She made the news in the most unusual of fashions over the last few decades: Her passionate protests against the administration at the time as she choked on teargas; her sustained championing of women’s rights as her eyes teared up from the clouds of the very same teargas; and indeed, the work that she is best known for to date – giving the environment a voice to speak to the world.
“Next time you go past Uhuru Park or Karura Forest, stop to say thank you to Wangari Maathai. They are a legacy to courage.” – Sunny Bindra
She made international headlines again in 2004 when a committee in Norway saw her persistent pushes and saw it fit to ensure that the world takes note of this woman’s work, thus awarding her the Nobel Peace Prize.
This morning, Wangari Maathai again made headlines. The inescapable had happened: Prof. Maathai had passed on.
“Oh beautiful Wangari Maathai has died. I travelled to Gleneagles with her in 2005 – best helicopter ride of all time. What a hero she was.” – Emma Freud (Twitter)
Yet I still remain somewhat shaken by the news of her passing. She is “Wangari Maathai”. A legend. The legend I grew up knowing of, hearing of. The kind of legend we’d write about in primary school compositions in Std. 4 in narratives titled: “My role model”.
Legends don’t cease to exist, which is why I’m still shaken by the news of her passing.
“Wangari Maathai” was the name I’d only hope to share a newspaper caption with. The larger-than-life character I’d get to see only on the news and think to myself, the young chap that I was: “What sane person does this to themselves time after time?”
Years later, with a new understanding of the world, I now understand: It’s the sort of sane person that believes in what they are fighting for. The sort of sane person that refuses to bow down – even breaking what culture considers taboo at the time.
The sort of sane person that thinks: “If taboo needs to be broken for the right thing to be done, so be it.”
“I spent the afternoon at Uhuru Park yesterday. I watched my kids play with many other kids. Wangari Maathai’s impact will live on.” – @Buggz79 (Twitter)
At 71, she probably lived a full life. Yet she indicated that she still had a lot to keep fighting for. The problems she sought to see an end to are nowhere near done – not by a long shot. It’s now left to us to decide what happens now. She started it, her legacy is still alive, and her legend is still one that has yet to be completed for the history books.
Wangari Maathai the person may have moved on, but her work, her legacy and her legend are not even close to their sunset years.
“Woke up to the news that we lost a great family friend. Rest in peace Aunty Wangari. May your legacy live on.” – Jaya Awinja (Facebook)
Rest peacefully, Aunty Wangari.
As for my wish to share a newspaper caption with Wangari Maathai, I guess this will have to do. Not quite what I pictured, but seeing how I lived to write about the legend, I guess this will have to do.
“…no matter who or where we are, or what our capabilities. We are called to do the best we can!” – Wangari Maathai, “Unbowed”, April 2007.
Source: marcusolang
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