Lofty Matambo, a leading Swahili news anchor at NTV, recently took to social media to share a personal reflection on a deeply rooted cultural issue: boy-child preference.
Growing up in Chonyi, among the Mijikenda community, Lofty was the fifth born in a family of eight children.
He recalls the overwhelming excitement when his mother gave birth to him in the 1980s.
“Dad was over the moon,” he writes, recalling how neighbors whispered praises, celebrating the arrival of a boy.
“Finally Mamake Rehema amepata mtoto wa kiume, amepata urithi,” they would say—a sentiment that underscored the social value placed on male children at the time.
As Lofty’s family expanded, the pattern became clearer. His sixth-born sibling was a girl, followed by a boy and finally a girl vocalist. Each birth drew commentary framed by gender expectations.
“Alijaribu kupata mtoto mwingine wa kiume akaja msichana, angalau sasa amepata ka pili kusaidiana na mwenzake,” he recalls neighbors saying, highlighting the generational mindset that prized sons over daughters.
In those days, parents often had large families, sometimes over ten children, in hopes of securing a male heir.
Yet, reflecting on his upbringing, Lofty expresses a growing unease. He empathizes with his sisters, questioning whether such societal preference implied they were less valued.
At the same time, he acknowledges the pressure placed on boys, expected from a young age to “save the family.”
This duality of burden and expectation, he suggests, affects children regardless of gender.
“I thought all kids are equally important,” Lofty writes, pointing to a need to reassess cultural attitudes that unfairly elevate one gender over another.
Through his candid sharing, Lofty opens the door for broader community dialogue.
He asks followers to reflect on their own families: did they witness similar bias favoring boys?
Did women feel sidelined by constant praise for their brothers? His story invites a generational conversation about equality, urging communities to recognize the worth of every child.
In a world slowly shifting toward gender equity, Lofty’s reflection serves as a reminder: the legacy of preference—whether intentional or subtle—shapes perceptions, responsibilities, and self-worth.
Challenging it begins with honest reflection, and perhaps, with acknowledging that every child, boy or girl, carries equal potential to enrich the family and society.