Neema Gakweli Warrakah, a psychiatric nurse based in Germany, fondly recalls the stories her grandmother used to tell her as a child.

“I was about six years old when my grandmother would narrate tales of a woman with what seemed like superpowers,” she reminisced. For young Neema, these stories felt like a fairy tale until years later when she discovered their truth.

“It was during history classes at St. Augustine’s Preparatory School in Mombasa that I first learned about the heroes and heroines of Kenya’s freedom struggle,” she said. “That’s when I heard the name Mekatilili wa Menza again, and I was shocked to realize it wasn’t just a story, it was real.”

Mekatilili wa Menza, born Mnyazi wa Menza in the 1840s in Ganze, Kilifi County, was a formidable figure in Kenya’s early fight against British colonial rule. Known for organizing the Giriama people to resist forced labour and taxation, her legacy is celebrated every August in Kilifi County through the Mekatilili wa Menza Festival.

Gakweli, who hails from the Digo community on Kenya’s coast, found herself deeply inspired by Mekatilili’s story. “That story has always inspired and empowered me as a woman in Coast province,” she said. Even as she pursued her career in psychiatry, the idea of becoming an author lingered in her mind. “I always saw myself becoming a writer, though I wasn’t sure what I would write about at the time.”

Two years ago, after extensive reading about Mekatilili, Gakweli was struck by the inconsistencies she found in various accounts of the freedom fighter’s life. “There were so many contradictions in the stories,” she noted. “I wasn’t convinced by what I had written initially, I wanted to know the real Mekatilili, from her roots, not just from books or the internet written by foreigners or colonialists.”

Determined to uncover the true story, Gakweli decided to travel back to Kenya with her partner, Christian Weiss. Together, they visited key historical sites related to Mekatilili’s life. “Chris and I went into the Kayas without an appointment,” she explained. “Fortunately for us, the elders were having an event there, and most of the Kaya elders were present. We introduced ourselves, and they agreed to share the inner details of Mekatilili’s life.”

The information she gathered from the elders, who are considered custodians of the community’s history and traditions, was revelatory. “The Kaya elders were so kind. They told me the story of Mekatilili from as it should,” Gakweli said. “It was like hearing a whole other story. From that day, I couldn’t sleep. I was writing all the time.”

After seven months of tireless work, Gakweli completed her novel, Empress of Revolt. “This is a book where some things have not been told or written anywhere before,” she said with pride. The novel not only recounts Mekatilili’s life but also explores the experiences of those around her, offering a more comprehensive view of the time.

Also Read:Where is the new Mekatilili?

Gakweli also took the opportunity to address stereotypes about Digo women, who are often unfairly perceived as uneducated or prone to dropping out of school. “There are also learned women from the Digo community,” she emphasized. “You can do it no matter which community you come from. There is so much one can take away from you, but no one can take away your knowledge.”

Gakweli hopes her book will reach a wide audience, particularly in Kenya. “I want to get the book into the Kenyan curriculum,” she said. “It has much Kenyan history and culture that I believe should be preserved and shared.” The book has already been published in English, German, and Swahili, with plans for Spanish, French, and Portuguese editions in the works.

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Her work has been praised by literary enthusiasts like Alawy Abzein, who called for more research on Kenya’s lesser-known freedom fighters. “Books have the power to make people feel they can make a difference in the world,” he said, urging other authors to document the lives of Kenya’s historical figures for future generations.

Through her dedication, Gakweli has honoured the legacy of Mekatilili wa Menza and demonstrated the power of storytelling in preserving history and inspiring others. “Reading,” she said, “will give you ideas and show you more of the world.”

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