Shoes.

Did you know shoes can tell stories?if you don’t believe me ,uliza,H_art the band….

Shoes.

Shoes tell tales too,the unseen stories, tales of where they’ve been,stories of what ,only, the owner has heard and seen.

Whispers.

Muted tones,Local whispers, a silent proclamation,proclamations of new beginnings,silent memorials,subtle advertisements. Look up and listen.

Allegories.

A symbol ,symbol of transformation, remembrance, unspoken assurance. A clash ,clashing clouds on the horizon.

Shoes on power lines.

Shoes dangling gracefully from power lines.how they get up there is still a wonder,did the owner get a new pair,did they just decide to walk barefoot, leaving their footprints behind? I wonder how it feels like to literally walk on clouds.

Throwing shoes over power lines ,a now ordinary occurrence in my neighbourhood, has varied origins and has been observed in different cultures and regions. The reasons behind this act (depending on the locality)are diverse, ranging from celebratory rites to unspeakable activities.

In the 20th century, particularly in the U.S.,throwing shoes over power lines became associated with moments of celebration , rites of passage, or simply as a form of teenage mischief. It was a way for young people to mark significant life events.In my neighbourhood, it’s a possible symbol of a fresh start,”kureform,” a retired thug.Imagine losing a pair of shoes everytime we toast to new beginnings.

In some urban areas, throwing shoes over power lines has been linked to gangs marking their territories. Shoes on power lines serve as territorial markers, signals, indicating a specific area is controlled by a particular gang.where I’m from it’s a tribute to their long lost ‘friend ‘ (backstory;sometime last week I boldly walked to the nduthi gang and boldly asked about the orange sneakers dangling gracefully from the power lines above them ,”ooh hizo ?”as he pointed to the pair in question,”hizo ni za morio wetu alituwacha,” which basically translets to ‘that’s a tribute to their friend,’ a way to keep their memories alive.

Shoes over power lines was sometimes used as a symbolic act of protest and rebellion against established norms.the confidants in my area suggest it’s an unspoken assurance, it’s secretly screaming there’s a plug in this proximity, a branding strategy loud enough for its target but silent enough not to blow their cover.

A Language .

Silent language ,a language of symbols, whispered narrative that echo in our midst.