24 Nairobi
October 31, 2008
The 24 Nairobi project is intended as a showcase of a modern African city through the eyes of its own photographers. A lot of times cities in Africa are viewed through the narrow lenses and stories of missionaries, career war photographers and aid workers.
24 Nairobi brings together local, regional and international creative professionals to evolve powerful and realistic images and narratives that would reflect the working-life diversity, cultures, energy and dimensions of cities in Africa.
This is an alternative, innovative, realistic and professional African perspective. All the photographers reside in Nairobi and grew up or now call Nairobi “home”. This aesthetic has now been captured.
24 Nairobi is a Kwani? project.
Poetry Open Mic, Tuesday November 4
October 31, 2008
This month’s Kwani? Poetry Open Mic will feature ‘Smitta’.Tony ‘smitta’ Mochama is a poet and journalist who lives and works in Nairobi. A Law graduate, Tony is also a vodka connoisseur, gossip columnist extraordinaire, and has a collection of short stories coming out soon titled – ‘The ruins down in Africa’. He has also been called a ‘literary gangster’, from time to rhyme. His collection of poetry, ‘What if I am a literary gangster?’ was published by Brown Bear Insignia in 2007.
And the event coming on Election Day in the US, he have Obama as his theme.
The event is hosted by Cindy Ogana and held every first Tuesday of the month at Club Soundd. Poets (not singers please) who wish to take part in the Open Mic session should attend the sound check strictly between 5 & 6 pm on the day of the event. No late entries will be accepted. Please bring a printout of your work with you.
The event starts promptly at 7pm on Tuesday 7th October, and entry is only KSh100.
Obama, My Uncle.
October 31, 2008
By Samuel Munene
It is amazing how easy it is for us to judge people by first appearances. We look at what they wear, what they drive or even how they smile and make instant conclusions. Perhaps we have so much in our minds, leaving us no room to dig deeper before making any assumptions.
Hand in hand with this is the distrust we have cultivated between us. The very first minutes of any conversation are filled with suspicion, doubting every word being said. It is as if the truth no longer exists. This is not surprising considering most of us are dishonest and think everybody is the same. There are some of us, however, who still treat the truth as a virtue, and dare not tell a lie.
Take me for instance. If I told you that I am Obama’s nephew you would surely not believe me, but that is the truth. Barrack Obama, the US Democratic presidential nominee is my uncle, my maternal uncle. I won’t waste time telling you how I dug up my family history and discovered one of Obama’s great grandfathers had an affair with one of my grandmothers, that is too rudimentary a method to prove my linkage to Obama. Read more
Is Anyone Reading In Kenya?
October 28, 2008
“There are over 36 million people in Kenya most of whom can read and write.Despite this analysts there say that the country doesn’t have a significant reading culture.Top writers in Kenya are trying to change this.” Read more
