Until a few years ago, Valentine's Day didn't mean much to Kenyans.
Love in its romantic form has never been one of the fixed nails of this people, perhaps because in the ancestral male chauvinism, celebrating something in common with one's partner and maybe giving her some attention other than that of everyday life, did not come naturally to male partners. Clearly we are talking about the cities, the vacation places and the middle-high bracket of Kenyans, that most Kenyans have other problems than thinking about Valentine's Day. If they knew St. Gennaro, they would surely vote for him more and not just one day a year.
Those who celebrated the feast of lovers were mainly the rose sellers of Naivasha and surroundings, who in this period increase their export as never before during the year (and today, unlike years ago, the production is also in the hands of local companies and not only Europeans and Chinese) and the tourist sector on the coast, where both the consumption of the red buds and gadgets related to the "red heart" had their importance.
In February 2020, just before the health cataclysm, a happy reversal of trend was noticed in Nairobi, with streets and stores decked out in the color that refers to the logo of the human organ identified with sentiment, and a great deal of flowers and...wine.
The color of the alcoholic beverage (and we know how much Kenyans like the genre) and its reference to Italy and France, countries recognized for their romanticism ("italians do it better" and "french kisses" docent) represented the best identification with a party to be celebrated in joy.
Also this year, with the air of those who are coming out of a pandemic that in Kenya in the end was felt in a lesser form, on the streets of the capital during the weekend rose sellers were everywhere, outside the malls and on the streets most frequented by Nairobians. While in the stores and in the "malls" offers of women's underwear, perfumes and other gifts that men are supposed to make to their loved ones were flowing.
The same shopkeepers, as reported by major national newspapers, have confirmed that these days have increased sales of items related to Valentine's Day and with great surprise one of the best-selling gadgets is a teddy bear with the words "I love you" printed on a T-shirt wearing, obviously red. Average price, 500 shillings.
Its success, assures some mischievous seller, is that it costs less than a bouquet of roses, for which you get to spend almost twice as much.
Tea and coffee cups with hearts and symbols of love have also been popular and today they will have the final stage.
As far as dinner is concerned, for once candle-lit places will be preferred and the immoderate passion for grilled meat and hamburgers will be put aside.
Possible choice of many? The heart-shaped pizza...obviously with a good glass of red wine. And for one day Nairobi is not so far from Rome.