STORYMOJA HAY FESTIVAL / PLAN-B: THE MUSICAL PLAY / OKTOBERFEST / # WESTGATE MALL SIEGE RECAP

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ast week’s Friday afternoon saw me attend this year’s International Hay Festival that was themed-“Imagine The World” (Waza Dunia).

Making its fifth edition, the fest at the Nairobi National Museum; was full of art, poetry, literature, talk forums and music.

The event saw an impressive lineup of local and international writers, artists, musicians and thinkers awe, entertain and engage with the audience.

Founded in 2008; the Storymoja Hay Festival is organized in collaboration with Storymoja and the Hay Festival UK.

FRIDAY evening and I was at the Ukumbi Mdogo Hall at the Kenya National Theatre; where Liquid Arts Entertainment in conjunction with Rekindle Flame entertained; enlightened; and awes the crowd with their marvelous re-run of Plan-B; a musical paly.

Plan-B; hilarious and funny saw the theatre group take the fight against “Mpango wa Kando” (infidelity) on stage in a humor-filled script. The actors and actresses were impressive and they owned the stage world. The play was well choreographed; in line with the desired effects and the band too.

FROM THERE; with the heavy downpour that caused crazy snarl-up; I made my way to Ngong Road’s Impala Grounds for the annual Oktoberfest debut.

The mc for the night was Nick Mutuma; with live entertainment from Djs Kuzi; Protégé and The Arkitekt.

Friday night saw the opening acts as the battle of the rock bands went on the stage; with over 12 local rock bands rocking the stage. Towards the end; the last band to the stage almost caused a fracas over what they termed as unfairness in allocation of time limits especially for them they felt their time was cut short while n stage and that to them was an insult.

In keeping with Germany’s Oktoberfest traditions; beer aficionados had their fuss satiated as they sat under the beer tent. Friday saw the debut tapping of the keg.

The waitresses; armed with their shot’s glasses and buxom costumes of Bavaria; they pushed through the crowds and kept a steady stream of the cold shots and beer flowing from barrels; straight to the wee hours of the morning.

SATURDAY; and waking up after just a few hours of slumber; the media is on to the Westgate Mall attack. I had just gotten home from Oktoberfest and the other events; all tired and sleepy. Tension gripped Nairobi’s Westland’s area after gunmen killed and wounded scores of shoppers in Westgate Shopping Mall.

What a weekend!