Showing posts with label #Nai Ni Who. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Nai Ni Who. Show all posts

Monday, August 5, 2013

#NAI NI WHO: NAIROBI’Z BLOGAZINE CELEBRATED & HONORED!



August is here-the second half of the year and what a great time to take stock! If you have been keeping up with #NAI NI WHO on our blog; then you know by now that I have been a part of the volunteering team for zone 8-Ngara; Parklands and Highridge.
Well; Saturday 3rd august; volunteers

; partners and friends of NAI NI WHO were treated to a great dinner at the Sarova Stanley hotel in appreciation of their valuable contribution to our community since the beginning of the festival.


We got an honorary plague award- and I say we; because you too have been part of this blog. I am never a blogger if I have no readers to influence or read what I am writing.
And just taking time to look back; I thank God because volunteering has opened up many doors; opportunities and built me. I have given myself passionately and selflessly without getting tired. I have heard my highs and low downs but I have learnt to pick myself up through God’s strength and running on.


June saw us volunteer for two weeks in Thika with missionaries from the Praise Team Church-U.S.A. we did outreach ministry; fed the poor and hungry; prayed for healings and had a n awesome time just giving ourselves in service;


Then towards the end of June and into July; another surprise opportunity came up with 
www.KENYABUZZ.COM ; ho called me up to be their Daystar University Brand Ambassador. They saw our blog and like it and they have been publishing some of our content too;


then July-august; Nairobi’z Blogazine meets with #NAI NI WHO and what comes out is a mash-up of two separate organizations that are united in their visions and aspirations for Nairobi;


As a blog; it is definite to say that we are growing and moving forward. And before I forgot; July saw us join Facebook with a bang and welcome a fashionista to the family;


Thank you for being part of Nairobi’z Blogazine-ASANTE SANA!








NAI NI WHO BRINGS THE HOUSE DOWN AT K1KLUBHOUSE




For two days last week; Thursday to Friday; Nai Ni Who was literally off the rails and off the hook! Held at Nairobi’s best entertainment spot-the K1 Klubhouse; we experienced an ecstatic crowd; atmosphere and a climatic response that we couldn’t even have dreamed of when we sat down to plan the affair.

Thursday saw the screening of a Kenyan film –“Something Necessary.” The crowd had a chance to mingle with the movie crew; actors; actress; directors; producers; ask questions and even get autographs.





They gave us a well-kept secret of their next project thrill to Kenyan cinema-“VEVE” (local slang for khat). The film is set to give a fresh take on the miraa business and Kenyan lifestyle.
One Fine Day Films and Ginger Ink production have been working on films like “veve” to create a platform to facilitate local film makers to produce exceptional films (for more info o Veve’s release date-www.onedayfilms.com).

The two day fiesta kicked on to Friday with the Nai Ni Who after party. As soon as the darkness fell; the K1 backdrop came alive with colorful lighting.

Revelers were treated to fun pool-table challenges and foosball-with winners bagging home cool Ni Ni Who t-shirt merchandises.








Much love to Kenya scouts association; the ST. John ambulance and K1; David; Jacquie; Walter; Mehal and the whole crew of Nai Ni Who for pulling the strings together and making it happen- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.507234976020545.1073741862.440804702663573&type=3








NAI NI WHO GRAND FINALE BRINGS NAIROBI CITY TO A STANDSTILL…


“NAI NI WHO? NAI NI SISI… (NAIROBI IS WHO? NAIROBI IS US!)”

This past weekend marked the grand finale of the Nai Ni Who Festival- a festival that began on may and that sought to celebrate our neighborhoods and explore the Nairobian identity.


Meeting point for the start of the C.B.D parade was at Uhuru Park and youth groups; fans and friends of Nai Ni Who Festival; braced the cold for the carnival.

With two great bands leading; the Kenya Police Band and the Salvation Army Band; song, dance and merriment marked the boisterous parade that proudly wound its way around the city avenues and roads.



From Uhuru Park to Haile Selassie Avenue; through to Uhuru Highway; the parade made its way and not even the angry A.F.C Leopards heading to Nakuru for a match could stop us-this was our day!

With color; pomp and swag; we boldly walked to Moi Avenue and to Koinange Street. It was our day and we made a bold statement about it. The traffic police ensured our safety. They at times stopped traffic to just allow us through.

From Koinange we met with Moi Avenue through the Nakumatt Lifestyle stretch; and into Kenyatta Avenue before making our way to Uhuru Park.

Nairobi literally came to a standstill with people breaking off from their normal and busy routine to catch a glimpse of the loud parade. Those at high buildings peeped through their windows. Many took time to stand and take pictures and enjoy the XYZ puppets so president Uhuru; Deputy Ruto; former president Mwai Kibaki and Martha Karua.





The Mcee for the day was comedian Chippukizzey who entertained with his wits and funny jokes. The crowd was treated to great live music from Juliani; Juacali and Kidum. The event also saw other upcoming artists from different neighborhoods perform.

Later in the evening; organizers; volunteers, partners and the friends of  NAI NI WHO were treated to a sumptuous dinner at the Sarova Stanley; in appreciation and recognition of their support and valuable contribution.

The festival officially came to a close Saturday august 3rd and with many still talking about it; and what it has done; it was indeed a worthy and necessary festival. It made us stop; think and appreciate what we have as Nairobians and who we are!

So the word went out that not again will anyone define Nairobi for us; that was very clear- let NAIROBI DEFINE HERSELF!












-CATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS VIA FACEBOOK: NAI NI WHO; TWITTER:@NAINIWHO or by visiting www.nainiwho.com


Monday, July 29, 2013

NAI NI WHO: A WEEKEND MASH-UP EXTRAVAGANZA AT CITY PARK…




What a grueling festival it has been! Nai Ni Who (sheng for who is Nairobi) is coming to a season finale of the celebrations of our rich diversity; culture and neighborhoods. But before that; I’m getting way ahead of myself! Here is what happened over the weekend.

The friends of Nai Ni Who; coordinators and volunteers met up with the friends of City Park to help hype the event around Ngara; Highridge and Parklands through dishing out fliers to the community.

Friday 26th July saw the festival begin on a high note at the Sarakasi Dome with an exciting performance by the lovely Iddi Achieng; backed by the Sarakasi Dancers at the Sarakasi Dome from 7pm till late.

Come Saturday morning; and the good God favored us with clear skies and the sunshine was just amazing and perfect for a perfect day. Youth groups; fans; volunteers and friends of Nai Ni Who Festival; began the long parade march from the Sarakasi Dome to the City Park.











The Salvation Army Band was in tow; churning out popular tunes and a number of old classics; evens as song, dance and merriment marked the boisterous parade. Like a ”chuku-chaka” train; the parade; proud like a peacock wound its way around the market; bus stop; estate’s shopping and residential areas. This is the eleventh of 12 such celebrations that were scheduled across the city for 12 weeks.
Along Limuru Road; there was a change of guard as the Aga Khan band took over the lead from the Salvation Army band in a peculiar; yet refreshing way.
The loud parade brought traffic and the neighborhoods to a standstill a sit mad its way into City Park. People came out of their gates; homes and apartments’ balconies to just catch a glimpse and take pictures. The police were of much help and they kept the flow of traffic steady but moving.
City Park once again came to life! Bettina Ng’weno writes; “as a child growing up in Nairobi in the 1940s and 1950s; my father; Hilary Ng’weno, would visit City Park regularly. Part of a gang of children from Muthurwa; Pumwani; Shauri Moyo and Kaloleni; he would walk across town on a Sunday to hear the Police or Army marching Bands play in the bandstand.
The children would then head for the maze; where Kenyans of all walks of life; Africans, Asians, Europeans, the young, the old, in families and couples, would be seen. The children, being regulars at City Park; had figured out how to get to the middle of the maze and out again.
How clever they felt as they watched adults get lost in the maze…”

And that is what this weekend has been for City PARK. It came alive once again with art exhibitions; culture shows; mural paintings; dances; acrobatics and many more performances.
The birds came out chirping; in tune with the sound track of nature. The monkeys and squirrels made the escape into nature even fun.

The older generation wept; dawned with tears after for the first time in over 30 years; a band played at the bandstand. And not just one; but two great bands- the Aga Khan and Salvation Army Bands.

The weekend saw great and fun activities in and out of the park. On Sunday the Wheels of Africa made their way into the park for a bicycle tour of the neighborhoods.
There were bird walks; nature walks and dud walks through the vast and only municipal park with indigenous forest. Later in the evening; people were treated to a new culture of Hinduism religion at the Haveli Temple in Parklands opened its wide doors to the public.



















What’s next for NAI NI WHO? I posed the same question to Joy Mboya; Go down Arts Centre Director and one of those who played a big role in this whole festival; “well, honestly Vincent I don’t know but we do hope that the corporate world and the communities at large will embrace this!”

-stay updated on where the action is happening via facebook: Nai Ni Who; Twitter: @NaiNiWho or visiting-http://www.nainiwho.co.ke/