Ireland has long held a tradition that, on St. Patrick’s Day, in celebration of their global presence and friendships with other nations they take part in the “greening of an iconic structure” (1) within that nation to symbolize their unique bond.
In 2016, in Kenya, the sculpture of Ahmed the Elephant was one of those “iconic structures” (1) that was chosen and illuminated with the color that so symbolizes their Irish friends.
As Ireland had been a “firm supporter of elephant conservation,” (1) and Ahmed the elephant had become legendary with Kenya and its people, it is fitting that Ahmed the Elephant was greened up one Saint Patrick’s Day.
image CC Flickr by MellowBeats Ahmed the elephant Kenya Museum
Who Was Ahmed the Elephant?
“In the early 1970s,” when the poaching of elephants was rampant in Africa, Kenya’s “President Jomo Kenyatta ordered 24 hour protection” for this beautiful bull with the striking tusks from the town of Marsabit. Sadly, he lived only a few years longer, until “1974 at the age of 55*. (1, 2)
That same year (1974) President Jomo Kenyatta “decreed that his remains be preserved for future generations”. (2) Today you will find a life-size replica of Ahmed outside the Kenya National Museum in Nairobi. Ahmed’s actual skeleton, including his tusks, is on display inside. Ahmed the elephant’s legacy continues to this day.
image cc flickr by Museum the World, Ahmed the elephant Stamp Kenya Africa
image cc flickr by museum the world ahmed elephant nairobi museum postcard description cancelled stamp
It is with fondness that we remember Ahmed the elephant and the year his likeness was greened up for Saint Patrick’s Day.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 2024!
Images: CC Flickr by MellowBeats Ahmed the elephant Kenya Museum (8) ; & by Eoghan Corry, Ahmed the Elephant Turns Green for Saint Patrick’s Day (9) ; & by Museum the World, Ahmed the elephant Stamp Kenya Africa (10) & by museum the world ahmed elephant nairobi museum postcard description cancelled stamp (11)
Sources:
(1) https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/kenya/news-and-events/2016/embassy-of-ireland-kenya-greening-initiative/
(2) https://swara.co.ke/kenya-s-ahmed-the-elephant-goes-green-on-st-patricks-day/
(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_(elephant)
(4) https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/lifestyle/google-doodle-celebrates-ahmed-the-elephant–4456010
(5) https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=2664
(6) https://museums.or.ke/nairobi-national-museum/ Ahmed in Story of Mammals Gallery
(7) https://www.africahunting.com/threads/ahmed-the-elephant-of-marsabit.15201/ comment refers to book The Hunter and the Go-Away Bird by Stephen J. Smith
(8) https://www.flickr.com/photos/7644997@N03/464245915/sizes/z/
(9) https://www.flickr.com/photos/91162693@N04/25222252434/sizes/l/
(10) https://www.flickr.com/photos/67033319@N08/8659588390/sizes/o/
(11) https://www.flickr.com/photos/67033319@N08/8659759966/sizes/l/
*Controversy remains over how Ahmed died as it was made known that it was “natural causes“ yet some claim that “a bullet that had recently penetrated the stomach undoubtedly caused peritonitis and subsequent death” (7).
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Image cc flickr by Eoghan Corry, Ahmed the Elephant Turns Green for Saint Patrick’s Day