Kenyanpoet

• Still I grow; New Beginnings for Kenyan Poet

  Posted: November 22, 2011, 11:15 am by K.P

  
  Shivering hands, Muttering lips, Fluttering lashes, Shaky fingers, Drying mouth.
  My road, The journey, Poetry path
  Still I grow.
  artistic expressions, historical pages, digital sheets.
  Still I grow. ---------------
  Njeri Wangari – All rights reserved©
  
  I started this blog in October 2006 at a workstation in an office at a company whose base is still at Park Side Towers. I had earlier just been writing and sharing my poetry with friends and some colleagues. My  friend and then colleague Muthaa who sat in the cubical next to me was the very first person to see the blog. I didn’t consult anyone or attend a workshop or look for other Kenyan Bloggers, I just stumbled upon this article on blogging and I started one.
  The name ‘Kenyan Poet’ came naturally – I was a poet , or atleast trying to become one and I was(still am though sadly so) Kenyan. Right there, without realizing it, I created my online identity. This would later have a positive though sometimes confusing impact on my life both online and offline.
  My first post was a poem ‘Your venom' which I had written on 21st July 2006 but only posted it on 9^th October. Back then, my blog was about my poetry only. However with time I came to realize that I could write about other things of interest like performances I was going for, sites I visited, which poets, writers and musicians inspired me, what Music I was listening to, what I was reading, blogs I liked, upcoming events  as host other poets. Various widgets filled the blog with time.
  I was so inspired by Maya Angelou then (Still am) that I felt more confident posting her poetry on my site than mine. The Poem ‘PhenomenalWoman’ has always been an inspiration
  Despite changing jobs, getting more demanding roles, becoming a wife and recently, a mother, I have somehow managed to still keep the boat afloat. There have been times that I felt I was losing it(the spirit) mostly because I either didn’t have new poetry to post, didn’t have an article, an event or there was simply no time.
  But somehow, I still managed.
  A few months ago I invited 2 Kenyan Poets to join me by making contributions on the blog. Robert Mahebo is a man with many talents, he like me, has an IT background but he still finds time for photography, poetry and blogging. Robert has been doing Album reviews of Kenyan Artist.
  Jaq whose stage name is Jaq the BOGOF joined us recently. He is also a poet and had a poetry event at the Hilton some time back. He does event reviews under the name Le_Cleric
  There is still room for more contributors. Email me if you want to be part of this family.
  Last year while speaking to Al Kagz, the idea of KenyanPoet.com was born. I quickly made arrangements for that and registered the domain. That was the easy part. I needed to migrate. I did migrate alright but somehow, I could not find a theme that I liked ( I am a sucker for brown-earthy colours) I felt that the blog’s theme were my clothes and I didn’t feel comfortable in the clothes that were available.
  I therefore didn’t announce the new site. This year several bloggers challenged me, Wamathai mostly. This blog’s name is quite a mouthful and I have often gotten tired halfway telling someone my blog’s name thus what Wamathai said made a lot of sense.
  Thus after many false starts, I finally shared my challenge with Mwirigi who offered to help. I managed to get just the right theme and within a span of 3 days, the blog had been migrate and co-hosted for the adjustments.
  I am truly grateful to Mwirigi and @iddsalim for all the help in moving everything and putting it in its right place at our new home.
  Patrique Okoth is one fine Designer,  worked on our wedding cards and programs, the last 3 POWO posters and recently, the KP logo. I have  never had a logo and its good to have new things to mark new beginnings  He is a facebook die hard and despite dissing it, he is not moving to twitter anytime soon. Find him here.
  You the reader and follower of this blog will agree with me that time has come for KP to seek a greater calling. The reason why this blog and many other blogs have grown is because people are looking for information that unfortunately the mainstream media is no longer providing.
  Last month when 2 renown writers, Yussef Komunyakaa and Ben Okri were in Nairobi for the Story Moja Hay festival the story it did not make it in the primetime news, neither did I see an article of the event or the two writers in the 2 widely read Kenyan Dailies. There are art events and developments both in visual as well as performing arts that are happening all over one does not get to know about them unless they go online.
  Newspapers seem to have been reduced to; politics, supplements, adverts, sports and the occasional entertainment gossip that seems more bent to a writer bragging about all the events they attended in the week, which big shots they rubbed shoulders with and which so called ‘Kenyan Celebrities’ are doing with their lives. 
  As we move from this old home, we have hopes and dreams for the new one that has more room and shelve space to place our thoughts and for you to pick the title(s) that tickles your fancy.
  I welcome to you Kenyanpoet.com.
  
  
  

  
  

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Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes