortunately that area of land has been identified as private land and as such the owner decided to build a building and tear down the baobab.
In Kenya, and this is the real scandal, there is no law that protects the species of indigenous plants thousands of years old and considers them exactly like animals, specimens that need to be protected to avoid extinction. That is why the owner of the land has obtained regular permission and has started to cut the Great Old Man. The attempt by part of the Kwachocha community and some local associations that protect the environment, culture and traditions of the Kenyan coast was useless.
This is because for the Mijikenda people, the baobab is a sacred plant and its felling is not only inadvisable but according to local legends and superstitions, a harbinger of great misfortune.
Of course, in a wretched world like this, everything is less scary and historical memory, together with culture and, secondarily, environmental protection, are of interest to few people.
We, on the other hand, care and believe that in addition to the legends and the spiritual and symbolic value and beneficial properties of its fruits, which are natural medicines for poor people, baobabs also have a value of tourist attraction and need to be protected.
The killing of the Great Elder of Kwachocha must not therefore have been in vain, from here begins our battle to obtain from the Government of Kenya the status of heritage to be saved and perhaps even that of national monuments for the Baobabs. We have already begun to call together associations, environmentalists, cultural and private bodies to collaborate.
We will update you on our moves and leave you to the images and words of our service below.
(Sorry, italian language)