The trip from Dakar, Senegal to Nairobi via Bamako, Mali was going to be a rather anxious one. For 2 reasons – I was returning home after a short stint at the West African capital and most interesting, I had gotten a wind of news that – it is a baby girl!

The birth of a baby girl heralds many expectations in an African home. I was sure of the perpetuation of my lineage through this daughter. She would bear me many to the 4th generation. After all, she was pedigree.

My wife and I had made enough investment to that extent and this birth was going to make us joyous to say the least.

But picture this, on such a journey, nobody expects any disappointment. I was not lucky in this day. 

It started with a bad stomach. I had indulged myself to a lot of achieke, and a very delicious fish species only found on the northern coast of Africa. The Pepe did not do any better. But anyway, I was going back home to eat the best from my wife’s kitchen. She had told me that I would wake up to “mahamri” and beans in coconut sauce. Mahamri is a pastry that is speciality with the coastal communities of Kenya.

Then there was the flight delay. Not because  my pride that is the pride of Africa was late, even though she has the habit, but the dusty winds of teranga would not allow a timely take off. Were the gods unhappy with the birth of this daughter?

The duty free merchandise on board were not any helpful. What was I going to buy in honor of the new born? After all, I had been busy all week long to visit the local market for souvenirs.

My sleep was interrupted by the call from one of the flight attendants … serving coffee, serving tea … I hadn’t gotten chance to know if the mother to “the daughter” had started producing milk to make tea to go along with the mahamri and beans. 

These long haul night flights are not good.