Kujikubali: Using childhood games to heal childhood traumas
Participants at Kujikubali forum held at Hyrax hill take photos before the event.
Kujikubali is a movement geared towards healing childhood traumas through fun and childhood activities.
The initiative was started by Nakuru’s Major Maina in 2018, after performing a poetry piece on self-reflection at Maseno University.
As his words wove a tapestry of vulnerability, his captivating performance held his audience spellbound, stirring hearts, provoking deep self-reflection, and leaving an impact on all who listened to him.
Major Maina, founder of Kujikubali initiative.
Later that year, Maina and his team started online conversations on self-esteem challenges that went on for about six months, aptly named “Own My Own”.
Maina says that from the engagements online, the conversations resonated profoundly with participants.
A hash tag from the conversation resulted to what we now know as Kujikubali.
Having garnered a sizable online fan base, Maina says that it was time for Kujikubali to graduate from an online space to face to face meetings where the participants got help at a personal level.
The inaugural Kujikubali forums, held at Maseno University, saw a team of six people kick-starting the event series.
Some of the participants play with coloured dust at Hyrax hill during the Kujikubali event.
In an exclusive interview with Mtaa Wangu, Maina says, “It quickly became apparent through the engaging interactions that childhood traumas served as a significant underlying cause of the participants’ struggles with self-esteem.”
Over time, a brilliant idea blossomed within the team, leading them to integrate childhood activities and games into the immersive forums.
Maina says that the first Kujikubali Festival took place in 2018 at Maseno University, and the second, third and fourth events in Nakuru.
The extraordinary blend of fun and healing proved to be an undeniable triumph, marking the event as a resounding success.
Players balance a potato on a spoon in one of the games at Kujikubali event.
“Recently in 2022 at Hyrax Hill, adults got to joyfully immerse themselves in cherished childhood activities, as they reclaimed the carefree spirit they once possessed,” says Maina.
Currently, Maina mentions that the movement has expanded its reach, conducting master classes tailored for diverse age groups and imparting knowledge to various institutions on the crucial subject of mental health.
“Some of the challenges we’re facing is the stigma on mental health, as not everyone is willing to have such conversations,” he notes.
Maina believes this program will create room for young people to talk about mental health issues without feeling embarrassed or judged.