Rewards
I remember reading on FR that (apparently) Zero went to Kenya in ‘82 but this visit was not part of the official myth; is my memory wrong?
Also, it seems (to me) unlikely that since Malik “grew up” with and remembers the original BHO, that the clan doesn’t really think Zero is the son of the Kenyan. But it sure brings them a bit of fame, no doubt monies, and perhaps they’ve had pressure put on them in other ways as well. So, “yes, he’s our village boy, yessirree!”
If the dark boy, the original BHO, had never lived in Kenya, then their belief that Zero was actually the son of the Kenyan might be plausible, despite to complete lack of any resemblance. But....
There is a long feature article of which I have a screencap that states the son of the kenyan attended his funeral. There was a second article on a Kenyan website that described his presence at the funeral as 'he came, he mourned at the gravesite and left quietly' (that second article has been removed and I do not have a copy.) The person who made that comment to the interviewer wasn't named. I assume it was someone from the village - who wouldn't have recognized zero even if he had been there, which he wasn't, his first visit was AFTER the funeral.
Also, it seems (to me) unlikely that since Malik “grew up” with and remembers the original BHO, that the clan doesn’t really think Zero is the son of the Kenyan. But it sure brings them a bit of fame, no doubt monies, and perhaps they’ve had pressure put on them in other ways as well. So, “yes, he’s our village boy, yessirree!”
I think they had to know...and they were rewarded. Life improved for them all, granny' Sarah made the hajj. The Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Oginga, visited her and she has received numerous awards...
If the dark boy, the original BHO, had never lived in Kenya, then their belief that Zero was actually the son of the Kenyan might be plausible, despite to complete lack of any resemblance. But....
...BUT there he is, standing with his father and Ruth in the family group. I suppose a lot depends on whether he ever spent time in the village, but if you remember, 'granny' Sarah did say 'even the President of the United States passed through my hands' - poor old thing, she was just doing her best - someone passed through her hands alright, his name was BHO2, and passing through their hands is simply a tribal custom where all the members of the clan touch the new arrival.
Which is what the dark boy was, when you think about it...he arrived in 1964, born early 1961 made him almost four. It's really no wonder she said that she was at the birth in Mombasa of BHO2, is it now? What do you think she's going to say? 'I first saw him when he came to the village when his father brought him to introduce him to his relatives when he was FOUR' !?
Recent photographs of 'granny' show her always with Said, (or SAYD) her youngest son in attendance. She's not allowed to speak on her own anymore...
Rewards