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.
  
  
  

  
  

• Day 1: Word Camp Kenya 2011

  Posted: November 13, 2011, 10:34 am by K.P

  The Word Camp Kenya 2011 event finally took off yesterday 12th November at the Cray Fish Camp in Naivasha.
  

  Wamathai and I at the Camping site

  
  
  I was up quite early as I was looking forward to the social interaction, learning, and most of all charter a way forward for this blog which is in the migration process to a self hosted domain with wordpress as the backend.  At 8.15am I was at the rendevous point; the Alliance Francaise where I found @mbuguaNjihia and various other tweeps.
  
  Although we had quite a late start due to late arrivals, we finally arrived at the venue at around 12pm. The meant that most of the morning sessions had to be pushed to the afternoon and others to the following day.
  
  My session on Blogging Communities was postphoned and will be happening today - day 2.
  
  Here are some of the notes that I took during the presentations.
  
  
  Popular content with @MosesKemibaro
  - Lists and rankings
  - Videos interviews
  
  - Wptouch is a  plugin in wordpress  that one can use for  mobile devices
  
  Social Media Marketing with Francis Waithaka
  1. Add links to your Email signatures
  2. Business cards
  3. Build relationships with people
  4. Schedule tweets – timely
  5. Digg.com – post your article links there. Join active groups
  6. Delicious.com – for bookmarking
  7. Facebook – create a group
  8. Linked in – network with professionals
  9. Stumbleupon.com
  10. Twitter – use Hashtag on keywords to make your content findable
  11. Google + good for SEO
  12. Twylah – has high SEO value
  13. Guest blogging – back links
  14. Place share buttons on your blog – like, addthis, +1, tweet – makes it easy to amplify ua content
  
  SEO for social media profiles
  - Use same keywords for your profile on twitter, FB, Google+, linkedin
  - Cpanel stats – AW stats
  - Checking Wordpress stats
  - bit.ly + to see who has retweeted your tweets. Analysis of social referrals
  
  Find more photos here 
  
  

  
  

• KenyanPoet Podcast: 3rd show feat Sauti Sol and Poet Teardrops

  Posted: November 11, 2011, 9:32 pm by K.P

  KenyanPoet November Show: TearDrops by KenyanPoet Find the play list here

  
  

• OnPoint Solutions looking for a Creative Writer

  Posted: November 11, 2011, 9:06 pm by K.P

  Company Background Information:
  Onpoint IT Solutions International, a Digital Marketing firm, provides Digital Marketing Services & Consultation to both Privately & Publicly held companies in various industries.
  
  Company Website:
  http://www.onpoint-it.com
  
  Creative Writer Job Description:
  

  1. Conducts research to obtain factual information and authentic detail, utilizing sources such as the Internet, magazines, journals, books, newspaper accounts, diaries, and interviews.
  2. Reviews, submits for approval, and revises written material to meet personal standards and satisfy needs of client, publisher, director, or producer.
  3. Selects subject or theme for writing project based on clients business and writing specialty, or assignment from marketing coordinator, client, producer, or director.
  4. Develops factors, such as theme, plot, characterization, historical development, action, and dialogue, to create material
  5. Writes blog articles, advertising copies, press releases, content for mailers, industry research papers, newsletters, website content, industry related articles, scripts to name a few.
  6. Organizes material for project, plans arrangement or outline, and writes synopsis.
  7. Collaborates with other writers on specific projects
  8. Confers with clients, publishers, or producers to discuss development changes or revisions

  
  Personal Characteristics
  

  1. Ability to write short stories, thought-provoking articles and essays and creatively simplified pieces on highly technical subjects.
  2. Ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of people (for example, engineers, educators, publishers, editors, art directors, film producers, readers of varying ability)
  3. Adaptability and flexibility
  4. Ability to pay close attention to detail
  5. An interest in new communications technologies, particularly those involving multi-media and the Internet
  6. Ability to analyze and think critically
  7. Ability to deal with and learn from criticism
  8. Ability to handle multiple requests during high pressure periods
  9. Strong organizational, time management skills

  
  Education:
  

  1. Respective educational credentials degree preferred in Journalism, English, Literature
  2. An ability to write well with an understanding of plain language, sentence structure, presentation formats and readability
  3. A good grasp of grammar and the ability to express ideas clearly in writing, research, interviewing and analytical skills, editing and proofreading skills

  
  Employment:
  This is a permanent position
  
  To Apply:
  Send Your Resume & attach a creative, original, self-titled Piece of your writing on Social Security to : charles@onpoint-it.com
  
  N/B: Ladies are encouraged to apply.
  

  
  

• POWO November : Is there A place for African Languages Online?

  Posted: November 10, 2011, 4:44 pm by K.P

  
  

  
  

• Gikuyu Play: Uka Murio Ngurie by Fanaka Arts Theatre 11th - 13th Nov @ KNT

  Posted: November 7, 2011, 9:41 pm by K.P

  
  

  
  

• The Best of Kenyan Jazz at the Capital Jazz Club 15th Anniversary

  Posted: November 2, 2011, 12:12 pm by MUTUA, Andrew

  By Andrew Mutua
  
  This past Saturday Capital Jazz Club, a weekly Jazz Radio Show, commerated 15 years since its inception.To celebrate this momentous milestone Jack Ojiambo, the host of the Capital Jazz Club Show, had lined up Kenya’s best Jazz artists to headline a live stage performance.And the venue, Sierra Lounge 2^nd Floor Yaya Centre, was just the perfect setting for a “JAZZ ALL DAYER” as it was aptly dubbed.To kick off the show the first act was a collaboration of Mwai on the keys, Don on the saxophone and Henry on the drums. They played a number of popular Jazz renditions.This was followed by a break in which DJ D-Lite (David Murithi) took charge of the decks playing best of Acoustic Alchemy, George Benson and many more from his extensive Jazz Collection.The second act was all about the strings; the guitarist Eddie Grey took to the stage and started off with a few solo acts which composed of some originals and instrumentation of local pop tracks. He was later joined by the Nairobi ensemble who enriched the composition by bringing the sound of a violin, bass guitar and drums.The third act was the pristine vocals of none other but Valerie Kimani. She belt out some all-time Jazz Classics “Besema Mucho” and “Fever” being accompanied by the great guitar work of Eddie Grey- superb collabo.To cap it off the master keys man, Krucial Keys Aaron Rimbui, certainly didn’t disappoint.It was certainly six hours of pure fan, the crowd was fantastic and the artists were at their best.Thanks to Jack Ojiambo who put all this together and has bore this “labour of love” religiously for the last 15 years or so. And to the Jazz Fans, the Capital Jazz Club Fans, that have always tuned in and kept the show rolling on for all those years – Thank you. To all Jazz lovers here is to another 15 years and beyond- Cheers!
  To capture the moment we have some pictures-(Thanks David Nyamai)

  
  

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

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

The end of the fish cakes