Kenyanpoet
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David Garibaldi - Pop Art that Exudes Rhythm, Color, Culture and Energy
Posted: September 30, 2009, 1:45 pm by N.W
As I was surfing through my fav soul site, honeysoul, I came across this podcast blog by Keith Mac. It is through Keith that I discovered Garibaldi.
Rhythm, Color, Culture, Energy; These Four words describe the experience viewing the creations of world renowned Artist David Garibaldi.
Born in Los Angeles in 1982, Garibaldi began creating at a young age. After relocating and growing up in Sacramento, it was not until high school, after walking away from a life of graffiti in the streets, that he turned his influences of hip hop culture into a positive direction. Unfortunately by then, it was too late to make up lost time in school, and he could not graduate. A season of hard times to come could not shake the drive of this young artist from pursuing his dreams.
STUDIO:
In 2003, David Garibaldi began to turn his illustrations on paper into paintings on canvas. Garibaldi would paint live at urban jazz sessions, nightclubs, and hip hop events for direct influence by the music, and he began to create a buzz about his work along the way.
STUDIO to the STAGE:
In 2003 Garibaldi was at a friends home and across the room hung an original Jimi Hendrix painting by performance artist Denny Dent. The painting was wildly splashed together with paint like most of Dents works. Without seeing a single video or photos of Denny Dent in action, even years after, David was inspired to create.
Dent was the first and only “Rock and Roll Painter”. Dent unarguably engaged his audiences while he created. Commanding hundreds to hundreds of thousands with his “Two Fisted Art Attack”. There will never be anyone like Dent, but other artist’s have been inspired in some way and are taking the art form to new generations, multimedia platforms, and more. Some notable artists include Brian Olsen, Michael Israel, Jean Francoise Detaille, Michael Ostaski, and Dan Dunn.
As Garibaldi has developed his performance pop art show over the years, he credits Denny Dent for not only inspiring himself, but generations before and after.
It was the defining moment of Garibaldi’s background in graffiti, hip hop dancing, playing music, painting live, and then seeing the work of Denny Dent that lead David to create a live stage show he describes and calls “Rhythm and Hue”
STAGE:
Rhythm and Hue is a performance art show where artist David Garibaldi creates 6 foot portraits of pop icons in in under 7 minutes to music. Garibaldi’s unique show is extremely versatile and has been featured with celebrities like Carlos Santana; utilized by Fortune 500 companies like AT&T, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charities, and used as a platform to motivate students and employees of various organizations.
Garibaldi has recently been featured as an opening act for the Blue Man Group during the Canadian leg of their How To Be A Megastar World Tour.
Garibaldi’s Rhythm and Hue is much more than a performance art, and paint flailing presentation; it is an inspirational experience as well. Garibaldi tells the story of how he was living the life of a graffiti rebel until a high school teacher challenged him to make his art more purposeful. He shares his personal struggles and triumphs that helped to shape him into a world-renowned painter and performer in the studio and on the stage.
The foundation of Garibaldi’s message is simple: Live your life as a platform, and live with passion and purpose.
STUDIO & STAGE:
Much like a musician, David Garibaldi will continue to create his paintings in the studio, and hit the road to captivate audiences around the world.
Garibaldi has recently signed deals to become an official licensed artist with the Elvis Presely Enterprises, Disney, Bob Marley Estate, Jimi Hendrix Estate, and other celebrity estates.
Whether Garibaldi is in the studio, or on stage, he is Rhythm, Color, Culture, Energy.
To learn more about Garibaldi and his art visit www.garibaldiarts.com.
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Exhibition Openings and Art Auction at RaMoMa from 7th Oct
Posted: September 29, 2009, 7:37 pm by N.W
RaMoMA – Museum of Modern Art
invites you to
the opening of the following exhibitions
on 7th October 2009 from 6pm
(special opening for Moyra Earnshaw on Sunday 11th Oct from 11am - 1.30pm)
The exhibitions close on 29th October 2009
ValDor Gallery - The Tarot - Moyra Earnshaw
The cards found me many years ago and I have been fascinated ever since by the richness of their imagery. I decided to paint the Major Trumps or Arcana, not to redesign them but through them to embark on the age old quest of the hero which appears in every culture under the guise of myth and legend. Each of these twenty two cards describes a stage in the journey of life which is crucial in some way to expanding self awareness. I have painted my response to the riddle in each card sometimes in an abstract way and sometimes figuratively. For me the cards are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for art and life.
Dodhia Gallery - Shine Tani
Shine prides himself as a self taught artist and a founding member of the Banana Hill Art Studio, which he directs today.
In the upcoming exhibition, Shine is confronting politics and the messy result it has created in Kenya in the last two years. He views himself as a recorder of information or an archivist. He says until this information is documented for future generations, then that generation will never know or understand it’s genesis. Like a preacher, there may be only one theme in the message but one has to project it in many varying ways until the message is passed on.
Shine has his work in many collections and publications.
Rahimtulla Gallery - Camille Wekesa
Camille Wekesa works primarily as a mural artist but has always enjoyed landscape painting of Kenya's stunning and varied scenery. These paintings have been inspired by several safaris since her return from London in November last year. She visited the desolate and beautiful Shaba national reserve for the first time, travelled up to Western Kenya amongst the lush farmlands and then up towards Tsavo East with its dry scratchy bushland and verdant green vegetation along the river banks.
Ford Room Gallery - Kenya Quilt Guild
Inspired by quilters in South Carolina, USA, and with their permission, the Kenya Quilt Guild Members have created an exhibition of “Artful Bras”. This consists of over 50 original works of art which are amusing, humorous and beautiful. The aim is to make the public aware of the Breast Cancer, to re-memorise those who have lost their lives to the disease and honour survivors.
RaMoMA is open 7 days a week 9:30am - 4:30pm
open on Saturdays till 6:00pm, closed on public holidays
Lunchtime talk by
Peter Elungat
Thursday 1st October 2009
At RaMoMA, 2nd Parklands Avenue
From 12.30 – 2.15pm
Program: Peter will talk about his work and a light lunch will follow from Café Tasse, RaMoMA
Kshs 1500 per person (ADVANCE BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL as space is limited: oneoff@africaonline.co.ke)
Ticket price includes Vegetable Quiche with Salad or Quiche Lorraine with salad, a bottle of mineral water and either tea or coffee.
7.30pm - Dress to impress - Tickets 3000/- each
Imagine sitting down in RaMoMA's Dodhia gallery to a fabulous Baroque style dinner
followed by an entertaining art auction, the proceeds of which will support
Kenyan art and artists through RaMoMA.
The gallery will be candle lit, the music will be by Vivaldi and his contempories , the dinner will be a 3-course extravaganza enjoyed at a beautifully decorated table with specially blown glassware courtesy of Kitengela Glass. The food, specially made by a renowned International chef in conjunction with Cafe Tasse, will be plated and plattered to ensure maximum enjoyment with the minimum of effort.
Auction of eleven paintings by Kenya's best known artists including: Patrick Mukabi, Mary Collis, Peter Ngugi, Peter Elungat, Kamal Shah, Tim Brooke and Samuel Githui
Write to RaMoMa - ramoma@africaonline.co.ke -
An Artist's Day at the Murumbi Peace Memorial on 25th Oct 09'- A celebration of E.Africa's most Famous Sculptors
Posted: September 29, 2009, 7:03 pm by N.W
On March 29th, 2009, the Murumbi Peace Memorial was opened at the Nairobi City Park. It encloses the graves of Joseph and Sheila Murumbi as well as a sculpture garden created by artists who were close to the couple (see map above).
On October 25th, 2009, the artists whose works are on display at the Murumbi Peace Memorial will gather there to show and view their works at 11 a.m. After a brief opening ceremony, guests are invited to view additional works by these artists at the reception area of the National Museums of Kenya.
Joseph and Sheila Murumbi were among Africa’s greatest collectors, at the forefront of preserving and protecting African culture. Joseph Murumbi was the first Foreign Minister of Kenya and the country’s second Vice President. He is remembered as a politician of honour, who abhorred corruption.
He resigned as Vice President in l966, less than a year after his appointment, largely due to the assassination of his friend and mentor, Pio Gama Pinto (who is buried nearby Murumbi’s grave in the old cemetery in Nairobi City Park). Murumbi’s departure from the government set the country on a very different course. He then devoted his time to collecting books and art. In 1972, Murumbi and his
wife co-founded African Heritage Pan African Galleries with Alan Donovan.
The Murumbi Peace Memorial is one of the few places in Nairobi where sculptures by leading
sculptors of the continent may be viewed in an open space. The Nairobi City Park provides a
magnificent backdrop for them. The Artist’s Day on October 25 will celebrate all artists and their
works, but especially the pioneer sculptors whose works are displayed at the Murumbi Peace Memorial:
Read a profile of some of the artists who will be exhibiting their works here. -
Mstari Wa Nne trio to take part in Ignite Poets: Two Nations, One Flame show on Oct 7 at Alliance Francaise
Posted: September 28, 2009, 1:31 pm by N.W
Mstari Wa Nne's Njeri Wangari, Grand Master Masese and Maik Kwambo join a talented group of musicians and poets, for the Ignite Poets: Two Nations, One Flame will draw attention to important issues facing Kenyans today.
In the first every Ignite poets performance in Nairobi, the show will be on the 7th October '09 at the Alliance Francaise, Nairobi starting from 6:30pm. Charges are Kshs 300
The Founder and president of Ignite Poets, Sheniz Janmohamed will be there for the inaugural ignite poets Kenya show.
The performance lineup includes:
Mstari Wa Nne
Pepe Haze
Walter Keyombe
Muki Garang
The girls of the Hawkers Market Girls Centre
Funds will be donated to The Hawkers Market Girls Centre(located in the largest slum of Africa, Kibera), a school that offers vocational training for girls who are looking for a better way of life.
To find out more about the Centre, visit their website -
The Poems I performed at the Oliver Mtukudzi show at Club Afrique, 26th Sept09
Posted: September 28, 2009, 1:00 pm by N.W
The show was superb full of energy and full to capacity. As I had mentioned here, I was one of the two privileged poets who had been invited to perform during the 'Tuku' Show at Club Afrique.
I will be giving a more detailed review later. For now, I'd like those who missed my performance to know the 6 poems that I performed. I did a mix of new and old Poems, some of which have been posted here already and some 2 new ones that I wrote specifically for the show whose theme was on Gender Inequality. The poems were; Low Moments, The paths we took, Fading Faces, Women Behaving Badly, Marriage and What is to be a Man?
In the haste of making it to the venue in time for soundcheck all the way from Mt. Kenya region where I had another function, I forgot to carry a camera. I have to wait for 3rd parties for some footage of the event. In other words, sorry no pictures till otherwise posted. If anyone took, please share. -
Poem: Low Moments
Posted: September 28, 2009, 12:29 pm by N.W
Were tears a flute playing sad tunes,
my eyes would be the masters hand
Were fears a futile play of sweet song,
my hands would be reeds against wind
Were cares a feeling of great guilt,
my heart would be a caged bird
Were dares a repeat of failure,
My mind would be a bootstrap
Were scares a fling of terrified emotions
my skin would be horrifying music
Were prayers a fruitless attempt at faith
my mouth would be a fallen saint
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Njeri Wangari
All rights Reserved©
njeriwangari(at)gmail(dot)com
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Poem: The paths we Took
Posted: September 28, 2009, 12:21 pm by N.W
Part 1.
They told me it was about time
They said it was time
My mother and her mother
And I knew
This would be the end of me
For I would die
Sacrifice my womanhood
To the altar of a blunt meat knife
I would die
Watch my wells of pleasures
Flow to the cracked ground
that licked my heels with thirst
I would die
leave me longing for
What would forever be
Only a distant land
I would hear of
yet never set foot in
I would die.
Allow them to deny me
The power to choose
To become a real woman
And keep my husband true
Like real women do
I would die.
Part 2.
He told them it was about time
He said it was time
He was ready.
My brother
And my father beamed with glee
With barely a somersault in his voice
The baby face was ready to become a man
Already visualizing the Canaan that lay in wait
He could not wait
To move from the bedroom he shared
To address me like his father
Nyukwa Eha?
Couldn’t wait
To sit in the wise counsel of leaders
And not in the kitchen like a sissy
He could not wait
This would be the start of him
To walk like a stallion
And be the lion, his father was.
The day of our destiny, finally came
He walked his path like a warrior to battle
I was dragged to mine like a captive in a lost war!
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Njeri Wangari
All rights Reserved©
njeriwangari(at)gmail(dot)com
Sept 09’
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Poem: Marriage
Posted: September 28, 2009, 12:17 pm by N.W
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WAPI live at the Sarakasi Dome Ngara, 26th Sept 09'
Posted: September 25, 2009, 12:29 pm by N.W
PRESENTS
MC: POINT BLANK
Performances by
Jemedari, Jefro, Richy Rich, Rabbit, MC Sharon, Nuru Bahati, Sarakasi Dancers and DJ Zaq and much more
LIVE @ Sarakasi Dome, Ngara Road, Ngara, Nairobi
Saturday, September 26th, 2009, 9am-3pm
OPEN MIC: 1pm
LADIES & GENTS- Free Entry
HIP-HOP-POETRY- SPOKEN WORD -- B-BOYING - GRAFFITI - ILLASSTRATION - CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP - SELF ELEVATION- STREET LINGUISTICS- FASHION- BUSINESS NETWORKING
NEXT WAPI: SATURDAY OCTOBER 24th 2009
At Sarakasi Dome, Ngara
Spread Only Love & Positivity, NOT War & Negativity
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Legenday Oliver Mtukudzi Live in Nairobi, 26th Sept 09' at Club Afrique
Posted: September 23, 2009, 12:36 pm by N.W
LEGENDARY OLIVER MTUKUDZI LIVE
PERFORMANCES BY MUTHONI & MAKADEM.
AFRICAN SPOKEN WORD POETRY
BY KENNET B & NJERI WANGARI
LIVE @ CLUB AFRIQUE, MUSEUM HILL, NAIROBI
8.30pm, Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Entry: Fee; 1,000
Limited Tickets Available
FOR TICKET BOOKINGS CALL: 0720 236 954
For More Info Go To www.facebook.com/SparkAfrica
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What is Good Hair? - The Big African Woman Debate
Posted: September 17, 2009, 3:16 pm by N.W
What is Good hair?
This is a question that I will pose to every African Woman and man. I seem to have reached my nirvana with hair the day that I decide to go natural. It was a culmination of both an end to the suffering of burns from chemical relaxers, painful scalp from all the pulling and a sort of self realization that I loved myself as I am and did not need to have straight hair to look acceptable.(The song I am not my hair comes to mind by India Arie)
I do not know if there are any studies that have been done on what percentage of Kenyan Women still have their natural hair and those who have either relaxed(permed) or have weaves/wigs on but a spot check on the streets of Nairobi can give you a clue as to what the numbers are. Actually, I think Nairobi has more salons than it has pubs and there is none that lacks customers.
The hair and cosmetic industry is a multi-million dollar one especially in Africa because almost 90% of African Women relax their hair or wear wigs.
I have never been a fan of weaves and I am sure many men will concur with me(though they wouldn't be caught dead saying it to their women). It is a debate that always ends up being nasty anytime I pick it up with my lady friends.
A similar debate became a nationwide discussion in the US as Chris Rock set out to find out What is Good hair? -A documentary that he has been researching on for 2 years.
The same elicited a huge confrontation on Tyra Banks' self titled show part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 and Part 5 a show that gave a feel of the real problem that African American women face with their hair, a problem that seems to be an underlying facade of a bigger problem of perception. and to some extent, inferiority.
In his documentary, CK notes that the idea was about by his daughter who kept telling him that she does not have good hair coz its nappy and curly and not straight and soft.
The documentary features one of my favourite poets, Maya Angelou and a host of other African American celebrities who confess to wearing weaves alot and not being comfortable with their natural hair.
Chris also reveals that most of the weaves are made from Indian Hair as India is the highest exporter of human hair.
The comic docu is to be released in select cities on October 9. but previews and info about it can be found here
My HairMy hair is my airFeel the flairas you stareits beauty a snare
Long hair is rarein my country Zairebut no one is awarewhen I glare my horse hair
God was not fairgiving Indians more than their fair shareleaving me to despair.this is no funfairmy short hair to forebearI looked elsewhere with my prayerThank Buddha for human hair---------------------------------------------------------------------------Njeri Wangarekenyanpoet@gmail.comSept. 2009All rights reserved©
What are your thoughts on this hair debate? -
Whispers Book Den - A new Haven for book Lovers
Posted: September 15, 2009, 10:31 pm by N.W
There's a new book spot in town! Whispers Book Den.
The idea was born by none other than Wahome(Whispers) Mutahi's daughter, Eva Wanjugu aka 'Investment' and my good friend Treza Kinoru. The two came up with the idea earlier this year and decided to enroll in the 'Chora Bizna' competition that was being run by the Kenyan Government with the support of various local and international institutions. Their idea of a Fine Art & Performing Arts Business bore what now has become the newest haven for book lovers in Nairobi.
The place which opened its doors just a few weeks ago is on the ground floor apartment of the Chiromo Court building on Waiyaki Way and honestly, it took my breath away!
I had earlier on tried visiting the place when it was still being set up but found myself in the next building(Eden Square) with no one having a clue of what I was looking for (I blame TK for wrong directions). I finally found the place last Friday afternoon(Thanks to a meeting in Westlands that ended just before lunchtime). It is slightly hidden though, as one would have to walk past the main reception and into the inner court(indoor parking) to see the rusty wrought iron round piece of fantastic metalwork that is the signage. It reminded me of a Kenyan fine Artist, Bertiers(might feature him here soon)
Eva was at the outside patio enjoying the bright afternoon radiance and local gossip from one of the dailies looking lovely as ever. I remember the first time I saw her with Treza, I actually thought its the sister,needless to say, I totally embarrassed myself when I said that(I had read about her in the dads column but never saw her in person)
She ushered us into the den(was hoping it would be underground and have the creepiness that the name den evokes- well!) The place has the ambiance alright. From the cosy sofa facing the shelves, the menlike CDs racks made from wrought iron to the bar like setting of High seats (Sina Taabus as they are referred to) the place reeked of sophistication, coolness bordering on eccentricity. A feeling that I would say is synonymous with the current generation of Kenyan writers.
And if the ambiance does not do it for you, then the collection of books certainly will. I saw books that I never imagined existed, Poetry anthologies, all the celebrated African Writers, name it. Upon inquiring on the vast collection, I was informed that all the books were from Whisper's private collection that he accumulated over the years. You can tell that the man was serious about his literature. The two ladies have also partnered with various publishers to resell their books in the shop section as well as with Sound Africa for a catalogue of some of the best sounds coming from Kenya and Africa.
The Whispers Book Den has 4 different settings for its guests; the main room or library, A room for silent reading that has been partitioned into small cubicles complete with lockers,a kids reading room and the outside garden which is soon to be turned into a platform for book reading, performances and poetry readings(you can trust I am looking forward to the latter).
What I found most creative is the types of membership available. They have the categories based on Whispers fictional characters namely; Appep (4,500 - 5books) Thatcher( Ksh. 3,500 - 4 books), Whispers Junior( 2,500 - 3 books) Pajero(Ksh. 1,500 - 2 books) Whizz Kids(Ksh. 1,000 - 2 Children's books) and Investment (Ksh. 10,000- 10 Books, Internet Access, 1 child free membership and 15% on books purchased)
The Fine art bit has not been left out as they have portrait drawings by Boyd of famous Kenyan and World faces.
There is alot that the new place hasn't put in place e.g some piped music, coffee and snacks for sale but as Eva told me, all this is in the works.
I urge you to pay the place a visit one of these days as this is one place that is sure to take reading to a whole new level. I will definitely be signing up soon as there are books there I can't wait to read.
Photos courtesy of Vic N.- ua phone came in handy -
Jukwaani! A Festival of Performance Literature 17th - 20th Sept 09 Goethe Institut, Nairobi
Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:53 pm by N.W
* JUKWAANI! ** A FESTIVAL FOR PERFORMANCE LITERATURE ** THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2009 TO SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2009 ** FESTIVAL OPENING: THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2009 - 6 PM * * GOETHE-INSTITUT NAIROBI ** MONROVIA STREET ** NAIROBI ** ENTRY FREE *
Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française come together again, in another joint initiative supported by the special fund for cultural projects, established by the French and Germany Ministries of Foreign Affairs created on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty. Following the visual arts project, Contemporary Art in Kenya juried competition/exhibition in 2006, This partnership centers around a festival for literature as stage performance.
In Africa, literature traditionally has always been performance, inseparably intertwined with music and dance, before an audience. In Europe, this connection gradually disappeared, but has recently experienced a rebirth, by the circuitous route through youth culture word-art, through Rap and Slam Poetry. Jukwaani! brings all forms and scenes of performance literature together for four days: From the high culture Swahili literature to Poetry Slam, from Swahili free style to indigenous Story Telling, from the Nairobi poets to Rap. Featuring Abdilatif Abdalla, Ahmad Nassir, Sheikh Ahmed Nabhany, the German Slammer Dalibor Markovic, Talking Drums of Africa, Tony Smitta Mochama, Juliani, Rapcha the Sayantist, Johny of Span Wan, Ukoo Flani, Zamaleo among others.
The festival is held in conjunction with the conference "Swahili poetry in performance“ organized by Bordeaux and Bayreuth universities and IFRA, Venue: IFRA-BIEA, Laikipia Rd. Kileleshwa.
In association with the Kenya Cultural Center -
Kenyan Arts' Dependency on Donor Funding; An Interview at Kenya National Theatre
Posted: September 8, 2009, 2:00 pm by N.W
A little over two weeks ago, I met with Margaretta at the Kenya National Theatre in a bid to continue the discussion we had started at Paa ya Paa during Elimo Njau's birthday party.
Although this blog started out as a space to publish my poetry, with time it has grown to a Kenyan artistic space where all forms of art from Kenya and sometimes beyond, is featured.
As you will note, the mainstream media has been reducing their coverage of art especially Fine art, not because there are no stories to be written about anymore, but rather, a shift in focus. Suddenly we are seeing alot more entertainment and 'celebridom'. But like a river, somethings still find their way.
This was among the many things that I discussed with Margaretta in what had started as an interview albeit with some discussions.
The clip interview though slightly lengthy give one alot of insights into Margaretta the person, her passion for writing about the arts and her views on the dependency of Kenyan Art on International Donors prompting the quote "Donors often leave artists worse than they found them"
My Interview with Wa Gacheru (in MP3 format)
PS. I carried out the interview at the Wasanii Restaurant in the Kenya National Theatre. It seemed a great idea as it was to be a meeting but then I thought, what better way to introduce Wa Gacheru than interview her about who she is and about her writing. What I didn't factor in was the conversations from the other tables and so, you might hear some murmuring and a few outbursts in the background. -
Born Free Lions Go on Parade
Posted: September 3, 2009, 9:23 pm by N.W
By Margaretta wa Gacheru
It was a spectacle well worth seeing, if for no other reason than to find so many local artists on hand in the open air being applauded by everyone from government ministers to Kenyan captains of industry to environmentalists and school children outing at the Kenya Wildlife Services just next to Nairobi’s notable Animal Orphanage in Karen.
But there were other good reasons to be there this Wednesday morning, and the main one was to see the artists’ handiwork. For no less than 50 of them implanted their own individual creative ideas on a life-size lion ‘born’ from a mold made by local sculptor Gakunju Kaigwa.
The idea of the 50 lions [each of which has been sponsored by a member of Kenya’s corporate community] came from the UK-based charity, the Born Free Foundation which essentially got the idea from a group calling itself Wild on Art. And the main idea all round is to rouse awareness of the Kenya lion’s terrible new status—that of “endangered species.”
Patrick Mukabi,a Fine Artist with one of the lions that he painted
There are only 2,000 ‘kings of the wild’ currently remaining in Kenya, according to Alice Owen, Kenya’s regional representative of the Born Free Foundation. Kenya used to have tens of thousands of lions roaming the savannahs of Africa but for various reasons, not least of which is the poisonous pesticide Furadan, the population of this most lionized creature has been reduced to scary numbers.
What makes the Born Free Foundation project so exceptional is that somehow they managed to prove that, when the timing is right, Kenya’s corporate elites will indeed come out in droves and support Kenya art and culture!
It was even a shock for Alice Owen to see how quickly the elites responded when the project was launched this past May at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi. Initially, she had only contracted Gakunju Kaigwa and his crew, including artists Kevin Oduor and Anthony Wanjau [among others] to make 25 lions since she didn’t know if the project would fly. But amazingly enough, the prospective sponsors [each of which would pay KSh200,000 to sponsor] came running for a lion of their own. Everyone from Eveready E. A Ltd and Kenya Institute of Manufacturers to the Commercial Bank of Africa and House of Manji got in line to fork out for a lion.
“In fact, we had more than 50 wanting to sponsor a lion,” said Alice who had also put out a call to all artists around the country to apply to decorate a lion. More than 90 applicants wrote in, despite the fact that a mere KSh20,000 would be their pay. “Everyone is donating their time and labour otherwise,” noted Alice who says all the funds raised but 30 percent will go to her foundation to support the work of saving and replenishing the population of the lions. That other 30 percent will go to Wild in Art, the UK group that has organized similar charity events all over the world.
“The only lion that was not painted by a Kenyan is the Kenya Airways lion,” Alice admits, a fact that has incensed many local artists who feel that “The Pride of Africa” [which is not only to motto for Kenya Airways but the slogan for the campaign] is really the ‘Shame of Africa” since they feel Kenya Airways of all companies ought to have its lion painted by a local.
But Alice defends the national carrier by noting is has been painted by the world renowned Kenya-born, London-based painter David Shepherd. Nonetheless, no one got to see Shepherd’s lion Wednesday since it got held up by the Kenya Government at Customs. And I suspect that was all the better for the Kenyans since it was definitely their day. [On getting ‘overshadowed’ by an ex-pat celebrity!]
The organizers even invited Kaigwa to come up to the microphone in the open air and speak about his lion sculpture. Gakunju [who trained in the art of bronze casting in the US for nine years] humbly conceded and said just a few sweet words of appreciation for those who care about the lions and for the artists as well. Frankly, he got shafted by BFF since they decided at the last minute that he and his team were not working fast enough so they took the project out of their hands unceremoniously, claiming the deadline loomed large and clearly the Kuona Trust-based crew were not going to get the job done in time. In fact, the Asian-owned company called in to complete the job was even later than Gakunju might have been. What’s more, some of the professional artists called in to paint a lion specially complained that their lion was not nearly as pristine and polished as Gakunju’s lot were.
“Just leave it,” Gakunju told me, after grappling with his own feelings and shock at the unprofessional way he was handled. In fact, the UK director of Wild on Art came all the way to Nairobi to politely do the job of cutting Gakunju out of the final deal.
One of the lions painted Pink by Mary Collis of RaMoMa Art Gallery
And Kaigwa is the first to admit that his written contract was only to make 25 lions [he completed 29, Alice said]. “Our completing the other 25 was only an oral agreement,” he confessed. But still, today was a bitter sweet experience for Gakunju and his crew.
Otherwise, for a wide array of local artists, the day was a dazzling and delightful triumph. Among those involved in the painterly process were local artists such as Kevin Oduor, Cyrus Kabiru, Beth Kimwele, Dino Martins, students from the International School of Kenya and Brookside school, Mary Collis of Ramoma Museum, John Kimani Silver, Dinesh Revahkar, Nanai Croze from Kitengela Glass, Kamal Shah, El Tayeb, and many many others.
I didn’t stick around for the parade the BFF organized with Kenya Wildlife Services; nor was I on hand when the KWS crew began to offload the lions all around the city’s commercial centre. But to have exquisitely beautiful life-size lions scattered around the city centre, decked out in all sorts of designs, materials and headgear, should wake a few sleepy city people up to the issue of wildlife conservation. Whether they are the people who are most seriously in need of roused awareness is apparently not the issue. And whether the painted lions will stop the poisonous pesticide from being sprayed, is another question altogether.
In fact, Mary Collis’ hot pink lion, with its flowing fake paper moneyed mane, makes one of the most powerful statements of all the 50 lions. For the lion’s hot pink is the same radical hue that covers the bottle containing same killer pesticide. Mary’s lions is also covered in chains, symbolic of the fact that unless Furadan is banned by the Kenya Government even as it is in the States [where it comes from], then there is little likelihood our lions will last.
Most everyone will recall that the term ‘Born Free” was originally a book title, the book written by the Austrian conservationist Joy Adamson who together with her former Game Warden spouse George, retrieved a baby lion cub named Else decades ago. The sweet story became a best seller book, then a blockbuster movie starring Virginia McKenna, and finally, a TV series that was very big in the US in the Eighties. It was McKenna who launched the Born Free Foundation, and her celebrity that may have played a part in drawing out local corporate sponsors in droves.
Hopefully, they will all show up on November 6th when BFF holds a big deal Gala Night [charging something like KSH10,000, or was it KSh100,000 a plate; I forget] in which a sumptuous dinner precedes the charity auction in which all fifty lions will then be auctioned off with the funds mostly going straight back to work for one of Kenya’s biggest economic money makers, our wildlife, and more specifically, The Big Cat. So don’t expect to get a first account of the event from this site [unless someone sponsors me that night !] since I don’t have such funding to burn, but it will be a grand evening in any case, and all who can afford to invest in one of Kenya’s most lucrative natural assets, I suggest you mark your calendar and keep the date.
Margaretta Wa Gacheru can be reached on nargarettag(at)yahoo(dot)com -
Margaretta's Jua Kali Diary goes online- Who is Margaretta Wa Gacheru?
Posted: September 1, 2009, 6:55 pm by N.W
Margaretta Wa Gacheru's Jua Kali diary
The last day of August and I’m sorry to see the month go. September means I will be leaving soon, as in September 19th, hopefully to be returning within the month. But it also means I need to pack in heaps of good things during the days ahead. No loitering for me.
I think you already know by now that I’m back in Kenya after ten years of being away from the place I called my home for more than 25 years. Hard to believe, and I am the first to say I don’t believe in time constraint or age limitation. I feel as if my time away from the place I call Obama-land, my parents home, was a perennial summer, meaning I never felt time passing me by as people do in the West. In Europe and the States, there are tangible and distinct seasons—summer, fall, winter, spring, and people mark their lives in terms of time passing. For me time never passed. All those days I spent previously in Kenya were like a perennial noon. Sounds like an exaggeration but no, it is true. In any case, I am back now as a researcher and graduate student as well as a now-blogger and arts reporter at times for the Nation newspapers.
So let me begin as was suggested by my favorite Kenyan poet, Njeri Wangari, and start from today. I promised her I would share my encounters with fascinating people, including artists, inventors, and ordinary people with extraordinary stories. The first one has to be Dr. Kimani Njogu who I met for the first time today, and who publishes the cultural magazine, Jahazi, which was founded by the late Bantu Mwaura and books like Cultural Production and Social change in Kenya: Building Bridges.
What was extraordinary about Kimani, first and foremost is what he told me at the outset of our meeting: I had written about his school in 1979 when he was still a harambee school teacher working in the Rift Valley. It was a transitional period for the Kenya Schools Drama Festival because the first African Drama Inspector in charge of the Festival had just arrived a few months before, Wasambo Were. So it was an exciting time, and I apparently had written about what I liked about his school’s performance.
He confessed that until that moment, he had assumed I was a Kikuyu woman, which I am in spirit. In my heart my spirit is Kenyan, but I never have pronounced those words publicly because it was never an issue: wa Gacheru is obviously Kenyan, and so I have been all along. In any case, Kimani and I spoke at length about our dear mutual friend Bantu Mwaura, and both grieved over the loss of such a great and creative mind and spirit. Bantu had not only studied at Kenyatta University, but also Leeds University in the UK, and Ohio University in the US and finally he nearly completed his Phd at New York University when he chose to come back to be with his family and immerse himself in Kenyan culture.
Kimani said Jahazi 4 (there have already been 3 published by his publishing house Twaweza Communication) will be dedicated to writings on Bantu and the late Atieno Odhiambo who just passed on in February this year. I will not dwell on the notion of death, but Kenya isn’t supposed to lose so many geniuses in such a short time. I’m grateful to Kimani for developing bridges between artists and academics, which is what his publications do. His first published work was Reading Poetry As Dialogue which features an indepth analysis of Kikuyu Gichandi poetry, something I told him he needed to reproduce in a straightforward less academic work so that the rest of us can read that oral tradition and appreciate more fully.
We also talked about the John Githongo book written by Michaela Wrong, It’s our turn to eat, which I mentioned in so far as a friend of mine, Dana Siedenberg had written a flaming, brilliant critique of the book, which The East African had refused to published in full. Kimani said he would love to see her review. So I linked them up.
Then I had to run. I had to organized the rest of my week. For instance, I had to make a date with John Kamicha since his one man art exhibition just opened August 28th at Le Rustique Restaurant, and sorry but I live on matatus and could not get to the opening. So we shall meet Thursday. Then I had to respond to one of the Born Free Lions’ artists, Mary Collis, who painted for an environmental organization fighting the sale of the toxic chemical Furanin, which is killing lions by the dozens in Kenya currently. Mary’s lion symbolically portrays the bottom line of this ugly pharmaceutical deal, which is cash of course. The lion is pink like the drug bottle itself, but hers is just one of 50 that will be launched this coming Wednesday, as part of the Born Free Foundation initiative to Save Kenya’s Lions.
On my way to the Kenya National Theatre to meet Njeri, I encounter Ongeri Magati, a Kenyan percussionist originally from Kisii who I first met performing with Phillda Njau of Paa ya Paa Art Center in the hybrid band called Bush Bach, which is meant to be a combination of Kenyan traditional or indigenous sounds and Western classical music. Phillda was trained in classical music, but she formed the group to be eclectic and integrative of a variety of diverse sounds. Her point was to prove the compatibility of all of these rich musical sounds. Ongeri usually works with Radi, a group that specializes in Kenyan indigenous music. The group has 10 including acrobats and percussionists/drummers.
They perform every Sunday at the National Museums Amphitheatre for families from 3pm to 5pm. Ongeri had just gotten back from Holland where he had gone on a “fact finding mission” to scout for a possible place in next year’s Amsterdam Cultural Festival. “We have already been invited to the Swiss Mountain Festival next summer,” he explained, but he would like the group to maximize their time abroad. But as I have discovered since I’ve been back two months in Kenya, Ongeri is much like many Kenyan artists: he is well traveled!
It was Joy Mboya, Director of The GoDown, who told me during the recent Kalasha Film Awards night, that Kenyan artists are some of the most widely traveled people in the land.” And I have to say that in my meetings with scores of local artists, I have found this to be the case. Of course, this is not categorically the case: not all artists are globe trotters; but quite a few are or have been in the last decade since I have been away.
John Kamicha( foreground)
This is refreshing news, especially the fact that these are people who have traveled and COME BACK HOME because they love their country and want to contribute to its creative and artistic development.
Arriving at the National Theatre was the biggest threat because it is still a venue wherein one can and must meet local artists. But Njeri explained to me that a major change had taken place among performing artists in the past few years at least. Ever since Citizen TV started focusing on the development of local soaps and dramas, other TV stations have tried to follow suit. The outcome is that many more performing artists are employed than before. “Their lifestyles have changed dramatically,” she said, not meaning that all local actors made that transition successfully but for those who did, life has become sweeter as success and the Kenyan version of celebrity has set in.
Being interviewed by Njeri Wangari was good fun. I spilled the beans on a huge chunk of my life. Basically I told the bare bone outline of a journalistic career—mine—that has focused in the arts. I gave a lengthy sketch, and the joy of telling my story was that Njeri is clearly an artful listener plus she knows how to interview, meaning she knows how to ask the right questions. Being in sociology myself, I know there is an art to interviewing and she has the knack down pat.
I won’t even begin to say how wonderful it was to be interrupted during our interview by old buddies like Wakonyote Njuguna, a former theater critic for the Nation and the Standard, and Steenie Njoroge, a wonderful actor as is Wak. Wak is dear to my heart for many reasons, but he is the man who christened me Wanjera because I used to be always on the streets, chasing stories about the artists, even as I am today. Only now I hope to help amplify the role of Kenyan artists in society even more than I do all those days when I worked dutifully for the local dailies and delighted in seeing that humble byline of mine. -
PEN International Kenya takes 'Its our turn to eat' by Michela Wrong to Mombasa- KenyanPoet's anecdote
Posted: September 1, 2009, 1:04 pm by N.W
The talk of my trip to Mombasa for the reading of Michela Wrong's book, Its Our Turn to Eat, started during the launch of Kwani books over a month ago, as part of a conversation with Khainga O’kwemba, a poet and the Treasurer of PEN International Kenya (PEN is an organization of Poets, Essayists and Novelists - hence the initials)
It is only on Saturday 22nd that a definite confirmation was made that indeed the trip was on and slated for 28th till 30th Aug.
The book reading trip was being fully funded by USAID (kudos to them) as part of a campaign to inform ordinary Kenyans of things that have happened in Kenya through the life of John Githongo as written by Michela Wrong. Similar readings have been held in Nairobi and Kisumu with great success.
True enough, on Wednesday I received my E-ticket confirming the dates and times.
Having worked with Khainga and PEN before, I took a quick guess at who else would be there. The plan was for us all to assemble at Theatre by 8.00am and proceed to JKIA for the 10 o'clock flight. I managed to make my way there before the rest. Due to some reasons that still vary depending on who's giving the explanation, the rest missed the flight and had to come with a 1.30pm one.
Fortunately Okoiti Omtata (he hates this description but I had warned him I'll use it - The one famous for chaining himself) was already in Msa having arrived 2 days before. We spent the afternoon editing an article he was writing on Vision 2030 and the deceased Maruge (World's oldest pupil), look out for it in one of the local dailies. I tried convincing Okoiti that a blog would be the best tool he can ever have for his writing but he still wasn't sold to the idea. He is still considering my offer of maintaining his blog on his behalf.
The Khainga’s team finally arrived at 2.30pm; Edel Nyambura and Onduko Bw’Atebe (author of The Verdict of Death). I was informed that the rest of PEN team would be coming the following morning.
The readings were set to take place at the famous Tononoka Hall. And true to what is said of Coasterians (sorry couldn’t keep away from this stereotype) The event that was to start at 11am was starting a few minutes to 1pm with lesser turnout than we expected.
This was despite Okoiti having circulated enough flyers around town, 2 interviews with Pwani and Baraka FM stations and an ad in the one of the dailies. (this would have been totally un-necessary in Nairobi as all one has to do is get 2 posters to put at KNT and Alliance Français to get a houseful).
Philo Ikonya- the President of PEN Kenya, Kingwa Kamencu and infamous Smitta (Tony Mochama) arrived on Saturday morning just in time for the final touches.
Hassan Omar of KNHCR was also present and formed part of the panelist that was to do the readings.
I need not mention that by virtue of Mombasa being the home of Kiswahili, we needed to get a quick guide on some Swahili words like Taasisi as Khainga was told when the word ‘Institution’ became a brainer.
It was pure agony for most of us myself included. I blame too much English and Sheng and to some extent my mothers tongue for this public embarrassment. Some like Tony didn’t even bother trying as the more we did, the more they chuckled at our agony.
But, they sat and listened for over 3 hours as we read and discussed Michela Wrong’s book – Its our Turn To Eat. I loved it when Hassan, who hails from Mombasa himself, gave more immediate examples of this ‘eating’ culture.
Nyota Ndogo was fabulous with her live performance of some of her great songs with her band. Her music enchanted Onduko, Smitta and yours truly, who, at the end of the event, proved to Coasterians that Nairobians can truly dance.
Copies of the book were available for sale at 1,000 and we did get quite a number of sales as well as unanimous requests to have a Kiswahili version of the book available for ordinary Kenyans (read – Waswahili). A wonderful idea I thought it to be.
The turnout would have been much better had we placed the event on a date that did not coincide with Ramadhan. We also did not distribute the fliers to estates like Kisauni which would have been more effective as Dennis, a newly found friend from Mombasa advised.
After the hard day’s work, it was time for some of us to explore the famous night life (Mombasa raha).
Sunday was the perfect day to enjoy the sun, sand and swim. Shopping for some souvenirs was also part of the itinerary before heading back to Nairobi on the 9pm flight.
Thanks to Khainga and the PEN family for a lovely weekend but Most importantly for enabling ordinary Kenyans to realize the kind of rot that our country has been shoved into by its leaders.
If you haven’t, get yourself a copy of the book.
(will post photos of the trip shortly)
Blah blah blah
Fish cakes
Alas a fish cake.
Yet more fish cakes
Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.
The end of the fish cakes
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