Kenyanpoet
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A photo review of Rhythm & Spoken poetry night at Dass
Posted: March 22, 2010, 6:32 pm by N.W
Friday 19th was the Rhythm & Spoken Poetry night at the Dass Restaurant in Westlands. I had written about it here.
I arrived at Dass at around 8pm with Kahenya - a fellow blogger, entrepreneur and a good friend who was experimenting with 'a different sort of entertainment on a Friday'. He had earlier written this letter which I found very creatively done and which I felt qualified to be termed as prose. During the Pan Africa Media Conference, I invited him, Samantha Spooner and Mwenda wa Micheni for the poetry night. I managed to convience Kahenya do read his letter at the Dass, see the video here
Samantha joined us a little later but Mwendwa could not make it. In the house was the full Mstari wa Nne crew, Maia Von Lekow who was the evening's main act, Ngwatilo - Featured Poet, Stan (of song Gashungwa), Polycarp of Sauti Sol and Waweru of Penya Africa production House.
The event started off slightly after 8.30pm with a poem by Samir read by Solo off Samir's 2nd poetry book.
I have never heard Maia perform live before. She is sensational. She seemed to blend the voices of Asa, Ayo, Neka and Adele to one while still retaining the authenticity with her Kiswahili lyrics.
She and Kato Change her Guitarist performed several songs in between poetry performances to make the evening a truly Rhythm and Spoken one.
Kudos to Naliaka and the Project Heshima team for organizing a 'neocentric' event and keeping us dancing till midnight.
Got some good photos to capture the moments. Enjoy the slide show.
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Concert: BLNRB - NRBLN, featuring Musicians from Nairobi & Berlin at Club Undecided, 27th March
Posted: March 22, 2010, 6:16 pm by N.W
* CONCERT *
* BLNRB - NRBLN *
* WHERE: Club UndecidedWestlandsNairobi
* WHEN: Saturday 27 March 2010 - 10 PM
* ENTRY: KSh 200
BLNRB - NRBLN is a project of bands and musicians from Nairobi and Berlin who together try to fathom the borders between electronic music, hip-hop and African musical traditions.
Participants from Berlin are the DJ-Duo Teichmann Brothers, Modeselektor, for long an institution in matters pertaining to electronic music and the Berlin-based multinational trio Jahcoozi. Kenyan participants of the project are to date the hip-hop collective Ukoo Flani as well as the MCs Abbas Kubaff, Nazizi, Kimya and Lon’Jon. The visual arts will be designed by Just A Band.
Since February 2009, the musicians have been working together, from hitherto two journeys have emerged the first recordings. The song “Msoto Millions” from Ukoo Flani and Jahcoozi will feature in the Berlin Label BPitch Control album “Barefoot Wanderer” by Jahcoozi. The piece “Dirty Laundry”, a collaboration between the Teichmann Brothers and the MCs Mr. Abbas, Kimya and Lon’Jon is to be heard on the movie “Soul Boy” from Hawa Essuman and Tom Tykwer.
BLNRB - NRBLN is organized and curated by Goethe-Institut Nairobi and the Berlin Djs Andi and Hannes Teichmann. -
Photos of the Pan Africa Media Conference at the KICC on 19th March, 2010
Posted: March 20, 2010, 3:02 pm by N.W
Yesterday(19th March) I was at the KICC for the Pan Africa Media Conference hosted by the Nation Media Group as part of their 50 year celebration since its inception.
The highlight for the day was 'New Media' which got the speakers and everyone in the conference discussing what the future holds for Journalism with the shift brought about by Internet enabled phones, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, My Space and new technologies in general.
Despite the founded concerns of info integrity, sensationalism and all the ills that are being brought about by this new media, what came out is that it(New Media) is and will definitely change the way news is reported.
This was vindicated by the mere fact that the NMG recognised the potential in twitter in giving live news broadcasts. They placed tweet feeds on their websites throughout the conference. The twitter tag was #AfMediaConf. This was a first for the Media House.
The conclusion was that, new media should be harnessed to work with old media for the two to compliment each other and offer the best of both.
Enjoy the moments captured during this historic event.
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Poem: 'Please' by Waithaka Kevin
Posted: March 18, 2010, 2:08 pm by N.W
Please,
chain me,
and once more I will be free,
this prison has been my home,
so far all that I have known,
and I have grown,
accustomed to it's dark cold,
and a company all of my own.
You say you have freed me-
is that so?
Then,where did you intend me
to go?
Back to anonymity,
in a society I no longer know?
At least in there I had a name,
and a number by which i was known,
and in my hunger and squalor,i wasn't alone.
For surely what is this world,
if not a larger cell block,
whose inmates I know not,
yet as i stand and watch them walk-
past,hurried and fast,
at last I understand,
it is simply from the comfort of confinement,
to the isolation of independence,
that i have been cast.
Please,
whip me,
so that once more i may feel,
so that life
may,once more,become real,
for though i understand captivity,
the terror and suffering it means,
it is with this...this
nothingness i cannot deal
without this pain,the happiness is nill
and without these how can i know i live still?
Please,
dominate me,
yes please,oppress me,
you see,as a slave driver you define me,
for hating you helps me survive,
running from you keeps me alive,
my spirit derives it's drive,
from my will not to succumb to your strife,
like the warrior,
fatally wounded,
one hand holding his guts together,
while with the other,
with all of his dying might,
slashing his adversaries left and right,
knowing he lives only as long as this fight,
and only when it's over,
will he surrender to the blinding white light,
and darkness of everlasting night,
Please,
bind me and blind me,
for only what i perceive,
is my reality,
i do not long for clarity,
for through it i see only disparity,
Yes please,
imprison me,
for i prefer a misery that is certain,
to a freedom that is foreign..
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All rights reserved©
Waithaka Kevin
waithakakevin(at)gmail(dot)com -
Rhythm & Spoken, 19th March feat Maia Von Lekow & Kato Change
Posted: March 17, 2010, 2:10 pm by N.W
This Friday 19th March, is Rhythm & Spoken- the monthly poetry open mic at Dass Ethiopian Restaurant, Westlands starting at 8:30pm.
The event will feature singer and guitarist Maia Von Lekow and Kato Change. Special appearance by Ngwatilo Mawiyoo who will be reading from her book 'Blue Mothetongue'.
Entry:Sh200
Neo soul groove Afterparty with DJ Eduardo
call/text:0728293638 for sign up/reservations/directions -
Ngwatilo Mawiyoo publishes her 'blue Mothertongue' poetry collection
Posted: March 15, 2010, 7:21 pm by N.W
There's a new book out there, which you must have. For those of you inNairobi, you may pick it up this weekend at Silverbird bookstores,Bookstop, Textbook Center and a few other bookshops...
"blue mothertongue" written by Ngwatilo Mawiyoo a talented poet and performer.
Stephen Partington says:"Utterly contemporary and distinct from that verse which so oftentalks only to itself, Mawiyoo’s poetry will talk to you, as it did tome."
John Sibi-Okumu writes:"It is the friction between cultural loyalties that informs NgwatiloMayiwoo’s poetic sensibility. Not for her the strident declarations ofracial pride or the stirring evocations of an idyllic Africa destroyedby the outsider that marks much of the poetry that came before hers.She is content to let the specific suggest the empirical and themundane to suggest the profound.
When those of her own generation have children, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo willhave provided them with teachable, homegrown specimens of the poet’scraft that will be a worthy testament to her times."
Would love to hear the thoughts you have on it as you read it - I knowa couple of you have already seen it...share...
I have had a chance to peruse through the book, loved the simplicity and the outline done by Jim Chuchu. Kudos to Ngwatilo.
Look out for "blue mothertongue" - The Show!
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Kenya: Nairobi becomes East Africa's tech heartbeat
Posted: March 15, 2010, 12:13 pm by N.W
Kenya, and specifically Nairobi, has in recent months become the technology heartbeat of Africa with conferences, launches, meet ups, summits and unconferences all running in quick succession.
Read this analytical post I wrote on Global Voices Online -
Photos of the IHub Nairobi Launch - Nairobi's Innovation Hub, 3rd March
Posted: March 4, 2010, 3:06 pm by N.W
The launch of IHub - Nairobi's Innovation Hub was yesterday at the Bishop Gatimu Magua Centre on Ngong Rd. The vent brought together the tech community in Nairobi as well as lovers of technology.
I was the unofficial blogger paparazzi and I can assure you that anyone who was in that event was captured on still. Only problem is, they didn't have somewhere for me to hang the photos on some white tape to sell so send your donations if you would like your copy........lol.
A more detailed post coming soon. Bankelele's recap is better than I'd have done it
Enjoy the slideshow
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Pan Africa Media Conference 18th March, 2010; Reflections of the Past, Present and Prospects for the Future
Posted: March 3, 2010, 3:19 pm by N.W
2 days ago, I received an email invitation from the Pan Africa Media Conference (PAMC 2010) organizing secretariat, a 2 day event due to be held on Thursday 19th March at the KICC, Nairobi
The conference will feature New Media as part of the discussions and who would be better to give insights into this citizen journalism than bloggers.
The event which is being organised by the Nation Media Group(NMG) in conjuction with Africa Media Initiative(AMI) will be hosting ; 2 presidents, 3 former presidents as well as other dignitaries.
The panel of speakers will include renown journalists, accomplished entrepreneurs, environmentalists and scholars
I must say I am looking forward to the conference as just the mere invitation of bloggers is a good indication that our significance in the media world in Africa is receiving the much craved recognition. Unlike in Europe where accredited blogs server as news sources and references, Africa is yet to get there. Bloggers or citizen journalists as most prefer to be called, as still largely viewed as idle youth(mostly techies) with free internet who just want to rant or vent about some personal issues. Well, that was then(about 6yrs ago), now, there are many blogs that are professionally ran giving valid valuable information that is immediate; some of the insightful posts fill the void of niche reporting that is quickly being created by mainstream media.
But all said and done, there are some fundamental issues that need to be addressed in regards to new media. Like with every revolution, teething is a part of it.
The discussion on New Media will be on Friday 19th starting at 8.30am. The panelists will be Matthew Buckland, Digital head, Media 24, South Africa and Isis Nyong’o- Business Development Manager Google Kenya moderated by Ms Ory Okolloh Co-founder and Executive Director of Ushahidi.
The topic of New Media will be revisited again, this time under the discussion on Media Freedom; A balance sheet. with the question.
4. What, given the growth of new media and citizen journalism, is the future of media in Africa?
I hope that the conference will mark a turning point in how new media is viewed in Africa. To attend the conference, see the attendance rates.
Diamond Trust Bank(DTB) is the conference lead sponsor.
Blah blah blah
Fish cakes
Alas a fish cake.
Yet more fish cakes
Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.
The end of the fish cakes
