entimental Floetry
is a group of 3 ladies; two spoken word poets, Namatsi Lukoye and Carol Njenga,
fusing with the vocals of Vivianne Wambui.
The blend is one
of a kind; poems that seduce the spirit and touch the soul. They launched their
first collection of their work on May 26th 2012 at the MichaelJosephCenter,
Safaricom House off Waiyaki Way.
Their work revolves around: politics,
domestic violence, sex, love among other topics.
I CANNOT BELIEVE I CALL MYSELF A NAIROBIAN AND I MISSED THIS EVENT...
If you live in Nairobi, then I shall assume you have heard of Wamathai Events. If you don’t, I pray that one of the said events pitches tent in a town near you soon. If you live in Nairobi and you have never heard of Wamathai Events, I’m so sorry. Even dipping you in holy water cannot redeem you.
I have become a regular at these events, though I have a confession to make. I never thought I would be one to enjoy poetry, spoken word, stand up comedy or live music. Till I attended one Wamathai Event. Then I became an addict. Hooked, lined and sinkered! Maybe we should blame the really talented artists that Wamathai manages to attract for my addiction.
It should therefore come as no surprise that when the latest event, Wamathai July was announced, I became all giddy. That was even before I saw the line-up and the hosts! The event was hosted by the one and only Sam Buggz and the self declared Monarch of the twitters, Stella Nasambu aka Queenie aka to the second degree sueteller. I knew this one was going to be spectacular!
The event didn’t disappoint. Right from get go, we were kept tongues-to-floor by works of artists like Moraa Onsando, El Poet, Jemedari, Mwende Ngao, Kenyan Poet, Raya Wambui, Kevin Man Njoro, among others, with music provided by Demspey and the Boys. Because I like you, and I really would like you to come to the next Wamathai event, let me tell you a little about what you missed.
Jemedari is a guy who can rap on just about anything in any language! Ok, English and Kiswahili is what I’ve heard him do. What surprises me (and I’m sure most) is how he can mix these two, keep tabs on lyrics and not end up developing a brain tumor or worse, chewing his tongue out.
Then there is Man Njoro. Seriously, this guy is the kind that owns the mic, draws the audience with varied pitched voice in an all sane poem, and just when you are settling in, he defaults to that Kikuyu-intonate, funny as the pits of hell advice. Someone get me his contact because I really need to take notes on how to make Kshs.3 million in 3 months.
Did I mention Wangare? She manages to grab your attention. She’s all about justice. Out Loud Justice. Which also reminds me of Kenyanpoet, the already published poet, who I refer to as the voice of reason and change. Hers was a poem about the Woman who became a wife, and one about us replacing feelings and emotions with digitalized ‘robots’. Really though, what happened to the days when we thrived and relished face-to-face interaction?
Mwende Ngao. Don’t let her height fool you. This girl can recite! She has piercing eyes that make her recitals that more soulful. I’m not even going to mention that I so like her hair. Her piece was inspired by her friend. Speaking of, hands up if you have a friend who has ever written a poem just for you. Take time to read about this amazing woman here.
No, I will not tell you about all the artists. These should be enough to whet your appetite for the next Wamathai event. Can I let you in on a secret? The Wamathai event gives a chance to all kinds of artists. That’s what makes it colorful. Including new artists like Julie Wangombe. Imagine sharing a stage, as a new artist, with these giants?
There were also ad hoc/surprise performances by artists like Wamathai. What, you never knew it/he was a real person? Ha! He is so real! Flesh and blood too! He did two pieces, one on ‘The Art Of Flirting’ and ‘Lord My Woman is Talking’. Human enough? Mr. Mwirigi performed as well. I know, we all went ‘who knew?!’ The ever so talented Adelle Onyango was part of surprise performances as well!
Did I mention that there was Photography exhibition by Koa? No? Well, there was Photography exhibition by Koa.
See what you missed out on? Make sure you don’t miss out on the next one. When you ask? Second Saturday of September. Don’t say you were never told.
Born in 1912 when a group of blacks bought land
from a white farmer who failed to find white buyer, Alexandra will be turning 100
this year (2012) with very
little to celebrate or party about.
This year (2012), one of Johannesburg’s most notorious townships,
Alexandra, known popularly as “Alex”, marks its 100th anniversary.
Many are still hoping the government will embark on revitalizing this slum that
has become nothing less than a symbol of inequality in South
Africa.
Despite its ramshackle
history, it is a township that is credited with being former president Nelson Mandela’s first home in Jo’burg.
The pride of its
over 400, 000 residents, mostly
migrant workers and a third of whom are unemployed is that Alex became and is
still one of the very few places where people of color can own property. This
is what has over the years cultivated its culture of resistance and one that
saw Alex survive the apartheid rule.
It is a township
whose accident of history, in line with her boycotts helped inspire Mandela’s
fight for freedom.
With the ambitious
renovation project launched back in 2001, set to revitalize Alex with building
of thousands of houses, tarred roads and putting up of street lights, it is yet
to be seen whether Alex will survive the bulldozers of modernization, of trying
to bring equality and attract investment.
THE AFRICAN WATCHDOG: WHERE DID THE RAINS ACTUALLYSTART BEATING US?
We are all guilty!
We all have failed and come short of grace, I included. What is wrong with our
society? My question exactly is what happened to the morals we once cherished?
The media, whether
electronic or print, is there to inform, educate and entertain. However, we the
users continue to be shaped by its content, and in these, and many other
factors, that help to mould and shape our behaviors, define our interactions
and inform our consumption habits.
Do you remember
the old days of watching the Foresters on their famous TV- show, “The Bold and
the Beautiful?” I never really had a chance to watch it due to my strict
parents. They always knew the time when it was schedule and they made sure
everything was done before that time, some few minutes before it started they
tucked us in.
I will never
forget the whack my brother got trying to peep and catch a glimpse of the
romantic action. Unlike today, where soap operas are family galore. But those
who follow these programs get angry by the day, as they cannot stand the fact
that a father can actually date a daughter-in-law. That’s absurd in the African
culture.
“A fan is the
unseen disciple of a team”, so goes a saying among football enthusiast. However,
that’s the depiction of how low as a society we have sunk. We uncomprehendingly
watch boring cheap TV- programs, rejects of Europe and America,
imported to fill our African vacuity.
What make a movie-
an Oscar or a great movie, I should ask? Is it only when it has a spice of romance,
passion, deceit, sex and nudity? But then again, isn’t this what is shaping our
ideas, thoughts, actions and behaviors. The whole idea about such a program is
to say to you- lower your status quo. Affairs are part of life.
Somebody once told
me that, “if you compromise any situation, you compromise the devil.” And once
the devil is compromised, he invites his legion. When our young girls started dressing
skimpily and indecently, we compromised and never said a word. Now, we are
reaping what we sowed- unplanned pregnancies, broken marriages, under-age gang
rapes and all those societal ills.
I stop, pause and
ponder again, where did the rains actually start beating us? As a society and a
continent corporately, we ought to sit down and reflect hard on this. About the
good old teachings of our fore fathers and mothers. Of our spiritual vocation. Because
if we don’t, history will judge us harshly but what will hurt us the most will
be that the coming generation will not forgive us!
