Pole sana mkuu.
Ni hali mbaya tu sasa watu tupo hapahapa Downtown Brooklyn na twapishana tu.
RIP ndugu yetu.
Lakini kama hutajali utatupatia wasifu mfupi wa marehemu.
Khalifa alikuwa mtu fulani wa stories sana. Halafu mtu fulani mwenye sura tofautitofauti ambazo usipokuwa makini kumsoma, angeweza kukushangaza.
Siku moja anakuelezea viwanja (clubs) tofautitofauti hata usivyovijua vya New York City, akikupitisha kona zote na habari zake za ndani kabisa kama mtu aliyeujua mji vizuri kwa miaka mingi, halafu ukianza kufikiri huyu ni mtu wa maisha ya kuponda maraha New York City tu, unamkuta anaongelea mambo ya trading na investment kama trader wa floor ya New York Stock Exchange, na sio kuongelea tu, anakuambia kuhusu trades anazofanya.
Kuna siku alinihoji sana kuhusu kazi zangu Wall St., akaingia so deep kwenye mambo ya trading na jinsi quantitative easing inavyoingilia uchumi, kiasi nikajistukia kuwa huyu jamaa si wa kumchukulia poa kama nilivyodhania awali.
Alikuwa na uwezo mkubwa sana wa kufanya mazungumzo, kwa namna ambayo yanaweza kuwa na masihara halafu masihara yakizidi, atakurudisha kwenye maswali ya msingi, kwa namna ambayo hata anapokupinga, ubishi wake unakuwa wa kirafiki sana, kitu ambacho watu wengine wa New York City / Jersey City, hawakuweza, kwa kuwa na ego, ubishi wao unakuwa na muhuri wa shari za mji huu usiolala.
Khalifa alikuwa mtu wa matumaini, mtu wa cheko muda wote, mtu wa kujishusha - ila si kuwa doormat- kiasi wasiomjua vizuri wangeweza kirahisi kukosea kukisia daraja lake la maisha kwa kumfikiri mtwana.
Alikuwa mtu wa matani sana na kuweza kuunganisha vizuri u Marekani na Utanzania wake. Wengi huzidisha u Tanzania sana, au u Marekani sana, Khalifa aliweza ku balance vizuri sana identities mbili hizi. Sijawahi kumuona amekasirika.
Ukimkuta leo kapiga vitu vya Kinyamwezi kama mtoto wa Harlem au Brooklyn, kesho usishangae ukimkuta kapiga bonge la kanzu kama Shehe wa Msikiti wa Tambaza, anatembea barabarani.
Alikuwa mtu aliyependa maisha na starehe, lakini pia aliyependa kujumuika na watu, na kufanya kazi sana ili kuyapata hayo maisha mazuri. Na mara nyingi kwenye starehe hukohuko mko naye, kumbe mwenzenu anafanya kazi zake pia.
Alikuwa na uwazi fulani ambao binafsi niliupenda, a mix between, on one hand, a New Yorker's "call it as it is, no beating around the bush" attitude, and on another hand, a down home Tanzanian sensibility, a respect for savoir faire.
A type of person with a talent for reading people and rooms, who would immediately know who is who, in a "real recognize real" fashion. An invaluable asset in the New York City circles where you meet all kinds of people, from blueblood billionaires to fresh off the boat paupers.
Never without a story to relate, always a street diplomat to mediate friendly squabbles without enabling any bullshit, he walked the fine line.
An effortless comedian who provocatively challenged Tanzanian norms in a humorous and likable way.
It was like yesterday, the Jersey City parties, the stories, the aspirations, the banter.
He will be missed.
Innalillah wa inna illahi Raji'uun.
