Items by N.W

Kenyanpoet

• Poem: Conversations by Dennis Inkwa

  Posted: May 7, 2011, 3:24 am by N.W

  I really do….I really do.
  I enjoy Conversations
  When we try get it out there in the open,
  So that others may hear and others may note it down with a pen.
  I talk…every time, all the time
  Whether floating in currency or brutally broke.
  I talk that kind o f talk…
  Walk that kind of walk.
  
  But don’t talk to me about your Mercedes so sleek
  The one you illegally acquired within a week,
  Because these are the conversations that really make me sick,
  You say it gives you a kick when they say our economy is weak!!
  You say the trick is just to flick a coin and that has the same effect
  As a virgin chic seeing a thick……(dick!!)
  They will fear you? But I don’t…
  See my abilities are psychic
  And I see you and your clique
  are the reason Kenya’s economic future is …bleak
  So please…. Don’t talk to me!
  
  Your house…s o big
  It has become a tourist attraction
  CDF responsible for its construction
  As a result,
  You paralyse your own people’s and their systems of production
  Then you sit back and smile with satisfaction.
  Election year, you have the balls to try woe me into your faction.
  Tempting….
  But I will resist that suction,
  And instead I will instigate mass action,
  And you will see the reaction….
  Loud….Big…Red….Hot…like a volcanic eruption.
  Then instead of those long monthly statements of your foreign bank account transactions…
  All you’ll be getting are legal sanctions
  And numerous court injunctions
  So please…..dont talk to me.
  
  Because we…
  We are tired of individuals looting public coffers
  Living in plush residences complete with leather sofas
  Illegally owning fleets of cars as I bought during….buy-one -get-on -free offers
  The rich get richer while the poor man continuously suffers.
  We… are tired of this system criminalizing poverty
  Its illegal in this country not to afford a cup of tea
  Upholding the law means illegally amassing land wealth and other property
  And if you’re this type of individual….
  Please….don talk to me.
  
  But we are also to blame,
  Lettting these corruptible corruption agencies
  Like the KACC and the other international one called Transparency
  Not to act with any urgency.
  The judicial system does not help either.
  To corrupt individuals they are always granting clemency
  Discarding their cases with expediency
  And for their leniency
  They get remunerated….and sometimes in Armenian currency.
  
  So I ask you today,
  In fighting graft, where is the efficiency?
  
  You are not answering because you know you are a part of this rotten legacy!
  And so, before you change your attitude…
  Before you change the situation…..
  I DON’T WANT YOU TO TALK TO ME!!!!
  
  All rights Reserved©Dennis Inkwa
  
  inqwar(at)gmail(dot)com

  
  

• Western Cannibalization of Public Space

  Posted: May 7, 2011, 3:17 am by N.W

  Mid last month I bumped into a discussion on media and politics at Goethe sponsored by some self proclaimed patrons of the ‘liberal arts’. This potpourri of professors, journalists, donors and recipients laid the basis for pulsating counter-intellectualism; half asleep half awake I tried as I could to catch on to some phraseologies in the genealogy in which they were belched out by our high minded discussants… in staccato…
  “Think mediaDespair thinkingMedia is business…”
  “Generational changeTalk showsSocial talkSex talkSalary scalesGood looksCNN journalistsPulse magazine…”
  “Give people what they wantBlind wildebeestsFish marketBunge la mwananchiAmerican revolutionaryFreedom of expression…”
  “Dissenting voicesDivisive politicsHate speechBigotistIncitement…”
  “SensationConsumeristsSelf cannibalization…Fait accompli…Beauty and the microphone”
  (No wonder freedom of the press and democracy are held to be the highest virtues in Westernized societies)
  By Poe T Kritik

  
  

• Launch:Maddo Online Archive & Online Community 4th May 2011

  Posted: May 3, 2011, 10:22 pm by N.W

  * ITSAMADDWORLD.COM LAUNCH ** LAUNCH OF THE MADDO ONLINE ARCHIVE & ONLINE COMMUNITY *
  * WHERE: Alliance Francaise de NairobiLoita StreetNairobi
  * WHEN: Wednesday 4th May 2011 - 7 PM
  * ENTRY: FREE
  LAUNCH OF THE MADDO ONLINE ARCHIVE &ONLINE COMMUNITY
  Maddo (one of Kenya’s long standing media cartoonists) and SasaHivi Media (as publisher) will launch Maddo’s Online Archive & Community website titled Itsamaddworld.com.
  
  'It’s a Madd, Madd World’ (MMW) is a full page composite cartoon feature that takes already for 22 years a satirical look at Kenya, the world, people and politics and which appears in The Standard Newspaper every Saturday.
  
  The site will carry all editions of 'It’s a Madd, Madd World’ (MMW) since its inception and is loaded with interactive features for visitors to comment and discuss this Madd Madd world we are living in.
  
  The launch will be spiced up by a performance of Kenyan musician Makadem, MC Bill Odidi, The BIG MADD WORLD KENYA quiz (with fabulous prices to be won) and an introductory trip through the website amongst other activities.
  
  ENTRY FREE!

  
  

• Poets and Writers meet at Nairobi's Tech Hub for POWO

  Posted: April 27, 2011, 12:45 pm by N.W

  Last Saturday, 23rd April was the inaugural POWO event - a forum for Poets and Writers that seeks to encourage Kenyan Creative writers to exploit the various opportunities presented by their internet for promotion of their writing.
  
  The event which was held at Nairobi's hub for the tech and creative community the IHub along Ngong Road on the Southern side of the Capital City.
  
   It was also a  'Meet up' that sought to bring together Kenyan Creative writers be they writers of fiction, non fiction, poetry, prose with the common goal being their interest in using the internet.
  
  Most of those who signed up for the free event on eventbrite already had blogs and it was a surprise to note just how many creative bloggers were in Kenya - Well over 50.
  
  The event, though set to start at 11.30, started slightly late(12pm) due to lack of early risers being the start of the start of the Easter Holiday. Early arrivals were treated to some African Music then Videos by Kenya's own Mike Kwambo with the poem 'Big Ass Bed' and Chimamanada Adichie's 'The danger of a single story'  that was shared with the TED crowd.
  
  The event kicked off with Ndanu Mung'ala - MC for the day, welcoming all in attendance and inviting Njeri Wangari for the opening remarks.
  
  Njeri read a quote from one of the speaker's earlier blog post, Njoroge Matathia. A quote that has also been shared on this blog from his post 'Made on the Internet' (one can read the full article here). She went on to explain the idea behind the POWO concept with sneak picks into what should be expected in future. She shared her experience in the challenge that most creative writers face - getting published and went on to talk about the opportunities the internet gives event towards eventually getting a publisher was the case with the eventual publishing of her poetry collection.
  
  
  
  
  Kahonge ANTHONY KAHONGE 
  
  @ @Miganphyl29 http://www.ihub.co.ke/blog/2011/04/powo-poets-writers-online-2/ a link to the @iHubNairobi blog - #POWO23 Apr Favorite Retweet Replypeteretelej Peter Etelej ✔ 
  
  POWO - Poets and Writers Online | Kenya http://goo.gl/fb/UQ98b23 Apr mawazo_mengi Wanjeri Gakuru 
  
  Glad to be home s/o to @powo for an interesting afte & the Sherlock's Den Everton game crew ;-) #bless ttyl!23 Apr peteretelej Peter Etelej ✔ 
  
  bookmarked POWO - Poets and Writers Online | Kenyahttp://y.ahoo.it/RPagPzX823 Apr Blogs_Kenya Top Kenyan Blogs 
  
  [The Online Kenyan] POWO - Poets and Writers Online | Kenya: I happened to attend the first POW... http://bit.ly/f1yhyb via @peteretelej23 Apr peteretelej Peter Etelej ✔ 
  
  POWO - Poets and Writers Online | Kenya: I happened to attend the first POWO meet-up at the iHub Nairobi. For th... http://bit.ly/gd8rRl23 Apr EdwinAbuga Edwin Gekonge 
  
  #powo was awesome. The 'afterparty' was awesomer. I rediscovered my sincere n passionate indifference to matters soccer.23 Apr Dracofs Draco Bosén 
  
  @maxhiago powo to sem treina fica doente e tenso :S , nem sei se vo pro shopping .S23 Apr roomthinker roomthinker 
  
  Good stuff #POWO. Met lots of tweeps @LarryMadowo @wanjiku@kahenya @bintiM @wagaodongo @French_freddy na wengine wengi i forget #mzeenimimi23 Apr aleyajamel Aleya Jamel 
  
  @ @Atibelle Hello!! So lovely to meet you at #POWO - Hopefully we will see you at the scrabble meet? Girl Power all the way!
  
  The Day's speakers had arrived with the exception of Joseph Mucheru who sent his apologies due to a last minute commitment. He did however send us Neil Ahlsten - New Business Development Sub-Saharan Africa. The other speakers were, Wamathai, Potash and Muki Garang.
  
  After the opening remarks, the first speaker, Neil gave a short presentation on the opportunities available on Google's platform for creative writers e.g Google blogspot- the blogging platform, analytics for traffic statistics, Google books, youtube among others. The presentation was quite brief and some attendees felt that there were more products that could have been discussed in detail.
  
  There was free Wifi and most of those at the event had come along with their gadgets. Most freely shared their views as well as update those who missed on the ongoing events. The event's hastag was #POWO. This also proved to be a good icebreaker for the meetup that was to follow after the talks.
  
  Muki Garang the Performer at the event gave a unique performance with his poetry piece 'People's TV 101, I have written about it earlier in my review of the JUkwaani Festival.
  
  French_Freddy Fred Wambugu Maina 
  
  @ @EunShixx Pleasure was and is still mine #VanityTweet #PoWo. Tweetpics pronto uondoe hiyo panda :)24 Apr Favorite Retweet ReplyPlubera Makena Mbone Simani 
  
  @ @robert_mwangi #POWO is that the poetry thing you were meant to attend?23 Apr robert_mwangi Robert Mathenge 
  
  missed #powo at #ihub today! needs a really loud reminder!23 Apr Fawkie Franklin Senah 
  
  Despite my Demeanor @kenyanpoet should know I enjoy quite scenarios,actually thanks for #POWO Premier23 Apr __felipemarafon felipe 
  
  dae powo23 Apr EunShixx Eunice Chege 
  
  @French_Freddy It was nice to meet you @POWO. I'll check out your blog. Enjoy the weekend.23 Apr French_Freddy Fred Wambugu Maina 
  
  @ @TheParasGudka Cool. Already #following @nairobitweetup. Look forward to seeing you at #powo 3rd Saturday of every month23 Apr French_Freddy Fred Wambugu Maina 
  
  @Powo is creating an initiative based on the e-verything e-volving into the e-ra of e-market-led change #NigelFpercy #powo23 Apr French_Freddy Fred Wambugu Maina 
  
  @ @TheParasGudka #Powo @powo was a maiden voyage for Kenyan Poets & Writers to chart a way forward towards#ReadingCulture in Kenya23 Apr French_Freddy Fred Wambugu Maina 
  
  @ @brendawambui Sasawa.U ulikuwa wapi ukahata #POWO with @powo at @ihubnairobi? #Smh lakini it's on every 3rd Sato of the month so jipange :-D23 Apr French_Freddy Fred Wambugu Maina 
  
  @ @TheParasGudka Cheers for that mate. Al reciprocate on the#POWO @IhubNairobi today with @powo. Tweetpics pronto23 Apr kenyanmathree Mathree 
  
  Good 2 see u man! RT @Atibelle: @Blogs_Kenya Great seeing you at the @POWO meetup today. Blessed Easter!
  
  Wamathai, who contrary to popular belief is quite slim, soft spoken and can sometimes get nervous infront of a large crowd was up next. His presentation on how Wamathai the blog started was quite an eye opener. His story on how he got kicked out of FB due to too many female fans was quite fascinating.
  
  The last speaker of the day was Potash(Njoroge Matathia). His intellect was so imposing as he reminded writers not to be caught up in all the digital hype forgetting what their purpose is; Inform, Entertain and Educate.
  
  During the Q&A session, most sought to know how they can drive more traffic to their blogs, if it necessary to be on twitter always, anonymous blogging as well as on soulful entertainment. Wamathai, in his answer to the use of twitter gave thought provoking challenge "Tweet Sense, not NonSense".
  
  Writers were also treated to some videos by; Miceere Mugo at the 2010 Kwani Litfest, Def Poetry Gemini with the piece 'Poetic Bloodline' as well as Ngwatilo with her poem 'Two Clocks'.
  
  In her closing remarks, Njeri gave the next meetup's agenda- A hands on tech workshop on the various tools available for writers online from; how to start a blog, how to embed a video or a html code, how to upload a video, using FB and Twitter effectively etc.
  
  The event ended at 2.30pm with most remaining behind for the actual meet-up
  
  There were 73 people in attendance. Read the rest of #POWO tweets here . Fred Wambugu took some lovely shots of the event available here
  
  The Next POWO Meet-up will be on 21st May at he same venue.

  
  

• Why POWO? ‘The power of the pen meets the power of the Net’

  Posted: April 21, 2011, 8:33 pm by N.W

  The last 4 years have seen the rebirth of writing in Kenya and with it the emergence of performance poetry. Writers such as Binyavanga Wainaina, Parsalelo Kantai, Muthoni Garland, Kingwa Kamencu, Yvonne Owuor, Onduko Bw’Atebe among others. Many of these have gone on to win local and international awards.
  
  In the same period, the re-birth of poetry but this time in spoken form was witnessed with forums like Kwani Open mic, Rhythm & Spoken, WAPI, becoming spaces where poets could share their poems in way of performance.
  
  Other monthly as well as annual events like the Sunday Salon, Story Moja Hay Festival and Kwani LitFest have ensured that writers and poets get to meet under the literature banner to not only inspire each other but also inspire many Kenyans who enjoy a good read and watch poetry come alive.
  

  Kaigwa the Sculptor, Binyavanga and NW at a past event (photo courtesy of N.W)

  
  Despite this growth however, the same challenges plague Kenyan Writers and Poets – getting published.
  This has been a challenge that every new writer and poet faces in a bid to get their work out there and the debate always goes the egg and hen way; what comes before the other? The writer having a huge demand hence publisher seeing the worth in publishing or publisher taking a risk and discovering a gem?
  The internet has been around for quite some time and has recently become a very important tool for socializing.
  
  For early initiates like me who discovered the internet a bit early, there are a number of creative writers (writers and poets) who discovered this great tool and who started blogging as early as 2005. Muki garang and Matathia (Potash) are such writers. I also started this blog around the same time.
  
  Fast forward to the year 2010 and a lot of poets now have blogs. Poets like Cereal in a box, CizoePoetry, Wamathai, Ngwatilo just to mention a few. Theirs is a battle half won in the publishing challenge as they are able to publish their poetry and get the much desired reaction from readers in form of comments to their poetry posts.
  
  At this point I would like to share my experience which though unique in Kenya has become the norm in the west. I got discovered through my blog and did not take much convincing to get Nsemia to publish my collection as the comments were enough evidence of the nature of my poetry.
  
  As a fellow blogger and significant other aptly put it “The power of the Pen meets with the power of the net” That is how POWO (Poets and Writers Online) was born.
  
  It is time for creative writes to look beyond getting a book published and venture into cyberspace for the immense opportunities that lay in wait.
  
  There are animators, TV producers, online magazines looking for some good creative works either in form of a story or a poem.
  
  The digital world remains unconquered by creative writers with platforms like Itunes offering opportunities to poets and writers who can turn their work into audio. Youtube is a free video site where one can easily upload their performance video opening up opportunities for performances outside Kenya.
  
  Although the internet does have a lot of benefits, it is also good to be cautious and know how to copyright your works, apply for intellectual property as well deal with cases of plagiarism and copyright infringement when such cases arise.
  
  This is what the POWO forum seeks to do for its members, not only make them aware of opportunities in the digital world but also equipment them with the necessary tools to survive and thrive online.
  Join us in this venture where ‘The power of the pen meets the power of the Net’
  
  I leave you with a quote by one of the 1st POWO guest Speakers, Njoroge Matathia.
  
  

  "As a writer, I cut my teeth on the internet a space where as far as writing goes, the dabbler meets the hobbyist and the MFA backed craftsmanship meets raw talent. The internet: a veritable patch pourri of style and form; a babel of trained and untrained voices; a cacophony of the phony know-it-alls outshouting of the too-smart-for-TV pundits; the only place in the wide world where genius shares both a podium and accolades with mediocrity."

  
  Read the rest of this article " Made on the Internet" here. 

  
  

• POWO(Poets and Writers Online) Meetup, 23rd April at the IHub

  Posted: April 14, 2011, 9:57 pm by N.W

  Logon to [powo.eventbrite.com] to sign up for this FREE event.

  
  

• Anthony David Coming to Kenya on May 7; The Lounge Unplugged

  Posted: April 12, 2011, 10:35 pm by N.W

  They brought us Hill St. Soul last year for the first ever 'Lounge Unplugged', this year in May they will be hosting Anthony David known for his hit  'Words'  featuring India Arie.
  
  Capital FM's  first live event in putting life to Mid Morning show 'The Lounge', was dubbed 'Lounge Unplugged'. It was a huge success that  surprised not just the hosts but even Hillary Mwelwa herself (the lead singer in the group Hill St. Soul)as she didn't think Kenyan's actually knew her music.
  
  With 4 albums at present, Anthony David will be having a live performance in Nairobi on May 7th. Elani, a local group that has also been making inroads in the music scene will be the opening act.
  
  If you didn't know Anthony David's music, its about time you looked for his albums and save up for the show whose venue might be the Zen Garden but this is yet to be confirmed.
  
  Enjoy this hit song 'Forevermore' which he featured Algebra and rapper Phonte (its abt time pple stopped playing Kenny G on their weddings.........)
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• The Spoken World - Dass Restaurant 14th April

  Posted: April 12, 2011, 10:14 pm by N.W

  
  

• Fena Gitu; A new Fenamenal Sound in Nairobi

  Posted: April 12, 2011, 12:23 pm by N.W

  "Have you ever felt down down in your soul, you don't know what to do, you don't know where to go"

  That is the first verse of the song 'Down' by Fena Gitu or Fena_Menal as her twitter handle suggests! Fena is fairly new to the music scene with this particular song having been uploaded on SoundCloud only 15 days ago.
  Her voice is fresh, crisp with 'matter of fact' lyrics on life- a relief from the love, women, relationships and partying that most Kenyan songs by the younger generation are known for.
  
  A few months ago I wrote an article exploring this new sound coming from Nairobi. In the article titled 'Afrosoul – Emerging soul from Africa or a fad?', I did mention that only time would answer the question.
  
  From the look of things, I hope I am not jumping the gun when I say that we are witnessing something phenominal in the making. But don't take my word for it, catch Fena at the Kinanda Festival this Sunday, 17th April at Kifaru Gardens from 1.30- 6.30pm, Gate charges are Ksh.200.
  
   She will be performing alongside Atemi,  Kombo, Anto Neo Soul, Elani, Ma3, Adwar, Asiyo & Aceda -other names whose music would also be classified as 'AfroSoul'.
  
  Follow Fena on Twitter for updates on when her Debut album is expected. In the meantime, enjoy the single 'Down'
  
  Down by Fena Music

  
  

• Screenings Of Kenyan AMAA Award Nominees

  Posted: April 6, 2011, 10:39 pm by N.W

  * HOMAGES EXTRA ** SCREENINGS OF KENYAN AMAA AWARD NOMINEES *
  * WHERE: GOETHE-INSTITUTMaendeleo House Monrovia StreetNairobi
  * WHEN: Friday 8th April 2011 - 5.30 PM
  * ENTRY: FREE
  SCREENINGS OF KENYAN AMAA AWARD NOMINEES
  On 25th February 2011, the African Movie Academy Awards announced its 2011 nominees list. The nominations party took place in Nairobi, the awards ceremony was held from 21st – 27th March in Yenagoa, Nigeria. The Awards are presented annually to recognize excellence of professionals in the African Film industry.
  
  We will be screening some of the Kenyan films that were nominated this year:
  
  * Wanjiru Kairu’s Weakness (nominated in the Best Short Film category)
  
  * Zipporah Nyarori’s Zebu and the Photofish (nominated in Best Short Film, and in Best Child Actor)
  
  * Judy Kibinge’s documentary Headlines in History (nominated in Best Documentary)
  
  * Hawa Essuman’s feature film Soul Boy (nominated in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Film in African Language, Best Young Actor).
  
  Goethe-Institut Nairobi - +254-20-2224640 - prog@nairobi.goethe.org

  
  

• Theatre: Mugaathe Mugaathuku (The Unhonorable Honorable) 16th & 17th April

  Posted: April 6, 2011, 12:23 pm by N.W

  Kiongi a popularly elected president soon forgets his core mandate from his electorate. Surrounded by a bunch of crooked loyalists, they deeply engage in all vices against the same people who elected them. From impunity, corruption, grabbing of public land- including a cemetery, immorality, wife snatching, rape, corruption, maize scandal, condom scandal, contaminated food saga, violence, rigging of elections, wrong priorities, misuse of public funds; name it. By all means possible, they perpetrate all sorts of injustice to hold on to power. This goes on until the general public has had enough, life is unbearable, promises are broken, women and children are dying. Enough is enough………………………………………….Asiii!!!!!!! Was it a dream or what?.....................Aren’t those approaching screams?........................... Are they coming for me?
  
  Watch the Play Mugaathe Mugaathuku at the Kenya National Theatre (Concert Hall) on Sat 16th, & 17th April 2011 at  3pm & 6pm
  TICKETS: Adults : 500/-,  Students: 300/-
  
  For Advanced booking, inquiries call mpesa 0721548578. or Email: Thiongo_k(at)yahoo.com. Tickets available at Kenya National Theatre,
  
  Theatre Impressionists- Home of real laughter, Producer: Thiongo K, Director: Eduardo Waigwa, Music: Kinyua Mundia, Choreography: John Mudembo.

  
  

• Kenyan Bloggers Form an Association; BAKE

  Posted: April 1, 2011, 10:39 pm by N.W

  On Friday 25th March, several Kenyan bloggers held a meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, under the newly formed BAKE ( Bloggers Association KEnya). The meeting was the 4th in an initiative by some of Kenyas veteran bloggers.
  
  There have been numerous complaints, accusations and in some instances, outright battle of words simmering between the blogger community and the mainstream media with cases of plagiarism, copyright infringement and a general lack of appreciation by the mainstream media on the impact that blogging has had in generation and delivery of news and information content in Kenya. This standoff has been aptly covered in a recent blogpost by Jacque Ndinda titled, WriteThinking: Plagiarism-masters of copy paste.
  
  Read the rest of the article on Global Voices
  

  @Kahenya, a Kenyan blogger at a previous BarCamp, photo courtesy of  Njeri Wangari

  
  

• Thandiswa at the 24th Blankets & Wine, 3rd April

  Posted: March 23, 2011, 9:45 pm by N.W

  BLANKETS & WINE XXIV
  Time: Sunday, April 3 · 1:00pm - 7:00pm
  Location: LEISURE GARDENS, MAMBA VILLAGE
  

  Thandiswa (Image courtesy of Last Fm)

  
  Lulu, the mesmerizing Harry Kimani, the energetic Makadem, and the incredible Thandiswa Mazwai from South Africa. will be the artists gracing the stage at the 24th Blankets & Wine.
  This will be the first time both Lulu and Thandiswa will play at Blankets & Wine
  
  As is the tradition of B&W, pack your picnics/wine/shukas and bring along all your friends and family for incredible an afternoon of music.
  
  
  
  TICKETING INFO:
  Advance tickets at all DORMANS outlets (from thur 3rd): Ksh 1000
  gate price for adults are 1,300 Ksh & Ksh 400 per child ticket
  For online tickets, visit Pesa Pal
  Door charges: Adults: Ksh 1,300. Children over 5years: Ksh 400
  
  

  
  

• Art & Cocktails 2nd April at Caribana Feat Dennis Inkwa

  Posted: March 23, 2011, 9:21 pm by N.W

  
  

• Ayub Ogada in concert: Goethe Institut Nairobi 19th March

  Posted: March 17, 2011, 10:19 pm by N.W

  * AYUB OGADA ** CONCERT * MUZIKI WA KENYA *
  * WHERE: GOETHE-INSTITUTMaendeleo House Monrovia StreetNairobi
  * WHEN: Saturday 19th March 2011 - 6 PM
  * ENTRY: FREEMuziki wa Kenya: Ayub Ogada
  
  Ayub Ogada, a world music legend, has been performing since the late 1970s, and is arguably the best known Kenyan musician internationally. Born in Mombasa to Luo parents, he was educated in the US and in Kenya. He spent his career as a musician in Kenya, then 20 years in London, before coming back to Kenya in 2008.
  
  As a master of the 8-stringed lyre Nyatiti, complemented by his unique voice, Ayub Ogada caused a sensation in world music. He released several albums, the most famous being En Mana Kuoyo which was recorded by Peter Gabriel’s Record Label Real World. Ogada has had his songs featured in a number of prominent feature films such as Buffalo Soldiers, I Dreamed of Africa, and The Constant Gardener. After his return from the UK, Ayub Ogada has concentrated mainly on developing talents in Kenya.
  
  On this evening, Ogada gives a rare solo concert – which is only the 2nd live concert after his return to Kenya - performing his own music: It will simply be his voice, percussions and the trancelike Nyatiti.
  
  Goethe-Institut Nairobi - +254-20-2224640 - prog@nairobi.goethe.org
  
  

  
  

• Women, Action & the Media (WAM) Nairobi : March 20th - 23rd

  Posted: March 2, 2011, 4:10 pm by N.W

  Women, Action & the Media –  WAM Nairobi: is an event series happening next month in the downtown of Kenya’s capital city, where local journalists, foreign correspondents, students, advocates, and other brainy engaged people will talk it up about the intersection of gender and media. What are the barriers for the full participation of female journalists in East African media? How are stories of women and girls in Kenya told (or not told) in the international press?
  
  WAM! Nairobi is part of a global campaign to raise awareness about gender in the media and to create and strengthen relationship between women media-makers across industries.
  
  The 3 day event will start on Sunday, March 20th through to the Wednesday 23rd march at various locations in Nairobi's CBD.
  
  Some of the speakers at the event will be Racheal Gichinga(Kuweni Serious), Angela Wachuka(Kwani Trust) and Rebecca Wanjiku(Ushahidi)
  Who’s invited?
  
  Media producers, journalists, activists, PR strategists, academics, community organizers, feminists, funders and philanthropists, “citizen” media watchdogs, media policy advocates, alternative-network-builders, bloggers, writers, teachers, artists, technology trainers, cartoonists, students …
  
  All you have to do is RSVP as soon as possible to wamnairobi [at] gmail dot com. Space is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so RSVP today!
  
  They are  also looking for people to live-blog and tweet the programs, so if you’re interested, be sure to let them know.
  
  WAM! Nairobi is also a joint project of Fulbright Fellows Anna Clark (Nairobi) and Jina Moore (Kigali). Anna is a fiction writer and journalist who blogs about literature at Isak. Jina is a freelance journalist who covers Africa.

  
  

• One Day I will Write About This Place - Binyavanga Wainaina writes his Memoir

  Posted: March 2, 2011, 3:32 pm by N.W

  I like to refer to him as the founding father of contemporary Kenyan writing as it is during his tenure as the founding editor of Kwani Trust that writers like Yvonne Owour , Parsalelo Kantai, Muthoni garland and poets like myself, Dennis Inkwa, Grand Master Masese, Micheal Kwambo, Leon Kiptum and many others were discovered through their publications as well as the Kwani open Mic event which still runs upto today.
  
  That was in 2003. He had just won the Caine Prize for his first novel, Discovering Home.
  Since then he has written an essay' How to write about Africa' which became very popular
  
  Binyavanga Wainaina is now currently writing his memoir 'One Day I will Write About This Place' due to be published in August 2011 by Graywolf Press (US) and in November 2011 by Granta Books (UK).
  
  In this vivid and compelling debut memoir, Wainaina takes us through his school days, his mother's religious period, his failed attempt to study in South Africa as a computer programmer, a moving family reunion in Uganda, and his travels around Kenya. The landscape in front of him always claims his main attention, but he also evokes the shifting political scene that unsettles his views on family, tribe, and nationhood.
  
  Read an extract of the memoir here.

  
  

• 'Close Up' bringing the Arts to TV with Akisa Omulepu

  Posted: February 28, 2011, 4:17 pm by N.W

  "Close Up" is a new program that will be making a debut on Kenyan TV station NTV on 5th March with the first guest being none other than the Drummer Queen - Muthoni Ndonga.
  
  I caught up with the show's host Akisa Omulepu on twitter(@ABrandNewWorld) and here are her thoughts on the  heavily anticipated show.
  
  
  KP: What is the name of the show & what is it about?
  “Close Up” is a weekly lifestyle show profiling the people and places shaping today’s Kenya. The show will focus primarily on arts, culture, community and literature but is not limited to those areas.
  
  Who is Emerge Omnimedia?
  Emerge Omnimedia is my production company that I launched in 2010. The company is dedicated to excellence in programming. Emerge Omnimedia’s first project is ‘Close Up’ and it will air on NTV, Saturday’s at 6:15pm.
  
  Tell me about you as the show host & CEO
  My name is Akisa Omulepu. I’m a television producer, host, writer and art lover. I grew up in New York. My father was Kenyan and my mother is Panamanian. My undergraduate degree is in Economics from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. I also have a Master’s in journalism from Columbia University.
  
  My journalism experience includes working for CNBC, The Source Magazine, Black Enterprise Business Report and a host of other places as a freelance journalist, copy editor and writer.
  
  I lived in Nairobi briefly as a child and went to Msongari. I moved back to Nairobi some years ago.
  
   Who is your target audience?
  Close Up is a family show. Therefore it will have broad appeal.
  
  
  What is the aim of the show, what do you hope to achieve?
  Close Up plans to put a spotlight on underreported people and places in Kenya. There are a lot of fantastic things happening that remain hidden gems.
  
   How different will your show be from Insync; an art program that was discontinued on NTV?
  I think times are different from when Insync was on air. Social media was still evolving at the time. Close Up will have a significant online component.
  
  Why Kenya?
  Why not Kenya? My father was Teso and part of the Tom Mboya airlift program. Growing up I had a very clear sensibility that Kenya, and Africa as a whole, would be part of my future works.
  
  Do you have any sponsors yet?
  Some companies see the value of advertising to the burgeoning middle-class in Kenya. The companies joining the show will be tapping into consumers that want to buy products that reflect their lifestyle. Those are the companies I will focus on. From telecommunications to health & beauty, Kenyan consumers have an ever-expanding buying power that shouldn’t be underestimated.
  
  Previous art shows have been pulled off air due to lack of sponsors, how do you hope to tackle this?
  The reality is Kenyans want variety in television programming. Diverse programming is a good thing for the Kenyan viewer. More importantly, I believe Kenyans want to see themselves reflected on well produced television shows. Importing more than 75% of local content is not a sustainable business model. Some sponsors realize this and are staying ahead of the curve in sponsoring local content.
  
  What are your thoughts of the arts in Kenya?
  What artisans do and don’t create in all forms (buildings, furniture, literature, etc) is a direct reflection of where a culture is at any given time. Their work is important and critical in a civil society. Art in all forms serves to inspire, motivate and its intrinsic value is immeasurable.
  
  With that said, I think the arts in Kenya is vibrant but not widely appreciated or publicized. Close Up hopes to do its small part to profile a wide variety of people in the arts and other fields.
  
   Close Up will be airing on NTV on  Saturdays from 6:15pm

  
  

• Public Lecture : Obama's Revolution: What lessons for Africa by Prof. Horace Campbell

  Posted: February 21, 2011, 3:54 pm by N.W

  Public Lecture: Obama's Revolution: What lessons for Africa by Prof. Horace Campbell, author of recently published "Barack Obama and 21st century politics"
  

  Prof. Horace Campbell's Book Barack Obama & 21st Century Politics - courtesy of www.horacecampbell.net

  
  
  
  Respondents: Tom Maliti, political analyst and Njoki Njehu, Director, Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource
  
  Moderator: Hakima Abbas
  
  Venue: University of Nairobi,  Taifa Hall
  
  February 22, 2011: 5.30 - 7.30 p.m. 
  
  
  Prof. Horace Campbell has authored the following books;
  1.Rasta and Resistance From Marcus Garvey to Walter Rodney
  2. Reclaiming Zimbabwe: The Exhaustion of the Patriarchal Model of Liberation
  3. Pan Africanists and African Liberation in the 21st century.
  
  His lecture will be on his most recent book: Barack Obama and 21st Century Politics: A Revolutionary Moment in the USA. It will take place at the University of Nairobi on Tuesday.

  
  

• Ex-Inhibition

  Posted: February 7, 2011, 1:30 pm by N.W

  Traffic avoidance is a way of life in this bustling city that has more vehicles than are actually necessary. In one such attempt I found myself near the Goethe Institute, which is increasingly gaining artistic prominence through its bold exhibitionism of progressive ideals and budding artists. These artists’ themes mainly revolve around prevalent class conflicts that are experienced by inhabitants such as those living in Kibera vis-à-vis those who live in the more upmarket areas such as Lavington.     
  Kibera-ismOn this fateful weekend, the Goethe people were paying homage to what they said was one of our very own and very best in the art of filmmaking, having moved from strength to strength with the passing of time like the adage of good wine – Judy Kibinge. On show was perhaps one of her several documentaries on guess what…yap, you guessed it right – Kibera!  Well, I still decided to go ahead and pitch camp, who knows perhaps more juicy acts would follow. Besides, why should we misjudge the book cover, Judy may bring out a third dimension to Kibera, which I had not envisaged.

  Map of Kibera - courtesy of www.mapkiberaproject.yolasite.com

  
  As the reel roiled on, two amusing things happened. Local activists of the NGO kind started vacating while more of what I would consider as expatriates made their way in. The Kibera tale did have a third angle after all! Somehow, the social welfare cum human rights activists could not bear the documentary or they had seen it many times over. Better still, in the presence of their expatriate donors, the documentary may have brought out the ineffectiveness of social welfare activism. It was like a form of NGO guilt – the expatriates had entrusted them with sums of money to help the urban poor, where was the progress? A tinge of scandal was in the air…   Coincidentally, the late comers were just in time to see how a radio station, started with donations from USAID, was helping the people of Kibera to air their views, get informed as well as create employment. Wow! Their eyes glittered with pride, how they had helped these wretched, and sometimes ungrateful, people! What would these destitute do without this generous spirit; their usefulness has been clearly demonstrated and their right of place reaffirmed. Even though the show was not half way yet, Goethe’s exhibitionism had already served its purpose. In a form of what can be termed as “ex-inhibition”, it has exhibited the worthiness of the expatriate community while at the same time underlining the limitations of the Kenyan socio-economic fabric thereby reinforcing local allegiance to expats. Fifteen minutes later, I decided that a traffic update and some fresh air were in order, having gleaned what I could from the colorful documentary and its audience. However, after sauntering around town it became clear that the traffic had not gotten any lighter and the sensible thing was to go back to the VIP perch reserved for guests like me.  And so, I found my way back to the auditorium to once again muse at art in its virulent form.
  Killer NecklaceThis time round, a film titled “Killer Necklace” was showing and I must say that the picture quality was impressive. So I got myself a sit at the back of the hall and did my best to decipher its plot. Some aspects of the film vividly brought out the urban struggle with vice and virtue as experienced in both the inner city tenements (slums) and the leafy suburbia. The plot centered around a young man who found out the hard way that his strivings to be an accountant could not rescue him from the poverty that surrounded him and the only way out was to steal from the rich by any means; for even they had gained their riches through public theft in the name of politics and government contracts and such other dubious means.  Moreover, even if he became an accountant, he would be employed to count stolen money for the nuevo riche and in the end die poor!The film seems to carry with it the stack reality of helplessness that pervades society whereby the social-economic structure consists mainly of an extortion racket that goes all the way to the bottom of the “food chain”. But at the end of it, I felt that something had been left out. This chain of events begins with the proud African who has already amassed wealth and ends up with petty offenders in the periphery of this system. However, it does not account for the source of the rich man’s material wealth.     Perhaps, Judy did not want to offend the sensibilities of her hosts or simply overlooked the fact that the bulk of the wealthy African “businessmen” mint their dough as middlemen for expatriate enterprises and as such the vicious cycle actually starts with the people of Goethe!   Some of these foreign companies have been known to extract contracts from Government through the services of local politicians who ensure that the contracts come their way in return for a slice of the pie. In addition, foreign aid often comes with conditions that ensure the awarding of contracts to companies from the donor nation and as such it is a form of kickback. Consequently, the ills begotten of the current social economic strains do not originate from the middle man but are rather ordered from “above”.   I’m certainly convinced that Judy is capable of making a film that encompasses these silent contradictions. However, it would have to be aired elsewhere as the theme would go beyond the bounds of what Goethe might consider progressive. It therefore follows that for her to break out of this inhibition mould, she might have to break off with the traditions of her immediate sponsor and strike out into uncharted territory; away from her constrained exhibitionism or “ex-inhibition” for lack of a better word.
  By Poe. T. Critik 

  
  

• Afrosoul – Emerging soul from Africa or a fad?

  Posted: February 3, 2011, 12:57 pm by N.W

  The term has been used to describe a sound by a group quipped by Clay Muganda in an old copy of the Drum Magazine as ‘a band of young musicians with their composition popularly known as the Java song’. The group was Sauti Sol and term is ‘Afro Soul’. The group was fairly unknown then when they performed at the Wedding Ceremony for Eric Wainaina & Sheba Hirst back in the year 2008.Fast forward to the present and there is a whole breed of groups and artists using the same term to describe their sound.
  What exactly is Afro Soul?
  Though there has been no research or documented facts describing this ‘New Genre’ I will try and deduce reasons why it has the term soul and Afro- African.Having attended performances by most of these groups & Artists i.e. Sauti Sol, Aziza, Elani, Carol Atemi, Stan to name but a few, I would correctly assume that they are all heavily influenced by Neo Soul artists as well as African Music Artists. The neo soul term was first used by Kedan Massenburg  of Motown Record Company in order to describe Erykah Badu’s sound which defied soul, RnB or jazz tags as it had a blend of all these sounds including Hip hop.

  Sauti Sol - Image courtesy of www.kamataschool.com

  
  As he admits, he coined that term ‘Neo-Soul’ in order to market this unique sound.  He went on to produce D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, India Arie and many other Neo-Soul pioneers who made it in the mainstream, better still, topping charts throughout the US and beyond.This term ‘Neo-soul’ has however never been fully accepted by these artists who consider themselves either as simply RnB or Soul artist.The term Afro Soul is thus nowadays used to describe an artist or a group whose music is a blend of RnB with African Instruments or sounds.
  Is this the making of a new Genre?
  The growth of a new genre from an old one is always look down upon as either a dilution or distortion of the original sound. Though this might be true, that is the only way that music grows; by feeding off what is currently there. It happened with the growth of jazz, Blues, RnB, Rock and most recently what is popularly known as crunk from Rap and Hip Hop.Thus it is becoming quite acceptable for these artists to call themselves Afro Soul.Where to draw the line?
  In the December 2007 issue of True Love, Carol Atemi describes her sound this way in verbatim“It is a mixture of Neo-Soul and Afro – kind of a Mirim Makeba, Jill Scott thing”She later on produced her first album ‘Hatimaye’ which true to her description does contain elements of African & Neo-Soul music.

  Nneka Egbuna

  
  However, like with every growing industry, hangers on or wannabes who will want to use the same tag to describe their ‘music’ never lack. And still from the same artists whose previous songs did have these described elements, most are known to push the envelope a bit too far.This sound is not unique only to Kenya. Maurice Kirya of Uganda; Ayo, Asa and Nneka (all of Nigerian dissent) have produced music that would fall in this ‘Afro Soul’ category.
  A new Genre or a Fad
  Whilst its great that there is a fresh and unique sound coming out of Kenya from young people apart from the Genge and Kapuka, I am still quite skeptical of this new breed of artists. For a new sound to be termed as a genre, it must stand the test of time while at the same time retaining the elements that made it unique. I still have not seen that consistency as most are still on their 1^st or 2^nd albums while others are still sharing spots with poets during open mics waiting for their big break in the music business.Thus, we can only watch these emerging artists  hoping that they will stand the test of time to listed as the pioneers of a new genre of music to come from Africa; the Afro Soul genre.

  
  

• African Digital Art makes it happen for Nairobi Creatives & Designers

  Posted: January 21, 2011, 3:35 pm by N.W

  Image courtesy of African Digital Art

  Last evening, the iHub was buzzing again, this time with creative minds, designers, art enthusiasts and others meeting up under the theme 'Connect, Share, Collaborate' organised by African Digital Art (ADA). ADA is an online forum started by one Ms. Jepchumba who prides herself as digital artist. It prides itself as 'an online collective, creative space where digital artists, enthusiasts and professionals can seek inspiration, showcase thier artistry and conect with emerging artists. ADA's team includes Barbara Muriungi who acts as the editor. Contributors include Anthony Dert, Benjo Mouanga, Adisa Abeba and our very own Mark Kaigwa ( yes besides social media, he's a creative, curator, director and event organiser par excellence)!
  
  The session was divided into 2 with the first part having presentations and the second part had the panel session with tried and tested hands in the design industry in the country:
  Norman Mageto, a creative multimedia student at the Limkokwing University -Malaysia. He started off with a sample video of some of his work thus far, though a power outage somehow took some of the wind off his sails and he had to run through his remaining presentation. His main emphasis was on the need to get some education in design(where possible), more professionalism and originality from Kenyan multi-media designers.
  Fady Rostrom - of The Ark and Bonk came on and one of his first comments was that, if you go to school, you'll be rich and if you are self-taught, you'll be very rich. Crazy you might label him but he gave what was easily the best presentation. Starting with some slides about why designers and creatives should rise to the occasion, he went on to preview some of the ground-breaking designs they have made and have had a major impact in the industry.
  Laced with funny sketches ( such as the joke about a banker, engineer and a designer at a bar and the latter not being able to pick up ladies cos of lack of professional look and self-respect) and also critiquing the ' agency think'. This is where there is lots of bureaucracy and routine that makes the essence of creativity get lost by the time the client(s) have their brief done and presented. He also termed PR gurus as having changed from positively representing their brands to more of propaganda and gate-keeping.
  

  Image courtesy of www.africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com

  Hawa Essuman - formerly an actor but currently a film director, who did Soul Boy a film set in the Kibera slums and tells of stories that come from the community around this slum. From the fantasies to myths and beliefs that partly represent this urban folklore that has been largely demonised and viewed as poor and lacking in identity. Though she struggled to present her point of view, by and large, the learnings were that Kenya (and Africa) needs to tell her stories as best as they can. This is illustrated by the fact Soul Boy is a Swahili movie which seeks to tell a local story and appeal to the local audience ( though it seems to be attracting more foreign attention instead winning an award at the Gotenborg International Film Festival in Sweden).
  
  The second session had a panel of among others, Jim Chuchu (of JustABand)-photographer & director, Charles Ndungu -designer of animated features, Kiboko- an illustrator and designer, Mbithi - videographer and director, PointBlank (Emmanuel Nyakwada), Rachel - activist and organiser of the Kuweni Serious events, Fady and Hawa.
  

  ADA Panel Session - From left, Mbithi, Kiboko, Hawah, Jim Chuchu (hidden), Charles Ndungu, Fady, Point Blank & Rachel - 20th January 2011 @ & Image by  iHubNairobi

  
  Taking different issues relating to design work such as if its necessary to have any form of formal training in design, regular sources of inspiration and the experiences and lessons learnt in the industry. There was also a call for the need to remain authentic and not lose your essence especially when working commercially. It was also noted that designers need to stand their own ground and not get waived into producing mediocre works due to client demands.
  Online visibility and networking was also advised but this should not be the only form of platform to preview and sell or seek jobs. Physical and actual visits to potential clients and artists/designers remain the most potent of getting your work reviewed and appreciated.
  Finally as the theme of the session was titled, there is need for designers, people in the creative world to work together and collaborate in projects, be they for commercial purposes, or non-profits works. It was also announced that this meet-up shall be followed up monthly meet-ups which shall be on every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
  There shall also be sessions for critiquing works which shall be on every 1st Tuesday of the month at the iHub. Designers, creatives, film producers and art enthusiasts were also asked to register as members of the iHub when the next window is available.

  
  

• Talking Culture

  Posted: January 1, 2011, 2:32 am by N.W

  Happy New Year all you my readers and followers! It’s has been a great ride thus far and it gets even better in the new year 2011. I welcome new contributors into the blog. Along with my articles, we shall endeavour to make this a worthy read in reviewing the art, culture and related issues in the country and around. Karibuni !
  This, our vibrant Nairobi town is replete with cultural activities on both weekends and weekdays. The palette of Kenyan cum African cultural sceneries boasts a diffuse range of offerings from poetry, music to cuisine from cultural centers, coffee lounges to exotic restaurants and even to elaborate wedding ceremonies. Everywhere and anywhere you go the expressions of culture beckon the passerby to take time out from their busy schedule and spare a minute or two of their precious time to immerse themselves into the world of culture.
  That world of culture appears to be something we step into and then step out again to continue with our normal routine of earning daily bread; culture is a monotony breaker, it is those things you do when you are not working to, as it were, enjoy yourself. In other words, culture is those activities that occupy the non-working space of society.
  By this definition, the world of culture just got smaller, having been minimized by the new Alcoholic Beverage Law (Mututho laws), which has restricted drinking hours from 5pm to 11pm. Before the Mututho laws came into effect, the City turned into one big English premier league stadium on Saturday afternoons and whenever the favourite team scored loud cheers would bellow out from the pubs; it always makes one feel like they are near a stadium!This DSTV culture has been the dominant culture, among the men at least, for the last five or more years. It is not something our forefathers did and as such it is an acquired taste rather than a tradition. But I suppose, there are subtle differences between culture and tradition but most people tend to confuse the two.
  
  For instance, when tourists from London arrive they are not ushered into the local pubs for a treat of their brand of football over a couple of brown bottles; rather they are offered some form of exotic entertainment in form of traditional dances that no longer serve as an identity of the mainstream culture which so happens to be a hip hop music culture!Somehow, we do not feel it is right to present our esteemed foreign guests with a token of genge hip hop as part of our robust cultural roots. Conversely, we always err on the side of traditional artifacts which are representative of the culture of our ancestors but not our present way of life. This is because over the years the differences in culture between the West and the increasingly urbanized Africans have largely narrowed.Perhaps, the manner of education has served to accentuate Western values and as a result, our socialization with the world is inclined to ideals of Western culture and progress (read: ostentation). We go to school in the village and are told of how those who get educated are best placed to gain access to plum jobs in the city and generally strike it rich, drive big cars and live the life!
  
  Through hard work in school, it is said, we shall be able to escape the clutches of poverty brought about by our backward traditions in the rural setting and in this sense from our schooling experience we get the notion that traditions have failed us and our hopes lie in our acquaintance with Western socialization in language, dress and outlook. Even those whose cloth is not cut out for scholarly work do not lose sight of the Western ideals and express them in other art forms. On the one hand, there is always the aspiration to make it in the Western sense but on the other there is a sense of loss in our identity; a feeling of nakedness, which exhibits itself in our continuous urge to portray our traditions as our culture.
  
  When there are no tourists around, we are proud of genge hip hop music, as it is an expression of our everyday struggles, but as soon as they knock on our doorstep, we quickly switch it off and put up a full itinerary of Mwoboko dancers complete with traditional regalia. Of course, the average Englander will not break the monotony of his toils in Manchester City by coming all the way to Nairobi to watch a hip hop show over a cold Guinness; something that would have been easily attainable within the comfort of his house! This is the classic rerun of the book of Genesis. If someone wants to sell you cloths, they will have to make you believe you are naked. If on the other hand, you want their Arsenal T-shirt you will have to play naked.
  
  The English have all but succeeded in making your average Nairobian believe that watching English football over a Guinness or a Malt Lager is the life! He straddles and hustles so that at the end of the week he shall have a place in the premier league folklore.  However, the Nairobian too knows how to play the “naked emperor” by literally stripping our modern cultural attire and adorning the almost bare costume of “poverty tourism” to entertain the Englishman, when he comes for a suntan; all in the hope of extracting that peculiar thing called a dollar, that thing that clothes us with progress.  
  
  In retrospect, our present day culture is a constrained western culture and past traditions merely serve to mask its prominence. For a long time, before the age of internet, the television was the foremost Western cultural ambassador and whatever people saw on TV they gradually begun to mimic and by and by the majority of Nairobians came to aspire to the things they saw on screen. In the 80s, it was rare to see animated affections in public places but in this millennium it is common place to see people giving each other hugs and kisses on the streets. The cumulative effect of mushy Spanish soaps and comedies expanded their vocabulary of affectionate expressions.
  
  In the 90s coffee lounges were unheard of; presently almost every street in Nairobi has a coffee lounge. The coffee lounges did not arise from the fact that Kenya has been a leading coffee producer since the 60s rather it was the intoxication of the Starbucks culture which is constantly bandied in movies and sitcoms.  It is from the lounges that people live what they saw on television and the movies. From this relaxation dens they take a bite at a piece of modernity and actualize their dream to live the (Western) life…just like on TV. Yet this coffee lounge culture in both restaurants and pubs is the mother and father of the renewed artistic expressions. 
  
  They gave budding artists the podium and the audience to grow their art forms and their popularity. Undoubtedly, the new art forms in both poetry and music and even in fine arts are mainly expressions of what culture has become. Something, we do to enjoy ourselves that is done when not working and is in tune with our longing for Western conformity. It is not good or bad or evil, it simply is, but for all means and purposes it definitely is not tradition. 
  By Poe.T.Critik
  

  
  

• Tandawazi 2010- A Fest of Dance, Music & Martial Arts 29th - 4th Dec 2010

  Posted: December 1, 2010, 3:25 pm by N.W

  Ndanu a fellow poet and member of the organising committee would like to invite you to Tandawazi 2010, a festival of dance, music and martial arts which shall take place in Nairobi from 29th November – 4th December 2010 at the National Museum of Kenya.
  
  The festival celebrates Kenya’s artistic and creative diversity through music and movement. Part of the proceeds from Tandawazi will be used to in realising Project Baraza i.e. building of Community Youth Centres (CYCs) that provide young people with a safe haven for positive expression and growth. Currently, Project Baraza aims to build the second floor of the Ongoza Njia Community Centre in Huruma where community and art-focused activities such as Capoeira take place.

  
  

• Hill St. Soul Rocks Nairobi into 'Pieces' at Zen Garden

  Posted: November 22, 2010, 6:12 pm by N.W

  It is 20th November and everything is set for the for the 'Soul Lounge Unplugged' featuring Hill St.
  Soul. News of the UK based Neo Soul duo concert has been all over blogs, FB, twitter and on Capital FM, the concert hosts for the past several weeks and all Neo Soul fans from Nairobi and beyond are looking forward to the evening with much anticipation tweeting and arranging the time to hook up.
  
  Zen Garden is where it was all happening, Many fans from even as far as Naivasha were tweeting about their plans to attend the event with others seeking last minute clarification on the venue and where tickets could be found.
  
  The event was set to start at 6pm but knowing the trend with most concerts in Kenya,  I decided to take my time arriving there at some minutes to 8pm. (A show set to start at 6pm will actually start at 10 giving people enough time to talk, eat, booze Spend before the curtain raisers start, then the main act comes on after about 1 or 2hrs)
  
  From the stream of cars parked just outside the Zen gate off the Lower Kabete Rd., I could tell that the place had a seizable crowd. The Concert was set at the well laid out gardens with dimmed lights, couches and cushions clearly setting the mood for the evening - 'an intimate evening full of soulful music in a relaxed atmosphere'.
  
  The concert kicked off at around 9pm with the evening's hosts - Chao and Maqbul welcoming everyone and inviting the 1st act for the night, Kevin Mbugua.
  
  
  
  Being my first time to hear Kevin, I was quite impressed and  wondered how come I had not heard him or of him before. Apparently he has performed at Dass restraurant for Rhythm & Spoken as Naliaka, the shows organizer aptly informed me. I loved his rendition of Tracy Chapman's "Fast car".
  
  Next was June Gachui whom I was also seeing perform for the first time( I am starting to wonder if I am loosing touch with new acts). I am told she has been around for quite some time now and even curtain raised for Les Nubians when they performed in Nairobi some time back.
  
  Finally, the moment we had all been waiting for came. The MCs did not waste any time inviting the Hill St. Soul duo onto the stage as is the norm with most Kenyan MCs (Why ask if we are ready, thats why we bought the tickets, Duh!)
  
  Dressed in an all black outfit was Hillary Mwelwa with her background vocalist and a 4 man band. She did look quite different from the images on her albums but her voice seemed to have become better with time. I found her live performance much better and richer than her recorded hits!.
  
  She performed various songs from her 4 albums starting with 'Don't forget the Ghetto', 'For the love of you',  All that(+ a bag of chips), 'Wash away'(which she did with a reggea tune- totally awesome), and the crowd's favourite 'Pieces'
  
  The crowd went mad when she performed 'Pieces' with most fans singing along. This, as she later disclosed to me, really amazed her as she didn't know that he had such a huge fanbase in Kenya let alone those who knew the words to her songs by heart. She actually had to perform 'pieces' again after the crowd demanded an encore after the 1hr performance.
  
  She did manage to keep us on the dancefloor from the start of her performance till the end with her soulful voice and vibrant beats that had clearly been well rehearsed. The crowning moment for me was when she was able to fuse a lingala tune to her song 'Don't forget the Ghetto'(see the video below) proving that she was still in touch with her Zambian roots despite living in the UK.
  
  Some of the familiar faces that graced the concert were, @Njukey - a good friend and great fan of Neo-soul, African & jazz Music, Naliaka(The editor of EveGal and host of RnS), Solo(Naliaka's Boyfriend), DJ Zack(formerly of Ghetto Radio), @Thinkersroom, @Sciculturist, Mumbi Kaigwa(Actress, Film-Maker and producer of Kigezi Ndoto), Valentine Kamau(Star Newspaper), Jimmi Gathu(Royal Media Services), David Muriithi(DJ - Mercury), Sir Henry among others.
  
  The show came to an end some time past midnight with a hint from Chao that they are planning on bringing more Neo-Soul artists. Might it be Maxwell or Jill Scott next time. Lets wait and see
  
  A huge thumbs up to the Capital FM team for such a well organized event and for bring true soul to Nairobi.
  The event was sponsored by Kiwi smiling feet and the Tribe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• National Museums of Kenya to hold Nairobi's 1st Art Auction 27th Nov

  Posted: November 17, 2010, 8:56 pm by N.W

  The Pan African Products Awareness Agency (PAPAA) in conjunction with The National Museums of Kenya is organizing The 1st Nairobi Metropolitan Art Auction. An exhibition of the art works to be auctioned is currently on display at the Nairobi National Museum's Small Temporary Gallery and will ran from 12 November to 26 November. The exhibition is a prelude towards The 1st Nairobi Metropolitan Art Auction, an event that shall in future be held annually. This year the auction will be held on Saturday 27th November 2010,6pm, in this gallery.
  
  Some of the participating artists include: (they are not the everyday artists that you find in most art galleries so it makes the show interesting and inspiring)
  
  Rosmary Karuga
  Evanson Kangethe
  Remy Musindi
  Morris Keyonzo
  Ann Mwiti
  Beatrice Ndumi
  Fatima Hassan
  Jimmy Rukuru
  Edwin Mdembei
  Mwaura Ndekere
  Legi Maza
  Mugure
  Moses Wanjuki
  among others

  
  

• Kenyan Poet Ngwatilo presents; Puesic Project Alliance Franciase 2nd Dec

  Posted: November 16, 2010, 9:37 pm by N.W

  The Puesic Project is a mixed-genre performance of poems from Ngwatilo's book Blue Mothertongue, released in February this year to critical acclaim.
  
  Puesic [pew-zik] is what happens when poetry & music come together, when different artists collaborate to tell a poem.
  
  The Puesic Project will also see the launch of a new Ngwatilo video "Dear E," and is the officially launch of "Blue Mothertongue" itself!! There are bound to be other surprises so follow the journey at www.thepuesicproject.posterous.com or the "Ngwatilo" facebook page, or @ngwatilo #puesic on twitter.
  
  For tickets, she is accepting MPESA and issuing electronic tickets, or you may purchase your tickets at Alliance Francaise or from The Puesic Project Team (tickets@ngwatilo.com or 0702 845533)
  
  The Puesic Project is a performance project of Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, acclaimed poet and undercover songstress. Ngwatilo says Puesic [pew-sic] is the place where poetry and music meet. It remains to be seen where or if exactly that is.
  
  PS. Ngwatilo is just back in the country after a tour of Southern Africa for the Poetry Africa Festival where she shared the stage with some of the best Poets from Africa and beyond.
  
  Location: Alliance Francaise Auditorium
  Time: Thursday, December 2 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm
  Adv: 500ksh, Gate 700ksh.
  Limited seating so book early.

  
  

• Capital FM Demystifying Neo Soul Music through Live performances - The Lounge Unplugged

  Posted: November 10, 2010, 8:48 pm by N.W

  It was the first ever Kenyan radio station to play Neo Soul Music, Capital FM. They breaking new grounds yet again!
  
  The Lounge- one of their shows that comes on Sundays from 10am will now be live on ground bringing a host of both local and international Neo Soul artists in what will be dubbed as 'The Lounge Unplugged'
  
  Last month they brought Omar one of the leading neo soul artists based in the UK.
  On the 20th, The Lounge unplugged will go pink with Hill St. Soul (pronounced Hill Street Soul)- a  a British Soul/RB music duo made up of singer-songwriter Hilary Mwelwa and producer Victor Redwood-Sawyerr. Due to Hilary's prominent role in the duo and Victor's preference to stay in the background, fans sometimes think Hilary by herself is Hil St. Soul, but that's actually the group's name.The duo is  known for their hits, Washed Away, Its a a black thing off the album Black Rose. They have 4 albums so far and believe it or not, Hillary is actually Zambian, born in Lusaka.
  
  The show will be hosted by Chao and Maqbul at the Zen Garden (along Peponi Rd in Lower Kabete ) from 6pm. Joining Hill St. on stage will be June Gachui and Kevin Mbugua, 2 up and coming Kenyan artists.
  
  Advance tickets are available at the CapitalFM offices for  1,500 shillings and 2,000 shillings at the gate.
  
  This I must say is a great initiative by Capital Fm and the start of what promises to be an exciting opportunity for many Neo soul lovers in Kenya to experience live performances by some of the great artists in this genre.
  
  Maybe its not such a wild wish to hope that one day artists like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu or Maxwell will perform in Kenya.
  
  

  
  

• Villagers Band to host, Qwela, Winyo, Atemi, Chizi & Harry Kimani, 6th Nov @Kenya Museum

  Posted: November 1, 2010, 8:09 pm by N.W

  The Villagers Band will on Saturday 6th Nov host QWELA, Uganda's top Afro Fusion Band which will be playing  for the first time on Kenyan soil, supported by Kenya's finest, Atemi Oyungu, Harry Kimani, Chizi, Winyo and The Villagers Band as well.
  
  Proceeds from the show will go to  Afya Kenya Foundation which seeks to provide quality health care to the rural and urban poor through free community health outreach camps.
  
  The concert will be at The National Museums of Kenya from 7- 11pm. Advance Tickets are going for Ksh. 800 and Ksh. 1,000 at the gate. Students Ksh. 500 E-tickets are available here 

  
  

• Makmende Vies For President - The Play. Sarakasi Dome 12th - 14th Nov 2010

  Posted: October 29, 2010, 3:06 pm by N.W

   The much awaited political play MAKMENDE VIES FOR PRESIDENT - THE PLAY finally docks.
  
  Hosanna, a local art group, has partnered with Sarakasi Trust, Ghetto Radio and PhatBuzz to stage the a political thriller play that picks on the popular character Makmende. It goes on theater, Sarakasi Dome, on the 12th through to the 14th of November.
  
  Just declared the poorest country in the world, Kenya is on the verge of collapse. Poverty has ravaged the land. Corruption defines the nation. Poor rains have left the country cracked and desert-hot. The schools are closed and the food factories ail under heavy tax. Inflation on food prices threatens the existence of Kenya.
  
  Then Makmende, first invented on Facebook by Kenyan youth, is flouted as the only young man that can give a shift in thinking. He is the right thinking candidate that has what it takes to restore Kenya’s once blossoming glory. When the penniless Makmende announces his bid to become President of the United Tribes of Kenya, the Kenyan youth go wild, and within 30 minutes, his status update reads 400,000 comments. But when his star and rating begins to rise, Mheshimiwa,the wealthy, ruthless, and connected political aspirant goes for his throat. The dirty play begins; Makmende’s name is erased from the immigration records, he is framed of fraud and rape.
  
  But with impregnable Obama-like support, coupled with Makmende’s ghostly and superman character, the chase by the old-guard meets a potent and daring opposition…. With eyes focused on Statehouse, and riding on the only youthful party, THE REMNANTS PARTY OF KENYA, Makmende walks on a tight rope, passes through baited hooks…walks on hot coals, triples on rocks…kicks pointed daggers. He survives two assassination attempts. He promises to restore hope to the homeless Kenyans. Within 2 months Makmende supporters have pooled 2billion Kenya shillings through Mpesa to fund his presidential bid. It's the biggest political showdown in Kenya's history.
  
  Will the youth give Makmende the victory? Or will Mheshimiwa’s power machine take him off the race into the cold? The play is directed by Fred Owino who plays Chris in the popular TV program TABASAMU, and features able Characters Ephie Murithi playing Makmende, Olympia Owira playing Jasmine,and Alex Munyiri playing Mheshimiwa.
  
  "When I saw this script the first time, I said, 'will we have the Kenya portrayed in this play'. So I decided to direct it and to show Kenyans what we want Kenya to be under an able leader" - Fred Owino; Play Director.
  
  Hosanna Paratroopers is CBO (Community Based organization), which offers a platform for all men and women to transform our socio political, economic, and political environment.
  
  Mission:Organizing, mobilizing men and women of God, and putting up a platform for young artists in order to evangelize, teach and correct human kind. Vision:To be an international organization that organizes, and mobilizes men and women of God unto a platform to evangelize, teach and correct humankind.
  
  Tickets can Bought From
  Recordez Music Shop Yaya Center 2nd Floor and Westgate 1st Floor
  Sarakasi Dome - Ngara
  Wakestar Bookshop Rehani Hse Banda Street, Canon House Healaselassie Avenue, Langata shooping Centere: For more info; 0721168693727976735

  
  

• British Council Master Class on Intellectual Property for Kenyan Artists 4th & 5th Nov, 2010

  Posted: October 29, 2010, 2:48 pm by N.W

  The British Council in conjunction with Strathmore University are inviting all the creatives as well as aspiring creatives in; Art, antique markets, crafts, design/fashion, film, video, Photography, music & the visual performing arts/theatre for a Master Class on Intellectual Property on 4th and 5th Nov, 2010.
  
  On 4th November from 5.30 - 7.30pm, the class will be at the Strathmore University Auditorium located in Madaraka. Entry is free
  
  On 5th Nov, the class will be at the British Council offices in Upperhill Nairobi near Rahimtullah towers from 2-4pm. Entry is free as well.
  
  The talk on I.P will be conducted by Keith Arrowsmith, an expert and head of Intellectual Property and Media from Ralli Solicitors in the UK.
  
  Not sure why a deadline of 2nd Nov has been put. I would however suggest that if you are interested in attending, send an email to pauline.gangla(at)britishcouncil.or.ke or jmatogo(at)strathmore.edu. to avoid disappointment.
  
  I would advice all the poets as well as those aspiring and all artists to attend this event as there is alot that we as poets/artists do not know about the things we create and what rights we have over them.
  
  A fellow poet and I, Stephen Partington who writes in The East African are currently dealing with a case involving copyright infringement of our poems,  this could also happen to you.
  
  It is quite evident that very few artists know how to go about copyright infringement or violation of their rights over their art form be it in creative or performing arts and this needs to change.  I need not remind you about the fate of the Kiondo, Kikoi and many other artifacts and art forms from Kenya.
  
  Come and empower yourself.

  
  

• Kenyatta University's Culture Week 2010; Cultural Diversity for Unity 24th - 31st Oct

  Posted: October 27, 2010, 10:25 pm by N.W

  The Annual Kenyatta University Cultural week is back and has been running from Sunday 24th with a Grand Finale on Sunday 31st Oct at the KICC.
  
  The annual fete brings together the university community in a week full of cultural diversity. This year marks the University's Silver Jubilee with the theme ' Showcasing Cultural Diversity for Unity'
  

  Students performing a Kikuyu folk song at last year's event

  
  This year's festival will see the special appearance of guest artists from USA, Turkey, Nigeria, Egypt, Rwanda, Tanzania and Israel for performances at the K.U main campus Bishop square located along Thika Road.
  Entrance to the daily events at the campus is free.
  
  The Grand Finale at the KICC's Tsavo Ballrom will however cost Ksh.500 for VIP, Ksh.200 for Adults, Ksh. 100 for students and Ksh. 50 for children. The event will start from 1pm.
  
  Some of the arts being showcased are: Music, drama, dance, Poetry, sports, martial arts, fine arts exhibition, comedy among others  as well as  the crowning of Mr & Ms. KU.
  
  I did attend last year's event at the KICC which was quite entertaining, I will definitely not miss this year's.

  
  

• Salif Keita speaks out on Albinism at a concert in Kenya at the Carnivore with Omar as his Curtain raiser

  Posted: October 18, 2010, 4:38 pm by N.W

  He came and with him, brought the message 'Despite his condition as an Albino, he had beaten all odds to become the Golden Voice of Africa receiving international acclaim'
  
  That is why, we had all flocked the Carnivore restaurant on the 14th October evening from 8pm to experience his music live from this world renown African artist - Salif Keita.
  
  As he informed us later during a media conference just after his superb performance, his visit of the East African countries had been prompted by the recent events involving killing of people with Albinism mainly in Tanzania, a trend that was slowly spreading to the other East African countries.
  
  This was also the driving force behind his latest album 'La Difference'. It was the first time that Salif Keita was coming out and speaking openly about his condition and the things that affect him and others with a similar condition.
  
  The evening was full of surprises. It was revealed by one of the event sponsors, Capital FM that Omar - a UK based Nu-Soul artist who has been in the country, would also be performing at the Salif Keita concert. This was great news to many like me who had missed his earlier performance. He was the first act of the night at about 9pm.
  
  His is the kind of music that takes a life of its own when performed live! It has elements of Jazz, RnB, and soul in them and the band seemed to make every song richer. His song 'There's nothing like this' seemed to sum up my experience of his performance, "There was simply nothing like it".
  
  Sauti Sol and Iddi Achieng who had facilitated Salif's travel and concert also performed.
  
  12pm was the time the show was to end, it turned out to be the actual start time as that is when Salif Keita finally came on Stage.
  
  By then, the place was so full that the Simba Salon dance floor had  fans seated all over it. As if on que, immediately Salif stepped on stage, everyone got up on their feet ready to dance. This was despite a hitch with the sound equipment that saw the band take over 30 minutes to hook up their equipment to. The sound quality did affect the quality of the show in the course of the night, a pure embarrassment I must say.
  
  The biggest faux paus was forgetting to avail a microphone for ..... not the backup singers, not the instrumentalists......wait for it.......  for Salif Keita......I thought I was dreaming. As if that was not enough, the backupsingers' microphones were still muted and thus no one could hear them.
  
  Maqbul, the event MC finally did give Salif his cordless microphone and the sound controller also realized he needed to adjust the volume for the backup singers.
  
  This did not dampen Salif's spirit as he went on to perform songs from his latest album as well as his older ones.
  Songs like 'La Difference', Mandjou, Moussoulou, Africa and many others seemed to turn the place from carnivore to Timbuktu.
  
  He later gave a media conference on the reasons for his visit which is actually a tour in  a bid to educate people on the rights of people with the condition of Albinism through his Foundation, The Salif Keita Global Foundation.
  
  He was set to perform in Uganda the following day and later on in Sudan. He had just come into Nairobi from a show in Tanzania, a country that  has been hitting headlines for the killing and mutilation of Albino's for witchcraft purposes.
  
  Those who had thought they'd buy Salif's CDs or Omar's were hugely disappointed as the organizers had not thought about stocking even 1 album with only cds by Sauti Sol and Iddi available for sale. Talk about poor event organizing!
  
  For those who missed it, below are some photos as well as a short clip of the event.
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• Salif Keita live in Kenya, 14th Oct, 2010

  Posted: October 8, 2010, 10:51 pm by N.W

  He is often referred to as the Golden Voice of Africa and on 14th of October at the Carnivore, we will attest to that.
  

  A moment captured with Salif Keita

  Yes, Salif Keita will be in town for a one night show in Nairobi. He has performed in Kenya only once before courtesy of Alliance Francaise. This time round, he will perform thanks to Sauti Sol and Iddi Achieng from 8pm till midnight.
  
  As I mentioned while reviewing his latest album 'La Difference'(see review on right column), I did get a chance to meet him in person early this year though by pure co-incidence. Now it seems, I will have the chance to experience his music Live.
  
  I must however say that the cost is slightly prohibitive and might just draw a certain type of crowd and elicit  the same comment that a friend made last night after watching a clip of the Baaba Mal concert that was early last week at the Louise Leakey auditorium, "Kwani its only Wazungu who go for these events" I had no comment on that. Tickets will go for Ksh. 2,500 and Ksh. 3,000 at the door(not sure if they are inclusive of dinner)
  
  In other concert related news, I am reliably informed that the Sierra Jazz Safari that was slotted for 10th Oct featuring Jonathan Butler has been post phoned to Sunday 7th Nov,2010.
  
  

  
  

• The Maurice Kirya Experience 'Misubbaawa'

  Posted: October 7, 2010, 9:50 pm by N.W

  After his name was announced as this year's RFI Music Award winner, Maurice Kirya has proved that he has indeed come of age.
  
  Yet, despite beating another little known Kenyan artist, Winyo, Kirya is also not very well know locally. This could be due to the fact that his music is not commercial pop. His is the sound you would find similar to Stan's or Harry Kimani's played in specific radio stations or during their live performances.
  
  Kirya beat over 500 musicians from all over Africa who had entered  the competition early last month.
  
  At first I thought that maybe he was being over-rated as I have heard Winyo from the time he used to be a part time accountant trying his hand at music during Kwani Open Mic night back in 2007 till last month when he awed the crowd that had largely gone for Spotlight on Kenyan Music at Alliance as is norm plus its usually free.
  
  Kirya who is Ugandan born and raised is mainly known for his song 'Binadamu' which he sang with AY of Tanzania.
  
  Kirya also runs a monthly show titled ‘’The Maurice Kirya Experience’’ which showcases live acts from East Africa and numerous other parts of the world. The show has been credited for boosting the live music scene in Uganda, since it exposes established and non established live musicians and poets on a professional stage. The show has also been graced by the famous Cecile Verny Quartet.
  
  “I want my music to move hearts, encourage hearts, strengthen hearts and heal them.”
  
  
  He recently released his debut album, 'Misubbaawa' which is a blend of soul and R&B that is influenced by the beauty and unique spirit of his homeland.
  
  Sample some of the songs from his album
  
  
  
  
  
  Watch a video of the two in a colabo
  

  
  

• Weekend Inspiration Videos: Aloe Blacc - Femme Fatale & A Dollar

  Posted: October 1, 2010, 9:00 pm by N.W

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

• Kenya Museum Society announces the 38th 'Know Kenya Course' Lectures; 4th - 8th October 2010

  Posted: September 30, 2010, 10:39 pm by N.W

  After a year’s sabbatical, the Kenya Museum Society (KMS) has announced the programme for the 38th edition of the celebrated Know Kenya Course. The 2010 Know Kenya Course will run from Monday 4th October to Friday 8th October 2010 in the newly refurbished Louis Leakey Auditorium and around the environs of the Nairobi National Museum.
  
  Since 1971 the Know Kenya Course has been organised by the Kenya Museum Society as the main fundraising event to support projects of the National Museums of Kenya, providing valuable income for museums and pre-historic sites around the country. All proceeds of the 38th Course will go to support the National Museums of Kenya.
  
  The Course is an action-packed week designed to help all who live in and love Kenya to discover many of the nation’s hidden treasures. Over a five-day period we are offering a series of 15 programmes including morning lectures about Kenya’s history, natural history, conservation, modern-day issues, and popular culture with titles including “No life without Bees,” “Enraptured with Raptors,” and “There is no business like show business.” In the afternoon, the programme also includes guided tours through the only museum in East Africa adapted to 21st–century standards and Kenyan films, as well as a special evening programme. On Friday, the Know Kenya Course will host FUN Friday, featuring a variety of entertainment acts representative of the performing arts in Kenya.
  
  The KMS Know Kenya Course is sponsored by Toyota East Africa. Toyota EA has been the sponsor of the 40th Anniversary Lecture Series.

  
  

• Final Day of Jukwaani Festival; Story Telling of Living Memories

  Posted: September 27, 2010, 2:59 am by N.W

  Today was the third and final day of the Jukwaani Festival that has been running from Friday 24th at the Goethe Institut and Alliance Francaise Auditoriums.
  
  It was a day for story telling for the young as well as the old.
  
  Redraft was the first session starting off the afternoon. It brought together tellers of the old time folktales in an afternoon of mystical world of yore of a time when animals could talk. To start off the performance was  Jacob Oketch who also doubles as a poet and Kish Okoti.
  

  Hellen Alembe giving a story on Anansi

  
  The story of the hyena and hare titled 'Chagua Rafiki' told of hare's trickery in using the hyena to do all the work during for every harvest only to walk away with all the harvest was quite captivating and the songs that were used in the story got alot of the children in the audience singing along. The  moral of the story was to be wise when choosing friends. This story was narrated by two 'Young Tellers', John Titi and Newton Kweya.
  
  The story of Anansi and how he got to have stories named after him. He is one of Africa's biggest folklore characters. The story was told by Alumbe Helen
  
  The session ended with a story from the audience with none other than Muthoni Garland sharing a story at the request of Aghan Odero who was the show's curator.
  
  Living Memories is a book on true stories of ordinary people who lived in an extraordinary time. Based on interviews conducted by Al Kags, the staged depiction of four of the stories from the book was curated by Muthoni Garland and directed by Peter Mudamba.
  
  True stories of Mau Mau veterans, Sifa Zaida, and other Kenyan's whose gave stories of  interesting accounts of their lives with some well known personalities during the pre-independent Kenya,
  
  The stories told in drama by 9 actors with some doubling as story tellers, seemed to come to life bring the audience to laughter.
  
  A repeat performance of the play 'Mwana Mdogo wa Mfalme' was staged at the Alliance for those who missed the Friday show.
  
  To wind up the festival was the Koroga performance curated by Betty Muragori and performed by Nyambura Githongo, Phyllis Muthoni, Tony Mochama(Smitta) and Sitawa Namwalie. The performance included a projected slide show of selected Koroga photographs.
  
  This show is part of an ongoing collaboration between 3 countries(Kenya, US & UK) with the main show at the Sarakasi Dome on the 29th Sept.
  
  
  

  
  

• Day Two: Jukwaani Festival - Poetry Performances & Hip Hop Battle

  Posted: September 26, 2010, 3:20 pm by N.W

  The ongoing Jukwaani Festival for performance Literature was in its 2nd day yesterday at Goethe Institut and Alliance Francaise auditoriums from 2pm.
  
  Having  seen the program earlier in the week, I was looking forward to the day as it was going to feature alot of poetry performance in different forms and by some of the best Nairobi Poets.
  
  People's TV 101 - Switch on the Power to the People was the first at the Alliance auditorium. This is a show that was curated by Muki Garang featuring Poets; Pepe Haze, Kennet B, Moraa, Karen, Eudiah, a drummer, Pau and an upcoming musician, Lucas.
  
  I must say the turnout was not as I had expected, maybe due to the fact that there were other events happening elsewhere that targeted the same audience (WAPI, The Nairobi Book Fair and the Sprite Basketball Playoffs). However, this did not seem to deter the poets who performed as though to a full house.
  
  The MC, Pepe Haze started off the show by performing some of his own poetry as well as beat boxing, something that I must say he does quite well.  From the perfomances by the various poets, It was evident that they had chosen to focus on the topic of Sexuality  with an emphasis on women's plight.
  
  Muki's performance was staged as a news broadcast with Muki as the news anchor bringing the People's TV news in Kiswahili. The news being broadcast was an exploration on the strains of gender roles.
  
  The show came to an end with a lovely song by Lucas who is also a guitarist accompanied by Pau the drummer and a female backup singer.
  
  
  
  Soon after, we were off to Goethe Institut for Ngwatilo's 'Raised from the Page'.
  
  For this performance, Ngwatilo had chosen to pick some timeless poems from the 1960's mostly by Kenyan poets with  a few coming from Africa and the world.
  
  Some of the poets whose poetry was brought alive through a live performance accompanied by music and choreography were; Amin Kassam, Stephen Partington, Yusuf O. Kassam, Marjorie Oludhe MCgoye(Atieno Yo), Laban Erapu, Phyllis Muthoni and Ed Pavich.
  
  In the one and a half hour performance, Ngwatilo and her group managed to hold the crowd in a trance from one poem to another through careful choreography that ensured that no poem sounded or was performed like the other.  It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Ngwatilo was also quite talented in singing as she turned some of her own poems to song awing the audience with her voice.
  
  By the time the performance was ending, we were still looking forward to more of it.
  
  Next was the performance curated by Cindy Ogana at the Alliance Auditorium, 'Our Deepest Fear'. Drawn from an excerpt in the book 'A return to love' by Marianne Williamson, Cindy and her group of poets based their own compositions from this quote(read it below) which most people think is a poem.
  
  Kennet B, Dennis Inkwa, Valentine Kamau and Dan Mwangi(Number 8) gave an exemplary performance as they explored their deepest fear in a very well choreographed and rehearsed show with each drawing from their uniqueness in content and performance.
  
  The audience was left in stitches by Kennet B's performance of 'Corporate Sex' and 'Mchanga' which is on HIV and AIDS.
  
  Bringing the 2nd day of the festival to a close was the Urban Music & Hip Hop Battle Competition at the Goethe auditorium which had since turned into a dancefloor complete with disco lights and Huge speakers at the entrance.
  
  The Nairobi Hip Hop Mcs and slammers were slowly streaming in for the 8pm event. In the house was Doobiez (Abas Kubaff), Buddha Blaze and Kimya. As it looked like the event would continue well into the night, I decided to call it a night and leave it to the ballers.
  
  Looking forward to the last day which will have story telling by the Zamaleo Sigana Story tellers, and a Korogra performance featuring Sitawa Namwalie known for 'Cut off my tongue' and Smita Smitten.
  
  
  Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
  
  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
  gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
  
  Actually, who are you not to be?
  You are a child of God.
  
  Your playing small does not serve the world.
  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
  so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
  We are all meant to shine, as children do.
  
  We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
  It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
  
  And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
  other people permission to do the same.
  As we are liberated from our fear,
  our presence automatically liberates others.

  
  

• Day One: Jukwaani Festival - Swahili Poetry & Le Petit Prince

  Posted: September 25, 2010, 3:20 am by N.W

  Today was the first day of a 3 day event that is the Jukwaani Festival, as I had mentioned in detail in an earlier  post, this weekend is going to be one where Performance Literature will be showcased in all its forms.
  
  And what better way to do so than with what was passed in the just promulgated Constitution as the 1st Kenyan Official Language, Kiswahili. Contrary to what most might think, English is the 2nd official Kenyan language according to the new Constitution.
  
  Prof. Kimani wa Njogu was the chair in the 'Ushairi wa Kiswahili: Jana na Leo'(Poetry in Kiswahili: yesterday and today) session that sought to explore how Swahili poetry has evolved over time. This was the very first session that ushered in the festival.
  
  In the discussion panel were some of the greats in Kiswahili in East Africa; Prof. Rocha Chimerah, Prof. Ahmed Nabhany, Dr. Edwin Masinde and Prof. Clara Momanyi. There were also two poets, Nuhu Bakari (NMG) and Amira Said.
  
  The event started slightly late as the session needed a sizeable crowd in order to start. It finally did with some opening remarks from Yohannes, the Goethe Institut Director.
  
  To start off the session was Nuhu's poem 'Utamu wa Kiswahili ni watu kukitumia'( The beauty of Kiswahili is by people using it)
  
  It was quite a fascinating talk that delved on various topics such as;
   The Classical Poetry of Muyaka wa Haji
  - This was explored by Prof Rocha who gave us abit of history into the life of Muyaka and the impact that he had on swahili poetry. He(Muyaka) is credited with moving swahili poetry from the mosque to the market place making it accessible to many.
  
  Prof. Ahmed who is at the Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa gave a rundown of the different types of Swahili Poetry and discarded the myth that all swahili poetry is known as Mashairi.
  
  After a lively Q & A session that saw the audience complain about the lack of use of swahili beyond learning institutions, lack of pride in speaking the language and the influence of Sheng on the advancement of Swahili in Kenya, Amira Said closed the session with her poetic piece in praise of the organisers of the event.
  
  This was soon followed by the official opening  by Ambassador of France, Mrs. Elisabeth Barbier and the Head of Press and Cultural Affairs at the German Embassy in Kenya who encouraged the audience to embrace and use Kiswahili. I must say that they had really brushed up on their knowledge of Swahili as they awed the crowd with the ease at which they greeted them and wished them a happy festival.
  
  The event was quite well attended with the Goethe Institut auditorium almost full, a good indication of the interest Nairobians have in performances as well as discussions on literary matters.
  
  The cocktail reception was at the Alliance Francaise garden. We walked over for some bitings and refreshments. I got a glimpse of David Makali of Sound Africa who was also in attendance as well as Tabu Osusa of Ketebul Productions. I did also meet some followers of my blog who seemed to know me very well but I didn't, I hope to see them at the upcoming performances.
  
  After the cocktails, we went into the Alliance Francaise auditorium for play, Mwana Mdogo wa Mfalme( The little Prince). Translated from the famous work of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 'The Little Prince' is a classic tale of equal appeal to children and adults. On one hand, it is the story of an airman's discovery in the desert of a  small boy from another planet- the little prince and his stories of intergalactic travel, while on the other hand it is a thought- provoking allegory of the human condition.
  
  The play marked the end of the first day of the festival.
  
  More tomorrow in a day that will be packed with Poetry, Urban Music and a  Hip Hop battle competition. Don't miss it starting from 2pm.
  
  Enjoy some of the photos from the first day.
  
  

  
  

• Jukwaani - Festival for Performance Literature, 24-26th Sept 2010 @Goethe Institut-Nairobi

  Posted: September 21, 2010, 11:15 pm by N.W

  Jukwaani! Festival is back - bigger and better.
  
  Jukwaani! -   a Festival for Performance Literature which started last year is a 3 day event organized by Goethe Institut Nairobi and Alliance Francaise Nairobi to showcases the best in Poetry, Mashairi, Story telling, Hip Hop and other forms of performance art.
  
  The festival will be from 24th till 26th September at the Goethe Institut Auditorium as well as the Alliance Francaise Garden and Auditorium.
  
  Starting on Friday with an explorative session on Swahili poetry led by Prof. Kimani wa Njogu, Jukwaani promises to feature the best in Kenyan performance art;
  
  Other highlights of the festival include ‘MWANA MDOGO WA MFALME’(The Little Prince) translated from ‘Le Petit Prince’ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry © Gallimard, A deeply moving story laced with poetic metaphor and narrated using sound and music translated into Kiswahili by Philipp Kruse and Walter Bgoya and PEOPLE’S TV 101 - SWITCH ON THE POWER TO THE PEOPLE; A satirical depiction of a live news set that explores the strains of human rights and gender roles in Kenya.
  
  Muki Garang, Pepe Haze, Kennet B, Sitawa Wafula, Wanjiku Mwaurah, will be some of the poets who will perform during the festival.
  
  The event is free for all with the weekend program starting from 2pm and ending as late as 9pm.
  
  Find the full program here as well as more info on Jukwaani!. I hope to see you there.

  
  

• A Recap of TEDx Nairobi; Green City in the Sun

  Posted: September 20, 2010, 9:02 pm by N.W

  The much anticipated TEDx Nairobi was on Saturday at the National Museum of Kenya's Leakey Auditorium.
  
  The event brought together the Nairobi Tech community, Environmentalists, architects, media personalities among many more from different areas of interest for an afternoon of talks on The Green City in the Sun. The turnout was quite amazing and am informed that the organizers were actually worried about an overflow as all seats had been fully booked yet by Saturday mi-day, there were still some last minute signups. Luckily, some who had booked did not show thus everyone got somewhere to sit.
  
  The event started promptly with Juliana Rotich @Afromusing being the MC of the day. I was among the speakers/performers with a poem befitting the event , 'When Change Comes' (get a copy of my book if you liked the poem)
  
  Seeing that Maina has given a very good chronological review of the even in his blog 'The Trot and the Run,I will focus on what struck me as exemplary and what the organizing team might need to re-consider for next years TEDx event.
  
  a. Venue
  The Good
  The Leakey Auditorium at the National Museum was quite central unlike the British Council, the venue that was used for the first TEDx.
  It was able to hold a huge capacity whilst still ensuring that everyone got a view of the projected presentations on stage.
  The Ugly
  The generator at the venue was a huge disappointment as it had a delay of about 2 mins or so. This proved to be a nightmare when the mains power went off about twice while speakers were going through their presentations. With the projector powering off, there was a delay before it could reboot.
  I am sure next time a UPS unit for the projector or a venue with immediate switch over generator will be considered.
  In the afternoon, there seemed to be a very irritating noise emanating from either the basement or back of the auditorium that made one want to start looking for the nearest exit. It even made the building shake. Its only much later towards the end that it died out.
  
  b) Entertainment
  The good
  It was impressive and very encouraging to note that my performance was well taken despite the fact that poetry is not everyone's cup of tea. Thanks to the team for inviting me and to the tweet community for all the love during the performance.
  The Ugly
  The dance routine by the salsa duo did not seem to augur well with the audience. fact is that, we can never outdo the latinos who are the masters of Salsa, Merengue, Cha cha cha and all those other dances, so why attempt to?
  It would have been great to stick to what we are best at, either traditional dancers like Sarakasi or a group like Just a band who have managed to blend music and technology(they were actually in attendance)
  
  All in all, it was a great event that enabled many like me to create networks, inspire, get inspired and most of all, learn something new.
  
  Kudos to the organizing team for a wonderful event.
  
  Check out a Photo stream  of the event by ZuluSafari and another by  Joshua Wanyama

  
  

• 14th Poetry Africa - International Poetry Festival, South Africa 4-9th Oct feat Kenyan, Ngwatilo

  Posted: September 15, 2010, 10:11 pm by N.W

  14th POETRY AFRICA
  International Poetry Festival
  Durban, South Africa : 4 – 9 October 2010
  Tour : Cape Town ICC, 26 September/ Zimbabwe: Harare : Manneberg and Book Café 28 & 29 September/
  Malawi: Blantyre Arts Festival 1 October
  Poets from around South Africa, Africa and the world will descend on Durban for an exhilarating rollercoaster of words, rhythms and ideas at the 14th Poetry Africa international poetry festival, which takes place from 4 to 9 October. Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), and with principal support from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Poetry Africa’s exciting week-long programme is preceded by a three-stop Poetry Africa tour to Cape Town, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
  
  Over twenty poets from twelve different countries will feature in the main Durban programme and the full lineup will each present an introductory poem on The Opening Night of the festival (4 October, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre), providing an ideal précis of the diverse voices the public can expect during the rest of the week. The week will thereafter feature 5 poets every evening, through to 8 October, before the rousing Festival Finale at the BAT Centre on 9 October. Each evening at the Sneddon Theatre will begin with curtain-raising performances by poets representing the various active Durban poetry circles. Another unique aspect of this year’s festival is the residency of Concord Nkabinde and Erik Paliani. Nkabinde, an acclaimed bass guitarist who has performed with the likes of Johnny Clegg, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri, Phil Manzaniera, Zim Ngqawana, Darius Brubeck, Deepak Ram and many others, will collaborate with Malawian producer, musician and singer-songwriter Erik Paliani in nightly musical curtain-raisers. Nkabinde and Paliani’s passion for collaboration provides the perfect metaphor for the cross-cultural artistic meetings that Poetry Africa seeks to stimulate.
  
  The broad selection of poetic voices, forms, and cultures at the festival includes the vivid verse of Frank Chipasula (Malawi). Apart from poetry, the BBC Poetry Prize winning and twice Pushcart Prize-nominated Chipasula is also a widely-respected writer, academic and editor. The African lineup also includes Kenyan Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, a poet whose intelligence and subtlety is abundantly evident in her first book of poems Blue Mothertongue, a collection which examines notions of home, loss and healing. Returning to Poetry Africa after an absence of six years is poet and academic Barolong Seboni (Botswana), whose astute grasp of history and its meaning, is spread over numerous acclaimed collections. Charlotte Hill O’Neal, better known as Mama C, is an American-born visual artist, musician and poet, who was a member of the Black Panther Movement before relocating to Tanzania in 1972. Her collection Warrior Woman of Peace was launched in 2008 and her fourth album of poetry and music is forthcoming. Both in his words and music the captivating voice of internationally celebrated Souleymane Diamanka (Senegal/France) offers an expressive cultural bridge between his French home and his Fulani ancestry.
  
  The strong South African presence this year includes established luminaries and exciting new voices. Pitika Ntuli combines a vast store of African mythology and history, a keen awareness of the contemporary and an astonishing ability to improvise in his evocative poetry. Storytelling and myth also figure large in the verse of Durban icon Gcina Mhlophe. Lebo Mashile, arguably the best-known contemporary South African poet, brings to the Poetry Africa stage her candid and richly weaved words. The award-winning poet and playwright Kobus Moolman will present poems from his new collection Light and After as well sneak peeks at his next collection. Light and After (Deep South), a sparse and bravely honest work will be launched at the festival. Other launches include: Piece Work (Modjaji Books) by Ingrid Andersen and Scent of Footprints (Unisa Press) by Pitika Ntuli, Xaba.
  
  Poetry Africa welcomes back the 2005 DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Poetry winner Gabeba Baderoon, the author of three collections of complex and intensely lyrical poetry. The Afrikaans-language poet Ronelda Kamfer’s entry into South African literature has been memorably described by poet Charl Pierre Naude “like a Guy Fawkes’ rocket at Pentecost”. Kamfer’s remarkable ability to artfully filter the political and social through a personal lens marks her as a young poet to watch. Natalia Molebatsi combines spoken word and singing in an intoxicating cocktail that touches base with genres such as jazz, dub, hip hop and reggae. Well-known Durban poet Busiswa Gqulu, like Molebatsi, combines poetry, song and performance to startling effect. Another well-respected Durban poet, Marí Peté, explores dreamscapes, everyday experiences, and the thin membrane between these states of being in her poetry.
  
  The international presence at Poetry Africa is particularly strong this year. Celebrated poet, author, radio host, actor and social critic Mutabaruka was the first well-publicized voice in the new wave of Jamaican poets making themselves heard in the early 1970s. He has recorded numerous poetry albums which have helped forge the unique genre of music commonly referred to as dub poetry. As an actor, Mutabaruka has starred in Haile Gerima’s award-winning Sankofa (1993).
  

  Ngwatilo Mawiyoo - A Kenyan Poet

  
  In honour of activist and poet Dennis Brutus (1924 -2009) Poetry Africa introduces the Letters to Dennis segment featuring a poet of high excellence who reflects Dennis’s passion for human rights and integrity. The Letters to Dennis references the famous poem Letters to Martha, written while Dennis was in prison. The Letters to Dennis poet for 2010 is Ghassan Zaqtan of Palestine. At one time the editor of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s newspaper, Ghassan Zaqtan is one of Palestine’s most respected poets and his urgent yet paradoxically gentle and contemplative poetry abounds with luminous imagery.
  
  Jayne Fenton Keane (Australia) is a highly awarded and respected poet whose blend of poetry-song cycles, spoken word-music fusions and shamanic performances have challenged and inspired audiences and critics around the world. Poet, writer-activist and translator Meena Kandasamy (India) uses writing, translation and activism to confront her womanness, her Dalitness and her Tamilness - three categories of belonging that continue to enshrine a history of resistance to oppression. Jorge Palma (Uruguay) is a poet and storyteller whose sensitive and elegant poetry is most concerned with addressing and dissecting the human condition, while Italian Claudio Pozzani is poet and musician whose work has been translated into more than ten languages.
  
  Saturday, 9 October sees a full day of activities at the BAT Centre, with poetry workshops, open mic opportunities, the Durban SlamJam all culminating in the Festival Finale on Saturday night which includes a performance by the Imperial Tiger Orchestra, a Geneva-based band that performs songs from the Golden Age of Ethiopian modern music (1969 – 1978). Although this six-piece orchestra’s repertoire consists primarily of revamped and reworked Ethiopian music, they are not to be mistaken for a covers band. Instead the Imperial Tigers explore uncharted territory in this form, playing with textures and dynamics, adding distortions and noise to complete beautiful new pieces based on the Ethiopian originals.
  
  Apart from the evening performances at the Sneddon and the BAT, a packed daily programme utilizing the expertise of festival participants includes performances, seminars, workshops, a prison programme, poetry competitions, and school visits all aimed at inspiring heightened interest in poetry.
  
  Poetry Africa on Tour
  
  Poetry Africa on Tour is an effort to celebrate poetry with ever-wider constituencies and to stimulate meaningful cultural exchange between artists, audiences and countries. With the support of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), Mimeta and Pro-Helvetia Arts Council of Switzerland, the 2010 tour kicks off at the Cape Town ICC on Sunday 26th September, featuring Frank Chipasula, Mama C, Lebo Mashile, Gcina Mhlophe, Mutabaruka, Barolong Seboni, Pitika Ntuli, includes musicians Concord Nkabinde and Eric Palliani and a unique collaboration between Comrade Fatso (Zimbabwe) and Ewok (South Africa). With the exception of Mhlophe and Ewok, and with the addition of Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, the tour continues with shows at Manneberg and Book Café in Harare on 28th and 29th, before being part of the Blantyre Arts Festival in Malawi on 1st October. In each of the centres the tour will also showcase local poets, and incorporate workshops, discussions and engagements with artists and cultural activists.
  
  Organised by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal), the 14th Poetry Africa festival is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (principal funder), HIVOS (Humanist Institute for Development Co-operation), City of Durban, Arts and Culture Trust, Pro Helvetia Arts Councit of Switzerland, Mimeta and the French Institute of South Africa.
  Festival Queries to Tel: 031-260 2506 or 031-260 1704 cca@ukzn.ac.za
  For Media Queries Contact Sharlene Versfeld Tel: 031-8115628 Fax: 0866827334 Email: sharlene@versfeld.co.za

  
  

• Tribanghi Dance Theatre at The SAMOSA Festival, 18th - 25th Sept

  Posted: September 14, 2010, 10:35 pm by N.W

  TRIBANGHI DANCE THEATRE - INDIAN/ZULU DANCE GROUPThe SAMOSA Festival presents South Africa’s celebrated TRIBANGHI DANCE THEATREAN INDIAN ZULU DANCE THEATRE GROUPThe production includes four African men and three Indian women. Splendidly virile and athletic, in skirted Zulu-warrior mode, the men amaze with their muscular movements and traditional rhythms. The women with their seductively flashing eyes and rhythmically stamping feet step out in congruence. The audience is lured to a visual feast of cross-cultural fusion animated by pulsating music and energized drumming.
  2 PERFORMANCES ONLY - BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!!SATURDAY 18TH SEPT AT THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE GARDENMONDAY 20TH SEPT AT THE LOUIS LEAKEY AUDITORIUM, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KENYATICKETS: KSHS 1,000/-
  The rest of the SAMOSA Festial Programme is as follows:-
  
  TRIBANGHI DANCE THEATRE
  SAT 18 SEP │7.30PM│ALLIANCE FRANCAISE GARDEN │KSHS 1,000
  
  SAMOSA FILM SCREENINGS
  SAT 18 - SUN 25 SEP │MATHARE │FREE
  
  MOVING HOME – A THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION
  SUN 19 SEP │7.30PM │ALLIANCE FRANCAISE AUDITORIUM │FREE
  
  KENYAN RANGOLI
  MON 20 - SAT 25 SEP │RAMOMA ART GALLERY │FREE
  
  TRIBANGHI DANCE THEATRE
  MON 20 SEP │8.30PM│LOUIS LEAKEY AUDITORIUM, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KENYA │ KSHS 1,000
  
  A DISCUSSION PANEL ON COHESION AND ETHNICITY
  TUE 21 SEP │ 6.30PM │ ITALIAN INSTITUTE FOR CULTURE │FREE
  
  SAMOSA KIDS
  TUE 21 - WED 22 SEP │BROOKHOUSE SCHOOL │INVITE ONLY
  
  SAMOSA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM LAUNCH & COCKTAIL
  WED 22 SEP │ 4PM │ HALL OF KENYA, NATIONAL MUSEUM │ INVITE ONLY
  
  PERFORMANCE POETRY
  THUR 23 SEP │ 6.30PM │ ALLIANCE FRANCAISE AUDITORIUM │KSHS 200
  
  CONCERT UNDER THE STARS – AN EXPLOSION OF KENYAN FUSION
  FRI 24 SEP │ 8PM │ COURTYARD, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KENYA │ KSHS 750
  
  SAMOSA SPORTS
  SAT 25 SEP │ 10AM │ NAIROBI GYMKHANA │ FREE
  
  
  TICKET VENUES
  ALLIANCE FRANCAISE │ HOMECARE & HARDWARE FRAMERS- YAYA │MUTHAIGA MINI MARKET │ALL TIMES – VILLAGE MARKET │ ALKASH – DIAMOND PLAZA │ OPTIVISION – KAREN CROSSROADS │SAVANI’S BOOK CENTRE - WESTGATE │ MONTY’S - SARIT SIMPLY BOOKS – ABC PLACE

  
  

• TEDx Nairobi 'Green City in the Sun', 18th Sept, 2010 at the National Museums of Kenya

  Posted: September 13, 2010, 11:22 pm by N.W

  TEDx Nairobi which is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TED stands for technology, entertainment and design—three broad disciplines that are collectively shaping our future. The event is broader still, showcasing brilliant ideas that matter from any discipline during more than fifty presentations and several morning and evening events. The intense, immersive environment allows attendees and speakers from vastly different fields to draw inspiration from unlikely places and cross-fertilize their ideas. Unexpected connections. Extraordinary insights. Potent inspiration. That is the practical magic TED generates when a thousand of the world’s most remarkable people gather.
  
  8th August last year was the inaugural TEDx Nairobi event which brought together various Kenyans who have made an impact in society in their own unique way.
  
   At the TEDx Nairobi event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
  This year's  theme is ' The Green City in the Sun'. The list of  speakers  are:- Jon Bøhmer, Laila Macharia, Su Kahumbu-Stephanou and Myself.
  
  The event will be at the Leakey Auditorium at the National Museums of Kenya on the 18th of September this year. Click here to sign up if you haven't already.
  
  I hope to see you there.

  
  

• “Verse of Fire”: A Conversation with Benjamin Zephaniah, Sunday 3rd Oct 4 to 6pm

  Posted: September 1, 2010, 10:40 pm by N.W

   In “Bought and Sold,” Benjamin Zephaniah asks, “What happened to the verse of fire”? “Smart big awards and prize money,” he warns, are “killing off black poetry.” Poets who seek commercial approval risk losing their ability to find what Zephaniah terms “de magic poem,” a poem that “can ease our sorrows” and celebrate “our tomorrows.” A poet of the heart and of the head, Benjamin Zephaniah writes and performs socially engaged poetry, a poetry that makes audiences laugh and cry, feel and care, think and plan, engage the world in its possibilities and its obstacles.
  
  Deeply committed to an ethical vision of the world, an expansive ethics that ranges from veganism to anti-racist activism, Zephaniah works on and off the page. He has championed a poetry that speaks to publics, eschewing the model of the isolated genius artist intent on writing in cryptic codes. His commitment to a democratic poetics is perhaps most evident in his writing for children in the volumes Funky Chickens, Wicked World, and School’s Out: Poems Not for School. Zephaniah is deeply committed to the future of a risk-taking poetry that pursues social and political utopias. In “Protest Poets,” he urges “human poets” to “unite,” “Lest we pass on to future poets / a world in which, poets do not fall in love / or mek mistakes.”
  
  On this “Verse of Fire” panel, Benjamin Zephaniah is joined by Kenyan poets Tony “Smitta” Mochama and Njeri Wangari, in a wide-ranging discussion about the present and future of poetry, the relationship between art and activism, and how to engage multiple audiences through innovative performances. The panel will be moderated by poet and literary critic Keguro Macharia.
  
  Bio:
  Keguro is an Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Maryland, College Park. he belongs to the Koroga Collaborative and to the Concerned Kenyan Writers Collective. His writing can be found at gukira.wordpress.com
  
  Bio:
  Tony 'Smitta' Mochama is a successful journalist, and popular performance poet in Nairobi, with two published works of poetry to his name - 'What if I Am a Literary Gangster', and its sequel, 'The Literary Gangsta - II.' A third work of poetry 'Evanescence' is on the way ... Mochama has also lectured on creative writing and poetry, most recently as a guest speaker in June at Concordia University, in Montreal. A self-confessed vodka aficionado (no lemons, no avocado), the dread-locked poet also did Law at UoN, but sez: "Don't practice. Just preach!"
  
  
  Bio:
  Njeri Wangari is well known local poet/ spoken word performer, blogger and literary activist. Her first book of poetry was launched last month, Mind and Mind Fields: My Spoken Words. Check out her blog http://kenyanpoet.blogspot.com/
  
  
  Bought and Sold from "Too Black, Too Strong"
  
  Smart big awards and prize money
  Is killing off black poetry
  It's not censors or dictators that are cutting up our art.
  The lure of meeting royalty
  And touching high society
  Is damping creativity and eating at our heart.
  
  The ancestors would turn in graves
  Those poor black folk that once were slaves would wonder
  How our souls were sold
  And check our strategies,
  The empire strikes back and waves
  Tamed warriors bow on parades
  When they have done what they've been told
  They get their OBE's.
  
  Don't take my word, go check the verse
  Cause every laureate gets worse
  A family that you cannot fault as muse will mess your mind,
  And yeah, you may fatten your purse
  And surely they will check you first when subjects need to be amused
  With paid for prose and rhymes.
  
  Take your prize, now write more,
  Faster,
  Fuck the truth
  Now you're an actor do not fault your benefactor
  Write, publish and review,
  You look like a dreadlocks Rasta,
  You look like a ghetto blaster,
  But you can't diss your paymaster
  And bite the hand that feeds you.
  
  What happened to the verse of fire
  Cursing cool the empire
  What happened to the soul rebel that Marley had in mind,
  This bloodstained, stolen empire rewards you and you conspire,
  (Yes Marley said that time will tell)
  Now look they've gone and joined.
  
  We keep getting this beating
  It's bad history repeating
  It reminds me of those capitalists that say
  'Look you have a choice,'
  It's sick and self-defeating if our dispossessed keep weeping
  And we give these awards meaning
  But we end up with no voice.
  
  Copyrights to Benjamin Zephaniah

  
  

• Lauryn Hill bounces back with 'Repercussions'

  Posted: September 1, 2010, 10:35 pm by N.W

  She is back! and boy am I glad, although looking very different reformed and not as eccentric as we knew her. Lauryn Hill who has been on a break since the release of her Award winning Album 'The Mis-education of Lauryn Hill'.
  Repercussions is the name of her new single. I would say her legendary raspy voice & style are still very much with her.
  
  “There’s been such a long period of time where I haven’t been able to communicate where my mind is, where my consciousness is, where my ideas are,” Lauryn Hill told MTV News last weekend, following her performance at Rock The Bells in New York.
  
  Talking of this come back, it seems to be an ongoing trend with the pioneers of the Neo-Soul movement/genre. Erykah badu is another Icon who has shed her signature head wrap, platforms and long dresses and early on in the year, Maxwell made a comeback, lost the unkempt afro and the retro funk look to suits.
  Whats happening, somebody fill me in!
  
  

  
  

• The Kenya Boys Choir in 'Trees for Harmony Concert' 4th & 5th Sept, @ Alliance Francaise, Nairobi

  Posted: September 1, 2010, 10:30 pm by N.W

  
  

• Call for Submissions by Sable Litmag; poetry, Fiction, Memoir, Essay

  Posted: August 24, 2010, 9:30 pm by N.W

  Young Writers issue of Sable LitMag.
  
  Young writers of colour from all over the world are invited to submit work from all genres and styles, for our Young Writers issue of Sable, including Fiction, poetry, memoir and essays written by writers between the ages of 16-25.
  
  The editor for this issue is Warsan Shire, a 22 year old writer and poet based in London. Her poetry has been translated into Italian and Somali. She has performed internationally in North America, South Africa and all over Europe. Her first collection Teaching mother how to give birth is soon to be published with Flipped Eye. Her work will appear in the forthcoming Black British edition of Wasafiri magazine.
  
  Deadline for submissions - 30th September 2010.
  Click here to read the Terms & Conditions of submission

  
  

• Call for Submissions by Sable Litmag; poetry, Fiction, Memoir, Essay

  Posted: August 24, 2010, 9:30 pm by N.W

  Young Writers issue of Sable LitMag.
  
  Young writers of colour from all over the world are invited to submit work from all genres and styles, for our Young Writers issue of Sable, including Fiction, poetry, memoir and essays written by writers between the ages of 16-25.
  
  The editor for this issue is Warsan Shire, a 22 year old writer and poet based in London. Her poetry has been translated into Italian and Somali. She has performed internationally in North America, South Africa and all over Europe. Her first collection Teaching mother how to give birth is soon to be published with Flipped Eye. Her work will appear in the forthcoming Black British edition of Wasafiri magazine.
  
  Deadline for submissions - 30th September 2010.
  Click here to read the Terms & Conditions of submission

• Somi of hit Single, Ingele gives a hashed performance in Nairobi

  Posted: August 17, 2010, 7:20 pm by N.W

  Laura Audrey Kabasomi better known as Somi was in Nairobi 2 weeks ago for a performance at a little known No 3 Kanjeta Road, Lavington Nairobi, off General Mathenge on the 7th August.
  
  Known for her hit single Ingele that maintained a Top 10 position on U.S. World Music Charts for several months after its release In 2007, Somi owns her own Label, SanaaHouse Productions and is a child of different worlds.
  
  Born in Champaign, Illinois, her parents are Rwandan & Ugandan. She lived in Zambia for a number of years and even in Kenya and Tanzania while doing medical anthropological research, working with AIDS orphans in Nairobi,  and Dar Es Salaam.
  
  She terms her music; a fusion of an African flavor into Jazz as “holistic New African Jazz”, something that I quite agree with after watching the video to Ingele and listening to tracks from her 3 albums, Eternal Motive (2003), Red Soil in My Eyes (2007), If The Rain Comes First (2009).
  
  Not sure I speak for many when I say that very little was known of Somi's performance in Nairobi recently and that many like me would have loved to watch her perform, mostly because, this is a Sound that you don't hear often in the Kenyan entertainment scene.
  
  It looks like Uganda is preceding Kenya in having its artist break into the international limelight. Whats happening to our Helons & Rimbuis
  
  

  
  

• Jonathan Butler in Kenya for Sierra Jazz Safari 10th Oct, 2010

  Posted: August 10, 2010, 8:44 pm by N.W

  You heard right,
  Jonathan Butler, the South African Singer, Song writer and Guitarist(left handed) will be in Nairobi on 10th Oct for a show at the Bomas of Kenya from 2 - 11.30pm.
  
  Butler who signed his first record deal at the age of 12 is a Gospel Jazz artist whose journey through early fame, drug addiction, depression and finally salvation is a song of triumph.
  
  I got introduced to his music about 3 years ago. Out of his countless albums, 2 of his songs remain my favourites, Mandela Bay and 10 Degrees South from his album Jonathan 2005, not sure if its coz of the Afro beat in them or maybe its the dance -able tune.
  
  Well, come October, if you hear someone shouting themselves hoarse requesting for the two tracks, no guessing who that will be.
  
  He recently released the album 'So Strong' early this year.
  
  The event is being organised and sponsored by Sierra Premium who have been giving alot of support to the Jazz genre through sponsorship of the Capital Jazz show as well as the inception of the Sierra Jazz Safari last year with the first jazz performer  being Gerald Albright.
  
  I will give you more details of the concert as the day approaches.

  
  

• Weekend Inspiration; Olu- Baby Can't Leave it Alone

  Posted: August 6, 2010, 9:38 pm by N.W

  
  

• My take on Ngugi Wa Thiong'o Autobiography, Dreams in a Time of War

  Posted: August 6, 2010, 4:58 pm by N.W

  In the next few weeks, Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o will be in Kenya to launch the first series of  his 4 volume Autobiography, Dreams in a Time of War.
  
  I am no scholar of Ngugi but having read many of his books, I identify alot with his writing especially in the appreciation of ourselves as Africans through knowledge of our customs, traditions and language. Many have, and still contest this ideology of Re-Membering as he termed it in his published volume, Remembering Africa. which was published last year following a series of lectures he gave in Kenya in 2007 at the University of Nairobi's Taifa Hall and in many other Universities all  over the world.
  
  When I got his latest book, I had more or less assumed what I'd find in it; A natural born radical child who from a modest family whose father shaped his thoughts about life and himself in general. I guess I didn't know Ngugi as well as I thought or maybe the book does actually reveal a part of Ngugi that most have never known.
  
  Dreams in a Time of War does exactly that; let you get an understanding of Ngugi that you probably have never before. We all to tend to think that Ngugi a radical who is too pragmatic about use of his mothertongue only drawing his characters from his rural setting and seeming to only acknowledge his community without mention of other tribes in Kenya or even their contribution to the Kenyan freedom struggle.
  
  

  Finding just names of individuals from other Kenyan communities, the Maasai, Kamba, Somali or Kisii or their stories – which would symbolically communicate conviviality and shared national dreams – is a hard (t)ask. Isn’t it individuals in stories – identified by name, which name takes on significant value – who project an author’s intentions?

  Also, the Mau Mau story, the backbone of all his writing, has to be more complicated by the fact that many Kenyans contributed to the struggle for Kenya’s freedom in one way or another. Again, these are the individuals that one struggles to identify in Ngugi’s fiction.(an excerpt from a review by Dr. Tom Odhiambo in the Sunday Nation 18th July, 2010)

  
  Having just published a collection of poems, I can tell you that most of them are from personal experience or through very close encounters with the subjects. I find it quite hard writing about something I have not experienced or observed and I tend to  think that this is the story every writer can tell.
  
  Thus even for Ngugi, his childhood memories and experiences were the sources of his characters, settings and  to a large extent his ideologies.
  
  In his Autobiography, it is quite evident that time and distance have done little to erase his pristine memory of his childhood, being born in a polygamous family, the separation of his parents, his encounter with Christianity through their neighbour, his quest to join school and many other encounters which act like a map or a jigsaw puzzle that one can put together to come up with a setting, a fictional character, a thought in his fictional works like 'A Grain of Wheat, or 'The River Between'.
  
  His story at the beginning is the story of every Kikuyu boy growing up at the same time yet some of the decisions he took, most of them not fully comprehending why he was, put him on a different path; like when he chose to stand up against his neighbour's wife, for unfair treatment by a Christian or when he chose not to miss school in order to accompany the mother in a train to her hometown.
  
  Some of his encounters remind me of my own childhood, something that I think makes the book so appealing to read. One can almost identify with him in some aspects of his youth.
  
  Is it possible that Ngugi might have just  unlocked the mystery to the understanding of his sometimes hard to grasp imagination? I will let you decide that once you read 'Dreams in a Time of War'.
  
  A  local edition of the book published by EAEP is available in bookshops at Ksh. 650. They also have it for sale online.

  
  

• Yunasi redefines Afro-Techno with 'Rhoda'

  Posted: August 5, 2010, 7:21 pm by N.W

  After a European Festival Tour, Yunasi is back, this time round with Rhoda - an Afro-Techno hit .
  
  Yunasi, a Kenyan based group of 7 artists is known for its signature Style, SESUBE, which they invented in 2004. It combines sega, isukuti and benga. It takes sounds and inspirations from local Kenyan communities, cultural styles and languages and fuses those sounds with a European component.
  
  The group which started out in Nairobi at the Alliance Francaise has gone on to win various international awards with the latest being In December 2007 when Yunasi travelled to London’s famous Maida Vale studios and were voted 'overwhelming' winners of the BBC 'Next Big Thing' competition over 2000 acts from 88 countries by a panel of top music industry judges including Talvin Singh, William Orbit, Nile Rodgers and Tahita Bulmer.
  They later went on the play at the 75th Anniversary of the BBC World Service at IndigO2 at the O2 Dome (formerly, The Millenium Dome).
  
  I would say, its been a while since they last played in Nairobi and I look forward to their next local performance.
  
  

• Phyllis Muthoni & Njeri Wangari's Poems Unveiled at Goethe – NAIROBI

  Posted: August 3, 2010, 6:44 pm by N.W

  By Khainga O’Okwemba
  
  Last Saturday I walked into the library at Goethe-Institut where AMKA women writers are hosted at least once every month, just to learn that Dr. Tom Odhyambo, the moderator, had infact introduced the poetry and prose session by providing copies of Pheroze Nowrojee’s piece on poets and society which was the subject of my cheerful polemic a few days ago.
  
  The idea was to encourage discussions on the role of the poet/writer in society. I missed that bit as did Tony Mochama. However, I had arrived in time to follow discussions on German literature. Normally, the sessions begin by reading an English text from German literature.
  
  Yesterday (Monday) though, I met Pheroze, we shook hands, hugged and I conveyed the same to him. He acknowledged the beautiful gesture from the young literati and the organizers, “thank you so much,” he offered.
  
  Interestingly, the poems read were from two fresh books; Lilac Uprising & Mines and Mind Fields: My Spoken Words, newly published poetry anthologies by two remarkable young Kenyan poets.
  
  The first poem to read was “My Mother’s Tongue,” from Njeri’s anthology, which condenses Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s Remembering Africa prose work into a few stanzas. What? The interaction of the African with the European did dismember Africa. One of the major casualties was the adverse effect on language and culture;
  
  My mother tongue –
  A tongue that has created a sound to the maker of Culture
  A tongue that has created words whose proverbs
  Made warriors of men
  - My Mother’s Tongue (from Mines & Mind Fields) - Njeri Wangari
  
  Second we read “Face of Africa,” from Phyllis’ anthology; a poet’s musing on how the Western media portrays Africa in unlike human experiences. You have read Phillip Ochieng’s (one of Kenya’s foremost journalists still active) column on Sundays on Eurocentric speech of Africa, or Binyavanga’s essay “How to Write About Africa.” Listen to this;
  
  In a previous frame my skin stretched taut
  Over a belly distended with kwashiorkor, -----
  In this shot it sags over a skeletal cranium
  - Face of Africa (from Lilac Uprising) - Phyllis Muthoni
  
  After the readings, it so happened, quite inadvertently, that I began by asking, whether or not the Negritude Movement has got not heirs to its memory? This question is informed by a claim, I need to qualify, that critics of the movement were quiet admirers of the philosophy, if in their creative works. Still, is there anything like African literature? What is African literature? This was one of the issues arising from the discussions.
  
  The discussion was as explosive, as the divide between proponents and opponents of African languages as the medium in which our literatures need to be preserved.
  
  Hear Mochama, “we have lamented about the ghost of our mother tongue, must we go to the cemetery and exhume the body?” Tony is not about to start writing in Kisii. A good number of those in attendance believed otherwise. They would readily embrace writing in their local dialects. “My friend, is it a poet’s busyness to spend their time trying to save some language?” Mochama again.
  
  AMKA, like the flagship FEMRITE in Uganda was founded on the ideal to; discover, horn and promote young women writers. The group started by holding readings at the Wasanii Restaurant at the Kenya National Theatre. It would then move to Goethe. The group’s first anthology will be out very soon, and as it were, poetry, occupies more space than prose!
  
  Did not poet Sitawa Namwalie, say that “Kenya will be known as a land of poets and not just of athletes and fake politicians!”
  
  Well, the AMKA poetry and prose readings at Goethe-Institut takes a sabbatical this August because, Goethe, as is tradition, will be closed for one month. The forum is held every last Saturday of the month and it attracts students from the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, authors, journalists, budding writers and the general public. Also attending was Linda, the motherly force behind AMKA and Riva an administrator at KenyaImagine online magazine.
  
  Eliphas Nyamogo, our host at Goethe, did make a passionate request to the poet-authors of Lilac Uprising & Mines and Mind Fields to find some spare time and join their fellows in September when the sessions resume. It is hoped that this will inspire budding writers. It is a wonderful forum interspersed with tea and snacks, and that I would encourage us to attend.
  
  Mochama and I then left for San Valencia, where we met investigative journalist Parsalelo Kantai, forgot poetry, and talked journalism and media houses. Dr Tom would join us shortly. There were cigarettes to be smocked, enough triple, more vodka, mh, and sodas.
  
  Trust Tony and PEN, the last Saturday of August we shall have a literary event at the Professional Centre. Will keep you posted. I leave you with one of my poems. Read on.
  
  Words Come Calling
  By Khainga O’Okwemba
  
  
  There goes yesterday
  With a peer, to stray,
  Moving in monody today
  Is a pal with a little to say-
  
  Those of us born
  Have a place on earth
  And a world to watch
  Those not born to feel
  
  Talk, make this an awesome bon’
  And halt that deafening dearth
  Unprecedented refusal to touch
  Tomorrow, and your heart be still
  
  If you are a believer, pray
  For ambition to be kept away
  Quite many have joined the fray
  They know not where to stay.

• Poem: Dear God

  Posted: August 2, 2010, 12:37 pm by N.W

  Dear God,
  Its me,
  I know its been a while but I need your help
  They have just announced that my bishop stole an election
  Now the glory in you is gone for her prayers to you were answered
  
  You said no
  Just like the other men of clothe who have lost faith if you
  Now they use action, mass action
  Prayer, faith and forgiveness all forgotten
  Fighting with MPs for the camera’s attention
  On matters of the womb
  As if it will determine whether one enters heaven or not
  Yet they claim that you died for all our sins
  Do they forgive those who abort or those who sodomise young boys?
  For I know you do.
  
  Lord,
  You said in the last days many would claim you yet not know you
  Hawkers in your name have made you cheap
  In buses, streets, cinema halls and parks
  With offers of wealth, health and heavenly breath
  Our offering, the tithe that bargains the weight of their prayers to you for us
  
  Lord,
  I pray for your curse upon their uncircumcised lips
  Uttering your name to the glorification of their egos
  Multiplication of their bank figures
  Modification of their anatomies
  While they rob from you
  The sacrifice of our tithed toil
  Our souls, the collateral
  
  I hope my prayers to you will be like Kamanda’s
  
  And I will say
  
  “He heard me”
  
  All Rights Reserved ©
  Njeri Wangari –Wanjohi
  July 2010

• Weekend Inspirational Video: Ayo 'Slow Slow(Run, Run)

  Posted: July 31, 2010, 5:12 pm by N.W

• Art Exhibition: Liz Orchardson & Margaret Matanda, Paa ya Paa 31st July

  Posted: July 27, 2010, 9:47 pm by N.W

  Painting with a Mouse: Computer Art & Poems Book Launch by Liz Orchardson
  Creating with Clay & Brush: Ceramics & Paintings by Margaret Matanda
  Chief  Guest: Prof. Olive Mugenda, The Vice-Chancellor- Kenyatta University
  Date: Saturday 31st July, 2010
  Official Opening: 2pm - 6pm
  Venue: Paa ya Paa Art Gallery Ridgways, Off Kiambu Road
  Duration: 31st July - 15th Aug 9am - 6pm Daily
  Items for Sale: Paintings & Books
  Artist contacts: Liz Orchardson (0722 769902) & Margaret (0722 225440)

• Mines & Mind Fields gets reviewed in the Lifestyle, Sunday Nation 25th July

  Posted: July 26, 2010, 4:09 pm by N.W

  As I was lazing in the house yesterday, Sunday 25th, I received a call from a fellow poet and blogger informing me that he was reading a review of my book in the day's newspaper. That took my by surprise as I was not aware that anyone was doing a review of the book.
  
  I quickly dashed to the shop and got myself a copy of the paper and hurriedly perused through it for the article.
  And there it was in the lifestyle section, 'Poetry that embraces nation’s popular culture' by Joseph Ngunjiri who also runs the blog, Kenyanbooks/ Maisha yetu.
  
  Its interesting how you can do something on an experimental basis only for it to become something bigger than you expected. Thats how I feel about the book and most of the poems which have varying styles, themes and in some cases, even taking on other personalities. I like the way that Ngunjiri was able to capture the main theme in the poetry collection which is ideally on Kenya's current culture, Urban Blues as I referred to it. If you missed the read, find a copy of it from the Nation's Website.
  
  Simon Muthiora, a poet and blogger who runs, Two Hours Before has also reviewed the book.
  
  I hope you will get a chance to come and listen to some of the poems in the book in the two events that I will be performing at over the weekend (here and here) Signed copies of the book will be available for sale.

• Rhythm & Spoken Featuring, Singer Viola Karuri & Poet Njeri Wangari, 30th July

  Posted: July 23, 2010, 4:06 pm by N.W

  Event: Rhythm & SpokenDate & Time : July 30 at 9:00pm - July 31 at 2:00amLocation:  Dass- Ethiopian Restaurant                 Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi, KenyaA Poetry and Music open mic night, featuring Singer Viola Karuri and Poet Njeri Wangari author of Mines and Mind fields: My Spoken Words(Yup, thats me)Doors open at 9pm and Performances start from 9:30pm-11:00pmNusoul groove afterparty with DJ EduardoEntry:Sh200For performance slot bookings/dinner reservations/info call us on: 0728.293.632
  (Signed copies of my book will be available for purchase)

• Exhibition: Moses Nyawanda at Le Rustique 24 July-7 sept

  Posted: July 22, 2010, 8:10 pm by N.W

  Art Nairobi and Le Rustique are happy to show Moses Nyawanda 's first solo exhibition in Nairobi for more than 7 years. Born in Bondo ,Nyanza district, Moses stopped painting for more than 7 years and begun again in 2009. Most of his paintings are done on canvas and his subjects are the people of Kenya
  
  "I paint those I interact with and currently I am interested in painting political subject since they portray the Kenyan fast growing culture greed".
  
  Most of his male characters depict the vile political subjects ( he gives them animal faces to avoid a too obvious confrontational approach to his subject ) while his women and children depict the warm social subjects, both being contemporary.
  

• Benjamin Zephaniah A Highlight at the Storymoja Hay Festival 2010

  Posted: July 22, 2010, 1:37 pm by N.W

  Poet, novelist and playwright Benjamin Zephaniah will be the highlight at this year's Storymoja Hay Festival 2010. Born in 15 April 1958, is a British Jamaican Rastafarian writer and dub poet. He is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature, and was included in The Times list of Britain's top 50 post-war writers in 2008.
  
  Zephaniah has said that his mission is to fight the dead image of poetry in academia, and to "take it everywhere" to people who do not read books". This ties in very well with the Story Moja, a publishing company that seeks to change the notion that reading is boring by nurturing a reading culture.
  
  Zephaniah has written 15 Poetry books, 5 Novels, 2 plays and produced 6 albums
  
  Last year saw the inauguration of the first Storymoja Hay Festival with the highlight being the celebrated Nigerian writer, Wole Soyinka. Unfortunately, he could not make it but it(the festival) did bring together many writers from Africa and beyond in a 3 day book festivity. (See my recap  here and here)
  
  

• Storymoja Hay Festival Poetry Competition

  Posted: July 22, 2010, 12:53 pm by N.W

  Storymoja and International PEN Kenya Chapter invite you to submit poems for the Storymoja Hay Festival Poetry Competition.
  
  They welcome bold, innovative poems that are rooted in local contexts and idioms, attentive to the nuances and textures of everyday life. Poems that help us see and imagine Kenya in its complex variety.
  
  The winning entry will receive a prize of Kshs 20,000, 2nd and 3rd places will receive Kshs 10,000 and Kshs 5,000 respectively.Winners will have the opportunity to perform during the Hay Festival, October 1-3, 2010. Winning entries will also be published in the Nairobi Star.
  
  Submit a maximum of two poems to Haypoetry2010@storymojaafrica.co.ke. The subject line of the email should be “Hay Poetry Submission.”
  
  Submit poems as attachments using either Microsoft Word (doc) or Rich Text File (rtf) formats. On a separate cover page, please include your contact information, including your name, email address, and phone number. Do not put any of this information on the pages containing poetry.
  
  Submissions close at midnight on Monday August 30, 2010.
  
  They will not be able to respond to individual queries.

• SLAM AFRICA is back, July 23rd 2010, Dass Restaurant

  Posted: July 20, 2010, 5:49 pm by N.W

  Slam Africa is on again!!!
  Featuring all new Spoken Word artists!!!
  As well as Point Blank (the master of ceremony)!!!
  Come through and enjoy another exciting
  Spoken WordSLAM Poetry Competition!
  Nuff luv
  Entrance: Ksh.300 Day: Friday 23rd JulyTime: 7:30pm - 11:00pmLocation: Dass Ethiopian Restaurant,Woodvale Grove, Westlands.

• SLAM AFRICA is back, July 23rd 2010, Dass Restaurant

  Posted: July 20, 2010, 5:49 pm by N.W

  Slam Africa is on again!!!
  Featuring all new Spoken Word artists!!!
  As well as Point Blank (the master of ceremony)!!!
  Come through and enjoy another exciting
  Spoken WordSLAM Poetry Competition!
  Nuff luv
  Entrance: Ksh.300 Day: Friday 23rd JulyTime: 7:30pm - 11:00pmLocation: Dass Ethiopian Restaurant,Woodvale Grove, Westlands.

• "Lottie Da, Poet I Am" by Lottie Porch at Paa ya Paa, 1st August

  Posted: July 19, 2010, 4:02 pm by N.W

  Lottie E. Porch is an award winning actor, writer, educator, director and producer for stage and screen. For over thirty years Ms. Porch has shared her talents in the realms of performing arts, written word, and cultural education. Whether she is acting on stage, publishing written works, teaching students in an African village, or singing a late night set at a jazz club – Lottie Porch brings her creativity to all apects of her life and work.
  
  On 1st August, a Sunday afternoon, Lottie will be performing poetry and music off her debut CD of Music and Spoken Word, 'Lottie Da, Poet I Am' at the Paa ya Paa Art Gallery in Ridgeways Kiambu.
  
  The event  will enable Kenyan poetry lovers to sample some Spoken Word from this amazingly multi talented lady. It will also be an opportunity for Lottie to hear what Kenya has to offer in Poetry and Spoken Word.
  
  At this point, I would like to make a call to poets who would be interested in performing during this event. Email me, njeriwangari(at)kenyanpoet(dot)com and I will give you more details on the day's program.
  
  Come experience some serenity from the words and the surroundings from the pioneers of art in Kenya, Phillda and Elimo Njau.

• How Come? Yossour N'Dour, Canibus & Wycliffe Jean

  Posted: July 16, 2010, 8:00 pm by N.W

  Every once in a while amidst all the crunk and bubblegum music even from artists who started out real and then gave in to commercialization somewhere, comes a song that makes you pause and listen.
  
  Thats how come, this track is getting the Friday Feature.
  
  Yossour N'Dour has proved time and again  that he is indeed one of Africa's great musicians and there is no other Afro artist that can match his diversity, Angelique is however getting close. The guy has done many collaborations with artists of a different genre than his and always managed to make the songs hits. An example is 7 Seconds with Neneh Cherry.
  
  Wycliffe is one person who has been going through lots of phases in his musical career. Sometimes I love him, sometimes I hate him. He has the potential to make very good music as is evident in this video but for sometime he has been caught up in the commercial of music and made some horrible $%$^.
  
  How come is a song that is a collaboration of 2 hip hop artists, Wycliffe Jean, Canibus his prodigy and an African Music artist, Yossour N'dour.
  
  The sound is amazing. may it usher you into the weekend.
  
  

• Conference: Broadcast & Film Africa 28th -29th July 2010 in Nairobi

  Posted: July 14, 2010, 5:23 pm by N.W

  Nigeria’s leading film producers will be showcasing their latest productions at this year’s Broadcast & Film Africa Conference, to be held in Nairobi over 28-29 July.
  
  AITEC Africa, the event organiser, has announced an exciting programme, including a Nollywood Pavilion in the exhibition running alongside the conference. Over 20 Nollywood film-makers will participate in the conference, to promote their products to broadcasters and distributors that will be attending the event from throughout Africa. Nigerian films have become increasingly popular among East African TV viewers.
  
  The conference will include a session entitled “After Nollywood, what next? – African film distribution across the continent”. Speakers on this topic include Imruh Bakari, Savannah Films, Tanzania; Lola Sanusi, Director of Operations, Continental TV; Trushna Buddhev Patel, GM Africa, Pan-African Film Distributors; Wanuri Kahiu, Film-maker; Professor Emevwo Biakolo, Dean, School of Media & Communications, Pan-African University, Nigeria; Mike Dearham, Head M-Net Library Acquisition and Sales
  
  Over 60 African and international broadcast and film leaders will make presentations on a wide range of broadcast and film industry topics in the two day conference, sharing knowledge and experience with industry managers and professionals from throughout the continent.
  
  For full details of the conference email info(at)aitecafrica.com or log on to www.aitecafrica.com

• Concert: Otto Lechner & Windhund Music, Sat 17th July @ Goethe Institut

  Posted: July 14, 2010, 12:36 pm by N.W

  * CONCERT *
  * OTTO LECHNER & WINDHUND MUSIC *
  * WHERE: Goethe InstitutMonrovia StreetNairobi
  * WHEN: Saturday 17 July, 6.00 PM
  * ENTRY: Free
  OTTO LECHNER & WINDHUND MUSICOtto Lechner, a blind accordionist and member of the famous “Accordion Tribe”, an all star group of world-renowned accordionists who were brought together by American accordionist Guy Klucevsek. Karl Ritter, a true “Guitar King” and Melissa Coleman, Cello, complete the Trio Windhund Music representing different sound worlds, its members are well known for their musical globetrotting. They move around in many areas of music, never restricting themselves to any cliché. The combination of high professional standards of music making, artistic maturity and a common understanding of musical performance spark the creation of pieces which could not have been better written if they had been pre-composed.
  
  

• Hip Hop with an African mix; Canibus, Wyclife Feat Yossour N'Dour - How Come

  Posted: July 9, 2010, 7:28 pm by N.W

  Every once in a while amidst all the crunk and bubblegum music even from artists who started out real and then gave in to commercialization somewhere, comes a song that makes you pause and listen.
  
  Thats how come, this track is getting the Friday Feature.
  
  Yossour N'Dour has proved time and again  that he is indeed one of Africa's great musicians and there is no other Afro artist that can match his diversity, Angelique is however getting close. The guy has done many collaborations with artists of a different genre than his and always managed to make the songs hits. An example is 7 Seconds with Neneh Cherry.
  
  Wycliffe is one person who has been going through lots of phases in his musical career. Sometimes I love him, sometimes I hate him.
  
  How come is a song that is a collaboration of 2 hip hop artists, Wycliffe Jean, Canibus his prodigy and an African Music artist, Yossour N'dour.
  
  The sound is amazing. may it usher you into the weekend.
  
  

• A for Africa Exhibition from July 2010 to July 2011, Nairobi National Museum

  Posted: July 7, 2010, 5:44 pm by N.W

• Moraa Gitaa shortlisted in Penguin Prize for African Writing

  Posted: July 5, 2010, 5:32 pm by N.W

  Moraa Gitaa, a Kenya based writer of the Novel Crucible for Silver & Furnace for Gold  is on a shortlist of thirteen authors gunning for the inaugural Penguin Prize for African Writing.
  
  The Penguin Group in announcing the shortlisted authors said it received approximately 250 submissions in the fiction category and 50 in the non-fiction category from around Africa.
  
  The literary awards are for "previously unpublished full-length work of adult fiction and one of non-fiction." Gitaa's entry is in the fiction category.
  
  When it launched the new awards last year, Penguin stated "For the fiction prize the judges will be looking for novels of freshness and originality that represent the finest examples of contemporary fiction out of Africa."
  
  Winners will be announced in September and each category winner will receive the equivalent of US$6,500 and a publishing contract from the Penguin Group.
  
  Moraa is also a correspondent for Mshale, a newspaper for African immigrants in the Americas.

• Blankets & Wine feat Kidum, Denise Gordon,Maia & Wendy Kimani, July4th

  Posted: July 2, 2010, 1:15 pm by N.W

  
  EAST AFRICA’S PREMIER MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESENTS
  
  KIDUM (BURUNDI), DENISE GORDON (USA),
  WENDY KIMANI, MAIA
  LIVE @ HILLCREST SCHOOL, KAREN, NAIROBIAmple parking available
  Sunday, July 4th, 2010, 1pm-6.30pm
  
  GATE: Ksh. 1,000/- Adults, Ksh. 400/- Children Above 5 Years
  
  ADVANCE TICKETS – Ksh. 800
   FOR BOOKINGS CALL SAM: 0721 377 167

• Could Kenya's latest Radio station, 97.1FM Radio One be the One for Alternative Music Lovers?

  Posted: July 1, 2010, 1:26 pm by N.W

   There's a new radio station in Nairobi, 97.1FM which I stumbled across last week while surfing channels. I am not quite sure when exactly they started broadcasting but from the look of things, its still pretty new as they are just playing music throughout with a few infomercial breaks.
  
  Despite being live for less a month, they have already proved to be miles ahead of many other stations that have been there for ages. Just a few minutes ago(and maybe, what inspired me most to write this post) is the fact that they already have a Ustream channel for those always on the net like me and for the whole world to tune in.
  
  What caught my attention and has continued keeping tuned to this new station is their selection of music. You know how deep my love for Neo Soul, Jazz and African Music goes!(I feel it in my bones.....)
  
  They are playing precisely that sort of music and not just your usual Erykah Badu, Maxwel, India Arie, not that I no longer like their music but most  stations that purport to play  'Neo Soul' only play the afromentioned artists without realizing that the Neo Soul sub-genre has grown alot since the days of its pioneers. You will rarely hear music by the likes of Adrian Evans, Nneka, Ayo, Bilal, Fertile Ground, Laura Izibor, Wayna just to mention a few.
  
   The same applies to African Music although Capital FM in its Saturday evening show does try to feature more artists than just Papa Wemba and Oliver Mtukudzi with his Todii song(did you know that Tuku has over 17 albums and most Kenyans only know this one song!... blame radio)
  
  I give alot of Kudos to Jack Ojiambo for his knowledge and selection of Jazz music which he plays every Sunday evening. Unfortunately, someone at Capital felt that Classical Music was better than jazz thus reducing the Jazz show by 1hr to only 2hrs per week with Classical getting extra slots every evening. I guess its all about how much sponsorship a show gets to determine its time  on air. enuff with the ranting.
  
  I guess God did hear the prayer of many like me who even dared hope that one day there would be a radio station that would play the combination of good Neo Soul, Jazz and African music.
  
  If  the way they have started is anything to go by, then I can assure you that this will be one great station for mature listeners who know what they want from music.
  
  There is however only one small issue I have with the station, why play the same Soul music that is Classic FM's forte? wouldn't they be better off playing the good old Soul music with the likes of Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Percy Sledge and the sort that made Motown a legendary Record Label! This would make alot of sense as its this legends of Soul that inspired the current breed of Neo Soul Artists(See the videos below if in doubt)
  
  Currently, the station is playing alot of Soul music with some cross over tracks to RnB (I pray they don't venture into RnB as we already have Easy for that)but on weekends they do play a very good selection of African Music. I must admit that most of the songs played were fresh to my ears which means that, they have really done their homework.
  
  I am still not sure who the station belongs to as they do not have a website yet but I did notice that one, Rama Nyang who was previously at Radio Africa is  one of the presenters.
  
  Lets hope that their music preference will not change after luring listeners in.
  
  
  
  
  

• Kenya's Queen Jane dies: Remembering the Queen of Kikuyu Music

  Posted: June 30, 2010, 6:11 pm by N.W

  Queen Jane, one of Kenya's Kikuyu benga musicians is Dead. Queen Jane whose real name was Jane Nyambura succumbed to an illness she has had for a while now at the St. Mary's hospital in Nairobi.
  More news about her death and life as a musician can be read here and here.
  
  One of her greatest hits was 'Tiga Kwiyamba"(stop braging/boasting) which received alot of airplay in Kenya's venacular stations.
  
  Lets pay tribute to this daughter of Gikuyu.
  
  

• Mines & Mind Fields book launched on 26th June at Silverbird Westgate

  Posted: June 28, 2010, 3:47 pm by N.W

  For those you who normally buy the Saturday Nation(you are many, as I came to discover), there was a full page article in the magazine with an interview about me as well as info that my book was to be launched that same day at the Silverbird Westgate.
  
  My apologies if you did not receive an invitation, I was working with a figure of 70 guests as the space given by Silverbird could not take more.
  
  The event  did have a slow start courtesy of providers showing up late. I think I lost my nerve more than once. I hate incompetence. Why would we agree that you are doing the setup at a certain time because the launch is from 2.30 then you show up at 2.30pm. I was furious.
  
  Hitches started from 12pm. I was at the venue at 11.30am. The Power setup guys came and just sat as if waiting for their cables to find their way to a socket!.  The decor guy showed up with the tables at 2.15pm and kept lying that he is at the corner whenever he was called 1hr earlier. By the time he was setting up the tables, some guests had already started streaming in. The last straw was the trussing which the guys kept fumbling to put dressing on and setup for the launch. I had to walk away to cool off.
  
  Despite the hitches, we did start the program albeit 1hr late though the guests were patient(there was alot to see at the store)
  
  Our MC for the day Anto who I like calling Anto Neosoul coz of how I came to know him some years back at Kwani open mic, was the earliest and was aptly prepared for the occasion. He started us off with a an intro of Aziza an upcoming AfroSoul male quartet. The event was actually more of a poetry open mic one as there were more performances than speeches. His singing which has a rich blend of tenor left everyone in awe wondering why he did not win that MNET competition. (Anto is known more for his acting in a Siri as well as in the AIDS documentary Sugar)
  
  Mstari Wa Nne was in the house and their poetry was amazing as ever. Other writers also published by Nsemia, Moraa Gitaa (Author of A Crucible for Silver & Furnace for Gold), Chris Okemwa (Author of the Gong) and  Matundura were also present with Moraa reading an excerpt from her book and Chris performing a poem on love. Ngwatilo did her legendary 'Lessons from home' which most of us prefer calling 'Goat Meat'.
  
  I did not realize how excited and proud my family was for me until that day. They came in huge numbers and shared in the joy of launching the book.
  
  My publisher, Dr. Matunda who flew all the way from Canada just for the occasion made sure that everything was taken care of staying around till after 7pm to ensure that nothing went a mis.Now, that is dedication.
  
  Somehow, it seems like the menu for the event was very well thought out. Everyone was amazed at the quantity and quality of the delicacies that were served, my colleagues are still telling me about it now. I was too nervous, excited and at some point apprehensive to enjoy anything.
  
  Many thanks to those who came. I hope you will get yourself a copy of the book. Enjoy some of the moments captured. Official photos with the Video coming soon
  
  

• Mines & Mind Fields book launched on 26th June at Silverbird Westgate

  Posted: June 28, 2010, 3:47 pm by N.W

  For those you who normally buy the Saturday Nation(you are many, as I came to discover), there was a full page article in the magazine with an interview about me as well as info that my book was to be launched that same day at the Silverbird Westgate.
  
  My apologies if you did not receive an invitation, I was working with a figure of 70 guests as the space given by Silverbird could not take more.
  
  The event  did have a slow start courtesy of providers showing up late. I think I lost my nerve more than once. I hate incompetence. Why would we agree that you are doing the setup at a certain time because the launch is from 2.30 then you show up at 2.30pm. I was furious.
  
  Hitches started from 12pm. I was at the venue at 11.30am. The Power setup guys came and just sat as if waiting for their cables to find their way to a socket!.  The decor guy showed up with the tables at 2.15pm and kept lying that he is at the corner whenever he was called 1hr earlier. By the time he was setting up the tables, some guests had already started streaming in. The last straw was the trussing which the guys kept fumbling to put dressing on and setup for the launch. I had to walk away to cool off.
  
  Despite the hitches, we did start the program albeit 1hr late though the guests were patient(there was alot to see at the store)
  
  Our MC for the day Anto who I like calling Anto Neosoul coz of how I came to know him some years back at Kwani open mic, was the earliest and was aptly prepared for the occasion. He started us off with a an intro of Aziza an upcoming AfroSoul male quartet. The event was actually more of a poetry open mic one as there were more performances than speeches. His singing which has a rich blend of tenor left everyone in awe wondering why he did not win that MNET competition. (Anto is known more for his acting in a Siri as well as in the AIDS documentary Sugar)
  
  Mstari Wa Nne was in the house and their poetry was amazing as ever. Other writers also published by Nsemia, Moraa Gitaa (Author of A Crucible for Silver & Furnace for Gold), Chris Okemwa (Author of the Gong) and  Matundura were also present with Moraa reading an excerpt from her book and Chris performing a poem on love. Ngwatilo did her legendary 'Lessons from home' which most of us prefer calling 'Goat Meat'.
  
  I did not realize how excited and proud my family was for me until that day. They came in huge numbers and shared in the joy of launching the book.
  
  My publisher, Dr. Matunda who flew all the way from Canada just for the occasion made sure that everything was taken care of staying around till after 7pm to ensure that nothing went a mis.Now, that is dedication.
  
  Somehow, it seems like the menu for the event was very well thought out. Everyone was amazed at the quantity and quality of the delicacies that were served, my colleagues are still telling me about it now. I was too nervous, excited and at some point apprehensive to enjoy anything.
  
  Many thanks to those who came. I hope you will get yourself a copy of the book. Enjoy some of the moments captured. Official photos with the Video coming soon
  
  

• Wamathai Celebrating 1st Blog anniversary with poetry at Secrets Lounge, 30th June

  Posted: June 28, 2010, 1:47 pm by N.W

  Wamathai, one of Kenya's poet and blogger is on 30th June celebrating 1 year since the inception of his blog Wamathai.com which he started as a space  to exercise his creative juices.
  
  Within the space of a year, the blog has grown to incorporate writings of  short story writers and  poets  Wamathai.com has since its humble beginnings crossed the 10,000 unique visitors mark. The site, now with 20 authors, is one of the few spaces on the Internet one can find a unique blend of fresh and exciting writing from Kenya from several creative genres.
  
  The 1 year celebration will be in the form of  a performance and readings from authors and poets as they share some of their most popular pieces of poetry and creative writing. This will be at the Secrets Lounge in View Park towers in downtown Nairobi, just adjacent to the Alliance Francaise. The vent starts at 7pm, charges will be Ksh. 100. Special guests to this event include popular afro fusion singer Dela, TV presenter and blogger Anyiko Owoko, Michael Kwambo & Myself from the highly respected poetry collective Mstari Wa Nne,  Jemedari among others.
  
  There will be poetry books on sale, blue mothertongue by Ngwatilo, Mines & Mind Fields as well as publications from other Kenyan Poets.
  
  Additional info courtesy of NairobiLiving

• A night of Poetry Art and Music at Karen Country Lodge

  Posted: June 24, 2010, 6:36 pm by N.W

  Last Friday 18th, we were at the Karen Country Lodge for the ASAP event organized by Kaz. The event is a monthly one which started not so long ago. It hosts an Artist, A singer and a Poet hence the initials. Quite a well thought out concept.
  
  The event was set to start at around 8 and as I got to learn, the place had been fully booked(guys had been encouraged to book in advance)
  
  As I later shared with my crew - Mstari Wa Nne, its like the old Kwani crowd had moved and was now the resident crowd for the ASAP event. Binyavanga, Judy Kibinge, Mumbi Kaigwa, Nini Wacera and Wanuri Kahiu with their friends were all there.
  
  At 9pm, the show started, the host, Kaz who started by telling the audience about the event with info on the feature artists for the evening.
  
  Gakunju Kaigwa had a lovely collection of earrings. This was indeed a surprising sight for me for I have always known Gakunju for his amazing sculptures. It seems like he is now venturing into more crafts judging by the earrings and mwikos he had at his dispaly table.He did manage to still squeeze me some space for the several copies of my book that I had carried with me.
  
  Mstari was set to go first. Grand Master Masese who never disappoints with his Obokano hit the stage followed shortly by Dennis Inkwa who turned out to be the crowd's darling being called up towards the end of our act to do  a performance with Kaz. His poems on IDPs, the new book he is writing and the rather short one on life in comparison to his (Vuvuzela) left everyone in stiches.
  Next was yours truly  got on stage with 'When Change Comes',  'Hiphop' and 'My Words'.
  
  The Chairman aka Leon was truly the evening's love doctor. His love prescriptions and dosage of his poetic medicine that he administered to the crowd got ladies making all sorts of sounds and the men threatened by the smooth  lines  which am told did 'Charm some pants off' as his poem went. My best poem from him that evening was the one about the lady who wanted "John to walk all over her".
  
  Mike the final act for Mstari was next with 'Vision 2030'. This seemed to touch a certain lady who later approached Mike with an interest to have it performed in some corporate event.
  
  Denis did get called back on stage and this time round decided to do a free style with Kaz on how she faked her orgasm, that was truly nuts but not below the duo.
  
  Just a Band, the 2nd act for the evening were next although with Chuchu conspicously missing. I tend to think that Chuchu is a behind the curtains kind of guy. I have never seen him perform in all the shows I've been to by the trio. On his behalf, they had brought a lady on board.
  
  I have alot of admiration and respect for the group that continues to amaze everyone not only with their musical skills but also with their general outlook towards everything. If you want proof, ask about 'Makmende'. I however tend to think that theirs is the kind of music you would rather listen to recorded as opposed to a live performance. There we were, crowd half drunk but with music they couldn't stand and start dancing to, it wasn't a nice feeling. The chilling weather in the place did not help either.
  
  I did manage to walk around saying hallo, marketing my book and guess who my first buyer was! None other than Binyavanga who had just arrived the previous day evening. It felt really weird when he requested me to sign it for me. I felt truly flushed, and took more than a min trying to figure out what to write.
  
   By the time I was leaving, I had managed to sell several copies and pitch ideas on a possible production of collection.(If you have any more ideas, please hit me up)
  
  Watch out for the next ASAP next month. Till then, enjoy the slideshow.
  
  

• Mstari Wa Nne, Just A Band, Gakunju Kaigwa & Kaz,at Karen Country Lodge, 18th June

  Posted: June 11, 2010, 2:52 pm by N.W

• Gabonese Afro Zouk singer Oliver N'goma dies on 7th June of Kidney Failure

  Posted: June 10, 2010, 1:19 pm by N.W

  Oliver N'goma a Gabonese singer hailed as the king of  Afro Zouk  is dead
  
   Regarded as "a monument of Gabonese music", N'goma gained international fame through music in the style "Zouk".
  
  One of his biggest hits 'Bane'  continues to  receive huge airplay in Kenyan radio stations that  play Rhumba and/or African classics more than 20 years after its release. The song also happens to be the title of his first album.
  It initially did not receive commercial success until Radio Africa N.1 and Gilles Obringer on RFI played songs from the album. The album became one of the biggest sellers in the history of African music.
  
  N'goma died in a hospital in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. He suffered kidney failure.
  
  Nicknamed "Noli," he was born in Mayumba in south-west Gabon in March 23, 1959. Oliver N'Goma started singing at the age of eight years. His father was one of the best players of his harmonium region.
  
  Music and cinema have been the two passions of this artist. He studied accounting at the technical school of Libreville. He made his debut in integrating the high school band, Capo Sound, as a guitarist.
  
  The second album "Adia", also in partnership with Manu Lima, was released in December 1995. Five years later, Oliver took a new approach with "Seva", choosing to work with artists with different musical backgrounds.
  
  More than ten years after he started out, Oliver N'Goma's music, a catchy combination of West Indian zouk and African beats, is as alive as ever.
  
  Interestingly, the news of his death did not receive any media attention in Kenya despite there being 4 fully fledged Rhumba and African Classic radio stations. But I guess with resources being directed at the Serial Killer, World Cup, By-Elections, The Budget, there was simply no space/time to highlight the death of a mere musician.
  
  
  Bane
  
  
  and Adia
  

• 'Mines & Mind Fields; My Spoken Words' finally arrives in Kenya retailing at Ksh. 750

  Posted: June 9, 2010, 8:28 pm by N.W

  After what has seemed to me like the longest wait ever, My book is finally available in  Kenya.
  
  So far, Africa Book Service (ABS) is confirmed, my publisher is still talking to various other bookshops to stock the title. Apparently, most publishers don't fall over themselves seeking to stock poetry books but I am hoping that by your frequent requests, they will look for it.(It was hinted to me that the book needs to be in demand for most of  them to stock it)
  
  So, for those of you who have been dying to get a copy, head on down to Africa Book Service situated  along Koinange Street opposite the Zain Service Center and what was formerly Kengeles (I suck at directions)
  
  The book is going for Ksh. 750.
  
  The launch is tentatively set for 19th of June, I will confirm the full details once they are firmed up.
  
  Email me in case you have any problems or further queries(like interviews or autographs......lol)
  njeriwangari(at)kenyanpoet(dot)com
  
  The book is now also available at the following book stores
  - All Siverbird Media Stores
  - University of Nairobi Bookshop
  - Book Point along Moi Avenue

• Sanabora looking for a Web Designer & a Professional Photographer

  Posted: June 7, 2010, 8:52 pm by N.W

  Are you  a web designer or a  professional photographer?
  
  Then Sanabora Design Hse Ltd is looking for you. You must have creative and dynamic abilities.
  If interested, email  wario(at)sanabora(dot)com.

• Wanted: Web Ads Sales Reps

  Posted: June 4, 2010, 8:35 pm by N.W

  Are you a natural born sales person with LOTS of drive, eagerness to learn and desire to be super successful? Do you also have a special interest in online advertising and digital media? If so, we have a unique and fantastic opportunity for you in ViRN Instruments.
  
  Please read on:
  A dynamic and growing Online destination dedicated to content is looking to hire a bright and energetic sales representatives.
  
  We are seeking Sales people who can sell adspace (Advertising space) on our websites:- Ukurasa, Wallapa, blogs.virn.net, news.virn.net and more.
  
  What are we looking for in you?
  Good knowledge of the web – social sites, search engines, gadgets,etc
  Great sales & negotiation skills – if you can sell water to an Eskimo then it’s you we are looking for
  A self starter who can hit the ground running
  Ability to bring in new accounts (online advertisers and publishers)
  
  The Fine Print
  - Independent Rate Card thus commissions based.
  - Revolving Income (Not limited to an initial sale)
  - Significant growth opportunities
  
  Interested?
  Send an email to info(at)virn.net

• The 2010 World Cup in South Africa to start off in a Musical Celebration on June 10

  Posted: June 4, 2010, 3:30 pm by N.W

  With only 5 days to go to the biggest event ever held on African Soil, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa has been billed as the greatest entertainment show to date in Africa.
  
  The inaugural FIFA World Cup™ Kick-Off Celebration Concert will bring together artists from Africa, Latin America, Europe and the USA all in one stage - The Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg on June 10th evening.
  
  Alicia Keys, Amadou & Mariam, Angélique Kidjo, Black Eyed Peas, BLK JKS(Black Jacks), John Legend, Juanes, Shakira, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Touré and Vusi Mahlasela will all be in South Africa to set off a month full of a battle that can almost be likened to the World War - a clash of nations on a pitch.
  
  This historic music event will take place in front of a capacity stadium audience of an estimated 30,000 people. It  will be broadcast to hundreds of millions more worldwide. It is scheduled to begin at 20.00 local time (GMT+2). That will be 7pm Kenyan Time.
  
  Like many Kenyans who will not make it down South, I will be among the many millions watching it live.
  
   Emmy Award-winning producer Kevin Wall and his company Control Room was selected by FIFA has to organise and produce the concert. Control Room has masterminded some of the world’s biggest and most complex events, such as Live Earth 2007, which featured 150 artists performing on seven continents over the course of 24 hours to raise awareness of climate change.
  
  

  “We believe sports and music transcend cultural, language and geographic barriers, and through the official FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert, we will present the sights and sounds of unity and celebration for an unforgettable, must-see experience,” said Wall.

  
  Award-winning jazz musician Hugh Masekela, Afro-pop sensation Freshlyground, Mzansi Youth Choir, Soweto Gospel Choir and African hip hop artist K'NAAN were later  included after local musicians complained that there were not enough African and South African artist for the June 10 concert in Soweto.
  
  

  "As South Africans we are proud to be hosting the first ever World Cup on African soil," said Hugh Masekela in a statement.

  
  

  "I am very humbled and flattered to be part of this global event and am looking forward to the concert with great interest and excitement," he said.

  
  Musically, South Africa has produced some of the best artists to come from Africa with the likes of Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Jonathan Butler, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Soweto Gospel Choir, Rebecca Malope just to mention a few. The inaugural concert might turn out to be the flame that will spark alot of musical shows and concerts to run throughout the period of the World Cup in different parts of South Africa. With the huge number of visitors patronizing their night spots for some taste of South Africa, I can bet that the South Africans  will showcase their best in music, dance and Culture.
  
  Curiously, no Kenyan artist got a chance to represent us in this historic event.
  

• 2010 Sigana International Storytelling Festival June 11; The Wonders of Living Tales

  Posted: June 3, 2010, 12:54 pm by N.W

  2010 Sigana International Storytelling Festival3 days of sheer magical delight ofSTORYTELLING PERFORMANCEFeaturing cross-continental renowned professional Storytellers ALL celebrating
  The Wonders of Living Tales
  
  The 2nd edition of the Sigana International Storytelling Festival is here. The 3 day event to be held at the Alliance Francaise will see storytellers from India (Jeeva Raghunath), the US (Diane Ferlatte), Sweden, Uganda (Andrew Ssebaggala) and Tanzania come together with Kenya’s finest to share their diverse storytelling traditions. Their repertoires will include Asian, European and African folktales and inspirational stories, the struggles and triumphs of African American experiences, as well as stories that touch upon our common humanity. A must attend Festival of stories galore!
  
  VENUE: ALLIANCE FRANCAISE, off Loita Street Nairobi City – Kenya
  Friday June 11th at 6.30pm
  Saturday June 12th at 3 & 6pm
  Sunday June 13th at 3 & 9pm
  
  ADVANCE BOOKINGS: Adults Kshs.300 Children Ksh.150
  (at Alliance Francaise Reception & Phone: 0721764622/0724884327)
  
  CHARGES AT THE DOOR: Adults Ksh.400 and Children Ksh.200.
  
  The festival has been organised by Zamaleo Arts & Cultural Trust.

• The TI Sawa Sawa Festival 2010 Program

  Posted: May 26, 2010, 3:18 pm by N.W

  * TI SAWA SAWA FESTIVAL *
  * Music, Poetry & Acrobatics *
  * WHERE & WHEN: *
  * Saturday 29th May 2010 10 AM to 6 AM: Sarakasi DomeNgaraNairobi
  * Sunday 30th May 2010 - 10 AM to 5 PM: Kasarani StadiumKasaraniNairobi
      * ENTRY * FREE *
  THE SARAKASI SAWA SAWA FESTIVAL IS BACK WITH A BANG!!!
  The fourth edition of Sawa Sawa Festival is here again, this time extended to five days! It is back with a bang that will see high profile artists feature in the event. Furthermore, this year Transparency International has team up with Sarakasi Trust to bring the festival dubbed the TI Sawa Sawa Festival 2010. The festival will be a platform to conduct civic education on good governance, and encourage Kenyans to be active citizens when it comes to anti corruption and good governance: “Wajibika sasa, fighting corruption begins with you”
  
  Legendary reggae artist Don Carlos is set to perform at the reggae event at Kasarani Stadium on the 30th May 2010 along other local and international artists. Don Carlos was born and raised in one of the most deprived regions of Western Kingston, Jamaica, in a district notoriously known as Waterhouse, which incidentally is also a musical breeding ground for many of Reggae's greatest ever talents, such as King Tubby, Black Uhuru, The Jays, Junior Reid and King Jammy, just to name but a few.
  
  Watch this space and keep your heads up. Three days of workshops and exchange programs with local and international talented artistes from 26th to 28th May 2010 at Sarakasi Dome in Ngara followed by free diverse music extravaganza beginning on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th May during the day at Sarakasi Dome and Kasarani Stadiums’ Laureates Gardens respectively.
  
  PROGRAM OF EVENTS
  We intend to conduct capacity building workshops on Wednesday 26th Thursday 27th and Friday 28th May, morning and afternoon sessions, as well as series of media visits with artistes and local talent for publicity, interviews and audience building.
  
  Saturday 29th May Saturday (at the Sarakasi Dome-Ngara) will see a youth event (during the day) including our WAPI platform / stage, exhibitions by visual artistes, cultural merchandise, brand merchandise, outdoor video wall, skill factory (youth capacity building), information stalls and so on. On the line up are LNess, Moroko, Ukoo Flani, Mista Ree, Cannibal, Mzungu Kichaa, GKon, Sarakasi Dancers, Batuque Batucade (Brazil), DJ Zaq and MC Point Blank. During the night we plan a Deejay music night dubbed ‘Feel the Beat’ with DJ Adrian, MOB Deejays, Six AM Deejays, Prezzo, Daddy Owen, Sarakasi Acrobats, Batuque Batucada and MC Blaze. The Deaf Community will be targeted to be included in this event as well.
  
  Sunday 30th May at the Kasarani Sports Centre (Laureate field) will usher a reggae day concert with exhibitions, cultural and merchandise displays/markets /information stalls, outdoor video wall and so on. The main artist will be Don Carlos and the Dub Vision Band (Jamaica) who will share the stage with Aluta Continua (Jamaica), Ousmane, Bafu Chafu, Dotty Family Deejays, MC Njambi (all from Kenya), Zelia Duncan and Batuque Batucade (both from Brazil).
  
  Notably abscent is the presence of an Africa Music category in which Sarakasi has always brought one of the great African Music Legends. They have previously brought the likes of Baaba Mal, Mahotella Queens, Hugh Masekela, Ayub Ogada among others.
  
  
  I sure hope its not because of lack of funding as the festival this year has 20 sponsors.  I hope to find out from them soon.

• More scenes from my trip to Santiago Chile, May 7th -10th(1ltr beers, Pisco Sours, dogs & Parties)

  Posted: May 17, 2010, 8:04 pm by N.W

• Mines & Mind Fields; My Spoken Words now on Amazon

  Posted: May 17, 2010, 7:46 pm by N.W

  Some good news for all those with Amazon accounts, my book is now available on Amazon for only $12.
  
  For Kenyan buyers, I  will update you immediately the book hits the shelves.
  
  Look out for info on the book launch also coming soon.

• Barcamp Nairobi 2010 is here, June 12 & 13th at iHub

  Posted: May 17, 2010, 5:01 pm by N.W

  Its confirmed! BarCamp 2010 is back! and this time round, it  will be a 2 day event on the 12th and 13th of June. The camp will also combine WhereCampAfrica.
  
  The first ever BarCamp held in Nairobi was in 2008 at the Jacaranda Hotel in the Westlands area, the event brought together many tech lovers(Software developers, hackers, Website designers, bloggers etc) from the private, public and freelance sectors.
  
  I wrote about and attended the 1 day event where I got to meet the likes of Kahenya, Hash, Josiah, Phares, Njihia, ory and many other bloggers/techs.
  
  It was great to see lots of locally made applications, ongoing projects and to finally meet bloggers who previously only existed virtually.
  
  The Camp this year will be held at the newly unveiled hub for Nairobi Tech community, the iHub located on Ngong Road.
  
  Registration is currently ongoing with a target of 500 attendees. If you haven't yet, you need to register soonest possible as I can assure you, the applicants will be more than 500.
  
  Some of the potential topics so far are:-
  
  •Using my (GPS Enabled) cell phone to avoid traffic
  •Cloud Computing Applications in Kenya
  •Business Skills for Techies
  •Google Earth and Fusion Tables
  •Food Security and Mapping
  •Rural ICT
  •ICT initiatives for youth
  •Mobile Application Development
  •Using Google Fusion Tables
  •Web design, and why it’s not as good as it should be in Kenya
  
  For more info as it happens, follow @barcampnairobi

• Photos of Day 1 of Global Voices Summit in Santiago Chile

  Posted: May 7, 2010, 3:19 am by N.W

  I hope you are following me on twitter for live updates of the great discussions happening at the 2010 Global Voices Summit in Santiago, Chile.
  
  Enjoy some of the photos so far.
  
  

• Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 6th -7th May in Santiago, Chile

  Posted: May 4, 2010, 1:06 pm by N.W

  It is now confirmed, I will be going to Santiago, Chile for the annual Global Voices' Citizen Media Summit 2010 The summit which brings together bloggers from all over the world will be held at the Santiago Public Library on the 6th and 7th of May.
  
  Global Voices Online is an international network of bloggers and citizen journalists that follow, report, and summarize what is going on in the blogosphere in every corner of the world.
  
  Getting a visa from the Embassy of Chile has been a nerve wrecking experience since I had to get a yellow fever jab, cert of good conduct, and wait for at least a month. I only picked it from the Chile Embassy on Riverside Drive yesterday. But despite the delays and requests for more documents(bank statements etc), Mary at the Embassy has been of great help. Fortunately I can now relax and hope to get to Chile on 5th May evening (Its a whole 36hrs journey).
  
   The summit will be on the rise of the Citizen Media as well as case studies of the start of blogging in Uruguay, the empowerment of women activists in Yemen among many other discussions which will be in form of  plenary discussions, topic-based breakout groups, and open sessions using an “unconference” format in which participants can propose discussions topics and hands-on training workshops(those who have been to a Barcamp event are familiar with this)
  
  I have been writing for Global Voices Online for quite sometime now focusing mostly arts bloggers not just in Kenya but also in Africa.
  
  Will definitely keep you updated on the events as I bet I might be doing some live tweets at the event as well as taking some photos. The  tweet tag for the summit will be #GV2010.

• 'Mines & Mind Fields;My Spoken Words' Get your copy now.

  Posted: May 3, 2010, 11:05 pm by N.W

  
  Get your Copy Now!
  North America1011 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 1124Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6H 5L2; Tel: 1-888-587-1150Email: info@nsemia.com.
  
  East Africa5th Floor Ufundi Plaza, Moi AvenueP. O. Box 62424, Code 00200Nairobi, KenyaTe: 254-020-250 2345Email: info@nsemia.com

• The 2nd Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival in Pictures

  Posted: April 20, 2010, 1:49 pm by N.W

  As I mentioned in this post, last week I was in Dar Es Salaam for the 2nd Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival. I have never meet so many learned Africans in one gathering. It was truly a humbling experience.
  I would say that the highlights of the events was the talk by Prof. Utsa Patnaik on 'The Agrarian question in the Neo-Liberaral Era" She has written numerous books which can be found here.
  
  This slideshow should give you a feel of how the event was.
  
  

• Does Kenya Really Have 42 Tribes? A lecture by Dr. Joyce Nyairo, 21st April

  Posted: April 19, 2010, 4:27 pm by N.W

  April 21st – Dr. Joyce NyairoDoes Kenya Really Have 42 Tribes?
  Joyce Nyairo, social scientist, academic and a keen observer of Kenyan popular culture and trends will look at the challenge ofcapturing and defining Kenyan Culture
  Drinks 6:30pmDoors Open 7.00pmLecture starts 7.15pm
  Louis Leakey Auditorium, Nairobi National Museum
  Tickets: Ksh500, Students Ksh200Raffle for 2 nights at Tsavo Safari Camp
  KMS Offices: 3743808/ 0724 255299 Website: www.kenyamuseumsociety.org
  Proceeds to fund the Fossil and Artefact Casting Department
  

• Second Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival 12th -15th April 2010 at the University of Dar Es Salaam

  Posted: April 12, 2010, 8:19 pm by N.W

  After  a well deserved break in which time I went through one of the rights of passage, I am back.
  
  I received an invitation from Prof. Issa Shivji - the Mwalimu Nyerere University Professor of Pan-African Studies  for the 2nd Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival which started today 12th April till the 15th at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.
  I am now in Tanzania for the festival enjoying the company of various Academicians and intellectuals from all over Africa.
  It is an honor to get a performance invitation;  I will be performing 1 or 2 of my poems tomorrow, Tues 13th in the afternoon.
  On the first day, I have sighted various Kenyans who are attending the Festival; the Awaaz Magazine directors who also organise the Samosa Festival, Gacheke Gachihi an MP of Bunge la Mwananchi and Gado the cartoonist.
  Ms.Samia Nkrumah the daughter of Kwame Nkrumah is the festivals Chief Guest.
  
  Udadisi  and Wavuti have given the Festival itinerary in their respective blogs. Follow me on Twitter for real time updates(when the net allows) on the Festival.

• 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.
  
  

• 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.
  

• 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..
  
  -----------------------------
  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!
  

• 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
  
  

• 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.

• "The Kenya I Know" Poetry call out by Kwani Trust for Kwani? 06

  Posted: February 26, 2010, 12:04 pm by N.W

  Following multiple conversations on “The Kenya We Want,” and our recent “The Kenya I Live In” short story competition, The Kwani Trust would like to invite writers to submit poems that explore the multiple realities we live in, the moments that define our public and personal lives, be they located in our parents, our childhood; high school and/or college, our adventures accessing and conquering (or not) workplaces, what parenthood begins to look like; the things that change, the things that remain the same.
  
  We’re looking for disarming poems written in song and dance, in colour or in black and white, in noise and silence, innocence or guilt –truths and lies as told by a new generation, spurred by new imaginations, revealed by new narratives and expressions.
  Selected poems will appear in the upcoming Kwani? 06.
  
  Submission Guidelines for poems on ‘The Kenya I Know.”
  • Up to 5 poems per submission.
  • Kwani? 6 is about a certain generation, and therefore only invites entries from writers born after September 12th, 1978.
  • The work can be in English, Kiswahili or Sheng’. Kwani accept submissions which have been previously published in magazines and other spaces, but not in a full-length book collection, unless solicited.
  • Do not make multiple submissions, or forward edits of your submission. Only shortlisted writers will be contacted.
  • Authors of accepted work will receive two thousand shillings.
  • Please send submissions by email, attached as a WORD doc (not docx) to mypoetrykwani@gmail.com or by post as a typescript (no handwritten scripts please) to P.O. Box 2895-00100 Nairobi
  
  Formatting Guidelines
  • On the Coversheet: Indicate the Name of author, Contact address, telephone number, date of birth and email address.
  • Use plain fonts (e.g. Times New Roman, Garamond, Ariel, Calibri) at least 12 point.
  • Only one poem per page.
  • Include poem title, page number, and name of author on every page.
  
  Submission Deadline: March 26, 2010

• Walk Thru Black History Month at Paa ya Paa, 27th Feb, 2010

  Posted: February 19, 2010, 7:38 pm by N.W

  WALK THRU BLACK HISTORY!HERITAGE & the Common Wealth of a People: Africa's Cultural, Historical and Spiritual InheritanceAt:PAA YA PAA ARTS CENTRE
   Paa Ya Paa Lane, Ridgeways Road Off Kiambu Road.
   Box 49646-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
  Email: info@paayapaa.com
  Telephone: 020-8512257 Mobile phone: 0733-270-109
  To honor Black History Month 2010, Paa Ya Paa has invited two distinguished African-American scholars from International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH) to further enlighten us about our mutual cultural, historical and spiritual heritage. Through lecture, music, drama, dance, poetry and food, Drs. Willie L. Butler and Karen V. Davidson will work with local artists and performers enabling us to experience a most enriching and participatory cultural exchange.
  
  DATE: SATURDAY, 27 February, 2010
  TIME: 3:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
  LOCATION: Paa Ya Paa Gallery & Forest Compound
  EVERYONE IS WELCOME! ! !

• Pentamony; Kenyan Urban Fusion Group at Goethe Institut, 20th Feb 2010

  Posted: February 17, 2010, 11:19 am by N.W

  * CONCERT *
  * PENTAMONY *
  * WHERE: Goethe-Institute NairobiMonrovia StreetNairobi
  * WHEN: Saturday 20 February 2010 - 6 PM
  * ENTRY: Free
  Pentamony is a vocal group consisting of songwriters, lyricists, music educators, instrumentalists, composers and arrangers, namely Philip Tuju, Seamus Njuguna and Benson Mutahi.
  
  They are driven by a pioneering spirit, a willingness to explore new musical horizons and open to the wealth of creativity around them. Their debut album Everything We Feel is in the stores. They have released three singles of their album namely Hey Hey Baby, Combi, and Amini.
  
  Pentamony recently returned from their second European tour where they performed in Norway. The group also recently won two Kisima Awards: one for the “best group urban fusion” and the other for “the album of the year”. Pentamony have started their own recording studio and are working on film scores and on their second album.
  
  

• Isaiah Katumwa brings a taste of Ugandan Jazz to the National Museums of Kenya, 19th Feb,2010

  Posted: February 11, 2010, 6:39 pm by N.W

  A Ugandan Jazz Artist Isaiah Katumwa, will be performing at the National Museums of Kenya on the 19th of  this month(Feb).
  
  Katumwa, a saxophonist and a staunch Christian is  one of the emerging sounds from Uganda. His Kenyan performance will actually be the launch of his latest album, Another Step. His performance on Friday will incorporate Kenyan and Ugandan artists as backup singers.
  
  His classification of Jazz is what most would term smooth jazz that has continued to receive alot of criticism from many who consider it to be more of instrumentals rather than actual Jazz.
  
  Someone who has listened to Jonathan Butler cannot help but hear the striking resemblance in the two Christian Jazz artists although many refer to him as the Ugandan Kenny G.
  
  Charges for the Kenyan show will be Ksh. 1,000 and Ksh. 2,000 for VIP.
  
  There is something about the sound of a saxophone playing that seems to have a direct full access to my core and I think I can almost say, see you there.
  
  

• Riddim & Spoken; Music, poetry, open mic featuring Ras Kenyatta

  Posted: February 9, 2010, 7:34 pm by N.W

  
  
  A special variation on the Rhythm & Spoken Poetry and music open mic night. Featuring reggae artiste Ras Kenyatta, the theme is open to interpretation from Lovers Rock to redemption.
  Friday 12th at Dass Ethiopian cuisine Restaurant.
  Doors open at 8:30pm
  Performances begin at 9pm
  Afterparty with the cool spin master, DJ Eduardo
  For dinner reservations or open mic poetry slots please call or text: 0728293632
  email:projecthehsima@hotmail.com
  
  *Free mixtape cd for first 10 guests

• Soweto Gospel Choir, Akon & Keri Hilson bring some African touch to Football

  Posted: February 5, 2010, 6:19 pm by N.W

  
  A combination of good sounds and great video to bring you a song that will become almost an African Anthem during the World Cup in SA next year.
  
  I might sound like a hater but I felt that AKon was giving the whole song a thugish, whoreish, smack that A$$ effect to it removing the patriotism in the lyrics. ( I guess I have heard too many of his "listen to the edited version" music) and  he is starting to sound like Beyonce - Like the music they'd play in a torture chamber.
  
  The video is however very well done, great images showing that Africa is full of colour, art, life and rhythm. I also loved the scene where all these football icons hit a ball which turns to paint splattering their image on a wall- quite creative. It would have been great, had he Akon worn some Agbada(something African) at some point coz after all, he still an African. - He still had the rapper look.
  
  But all in all, I hope it makes your weekend.

• 2010 Summer Literary Seminars; Unified Literary Contest - Essay and Poetry call for Entries

  Posted: February 5, 2010, 5:33 pm by N.W

  Summer Literary Seminars is announcing its annual unified (Montreal, Lithuania and Kenya) literary contest, held this year in affiliation with Fence Magazine. The Judges this year will be, Mary Gaitskill judging the fiction, and Mary Jo Bang judging the poetry.
  
  Contest winners in the categories of fiction and poetry will have their work published in Fence, as well as the participating literary journals in Canada, Lithuania and Kenya. Additionally, they will have the choice of attending (airfare, tuition, and housing included) any one of the SLS-2010 programs – in Montreal, Quebec (June 13 - 27); Vilnius, Lithuania (August 1 - 14); or Nairobi-Lamu, Kenya (December).
  
  Second-place winners will receive a full tuition waiver for the program of their choice, and third-place winners will receive a 50% tuition discount.
  A number of select contest participants, based on the overall strength of their work, will be offered tuition scholarships, as well, applicable to the SLS-2010 programs.
  
  Contest Deadline: February 28, 2010.
  Poetry Judge: Mary Jo Bang is professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program at Washington University.
  Fiction Judge: Mary Gaitskill is an author of essays, short stories and novels
  
  The complete guidelines for the 2010 contest are as follows:
  
  One short story or novel excerpt, maximum 25 pages per entry.
  No more than three poems per entry.
  Only previously unpublished work can be submitted.
  
  Entries can be submitted electronically, to: SLS Fiction Poetry Contest: sls.contest@gmail.com
  
  A $15 US reading fee must accompany each entry. Multiple entries are permissible, as long as they are accompanied by separate reading fees.
  
  Fees can paid paid online, via Paypal, or by cheque.
  Log on to the SLS website for more details
  
  (I have gotten intouch with the SLS team on payment modes as Paypal is not practicle in Kenya,will post solutions if found)

• There is freedom of speech if you don't speak too much; Cartoonists declare at the Alliance Cartoon exhibition opening

  Posted: January 22, 2010, 8:40 pm by N.W

  Yesterday was the  opening day for the exhibition "Rolling with Punchlines" which was organised by the E.A Cartoons Ass.(KATUNI) in conjuction with the Swiss Embassy at the Alliance Francaise.
  
  The event had been preceded by an awards ceremony recognizing exemplary Kenyan Cartoonists for the year 2009. The awards ceremony was at the Swiss Ambassador's residence in leafy Muthiga suburbs.
  
  And the winners were:-
  a) Best Overall Cartoonist -  Victor Ndula(The Star )
  b) Best Caricaturist - Micheal Munene(The Standard)
  c)Best Editorial Cartoon - Alphonse Omondi (The star)
  d)Best Cartoon comic strip - Frank Odoi
  d) Best illustrator - Ngamau aka Gammz ( The Standard)
  
  The function started with opening remarks by Patrick Gathara who was part of the organizing group for the workshop. I could not help but notice that Gathara had shaved off his dreadlocks(I sure hope it was willfully and not some cop who decided he looked like Gen. China) He looked more like a banker or a businessman than an artist.
  The Swiss Ambassador to Kenya was also present and he gave a brief speech as he welcomed, Switzerland's best Cartoonist, Patrick Chappatte to talk about the joint venture.
  
  After the nice short speeches, I went round looking at the various cartoon drawings on display while spotting some familiar faces like Betty Caplan, Mike of Kwani, KenyanChristian and Muki Garang
  
  After the exhibition we went into the auditorium where Muki performed a slide show aided poem in form of a news report on various happenings in Kenya with a touch of humor (nay, lots of satire).
  
  His performance was followed by a short animation on cartoon drawing and thereafter a discussion with the various cartoonists on their role in Ethnicity and coming up with a Kenyan Identity. Both Patricks' were moderating the talks as well as questions from the audience.
  
  Conspicuously missing in action were Gado, Maddo and Kham.
  
  From the comment that I received today morning coming from one of the guests at the exhibition, it is safe to say that its best to leave cartoonists to do what they do best, Draw.
  
  
  

   Empower Kenya said...
  

  I attended the exhibition yesterday. I loved the most of the work. It seemed to have been well attended.
  

  My only disappointment was the forum. I guess there is a reason that these guys are cartoon artists and not spokespersons.
  

• Rolling With Punchlines- an exhibition of Kenya's best Cartoons, year 2009.

  Posted: January 19, 2010, 4:29 pm by N.W

  
  The Association of East African Cartoonists and the Embassy of Switzerland will be officially launching
  Rolling with the punchlines - an exhibition of Kenya's best Cartoons of year 2009 at the Alliance Francaise on Thursday 21st Jan, 2010 at 6pm followed by a public forum on the theme "Ethnicity and the search for a Kenyan National Identity"
  Don't miss your chance to meet the likes of Gathara, Gado, Maddo and the rest.
  Read an article I wrote on Kenyan Cartoonists on the web on Global Voices Online
  
  

• Artist Focus: Samuel Githui - A powerful sense of realism

  Posted: January 13, 2010, 9:15 pm by N.W

  SAMUEL KIGONDU GITHUI
  (From the Margaretta Wa Gacheru Jua kali diary)
  
  
  One of Nairobi’s most important young artists, I only met Samuel Githui late last year (2009) when he was having a one-man exhibition at RaMoMA. And I fell for his work from the start, especially the way he honors ordinary kenyans’ life experience in his art, art that such a powerful sense of realism that I would almost call it ‘hyperrealism’ in the Baudrillardian sense.
  Yet Githui’s down to earth themes conceal the artist’s deep sense of symbolism: the fact that his bicycles symbolize “progress” from a peasant’s point of view, the donkey reflects the Kenyan nation’s long suffering struggle to work hard and yet it doesn’t get the honor it deserves, and the traffic jam that he painted which, for me, depicts the agony that every Kenyan feels today when he or she is caught in the bumper to bumper jams that have become (apart from the Christmas and New Year’s holidays) an everyday occurrence.
  
  It was in the context of a conversation about his painting, the Traffic Jam, that Githui told me he had given the piece away to an Italian curator from Naples who had just opened a new contemporary art gallery/museum and wanted to feature African art. Learning more about Githui’s encounter with Antonio Manfredi, [artmanfredi(at)hotmail(dot)com) I was fascinated to find that he gave that specific work to Antonio to exhibit at the Casoria Contemporary Art Museum in a show that runs from December 5, 2009 to February 2010.
  
  Believing that Antonio is connected with major art dealers and patrons in Europe, Samuel sees his gift a wise investment. “Antonio has promised me another exhibition at his museum at a future time that’s convenient to me,” Samuel said, trusting that the Italian will be true to his word. Githui felt that Antonio selected this particular piece because he had wanted to visit Samuel’s studio and had also wanted to take the people’s means, the matatu, to get there. “He had been fascinated by the matatu we were on and he immediately took out his camera and started taking photographs,” Githui said. “I think it was because of his fascination with that matatu ride that he picked Traffic Jam to take back to Naples with him,” Githui said.
  
  Meanwhile, Githui is having two, not just one exhibition in Italy right now. The other is in venice where he had an artist residency from May through August 2009. He stayed in a palace bequeathed by a wealthy woman who wanted her home reserved for artists’ advancement. The work he devised is an installation including a video that he showed me based on the lives of struggling African immigrants, mostly from West Africa living in Venice. The video, entitled ‘Bagged’, shows the plight of immigrants who may have papers to allow them to work legally in the country, but as Italian industries have been hit by the economic meltdown, the work dried up and the Africans are thus unemployed. They live out of bags; but they also buy plastic bags from Chinese and sell them on the streets of Venice.
  
  And as the video showed, “they also run with their bags when the police come”, and there was an Africans demonstration 2 days after he arrived, protesting what they saw as discrimination. A fascinating video, inspired by a conversation Githui had with a Senegalese man named Mbaya, who had a kiosk not far from Githui’s residence, and who approved of the Kenyan’s video before it got included in his installation. “The exhibition organizers also had to screen the video, but they also approved it,” which made sense to Githui since the theme of the exhibition was “Urgent Matters.”
  
  “I do think the plight of immigrants, including both Africans and Asians, is an urgent matter in Venice,” Githui said/ “It’s a matter that cannot easily be ignored, since the immigrants are everywhere,” he said. Yet I reminded him that some Italians could easily ignore this problem, but he was doing a good thing by highlighting it. The fact that he could arrive in Venice and instantly hit upon this problem was fascinating to me.
  But what is even more fascinating is Githui’s wider view of life, which allows him to see and create artistic works from a grass roots perspective. This is what I admire most about his Kenyan collection, but even when he was in Venice, he painted ordinary people in everyday environments [like walking through the Stoporgetto], and by so doing, he was able to capture realistic elements of people’s lives.
  
  BACK TO VENICE
  Githui went back to Venice in November 2009 to mount his exhibition which had been part of the residency entitled “Art Enclosures”, in which he and another African, from Zambia both featured. The Fondatione de Venice is the organization that had called on African artists to apply for the residency and Githui had seen the call on Africancolours.net. He hadn’t expected to win the residency, but when he did, he was deeply humbled by his experience. “When I got there, Yoko Ono was just opening her exhibition around the corner from our studio, although I didn’t get to see her since she was surrounded by so much security,” he recalled.
  
  “What I really appreciated about Italy was the respect in which Artists are held. People there really understand art and value it,” he said. He was often involved in giving talks about his work during those months. And he also made several paintings of the underground walkway that he sketched and then painted while there. There are still there, “and I just received an email asking how much I was selling them for,” said Githui.
  
  VENICE A TURNING POINT
  I asked Githui whether he felt his experience in Italy was a turning point in his life, and he said “Yes, it was definitely a major milestone in my life. The biggest thing was the response I got from the Italian public. For instance, one university professor came and told me my art was of an international caliber.
  “What was also great was being able to talk to people about my art and art in general,” he said. The other thing was being able to move freely around Venice, making a video, an ingenious sculpture styled installation and set of paintings that were very well received. “it definitely was a confidence builder,” said Githui who was grateful that he had a Zambian counterpart, Victor Mutelekesha with whom he could share ideas and artistic enthusiasms.
  
  WEATHERING THE ECONOMIC STORMS OF 2008-9
  Githui said he had been very fortunate with regard to weathering the economic storms of late 2008 onwards. He said his clients and art patrons had mostly been affected by the credit crunch. “Many told me they were not in a position to buy my work,” he said, noting that his clients are mostly expatriates, although he also gets commissions from local people who mostly want portraits; and he also teaches several students at 1000/an hour. “Before I went to Italy, I asked one german client who was just about to leave the country to help me out by buying more of my work. She said she didn’t have room in her house to buy more, but she did so anyway, and her assistance enabled me to get to venice,” githui said. Then he was given accommodation, art materials, studio space and per diem, much of which he saved. “So I have been fortunate that I have been able to weather the storm.”
  
  Githui has one American-Asian lawyer patron named Ranganath, who has been buying his art practically from the first time he mounted a public exhibition.
  
  1. In 2003, he bought art from his first show at Ngong Race Course, organized by Ramoma
  2. In 2005, Ranganath then bought from his Nairobi National Museum exhibition called “One for the Road” which he mounted BEFORE the museum got renovated
  3. In September 2009, he bought Githui’s show entitled “Daily Bread” at the GoDown
  4. Current works in progress are inspired by Dancers, a series Githui is working on but which the Asian-american bought pieces from. “He even brought someone from the American embassy to come and they said they’d contact me to collaborate with any Americna artists who might be coming,” he said.
  
  JUA KALI ARTIST
  Githui admits he was only able to get started in his art career by doing ‘jua kali’ sign writing out on ladders and often out in the hot sun. “That was how I earned the capital to buy art materials,” he said. Today, Githui says he is very fortunate because he can survive on his art.
  
  PAINTING ORDINARY KENYANS.
  What I love about Githui’s art, as I said, is his appreciation of ordinary Kenyans’ everyday lives. The “work in progress” that I found underway when I reached his studio was a painting of the view of a busy bustling street from the bridge overlooking Muthurwa Market across Haile Selaisse Avenue. “Nobody every uses that bridge,” he said. “they all walk in the street,” which is exactly what he painted….in fact, the work is not a painting as yet. What I saw was the sketch that he made of that Muthurwa crossing, filled with people of all types crossing the busy street… The canvas on which he was working was covered with chalk… and it is fascinating to see how his work is developing. Githui has other works in progress, but he didn’t want to talk about them yet.
  
  Why he says he loves painting local scenes is because life in Nairobi is “unpredictable….you never know what is going to happen next.” That sense of wonder and curiosity and activity infuses all of Githui’s art, and it is what makes his paintings so surprising.
  
  SCULPTURE WORKSHOPS
  Yet Githui claims he plans to move on into sculpture very soon.
  1. “My first workshop at Kuona [where he was based via the GoDown from 2005-2007] was a stone sculpture workshop run by Maggie otieno,” he recalled.
  2. “My second workshop was with Gakunju Kaigwa in2006 and it involved welding and casting in fiberglass. Gakunju said I was wasting my time with painting and should do more sculpture,” he said.
  3. Githui recalled that in 1995 or 6, he was frequently at Kuona when Elijah Ogira held the first sculpture workshop and people like Maggie Otieno first discovered the joys of sculpture. “But at that time, I was struggling just to earn enough to pay tuition at the Creative Arts Center,” he recalled.
  4. Githui was among the first artists working at Kuona: “At the very beginning, they provided us with stretched canvas, paints, and communal brushes, but I had to go away after a while [since I had to choose between paying bus fare to kuona and tuition at CAC], but when I came back a few months later, there were NO ART MATERIALS GIVEN, and we were told we had to provide our own materials
  
  NAPLES
  Nonetheless, the artists Githui met back then are still his good friends. It was simon muriithi in fact who called him to the Go Down this past November [2009] to meet Manfredi Antonio along with a variety of other Kenyan artists all of whom contributed to the Naples exhibition. They include carol mbirau, mary ogembo, Samuel, joseph cartoon, the Eritrean fitsem, and others. Githui is philosophical about his art, since he may still be upset that the Ministry of Culture never brought back his art from Italy in 2004, but he doesn’t mind if Antonio keeps his work at the Naples museum, at the Casovia Contemporary Art Museum [www.casoriacontemporaryartmuseum.com.] since he believes his art will have an impact in Italy and he is already proving himself right.
  
  “I was deeply humbled with one Italian university professor told me my work is world class.” I think so too.
  [Githui’s Venice show is still on at the Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa, which is the same foundation that organized the 2009 summer Venice Biennale, which he attended.]
  
  The artist- Samuel Githui holds all the copyrights to the artworks whose photos appear in this article
  
  
  
                                
  
  All photos are courtesy of Margaretta Wa Gacheru. She can be reached on nargarettag(at)yahoo(dot)com

• Poetry spots listing On Sunday Nation, 10th Jan

  Posted: January 11, 2010, 6:39 pm by N.W

  For those who missed it, KP was credited in yesterday's Sunday Nation (10th Jan 10) for a providing a full list of available Poetry spots in Nairobi. In case you missed it or you were reading a neighbor's newspaper, find the listing here.
  Its great to see this blog providing content to a mainstream newspaper.

• Sade's anticipated video “Soldier Of Love” out

  Posted: January 11, 2010, 6:18 pm by N.W

  After a 9 year break from the music scene, Sade unveiled the first single, Soldier of Love, from her upcoming album on 8th Dec. 09. (I covered her come back in a previous post here )
  The highly anticipated official video was made available to online users today.
  
  The video which depicts her as a soldier has great effects as well as the choreographed routing from her dancers. The song itself has a more upbeat tempo and has a marching band tune to it which resonates quite well with the lyrics.
  
  The full album will be released Worldwide on  February 8th 2010.
  View the video here or here
  
  

• Fading Faces and A Tribute to Dennis Brutus

  Posted: January 5, 2010, 8:59 pm by N.W

  KP has been on a short break, a good time to relax in the countryside re-strategizing on various things on the site my poetry.
  As I mentioned here,  my book is due in March. For those who did not read the Sunday Nation on the 20th Dec, I disclosed the title of the book which will be 'Fading Faces'  inspired by this poem of the same title.
  
  It has been 4 year now since I started this blog. I believe that its now time to make it into something bigger and better...............
  
  On a sad note, one of Africa's great Poets, Dennis Brutus passed away on 26th December 09. He was a was a renown South African activist, educator, journalist and poet. He has published more than  10 collections of Poetry and will be remembered for his protest poetry against the South African Apartheid system.
  Find some of his poetry and other works.
  I leave you with one of his poems - 'Their Behavior'
  
  
  “Their Behavior” by Dennis Brutus
  Their guilt
  is not so very different from ours:
  — who has not joyed in the arbitrary exercise of
  power
  or grasped for himself what might have been
  another’s
  and who has not used superior force in the
  moment when he could,
  (and who of us has not been tempted to these
  things?) —
  so, in their guilt,
  the bared ferocity of teeth,
  chest-thumping challenge and defiance,
  the deafening clamour of their prayers
  to a deity made in the image of their prejudice
  which drowns the voice of conscience,
  is mirrored our predicament
  but on a social, massive, organised scale
  which magnifies enormously
  as the private deshabille of love
  becomes obscene in orgies.

• All Africa Dance Festival for Peace Building 9th - 13th Dec KICC

  Posted: December 4, 2009, 10:56 am by N.W

   Still on Festivals, the first All Africa Dance Festival- an event organised by Purple Images Co. will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre from December 9th to 13th. The theme of the festival is;
  

  Celebrating the role of cultural dance in peace building and human understanding.
  

  
  The main aim of the Festival is to bring people together to celebrate the wealth and diversity of African dance. A majority of groups participating are from the African region, with some visiting artists from other parts of the world. Groups from Norway, India, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Denmark, Sudan, United States of America, France, Congo, Spain, Ghana, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone and Brazil are among countries that have confirmed their participation. see the draft program here
  
  This year's event will showcase a rich and vibrant mix of dance and musical performances by more than 100 dance groups and 500 established artists from all over the world.
  
  The All Africa Dance Festival aims at establishing  itself as Africa's leading music and dance festival, an event to unite people while celebrating Africa!
  
  Registration fee:
  Delegates - Sh10,000
  Exhibitors - Sh20,000
  
  For more info contact:
  Purple Images Production
  Madonna House, Westlands
  3rd Floor - Room 3D
  Tel: 020 4452674, 4450937
  info@africadancefestival.com
  www.africadancefestival.com

• Kenya Gives a New definition of term 'Festival' with Kinanda and Sierra Jazz Safari in December

  Posted: December 3, 2009, 11:46 am by N.W

  December seems to be the month of musical festivals though the month is in itself is a  festive season due to the much hyped christmas celebrations.
  
  There are 2 confirmed festivals already. Sierra Jazz Safari Festival organised by the Sierra Premium Beer is set to take place on the 4th of December at the Louise Leakey Auditorium, Kenya National Museums. The main acts for the evening will be Gerald Albright, an American Jazz Saxophonist and  Uganda’s TShaka Mayanja  who is the Jazz Safari creator as well as Valerie Kimani and Kanjii Mbugua(am not sure when Kanjii crossed over to Jazz).
  
  
  
  Nairobi Kinanda Arts Festival has been slotted on 12th of December coinciding with the Jamhuri Day Celebrations. It will be at the Uhuru Gardens. Entry fees will be Ksh. 1,500.
  
  The festival will bring Freshly Ground- A South African Afro-fusion band made up of 7 artists. The group is famed for their hit Doo be Doo.
  
  They will perform alongside Kenya's own Eric Wainana, Sauti Sol, Maia, Atemi Oyungu, Ma3 as well as a host of other Kenyan Artists.
  
  I am however still looking forward to a time when we can have an actual arts festival that will be week long  like say the 20th Anniversary Celebrations of African Festival or Arts in Chicago Illinois this year or the Arts Festival of Southern Africa 
  
  Also of note(though on a more self-centric note) Bennie Man will be performing at the Carnivore's Simba Salon on Sunday 6th Dec in a show that is exclusively for the VIPs. There are only 1,000 tickets which are being sold on a who are you/who do you know basis. The show is being organised by the HomeBoyz co.
  When I mentioned this to a friend, this were his comments;
  

   That is a case of poor marketing strategy by the organisers. Which VIPs listen to raggamuffin?
  

  
  He does have a point there, unless the Kenyan VIPs can gyrate to Sim simma, King of de Dancehall and Back it up. Since I am not a VIP,(Check out Nneka's intepretation of VIPs from her 2nd Album, No Longer At Ease)I will just look for Bennie's live concerts online(thank God for torrents) and watch it in high volume!...lol
  Let the festivals begin..............
  
  

• Story Moja Book Club is back...."EVERY DAY is for THE THIEF" by TEJU COLE @ the Sarit

  Posted: December 2, 2009, 8:06 pm by N.W

  Storymoja is at it again.....THE BOOK CLUB!
  
  Storymoja book club will be meeting every 2nd Monday of the Month from 6-8pm at Text Book Centre (cafe), Sarit Centre.
  This month, they will be discussing "EVERY DAY is for THE THIEF", by TEJU COLE- who is a Nigerian author currently based in New York. Teju has been a cartoonist, a dishwasher, a lecturer, a gardener etc. This is his first novel, which is based on a young Nigerian man who visits his country after living abroad for many years.
  
  This book will take you straight into Lagos, and perhaps give you a clue on the growing Kenya Nigeria relationship.
  Want to be part of the book club? please RSVP as space is limited. The book is available at Text Book Centre, at a discounted rate of Ksh. 630
  There are no membership charges, just some few coins to enjoy a cup of tea from the cafe.
  Come for a calm evening with avid readers you would love to meet.
  To RSVP, Email:-
  Sheila(at)storymojaafrica(dot)co(dot)ke

• Mukoma Wa Ngugi's Detective Fiction Novel 'Nairobi Heat' now out

  Posted: November 24, 2009, 11:15 am by N.W

  Mukoma Wa Ngugi the son of renown writer Ngugi Wa Thiong'o was in Kenya during the Story Moja Hay Festival in August and he did talk about this new Detective Fiction Novel that he was working on that is set in Nairobi.
  Nairobi Heat is finally out published by Penguine South Africa.
  
  About the Book
  When a beautiful blonde girl is found murdered on the porch of an African university professor in Maple Bluff, Madison, Wisconsin, hard-working African American detective Ishmael Fofona knows immediately that it will be the news event of the year. What he cannot know however is that the discovery of the dead girl will change his life forever and that barely seventy-two hours after being called to the scene he will find himself on African soil, hunting for clues in a case that seemingly makes no sense. Why would Joshua Hakizimana – a hero of the Rwandan genocide, a man who had saved hundreds of people from the machetes of the genocidaires – kill a random white girl and then dump her body outside his house? The answers, it would seem, lie in Africa. And there is only one way to get at them.
  Read his interview with Chimurenga, in which he talks about the book and the why he has now ventured into  this genre of writing.

• Leela James - Baby Am scared of you(A Boby Womack's rendition) Lets do it Again!

  Posted: November 20, 2009, 10:05 pm by N.W

  I heard this rendition of Bobby Womack's Baby Am Scared of You  redone by Leela James today on Projectvibe and I LOVED IT especially towards the end where she incorporates some ragga!, awesome, not to mention the soulfulness of the song. This is off her new 2nd Album 'Lets do it Again' which was available in stores in March this year.
  Enjoy this as you start your weekend.
  

• Sir Tim Berners - Lee; The WWW Inventor lands in Kenya and talks to Skunkworks & Innovators at Strathmore University

  Posted: November 20, 2009, 9:38 pm by N.W

  Credited with inventing the World Wide Web(WWW), Sir Tim Berners- Lee is in town and was today  at the Strathmore University for an Interactive IT education session for IT professionals, students and innovators. Various skunkworks innovators had been invited to showcase their IT innovations(and prove that we are not just a continent ridden with poverty AIDS and other lethal diseases - I added that last part)
  
  
  
  The event had been put up on FB but it was an invite from Wilfred Mworia of African Pixel that led me to the actual FB invite. I did tweet about it but unfortunately, due to the short duration in planning and announcing, the event was not attended as one would expect, especially so because the father of the WEB was giving a talk.
  
  It was planned to start at 8.30 but did did not start till after 9 with opening remarks from Alex Gakuru.
  
  Some of the innovators who got 10 mins each to talk were:-
  
  Mbugua Njihia - Sembuse (Mobile social network)
  Gichingiri - Website.co.ke (for online website listing and website reviews)
  Wilfred Mworia - Apps for Iphones, African Pixel and Afrinnovator
  Mugambi - Jahazi (Local Kenyan internet content)
  Emmanuel Kaala - Ushahidi (crowdsourcing crisis Information)
  Liko - Pesa Pal (An e-commerce platform for Kenyans)
  
  Tim Berners did give an interesting talk on what led to the invention of the net, the tremendous growth that it has undergone, the future as well as some word of caution to the bloggers and the twitterers. This was in regards to dissemination of accurate information and self regulation.
  
  As the event came to a close, Alex decided to pull a fast one on me seeing that there was no gender sensitivity on the podium. I got to talk about the blog, Kenyan bloggers and answer the challenge posed by Alex and Tim Berner on self regulation of bloggers.
  
  The event ended with closing remarks from Phares Kariuki as we headed out for some snacks courtesy of Strathmore University.
  Watch the rest of the photos here.

• Poem: Njeri Na İrũngũ

  Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:48 pm by N.W

  Njeri ũmũthĩ nĩwatiga kũhana ta jereeri
  Kuonagwo nĩ arũme makeeda kũmenya kana wĩ jagatha
  Ĩrĩa ĩtarĩ nyamainĩ kana rũũainĩ
  Kana maaĩ ma irũtũ
  ũmũthi nĩwatuonia wĩ mwĩrĩinĩ
  Rũbaru rwa Irũngũ
  Nyama cia nyama ciake
  kĩĩga kĩa mwĩrĩ waake
  Kĩũma kĩa goro eejeire itũũra rĩa Rimuru
  Mĩaka mũgwaja mĩthĩru
  Onawe ũroĩejera ngoroĩne yake
  Mĩrĩ ya wendo waku ĩhane mũtĩ mũhande rũũĩinĩ
  Na riri wakũ ũhane riũa thaa thita
  
  İrũngũ rĩu nĩwahurũka kũriũnga
  Ta njũki ĩkĩhũnga marũa na mahũri
  Mwatũ waku nĩwaihũra
  Wendo ũhana ũkĩ
  Indo nyingĩ ta magua
  Na ciana nyingĩ ta jata ũtukũ
  ũroogitĩra mũciĩ waku
  Na ngoro ya Mwendwa waku
  Ta rũgiri rwa kaiyafa
  
  ..............................................
  Summary Translation: This is a poem about Njeri(a lady) and İrũngũ ( a Gentleman) who have decided to wed. It advises them on their union and their new life together.
  ..............................................
  All rights reserved©
  Njeri Wangari
   njeriwangari(at)kenyanpoet(dot)com
  
  

• Poem: A Woman, A Wife

  Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:35 pm by N.W

  She embodies the beauty of a home
  Igniting the warmth in a smile.
  Her touch soothes a hurting soul,
  A porter, she moulds a sanctuary from a house.
  
  Her love, selfless, blows gently like a cool breeze.
  Her care, like the air we breathe,
  always there.
  
  Her trust is the truth we understand by faith
  Her body is the beauty that is felt
  with every new born she brings forth
  A woman, a wife
  
  This woman has today become a wife,
  
  .........................................
  A dedication written for my Cousin on her wedding on 14th Nov, 09
  .........................................
  All rights reserved©
  Njeri Wangari
  njeriwangari(at) kenyanpoet(dot)com
  
  
  

• MEMORIAL TO A MAN WHO ADVISED: "BE TRUE TO YOURSELF"

  Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:02 pm by N.W

  By Margaretta wa Gacheru
  
  Artists Day, the event organized by the Murumbi Memorial Trust, didn’t draw the scads of local and global artists it had anticipated meeting recently [October 25th] at the Nairobi City Park where the late Joseph Murumbi is immortalized in granite, soft metal and Kisii stone sculptures.
  
  But the day did manage to attract three of the most important and critically acclaimed East African artists whose works are now permanently resident in the Park and whose lives were mightily transformed by the touch and attention of Kenya’s leading art patron.
  
  Elkana Ongesa, John Odoch Ameny and Expedito Mwebe all came to testify that day to the crucial role that Murumbi had played in their lives. Unfortunately, the fourth artist whose sculpture is at the Memorial site, Francis Nnaggenda, was unable to attend, but he too valued the patronage of Kenya’s leading cultural connoisseur.
  
  For it wasn’t just that the former Vice President and Kenya’s first Foreign Affairs Minister bought their art. In the early 1970s Murumbi joined hands with the American designer Alan Donovan to establish the African Heritage Pan African Gallery where their work was exhibited and exposed to both local and international audiences.
  
  For instance, Elkana Ong’esa’s 12 ton Kisii stone ‘Bird of Peace’ wouldn’t be standing at the front of the UNESCO headquarters in Paris if the Murumbi’s, Joe and his wife Sheila, hadn’t had the General-Secretary of UNESCO Amadou M’Bow to dinner where he saw an Ongesa sculpture and wanted one of his own! According to the sculptor himself, Murumbi graciously gave M’Bow an uncut stone that he had already picked for Ong’esa to sculpt. That is the stone that now resides permanently in Paris, a source of pride for all Kenyans.
  
  The Ugandan artist John Odoch Ameny had a very different relationship with Murumbi. Having met Joe, Sheila and Alan in 1976 while still working as a Fine Art Instructor at Dr, Obote College in Bora Bora, Odoch was officially in Kenya to train to be an External Examiner at Kenya Science Teacher College. But he’d managed to slip several of his soft metal sculptures into his luggage, hoping to find an art gallery keen to exhibit his work in Nairobi. “I first went to Gallery Watatu but was advised that African Heritage might have more interest in my sculpture since they were all about paintings,” Odoch recalled.
  
  Meeting the Murumbis was definitely a turning point in his life. “When I met them, they were all busy washing Kisii stones upstairs in the gallery. I had no idea I was talking to a former [Kenyan] vice president,” Odoch said.
  
  “Murumbi took all of my sculptures on consignment and told me they would contact me when and if the works sold. I returned to Uganda and less than a month later, I received a telegram to come for my money and bring all the work that I had. From then on, I was crossing the border to Kenya practically once a month,” he said.
  
  I first wrote about Odoch Ameny in 1978 when he mounted his first one-man show at African Heritage. Writing in The Nairobi Times, I called his work exquisitely “outrageous” because he was the first sculptor I had known to use scrap metal so imaginatively. Making life-size soldiers who subtly mocked the Amins of Africa, his soldered metal sculptures combined humor, irony, lyricism and fine artistry.
  
  Odoch brought those same qualities to the sculpture he’d made especially for the Murumbi Memorial in City Park. Unfortunately, thieves admired the scrap metal of his work more than the form, and thus stole the first Murumbi sculpture after the site was officially opened in March.
  
  To ensure that the next Odoch-Ameny sculpture not be stolen like the first, Alan Donovan requested him to work in Kisii stone this time round.
  
  “Would you believe I made this [second Murumbi] sculpture in less than a week?” Odoch asked me at the unveiling of his new work at the National Museums of Kenya, still on Artists Day.
  
  A prolific artist whose sculptures are in museums and private collections everywhere from Israel to the USA to UK, Odoch had not been able to come to Kenya from his studio-home in Malaba, Uganda until mid-October. But the time constraint hadn’t hampered his creativity or technique. On the contrary, his ‘Universal Couple”-- while being more abstract than his previous works -- is no less curvaceous and exquisitely contoured.
  
  And like the sculptures of both Nnaggenda and Expedito, Odoch’s work reflects appreciation of both Murumbis, both Joe and Sheila. That seems most fitting since it was she, a former librarian whom he met in the UK while working for Kenya’s Independence who introduced him to the joys of collecting fine art.
  
  But in the reception hall of the National Museums of Kenya, one will not only find the ‘universal couple’ of Odoch Ameny, Nnaggenda and Expedito, each of which has a completely different artistic interpretation of this exceptionally art-loving couple. Works by all four artists, including Ong’esa, are on display for the next few weeks at least.
  
  May I recommend that anyone who loves sculpture, appreciates East African art, and wants to be awestruck by the imaginative and emotive appeal of the art of these four great art, go see their work at the Kenya National Museum. For instance, Ong’esa has two powerful pieces there that reflect his anguished aesthetic response to the post-election violence of early 2008. Expedito has miniature combs that are finely carved and crafted with meticulous sensitivity and detail. And Odoch Ameny has three remarkable larger-than-life Telecom-man sculptures, made from discarded mobile phones that had been donated to Donovan by Safari Com CEO Michael Joseph. Recycled in the form of the three wonderful cell-phone-filled statues that are vaguely reminiscent of his Seventies soldered Amin-ish soldiers, Odoch Ameny’s Telecom-men were rumored to be headed for the forthcoming SafariCom Gallery; but until that rumor gets confirmed, they have a happy home at the National Museum.
  
  Whether his Telecom-men end up with SafariCom or not, Odoch-ameny says he learned one important lesson from Joe Murumbi that he will never forget. “I had been thinking of applying for a job teaching at Kenyatta University College after their Art Department opened up,” Odoch recalled. This was before he came to Kenya in the mid-Eighties and became production manager at African Heritage. It was while Odoch, though still teaching, had developed a symbiotic relationship with the Murumbis, where he would create works and AH would immediately sell his art. “I asked Joe for advice on what I should do. He called me to his private office at the Muthaiga Club and told me: “Stand on your own two feet.” I took that to mean that I should continue developing my art and not go work for someone else, not to lean on anybody.”
  
  Murumbi’s advice to Odoch Ameny is applicable to most every artist or jua kali artisan today. Self employment, however difficult it may be, is the only option that Murumbi saw for the artist to be his or her own person, to cultivate his creativity and to fulfill his dreams. That could very well be the essence of Murumbi’s Memorial since his own life exemplifies that desire—to be true to one’s self, no matter how high the price.
  
  Margaretta Wa Gacheru can be reached on margarettag(at)hotmail(dot)com

• Its Now Official, My First Poetry Book Collection will be out in March 2010

  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:18 am by N.W

  I can now say it loudly, You will have a chance to read my first book of published poetry containing all poems that I have been writing for the last 5 years. The book will be out in March 2010 as announced by my publisher - Nsemia Inc. Publishers.
  
  I had to restrain myself from doing this post last night at 11pm when I received the email.
  
  The book which is now in the design stage has a collection of my most memorable pieces that I have performed in various venues in Nairobi in three languages - English, Kiswahili, Sheng and Gikuyu. Translations will be available in English.
  
  Read the full story here.
  
  You can bet that KP fans will be the first to know when the book is available for sale.

• Ukurasa- Simple Reading; The new Social Medium for book lovers

  Posted: November 10, 2009, 8:52 pm by N.W

  Virn Instruments company, a firm run by Kahenya Kamunyu whom I first met during the first ever Bar Camp in Kenya a year ago has embarked on a unique project dubbed Ukurasa (page in kiswahili)
  
  Ukurasa is a social media site for books that is geared towards the exchange of books through either sale or sharing as well as place where would be writers can get to write books online through their personal account and get their book published and sold on the same platform. One can also buy or borrow books they see with the Ukurasa community and see the collection points which have been enabled through Google Maps.
  
  Ukurasa whose slogan is 'Simple Reading' will help those like me who find it a task going to a book library/bookshop to borrow/buy a book. All one needs is an account with any social network(it currently working with  Twitter accounts but soon to incorporate Facebook, Myspace and Gmail),an Mpesa/Zap enabled phone and a reading appetite.
  
  Those who will be attending 'The Breakaway' on Saturday 14th Nov at the Kenya National Museum will have a chance to hear about it from Kahenya who is also one of the speakers. (Sadly, I won't be there)
  
  But Hey! Finally I can make some money from those books that I don't mind getting rid of and hopefully get any of James Baldwin's books for a lower rate or someone who's willing to lend me their copy.
  
  Log on and test the site. It will be fully up next week.

• Rhythm & Spoken, 13th Nov '09 Feat Kevin Samuel Mbugua

  Posted: November 10, 2009, 7:55 pm by N.W

  This Friday 13 November at Dass restaurant, Westlands, Project Heshima presents...
  
  A music and poetry open mic night with special guest Kevin Samuel Mbugua on his guitar. A Berkley Graduate Kevin is a singer and songwriter and his song Elsewhere has for the past month been a popular listeners choice on the Sunday Neosoul Lounge with Chao Mwatela.
  
  Poets line up includes, the illustrious Eudiah Kamonjo and Mstari wa Nne's Leon Kiptum and David Inkwa among others. Sign up will remain open throughout.
  
  Starts: 8:30pm
  Performances: 9pm
  Neosoul afterparty with DJ Eduardo
  Entry Ksh.200

• Al Kags' Living Memories Book Launch, Dramatized Performances and Halfway between Nairobi and Dundori.

  Posted: November 10, 2009, 11:27 am by N.W

  On Wednesday 11th November 2009 at the Louis Leakey Hall at the Nairobi Museum, Story Moja  in collaboration with with Kenya Museum Society will be launching Living Memories; Kenya's Untold Stories, a book by Al Kags with an on-stage rendition  
  
  
  Living Memories is a testimonial project in which Al Kags spoke to people over 65 years of age and simply recorded the story of their lives during the Emergency days - it is the stories of ordinary people surviving extraordinary times and how they have shaped who we are.
  
  There will also be a rendition from Muthoni Garland's 2nd  book, Halfway between Nairobi and Dundori...
  Gate fees: Kshs. 400
  
  About Al Kags
  Alex Kagwe (born on August, 13 1980), who changed his name to Al Kags, is a prominent writer and poet in Kenya. He is the founder of the Al Kags Trust for Poetry. He is also the creator and publisher of the Quarterly Colour Series of Poetry, which started September 2006 and is read by over 175,000 people around the world. Al Kags is also a leading entrepreneur in ICT and media circles.

• East African Publishers Books go live on Google Books

  Posted: November 9, 2009, 7:43 pm by N.W

  East African Educational Publishers' books are finally live on Google books with upto 20% preview on most of their titles.
  They joined the Google Publishers Partnership Program in  July in a bid to market their books globally through the Google Books program. They will be making their full catalogue of over 2,500 books available for online preview on the same program.
  
  Late last week saw a total of 713 books go live on the Google Books site complete with previews and buying links to the publisher's online shop as well as other online outlets.
  Avid readers of  African Literature can now scheme through some of Africa's best sellers reading several random pages as though they were at their favorite bookshop and only click on the buy link once they decide to make a purchase.
  EAEP joins Kwani Trust in the online book marketing Venture with Google Books.

• Poem : Simple Reading

  Posted: November 5, 2009, 9:00 pm by N.W

  Can you read a simple mind
  simplify it with the simplicity of any sample matter
  by simply reading in between it?
  
  I can
  To me,
  its simple reading.
  
  Can you read a book
  quantify it with the quality of any quoted master
  by simply reading in between its covers?
  
  I can
  to me
  its simple reading.
  
  ----------------------------------------------------
  Njeri Wangari
  NjeriWangari(at)kenyanpoet(dot)com
  Nov. 2009
  All rights reserved©
  
  
  Watch out for Ukurasa - Simple Reading
  Coming to a computer near you.

• National Blackout, A missed interview show and a date with Braeburn School

  Posted: November 2, 2009, 12:00 pm by N.W

  I had mentioned(read -mildly bragged) that our Poetry group, Mstari wa Nne would be appearing on K24 for as part of an Entertainment show during the Daniel Pearl World Music day celebration at Paa Ya Paa. Apparently, the show did not come and even if it did, the whole country was in the dark due to a black out whose cause is yet to be established.
  I will be following up with Remmy of K24 on this.
  
  In other news, we (Mstari) have received and Invitation from Braeburn Garden Estate School  for a performance during their closing day towards the end of November. This was after our performance at PYP, something that really impressed the invited guests.
  
  More details will be coming soon when the date and time is confirmed. I must say this is a great opportunity for us to inspire students who still frown at the mention of poetry. I hope that we can get more invites from Learning Institutions.

• Watch Mstari Wa Nne on K24, Sunday 1st Nov from 6pm

  Posted: October 30, 2009, 8:02 pm by N.W

  Last Sunday 25th was the Daniel Pearly World Music Day at the Paa Ya Paa gallery in Ridgeways Kiambu. Mstari Wa Nne crew, now the official poets for the event, were there and did more than just wow the many friends of Elimo, Phillda and the US Embassy.
  
  The K24 crew was there and they decided to interview us. Unfortunately, due to unavoidable circumstances, Mike Kwambo was missing in action in the whole interview, he did however perform 2 great poems on Harmony for Humanity. Denno, I need to feature your poem on IDPS on this blog.
  
  Watch this show on Sunday 1st November from 6pm.
  
  A shout out to Remmy or K24, still waiting for you in your other life as a poet.

• A snapshot of the Stop Hunger in Kenya Concert featuring Oliver Mtukudzi, Suzanna Owiyo and other African Artists

  Posted: October 19, 2009, 2:15 pm by N.W

  Last Saturday(17th) was quite an eventful one with 2 events that were set to take place the same evening in different parts of Nairobi. Just A Band were launching their 2nd Album title '82' at the GoDown Art centre from 7pm. On the other side of town at the Bomas, Action Aid with collaboration from various other organisations were hosting various artists from around Africa in a bid to raise money for those dying of hunger in Kenya.
  
  The concert had brought together Professor J, AY from Tanzania, Ntsika from SA, Didier Awadi from Senegal, Kidum from Burundi, Wahu, Nameless and Suzanna Owiyo from Kenya and the show stopper, Oliver Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe.
  
  The turnout was huge despite the cold weather and a sky that threatened to open up anytime and needless to day I had to give the Album launch a miss.
  I needed to take photos of Oliver which I failed to do during his previous performance a few weeks ago. He however declined to take photo with fans but I did manage to capture some good moments and even pulled a 'hand on KICC' photo stunt.
  
  PS. Mstari wa Nne fully represented and we had a great time listening to some poetry perfomance by Ntsika. Denis actually made the whole congregation sing the Kenya National Anthem at some point just before a speech by one of the organizers.
  
  Enjoy the album and the short clips of Tuku's team thoroughly entertaining revelers.
  
  

• Lamu Cultural Festival; 20th - 21st Nov, 2009

  Posted: October 17, 2009, 2:38 pm by N.W

  The trade winds of the Indian Ocean have been bringing visitors to the Lamu Archipelago for centuries. Commerce brought the East African coast into contact with distant peoples and cultures as early as two thousand years ago. The earliest known old historical records – the 1st century AD Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, as well as the 3rd Century AD Ptolemy’s Geography – talk of the coast, its inhabitants and the trade. The local people of Lamu have a long established tradition of welcoming travelers. In the same spirit, the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group bids you a warm ‘Karibuni’ to the 9th Lamu Cultural Festival to experience a heritage and traditions that have earned Lamu Old Town the coveted place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
  
  Lamu Old Town is a unique and rare historical living heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement. Since its inscription as a World Heritage Site In 2001, the Lamu Cultural Promotion Centre, a community based group, has been organizing an annual cultural festival to promote the unique Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago.
  
  The three day festival showcases traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races), and musical performances.
  This year’s programme will feature a dramatized performance of the poem ‘Mnazi: Vuta N’Kuvute’ (The Coconut tree; “A Tug of War’) by the Kenyan poet, Abdilatif Abdalla, from his collection of poems ‘Sauti ya Dhiki’ (penned while serving a prison term during the Kenyatta government in post independent Kenya). Musical performances from Morocco and Brazil will highlight the universality of shared influences over time, and Praful Kumar and party from Mombasa will entertain the spectators till dawn with music from Bollywood.
  
  There will also be displays of traditional handicraft, henna painting, Swahili food and a Swahili bridal ceremony.
  Lamu Fort will host a poster exhibition on ‘Bombay Africans (1850 -1910)’, part of a series of exhibitions from the Royal Geographical Society’s project ‘Crossing Continents – Connecting communities’. ‘Bombay Africans’ is a unique group of Africans liberated by British cruisers from Arab slaving dhows in the Indian Ocean and taken to India where many were placed in local employment or in charitable institution. These freed slaves proved to be an important source of interpreters and assistants in the history of exploration in Eastern Africa.
  
  The other highlights of the Festival include the official opening of the restored ‘Dheule Mosque’ in Shela (a mid 18th century traditional Swahili exhibiting cultural, historical and architectural traits that are of invaluable significance to the people of the Lamu archipelago) as well as the launch of the pictorial book ‘Lamu, Kenya’s Enchanted Island’ with photographs by Carol Beckwith, Angela Fischer, David Coulson and Nigel Pavitt and text by George and Lorna Abungu and poems by Sheikh Nabhany.
  
  Lamu offers accommodation to suit all pockets. Transport by road to Lamu is safe. Public transport from Mombasa leaves daily at 7, 10 and 11am (Tawakal Bus, Tel. Mombasa 041 2222975, Mob. 0723141777, Tel. Lamu 042 4633380). The journey from Mombasa to Mokowe on the mainland takes six hours, followed by a half an hour boat ride to Lamu Island. Attached is a list of flying packages offered by Phoenix Safaris.
  
  Other attractions include:
  · Lamu Museum, exhibiting Swahili culture and the mainland’s non-Swahili groups
  · Lamu Fort, dating back to 1821, having been built by the Sultan of Oman shortly after Lamu’s victory over Pate and Mombasa in the battle of Shela
  · German Post Office Museum
  · Swahili House Museum
  · Takwa National Monument on Manda Island (a settlement dating back to AD 1500, with ruins of a Great Mosque and a pillar tomb)
  · Ruins of Shanga, an 8th century Swahili settlement, on Pate Island, containing remains of the coral walls of 160 houses, two palaces, three mosques and hundreds of tombs
  · The early Swahili settlement of Pate, once a power in the region
  · Numerous sites and monuments that showcase Swahili civilization at its height in the 15th century
  · Donkey sanctuary for the old beasts of burden
  · The dhow making village of Matondoni
  
  A wonderful opportunity to experience the island’s unspoiled beaches, medieval ambience, architecturally magnificent Old Town, gracious population, and traditions of an enchanted island where history continues to live.

• A review of the PEN Kenya Poetry night at Wasanii

  Posted: October 16, 2009, 7:37 pm by N.W

  Ah, "poets," said Safi Abdi, "are linked by a call akin to faith."
  
  So last night they descended on the upwardly Wasanii Restaurant at the Kenya National Theater by this call to showcase their pieces, courtesy of PEN, reading tents.
  
  First on the scroll was the deadlocked poet-activist and documentary maker Githugu, whose brief it now dawns on me was to fire the crowd to a militarized sort of poetry.
  
  Then came Denis Inkwa, the versatile open micer, Mike Kwambo, Leon Kiptum and one Njeri Wangari, the foursome performing poets, whose poetry is summed from one of their piece by Mike Kwambo - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised/Its Happening Here And Now.
  
  Come on, PEN Kenya Deputy President, novelist Onduko bw' Atebe, tapped me during Eudiah Kamonjo's performance, hear that, it is full of lesbian overtones!
  
  Wherefore i retorted, but that is Eudiah, her poetry dwells in sexuality. True, lady Eudiah has a collection of poems that explores this subject and which are yet to be published.
  
  Also performing was budding poet and Slum Poetry winner (2009) Wanjiku Mwaura, a student at Kenyatta University, Valentine Kamau, and then cane a blend of musicals by Grandmaster Masese and MC Sharon.
  
  Ian Vale, from PEN - Poverty Eradication Network - described the PEN - Poets Essayists Novelists - poetry night as a wonderful performance.
  
  Whats more, Tamsin Mitchell, International PEN (London), Writers In Prison Committee, said the event was inspiring, the fact that people came to hear poetry recitals, is a feat admired by many. Tamsin is in Kenya on a working tour. I met Daily Nation columnist Kwamchetsi Makokha, and spoke to Bill Odidi of Radio France at the performance. And there was George Orido from the Standard.
  
  Bill engaged me on the subject of poetry and spoken word. Poetry, i said, has an element of absolute beauty. About the spoken word, i referred him to a friend. These are cheerful polemics.
  
  Review by Khainga O'Kwemba - The Treasurer at PEN International Kenya Chapter
  He can be reached on khaingao(at)yahoo(dot)com 

• Poem: Connect by Marten Schoonman

  Posted: October 15, 2009, 9:10 pm by N.W

  Leaders decide, society sighs
  What will happen in Williams life?
  His family waits, the pots are all empty
  William wonders, he wonders what next
  
  Data streams fly, invisible chats
  On cars and refrigirators with features for rich
  William unknowing what other moan
  He sits in a chair and chews on a stone
  
  The web is the greatest, some live connected
  They forget who they are when the PC's affected
  Life is connected, but not with a wire - you know
  wires too much, too many wires
  
  Are we connected, are we you think?
  In one way or another, do we connect?
  Do nations and people of different standards?
  Do children here and elsewhere connect?
  
  Invisible line, songlines think some
  Travel our land, sky and our water
  Success and suffer cross space with eachother
  William wonder, what will he do...
  
  ..call a friend or just pray for the best
  
  PS. Inspired by my piece, Digital Hearts
  ------------------------------------
  All rights Reserved©
  ------------------------------------
  By: Marten Schoonman
  martenschoonman.blogspot.com/
  www.twitter.com/mato74

• Over-dramatization of Poetry performance in Kenyan schools

  Posted: October 15, 2009, 5:30 pm by N.W

  The photo of Graham Nduko Osoro, a student of Friends School Kamusinga in todays(15th Oct,09) Daily Nation, page 8 on his knees on the grass in the name of a poetry solo verse made me cringe with embarrassment.
  
  It is an all too familiar image that seems to become the norm during every year's Drama Festivals in Kenya(those from other countries, is this the same experience?) This pleading, down on the ground teary image reminded me of why so many young people in schools still hate poetry, yet, Nairobi is now awash with poetry venues and is becoming very popular with the same young people who have to be painfully weaned off this over dramatization, over gesticulation and over shouting to a performance that is in tune with the times.
  
  Stephen Partington, a teacher and published poet whose poems appear weekly  in The East African made these comments on the Kenyan-poetry-catalyst google group,
  

  "Now, he's undoubtedly a charming young man, but the photo of 'Graham Nduko Osoro' on p8 of today's Nation is further argument in favour of banning poetry in Kenyan schools.
  
  Poor boy looks like he's squeezing out his post-Visiting Day constipation. And how did his legs sink so deeply into the ground?"
  

  
  This is what I wrote in response to his email
  
  

  What do we need to do to change the way students are taught performance poetry in schools, starting with these teachers. That is why most students come out with a very negative attitude towards poetry only to discover that its not the way they were taught.
  
  This is over-dramatization at its worst!! and he was made to do that!
  Can I get a sponsor to get some 10 more poets and do an awareness campaign in various schools on the 21st style of poetry performance?
  

  
  Kevin Waithaka, a poet in the group also commented on this phenomenon by saying,
  
  

  Just checked it out and I can't help but agree...The enthusiasim is there(definitely!)and I guess the passion in art is more important than most other things because if you have that the rest can follow.I feel that all he needs is someone to show them.  I was of the same mind wangari,so feel free to call on me if you need a hand(or a poet...)"
  

  
  It is about time that Kenyan schools desisted from portraying poetry as drab. Instead, let students know that poetry has grown and is still growing not only in form but also in style and appeal.

• PEN Kenya Poetry Night, 15th Oct, 09

  Posted: October 14, 2009, 7:58 pm by N.W

  Tomorrow, Thursday October 15, 2009, at 6:30 pm, PEN KENYA returns to Wasanii Restaurant at the Kenya National Theatre where it first hosted Shailja's Migritude II performance. This time, they will be with a galaxy of performing poets, among them those who performed at the launch of Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o's latest book, those who have won Slum Africa poetry extravaganza, those who have graced the Kwani open mic as guest poets, poets who light the vibrant Nairobi literary scene in their fassion and manner.
  
  PEN and Wasanii are playing the host by providing a platform to diverse voices.
  
  NB. There will be surprises, don't miss

• Chimamanda Adichie at TED 2009; The danger of telling a single story

  Posted: October 8, 2009, 2:20 pm by N.W

  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian Female writer whose 1st book Purple Hibiscus won the Best First Book award in the 2005 Commonwealth Writers' Prize and  Half of a Yellow Sun, her 2nd book was awarded the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction was at the TED 2009 Global Talk in England.
  She gave a talk on the danger of telling a single by drawing into her own story of growing up and eventually becoming a writer.
  I hope It will inspire you as it did me on the importance of telling our many stories.
  
  

• ‘Mo Faya’ The Musical - A Review of the Show at the New York Musical Theatre Festival

  Posted: October 6, 2009, 8:23 pm by N.W

  Reviewed by Margaretta wa Gacheru
  
  “They call it a slum. We call it home.”
  [The slogan on the back of each miniature Kenyan flag placed on every single seat of the TRG Theater in Manhattan before all six shows staged during the New York Musical Festival]
  
  Mo Faya is a Kenyan masterpiece and Eric Wainaina-- the show’s composer, lyricist, script writer and delectable DJ Luanda around whom the show’s storyline revolves-- is a genius.
  
  But then, one more mark of genius is knowing how to surround yourself with brilliant partners, and Wainaina has done just that: first by making his mate Sheba Hirst the show’s producer and John Sibi-Okumu his super-fine director, and then assembling an incredible cast, including award-winning actors and singers like Peter King and Mumbi Kaigwa, Dan ‘Chizi’ Aceda and Valerie Kimani, as well as a marvelous Kenyan band that features Marvin Maveke, Emmanuel Mkuwa, Isaac Mugunda and Patrick Nanjero.
  
  It didn’t hurt that Wainaina also got Safaricom to sponsor the full cast, band and crew’s going to the New York Musical Festival where Mo Faya opened in its world premier September 29 and ran six times in a global showcase that features a score of original world class new productions, most of which came from the US, but at least three came from the South: from Kenya, South Korea and Mexico! Mo Faya will also give one final American performance organized at Bard College by Binyavanga Wainaina, before the cast comes back to Kenya to open in this not-to-be-missed musical production at the GoDown for several shows.
  
  Set in the “slum” shanty town of Kwa Maji, the stars of Mo Faya are all slum dwellers, apart from villainess Anna Mali (Mumbi Kaigwa) whose NGO, called C.U.R.E, aims at the kind of “urban renewal” that Kenyans have seen when local slums have gone up in smoke and sites like Muroto have been razed to make way for sky-scrapers and high rises where poor people won’t be welcomed at all.
  
  Writing in the same satirical vein as a Wahome Mutahi or a Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who both used humour, irony and satire to expose the corruption and contradictions in Kenyan society today, Wainaina similarly doesn’t shy away from talking about hot topics, like land grabbing, lust and dirty linkages between corrupt politicians, cops and even members of the non-governmental community.
  
  Yet the show doesn’t just focus on corruption [although as an expose of the inner workings of Kenya’s corrupt power elite, Mo Faya may make some local politicians feel quite uncomfortable.] On the contrary, the star of the show in a sense is ‘the slum’ Kwa Maji itself – and the everyday lives of the people who reside therein.
  
  Capturing the creativity, dynamism and vitality of those poor people’s lives through pop music [including reggae and Kenyanized hip hop] and well choreographed dance, Mo Faya shows the centrality of local FM radio in the lives of people who may not afford dish satellite or downtown cinema shows, but who love to laugh and be entertained artistically nonetheless.
  
  Yet the exploitative spirit of both governmental and non-governmental politicians is never far from the lead storyline, since even the beautiful sense of community that these poor people share is corruptible in the scheming land-grabber’s mind. In fact, when the self-proclaimed “Total Woman” Anna Mali aims to destroy the people’s sense of solidarity prior to her pushing them off the land they call home, she goes after the people’s hero, DJ Luanda.
  
  
  Tempting him to leave community radio for “Big City radio” with its fatter salary and higher public profile, DJ Luanda sadly takes the bait. But his departure signals a weakening of the people’s sense of social cohesion and solidarity, something Luanda has previously embodied for them.
  
  Anna Mali’s partner in crime, the mungiki-like-monster Mkwajo [played masterly by Peter King], proceeds to sow the seeds of terror in Kwa Maji with a slew of mysterious murders, all part of Mali’s malevolent master plan to make over the slum into an up-market income generator for her and her corrupt colleagues, including the police chief (Joshua Mwai) and the politician (Daniel Mwashigadi).
  
  I won’t tell you how the story ends since Kenyans will have to see the show for themselves, and I won’t be the spoiler who gives the ending away. But I will say the script is brilliant and the casting superb.
  
  One genuine stroke of genius that I credit Wainaina with is the ensemble nature of this show. It’s as if his cast were a jazz band, wherein every instrument, every cast member, has his or her moment to showcase her/his talent, be it as a dancer, a singer, and more often than not, as both!!
  
  Sibi-Okumu undoubtedly had something to do with enhancing the ensemble-aspect of the show, since he worked hand in hand with Wainaina and the cast for weeks before heading to New York, honing the script down to a manageable size and form. And as for the cast, I can’t speak about every single member although everyone, especially Valerie Kimani, DJ Luanda’s sweetheart, has an especially important role to play in this multi-layered modern day morality musical. The other cast member who holds the show together with finesse, charm and style is the Professor, played by Dan ‘Chizi’ Aceda, since he not only takes the time at the outset of the show to artfully introduce every Kwa Maji community member; he also steps in at pivotal moments to provide the continuity required, especially for audiences who may not speak Kiswahili, meanwhile about a third of the show is conveyed in it
  
  Relying on a minimalist set design and ordinary street clothes and kitengis for costumes, it is the music of Mo Faya that makes the show so distinctively Kenyan [the music and of course, the dancing that goes so rhythmically with it]. For however much critics may claim that Kenyan music is ersatz African American, Wainaina proves that Kenyan culture and creativity is no copy cat.
  
  The show makes a powerful statement about the ills Kenyan society faces. But it also reveals the rich resiliency and resourcefulness of the people. What Wainaina didn’t provide was a solution to Kenya’s political plight and moral malaise. But his ending is provocative and somehow hopeful.
  
  What is most marvelous about this show is that Kenyans will have an opportunity to see Mo Faya themselves when it returns home and premiers in November on the Kenyan stage.
  
  For more details on the New York Musical Theater Festival, visit www.nymf.org.

• 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.
  
  

• 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
  --------------------------------------------------
  Njeri Wangari
  All rights Reserved©
  njeriwangari(at)gmail(dot)com
  --------------------------------------------------

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Fish cakes

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Yet more fish cakes

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The end of the fish cakes