Travel writer Binyavanga Wainaina

Binyavanga Wainaina is a Kenyan freelance travel writer. He was born in 1971 in Rift Valley Province, Nakuru. Among of the schools he attended was Moi Primary School in Nakuru, Mangu High School in Thika and Lenana School in Nairobi. At the university level he studied Commerce at the University of Transkei(now Walter Sisulu University) in South Africa.

Wainaina landed in Dar es Salaam at Julius Nyerere International Airport when he was coming from South Africa attending her mother funeral celebrations in Nairobi. Suprisingly, his luggage was missing and made him felt the memories of her lovely mother badly.

Luckily enough, the sadness was relieved by the hospitality of Tanzanians which is uncomparable to any other countries he visited in his life."In which other African airport can you get real assistance?" he said. He even compared with his own country Kenya where things are very quite different. People were very much helpful and concerned about the dissappearance of his luggage. " Everyone is hugely supportive and soon the entire airport seems to know that my luggage is missing and I am headed for a funeral. I am overwhelmed by assistance " he said. He mentioned a lady at the Air Tanzania office, (ATCL)whose her hospitality made her felt pity for Wainaina and made coffee with maandazi for him and later she organized the next morning flight for him. Because of the support he got from people at the airport some luggage were found and the rests went to Entebbe.

Wainaina have never been to Dar es Salaam before. That was his first trip to spent a night to Dar but he enjoyed every moment he had stayed with Tanzanians. The tax driver known as Kesho who took him to a guest house and a place to eat during that night was very helpful to him. This made him promise to come back to TZ and say "What makes me, a Kenya want to travel here more is the welcome." He called the story "He's my brother."

Wainaina has written a series of stories such as: Before You Die; The Hidden Treasure of Mathare; Riding a Harley in cape Town and many more. More information
This brings an attention to any other African especially Tanzanians. We have to develop a culture of reading, writing and fact finding whatever we feel has importance to the great number of people should be written. Wainaina here is sharing with us his experience of being in the country like Tanzania as a writer. I believe we tanzanians too have very good stories to tell the world. We are travelling here and there within and outside the country. It is not bad to tell other people our experiences and what we learn on our trips.

Sometimes, it might be information with good or bad taste all in all people should be informed and make their own decisions. Writing in this regard enhance democracy, this is because people get the opportunity of being aware of the issues and other people's perception in the long run they make democratic decision.

We Tanzanians should start writing critically for the benefit of society.