There is a saying in Swahili that is probably most well know because of the Lion King movie. Hakuna Matata, Have no worries.

When I first got to Kenya I was surprised by the fact that over there it is a day to day saying.  My first experience hearing it from another person happened when I walked into a little market and start bargaining for some sarongs (patterned body wraps).  We finally agreed on a price and the man I was bargaining with said to me “Hakuna Matata Brrurru, you are a good bargainer”.  I asked him what Brrurru meant and he said that he had told me to have no worries short one.  Brrurru (spelling much to be desired) is a term of endearment for a child who is short, which sadly I was.

Hakuna Matata fast became something that I would say often, if something went wrong I’d either say it to myself or to a person that was upset, passing on its beauty and simplicity. Have no worries.

A simple statement made so much difference to me, I felt it deeply and I clung to it, adopted it as second nature as the wise man from the market had said.

I engraved it onto my Hockey stick on my return and soon the rest of the team joined me in saying it at the end of every team talk before a match.  It became synonymous with our team and visiting teams picked up on it.  Hakuna Matata!

Say it out loud, let it roll off your tongue and feel it’s power… within those two words lies more truth than most others.

Hakuna Matata my friends, it’s going to be all right, have no worries!

One day I will return to Kenya and see my Masai once more, beautiful people filled with hope no matter what they do or how hard life is for them. Inspirational and encompassing ubuntu. Hakuna Matata.