Grandmaster Masese's Musings and Obokano

Wambui Otieno-a tribute

2011-10-08T06:08:00.000-07:00

Mama Wambui-national ethno-feminist

My tribute,

In your struggle
you exposed traditional chauvinism
Seen through the mirror of self
In your struggle,
There was a sense of weaving a nation
A true nation of humanity and unity
Indeed from you I learnt not to mourn
As unity was bestowed in your heart
Uniting the smaller nations within us
Not ethnicity, much of it very negative

Your warrior spirit
Continues to inspire us far and wide,
Broadly, our weakness in issues was broadly exposed, suppressed
May the spirit of your work
Inspire nationalism in this state
Without a nation-Kenya
May the fruits of your sweat serve the young
Instill and inform
Rekindle the memories of our songs of freedom
Freedom that we all yearn for
You have left a legacy, mau mau legacy
To be respected and maintained
For us, the souls in treachery
Must have freedom

Mama Wambui, a title
They never wanted to bestow upon you
Me, I , the poet recognizes
Bestow it upon your soul.

Mama Wambui-a true revolutionary
I honour you and know that
It shall prevail in my generation
Mama, rest in peace
Rest among the greatest
Of African progressive souls
Thomas Sankara, Me Katilili
Muthoni Nyanjiro. Field Marshall Kimathi Waciuri
Gakere, Baimungi and others
I do not manage to mention
Your soul is within us
And you shall inspire through the seed you planted

Mama Wambui
A true heroine,
A true progressive soul
I shall commit myself and my other comrades
It shall prevail,
Once we find our freedom and unity in humanity

By Dennis Dancan Mosiere aka Grand Master Masese,poet,actor,editor,writer,musician based in Nairobi

Mstari Wa Nne and Grand Masese For Black History Month

2011-02-23T01:22:00.000-08:00

Mstari Wa Nne and Grand Masese will be on at Paa Ya Paa this Sunday 27th Feb from 1pm;Black History Month.

Directions:

Take Kiambu Rd. to Ridgeways Rd. (also the turn for Windsor Golf Club). Take the right for Ridgeways Rd and follow Ridgeways Rd to Paa Ya Paa Lane (slightly past the entrance for Ridgeways Boys Academy). Take a left on Paa Ya Paa Lane ...and the first right gate will lead you into Paa Ya Paa Arts Centre.

Also coming soon to a place near you soon;

1st March 2011 at club Soundd.

See you all there.

The challenge of African unity

2011-02-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

Following the earlier story,It is one hour from Nairobi to Ethiopia.After our night in Ethiopia,We took a plane to Dakar via Bamako on the morning of 4th Feb.The tiring journey was approximately ten hours with a stopover and refueling in Bamako.

In Bamako we had to remain in the plane as we did not have Malian visas ;

in the plane you are in Ethiopia,step outside and you are in Mali,said the Ethiopian air hostess.
But it is Africa,i said.
You have no Malian visa.I went silent.

Since I was not feeling the way I was feeling,i was extremely tired and my body was aching terribly;all over.

We arrived in Dakar in the evening.Since I did not have pain killers and the local currency,I had to stay with my pain for two days as we struggled to change dollars in vain.Note that Senegalese don't change dollars in their banks;you must have Euros.

And if you are lucky to change then be prepared to get in very bad rates.So what did we do?An arrangement was made to look for a cab driver to take us to a black market dealer.But there was a problem,here being Francophonie and us from Anglophonie and we don't speak Wolof.i noted ;
even with my little English,it was difficult to communicate,and still it is.

With the help of one of the organisers,a dealer was called and came with francs and we changed on a good rate.

On the 5th, We went to Cheikh Anta Diop University's School of Journalism for a seminar on journalism.It was moderated by Fahamu's Tidiane Kasse,Zanna Rodrigues and Firoze Manji.There were students from the university's school of journalism coming from the ECOWAS region and the fellows from Kenya.

On the 6th it was the opening of the world social forum and Africa day.A multitude of people estimated at over thirty thousand gathered at RTS,Senegal's biggest media house to start marching to Cheikh Anta Diop University where the world Social Forum is being held.

There was a variety of music from Africa and the world.I got a chance to jam with various musicians and then later performed at a place called Just For You with a reggae band before going to the closing concert of the day where Didier Awadi revolutionised an audience of more than four thousand with his socially conscious and political poetry and hiphop.

If you think it is play back as they do in Kenya,then you are wrong.A band of traditional musicians with drums and Kora with modern and electric instruments;in Didier Awadi's performance you could see and feel everything from freestyle,hip hop,poetry,soul and African rhythms from all over Africa.His content is something to note,although so political,the audience could not get enough of him and the energy with which he showed,it was a blast.

I met some from comrades from the Malcom X Grassroots Movement

My Journey To the World Social Forum In Dakar Senegal

2011-02-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

On the 3rd Feb I arrived in Bole International Airport in Ethiopia and spent the night at Panorama Hotel with The Fellows.

I changed five dollars and got eighty three Ethiopian mbirr.It wasnt enough to get two beers.

Why Democracy Festival Brochure

2010-11-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Guys,don't forget the Why Democracy Film Festival at Alliance Francaise from 8th to 12th 6pm to 8.30pm.We are showing short and long films on democracy from across the world.For more info check this page;

welcome

Awaaz Magazine and Solidarity Network's why Democrazy Film Fest @ Alliance Francaise

2010-11-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

Hi all
.Awaaz Magazine and Solidarity Network Kenya are organizing a film festival from the 8th Nov to 12th Nov at Alliance Francaise auditorium called 'Why Democracy?'

;We welcome you all to come and be part of us from 6pm to 9pm daily.Please check
http://solidaritynetkenya.blogspot.com/Solidarity Net Kenya
for details of the films.
Entry is free

Loita/Monrovia streets

WASANII TWAUMIA

2010-10-03T06:40:00.001-07:00

Ninajongea wendani,ugani najaajaa,
Nimewaomba idhini,mishororo kuandaa,
Wasanii humu nchini,wakenya watuhadaa,
Wasanii twaumia,ni nani atuthamini?

Mnatunyima mapeni,kazi tukiwafanyia,
Wengine ni ushindani,ujira kutwaribia,
Mnatutia sandani,hohehahe twapapia,
Wasanii twaumia,nani atuthamini?

Serikali tuinueni,fahamu mwatuokoa,
Hata nanyi makampuni,kazeni kutujumia,
Tupate na wadhamini,tupate kuendelea,
Wasanii twaumia,nani atuthamini?

Marafiki kwaherini,swala nimeliandaa,
Nasi tuwe kileleni,bila ya kutuhadaa,
Na tutatoka ndotoni,ujira kufurahia,
Wasanii twaumia,nani atuthamini?

na dennis dancan mosiere
'ngozi ya chatu'
slp 113-40500
nyabite,nyamira

Grand Masese and Nameless for a charity show

2010-06-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

http://nairobinow.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/charity-concert-music-4-hemophilia-jun-26-2010-carnivor/

MO PAIN, NO GAIN

2010-05-18T01:22:00.000-07:00

Verse 1

Hebu fikirini niko safarini
Kwenye chombo baharini
kama mshairi ni mashairi nanakili
sikilzeni haya mashairi ni mashauri

Natumia mashairi na hata rap
Kama nyundo nagonga
Miundo kadhaa na maumbo
Natumia Kiswahili kuwasilisha
Natumia mashairi kuelimisha
Si kukorofisha ka mpishi
Na ukorofi wa mafisi
Majambazi na wahandisi,wadadisi waandishi
Watuhadaa sisi maksudi
Sufferers kumbe ni sisi
Insiders kumbe ni mafisi
Hebu tuseme ukweli sisi
Kwenye office wajifanya busy
Scandals,policies
Kukula kuiba kwa kalamu
Ni kutuekea sumu
Anglo-leasing,Goldenberg freezing
Like my poetry missing
In the house of minting
Walijua wanajua na wanakataa
Lawama nawaangushia
Kama moto wa makaa
Ukweli ninataka,yeah
Naashiria kishujaa ninakaa
Ka uko kwa giza akisha mshumaa
Serikali ni siri kali ka hujui
Kupanga njama za hatari
Hatuitaji kemikali
Kulewa chakari,hatari
Lawyer na daktari
Hatuwaamini pia hatari
Uko kwa baridi,umaskini inabidi
Huna gari wapata ajali
Jiulize kwa nini,kuna njaa umaskini
Na tuna pesa kulipa wabunge zaidi ya mia mbili
Mishahara minono,tax free
Zao miezi mbili,hio ganji kulisha wadhii
Na bill za hospitali
Masomo ni ghali,twanunua
Universities hakuna expansion
Ku-lock out students wa maskini
Wao wanaende parallel,tena chuo poa
Watulilia hawana kitu
Tunawatuma bungeni ka wajumbe
Wakifika huko ni waheshimiwa
Imagine,wanaanza development ya ku-loot mercilessly
Yaani,scandals kibao,increasingly
Halafu si tuna-remain noiseless
Hatuwezi uliza sisi hatujashiba
Nani atawahukumu,
Imani hatuna,watuzidi,
Mtoto wa nyoka ni joka

VERSE 2

Huu ni ukoloni wa kiakili si siri
Na wala hatukusoma decolonizing the mind
Juu hatukuiona,walizificha,mbona?
Kusudi tusiwe tunaona,
Nakushukuru unanisikia
Nami nazidi kukuambia
Mi nawe ndo tuna nia
Kuona Kenya ya matamanio,
Halafu mafanikio si kilio
Enyewe Kenya hakuna rafiki
Wanasiasa watuasa inatupasa kukaza
Meli ya life yetu
Ni development ya mashamba yetu
Kulima kujipa juu hatupewi
Piga bongo mea ka nati za wanati
Shada sakata na kata
Wanasema wana partners in business
Nawaita partners in looting
Kuuza our animals kutoka our game reserves
Tuwapige kiboko,style ya mijeledi ya Jesus
Kufukuza wauzaji hekaluni
Leo naleta ufumbuzi
Mimi naanzisha utangulizi
Ni ninyi wenyewe wakombozi
Kujikomboa kutoka kwa hao viongozi
Hao sio viongozi ni majambazi
Ugaidi wao ni under cover
Mi na we ndo tuna-suffer
Yaani more pain without gain,imagine
Tuna-struggle,tunahata in vain
Kwa nini?
Kwani hatuna nguvu za ku-move over
Tuna nguvu na tumeiva,
Hatuitaji fly-over
Hatuna imani na gava

Hebu jiulize kwa nini Mzee Kimani Maruge
Alienda skuli
Ajue kusoma Bible na pia kupiga hesabu
Unaeza dhani ana misimu
Halafu tukamwita wazimu
Leo aongea kwa simu
Nimegundua si wazimu
Ni yeye oldest pupil in the world
Kuweza kuingia na kuvunja record ya world
Alijua walami wata-compensate MAU MAU
Hakutaka kuhesabiwa dough yake ya MAU MAU
Alijua kuna matapeli watamwibia dough yake ya MAUMAU
Huyo ndiye ana damu ya ushujaa
Si ka sisi ndani ya shadow tunakaa
Gava tunataka ikumbuke mashujaa
Kuwa-reward hata ka ni kifoni
Kenya tuna shujaa kila upande
Tuwa-respect kisha tuwapende
Ma-rewards na ma-medals tuwapee

Hi ni voice yangu mwenyewe
Lakini mtasema ni voice of treason
No,No,this is the Kenyan voice of reason
Na-medidation za revolution
Naanza na kuondoa confusion
Watasema nawa-threaten
Ama na-threaten peace ya Wakenya watukufu
Wapendwa wenye mioyo mikunjufu
Ya kupenda na si kutoa
Uliza Wole Soyinka
Mtu mmoja huumia sababu ya wengi
Akapewa death sentence in absentia
Mi hata si sentence ya kifo
Wataniwinda na kuni-shoot in cold blood
Lakini kwa archives nimewacha notisi
Africa killing her sons
Ken Saro-Wiwa,persecution
Hio twaona na hatuulizi
Mbona hatuelezewi murders na assassinations
Ama kupewa reports za hizo cases
Kutoka time ya Pio gama Pinto,JM,John Ouko,GPO Na wengine
Halafu tukuje ya Mbai
Kila siku ni suspects
Hata robbery with violence
Bado ni suspects
Yaani hawaezi pata real killers
Ama real robbers
Kwenye exchange ya fire
after police exchange fire arms with robbers
Wana-recover toy guns
Hizo ni case za ku-juggle brains
Akili ya wale waangushanao
Wana same interests but different goals
Redio kusema ni meli ya wapendanao
Kutuma salamu kwa uwapendao
Marafiki ndio enemies kwa wenzao
Hata ka wakaa mkala nao
Tafuta solid ground simama nao
Blood na nyama ni yao
Blood na nyama ni yetu
Umuhimu kupendana nao
Tunazo fikira za nguvu
Lakini tukafundishwa kuwa wavivu
System ya masomo ni wivu
Kupewa philosophies za wizi
Destruction yetu wenyewe ni sisi
Twaangushana tunaposimama
Kufurahia wenzetu wanaposama
Duniani meli moja
Hakuna asiyezama
Shida yako ni shida yangu elewa
Nakushukuru uinuke ukipewa
Nami uniinue nikilewa
Tupeane,tuchengane,tukazane,
Pamoja mi nawe vision yetu ni ujenzi wetu
Tutasimama imara kuvunja minara
Wala hatuna hasara,tufuate barabara
Pwani na pia bara hii ndio future ishara
Kafara,pamoja tutapanga idara
Kusafisha njia na kuchota takataka
NI RECYCLING YA AKILI
NA WALA SI DUMPING YA MWILI

Dennis D Mosiere aka
Grand Masese

MY SWEET BABY, MY WIFE

2010-04-13T03:28:00.000-07:00

By Grand Masese

I was eleven perhaps ten when I met her
When I was introduced to her
She whose voice was rhythmic
In the mountains of Gusiiland
When she spoke, she drew people from far and wide
They came running and walking
Standing and sitting down, listening
To her soothing rhythmic voice
Her words were music
Her words were stories, they were songs
They danced to her cry
They danced in her happiness
They watched her,
Everybody loved her, everybody wanted to court her
She made them kneel down,
They were united in their collective epiphanies
That defined their destinies
She consoled, she taught
She narrated and she preserved

I loved her too
I was smitten and I wanted her
I wanted her to be my companion
She, who I could cherish all my life
I wanted her to be with me
Even in the turbulent of times
To be me and me to be her
I wanted to sing my story
The story of my life
I wanted her to console me and protect me
Tender to me as a mother does to the baby
I fall in love with her
She reminded me of times immemorial
And made me dream of great times to come
I was young, yes
But this was as real as the blue sky
Clear of clouds

Then one day, before all the people
Before every eye that was present
As my witnesses
As the trees were swaying to her rhythms
That evening I went to her as she sang
And I begged for her hand of affection
Because she had stolen my heart
And I wanted to steal hers
I wooed her with my gentle pleas
She didn’t accept and she didn’t refuse either
We began seeing each other
It was difficult for two years
Trying and trying
She was older than me
But smitten by my juvenile love

For ten years I never saw her again
I was forced into exile for reasons, unknown
But my heart was hers
The rhythms of her voice never left me
They stayed caged in my heart
I guess it was same story, even with her
Then one day, I met her again
I was twenty, and we married there and then
I went home with her, happy and healed
Of the fatigue of my long loneliness
We connected and her rhythmic chords
Fused evenly with my vocal chords
We became an ensemble of melodies
A sound so musical, a sound so poetical
That is how I married my wife-OBOKANO
She who I met at ten and married at twenty
We were then declared a musical couple
Grand Masese and Obokano
We are blessed with many children.

RIFT VALLEY FESTIVAL 2010 Pictures

2010-03-31T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ma performance in Accra,Ghana July '08

2010-03-04T01:51:00.000-08:00

This was the opening of the Pan African Literary Forum in Accra,Ghana at the Du Bois Center.It was wonderful.There were great writers fro all over the world and the training with Prize winning authors was valuable for two weeks.

Soon I will post my travelogue since when i was there.

WASANII TWAUMIA

2010-02-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

SHAPING OF POP MUSIC IN KENYA FROM TRADITIONAL FORMS

2010-01-25T00:02:00.000-08:00

BY ONGORI NYARIANSA

Music is an important part of life since time immemorial it encompasses life and forms part of the basis that is life. Music has not only entertained and taught it has also encouraged and above all given a story and carrying the history of people.people used Singing & dancing to express joy or grief as well as to encourage.

But today I want to talk about traditional music and dance which as well as other contemporary music has really been a part of people in the world in different ways from war, marriage, Environment, Reconciliation, Guidance, Rites, Festivals, circumcision, harvest, rainmaking, appease, death & funeral, Worship, praise, celebrations, rituals, hunting expeditions and migration.

In many traditional African societies the above factors influenced their life and most importantly their artistic creative abilities over the years.But where and how did they come with the music or got inspired?Thunder,rocks,rivers and mountains inspired the people a lot among other things present.

Tragic events and normal occurrences must have inspired the people then.For example work and hunting. And that is why we have imagery in these art forms that uses the environment and animals as analogies in the songs and dances.So the environment was a part of the development of the music.

You have to listen and inquire about the songs and dances to get the drift.Look at the Maasai leaps and their jumps,up and down signifying perhaps trying to reach the height of the highlands as they lived in the plains.

Some people have argued that hip hop’s style of shaking the head and b-boying might have originated from the Maasai.Could that be true?There is space for debate here.

It looks like apart from the Samburu and the Maasai among others, all the other communities in Kenya share the drum as their main instrument, often used as a healing component especially by the Mijikenda people of the coast in the Kaya shrines.

Music and dance of those days was largely religious.People used music and dance to seek guidance from the gods.For example Ribina dance in Kisii,performed on a sacred hill was to search for rain after severe droughts.

There is Mwomboko by the Agikuyu,Sengenya by the MijiKenda and Kalapapla by the Luo.

TABOOS IN TRADITION

It was a taboo for a woman to touch some instruments in some communities like the Luo and the Kisii. In fact women were not allowed to play musical instruments. But times have changed and now women can play even traditional instruments as people strive to achieve equality. One basic example of those who have broken the taboos is one Eriko Mukoyama aka Anyango Nyar Alego who is not only a woman, but Japanese who plays the Luo Harp called Nyatiti with great zeal like the original masters.

It was also a taboo for the people from other tribes to imitate each other dance styles but eventually they interacted and it was sorted out.But it was obviously wrong to dance vigorously in some communities or shaking bottoms like in the Samburu whose only part to dance is the upper part of the body.In fact luo & kamba have acrobatic dances but in different ways.Luhyas and Kisiis as well as Taita have vigorous rhythmic dances.

Festivals, circumcision, harvest, rainmaking, appease, death & funeral, Worship, praise, celebration, rituals, hunting expeditions, migration

Animals, Environment, Thunder, Inspired music.

Shaping of traditional dance & music was enhanced by trade,marriage and interaction between different people.Looking closely at the type of instruments that each community in Kenya have,you realize that some of the instruments are similar but with different names.Even the dance styles of some communities are similar in some way.Am talking of the feet patterns when dancing and the rhythmical styles for example the Kisii and the Kikuyu in Ribina and Mwomboko dances.

Indeed in these types of music and dance there was music and dance for all occasions.

How traditional forms of dances gave rise to popular dance and music of today.

We can safely say that Benga type of music from western Kenya was born out of the traditional instrument of the Luo called the NYatiti.Infact a Nyatiti player was like a one man band with dancers.He was also the leader or soloist.He could hit the lower arm of the Nyatiti with a ring tied to his big toe while strumming the instruments hence doing an ensemble.From Nyatiti there was benga which later spread to other parts of Kenya.

And from other traditional songs and dances we have seen emergence of neo-traditional songs and dances although there is a large influence from outside forms.But it seems that traditional music and all its forms cannot be shaken by alien forms from the west even with technology.In fact,it is competent in the market judging from Kamaru's music and Ohangla and Isikuti.Traditional music proves to be timeless and nowadays they don't call it traditional but music/regional music or Kenyan music.

Communities and there dances and songs

Mijikenda-sengenya/chakacha-kaya shrines

Luo – kalapapla,Karachuonyo

kisii- ribina, chisimbore

Luhya-isikuti
Kikuyu-Mwomboko
Waswahili-unyago

Accompaniments

Accompanying the music and dances were chants,ululations or Nkemi & Sigalagala and whistles.There was commentary or what can be said to be spoken word in dances often by the soloist or from select members of the group performing.It was mostly comical or satirical and made people enjoy performances, unyago

Costumes that we see worn today by traditional troupes were the ordinary clothes of people in those days although there were special costumes worn in special cases like death and initiation.

The Giriama mostly wore Ostrich feathers & Kikoys (men)while the women and had Sisal skirts.They used skins and blood and clay to smear their faces and bodies as well.

The Luo had long feather head dresses, hippo teeth, sisal or banana leaf skirts and jingles for both men and women.

Ends

PS
I can re do the article differently.It was a bit rushed and did not separate much of my thoughts to title relevancy and I feel it is an article that can give birth to many different stories.Have a look at it and then give you feedback..It is a subject that is very broad and we need to deal with sub-ethnic tribes first like Bantus,etc.

My Hand

2009-12-14T01:46:00.000-08:00

19 Novembre 2009
For Amelie and Olivier

My hand,

My bread winner

I deeply feel your pain

Now that they catch you at night

In Mukuru

Seeking to get what you harvested

My hand take courage

You will heal

My hand, my bread winner

Without you

I shall not eat

Without you there is no caress

My hand

You, who caresses the obokano strings

with zeal

Giving out rhythms to the world

The rhythms from you, my hand

Off the obokano

Gives hope

Gives pleasure and happiness

They write and speak to the masses

They speak to the ancestors

My Hand,

You compliment my tongue

If they cut you off, my hand

Then, they must cut off my tongue

As well.

My hand, you take me places

Because of you

I have seen the Atlantic

And the tropical forests of Africa

I have seen the mountains of wales

And the eye of Europe

The bridges of Europe

The Thames

I have met people and cultures

Because of you my hand.

My hand

You weakly gripped my mother’s

Breast when I breastfed

Remember,

You caressed her bosom

Giving warmth and affection

My hand,

I deeply feel your pain

I wish you heal quickly

To serve your people

Give them melodies and rhythms

Meet the muses

Compliment my songs

My hand, heal so we seal

The deal, to hold the pen and not the gun

Copyright
Grand Master Masese

2009-11-01T03:08:00.000-08:00

ITEERE'S TERROR :MY FOUR HOURS AT KABETE POLICE STATION on 25th Sep 09

By Grand Masese,

I woke up this morning with dreams. One was that a man, unknown was chasing me to hell in an unknown island somewhere in the middle of nowhere. The morning was sunny and hot. I woke up and went to meet my bandmate and my friend Amaka, then met another friend by the name Karanja and spent sometime catching up with the latest news in the standard newspaper at an Uji Cafeteria in Mukuru. The plan of the day was to go to the Nairobi International Book fair to see my client,The Kenya Publishers Association for the show that was to be tomorrow; a performance at the Jomo Kenyatta prize for Literature Awards.

I kept myself on what we call “on diet”. I was on diet,meaning staying without food for sometime just like fasting. You see we have this habit, me and my friend Amaka to eat like one meal a day. Not that we intend to prepare ourselves for the supermodelling events. Unga is expensive and some people are not getting meals in some parts of the country. We are kind of privileged but we decide to be on diet to synchronize on their needs elsewhere in solidarity.

So we decided me and Amaka that when we get to Westlands before going to the Sarit Center where the book fair is taking place , we could eat some food at 2.00PM then get to the book fair.

First at around noon we went to town after saying hi to our dear friends Ann and Karanja at their shops. We decided to go to the National theater, late for the mass of Becky, a fellow dancer and artist who had passed away. We were unable to be there on time, so we told one of our fellow artist and friend Teto Tutuma that we were going to the book fair. He said he wanted to come with us. He asked if we could take a matatu to Westlands. We said it could be a good idea since we could be there on time.

From the National theater we walked up to near the Museum Hill stage where we waited for a matatu . Soon a matatu for Uthiru came and the conductor said we can go in with ten Shillings for Westlands but it was full and we did not realize. You see they have those painted windows and it is hard to know if it is full of passengers and he confused and convinced us that there was space. That was the problem and the reason I spent close to Five hours in Iteere's terror chambers. No sooner had we reached Consolata than the matatu was impounded with full passengers some standing, I was one of them together with Teto and Amaka. You should have seen how the conductor escaped through the back window stepping on people's laps and he nearly got run over by vehicles. The bustle of people looking for safety belts and places to squeeze themselves was a tease. I and Teto had been offered a tiny space to sit which we declined because we had to alight early. Teto was going to have rehearsals with his band mates and us to go and experience some workshops in the book fair.

The thing is we were arrested as excess passengers and bundled into a waiting police jeep and we were quickly taken to Kabete Police Station with two fun loving police officers, we were the four of us; Me, Amaka and two other passengers. On the way we joked about Unga and stuff on life with the police. They even told us they were looking for Unga by arresting us and that their day was not bad at all for they had seen some Unga spilling and they were willing to tap some. We did not talk of any form like bribery so they free us. We expected they could fine us and let us free. We were long for not long we were in Kabete Police Post. On the way they took some bribe from a vehicle that was emitting black and dark clouds of fums from its exhaust pipe. They took the bribe just some fifty meters away from the police station where we were taken. The vehicle was let free to pollute the road.

In the police station, the officer () asked us to get behind the reception dock and asked for a piece of paper from me since I had a notebook on my hand to write our names as we squatted the fine of us. After writing our names on the paper, and not in the occurrence book, we were quickly harassed to remove one shoe each and belts, and then declare our belongings to a female officer across the dock to record; things like money, watches e.t.c. Asking our names, they would ask “kwani una jina moja kama kuku” if you said one name. In the process, I managed to send a small text message to my dear friend Ann saying we had been arrested and held at Kabete Police Station in Kikuyu twenty Kilometers away from town. As it dawned on us that we were going to the cells, I called my uncle and Ann to let them know where we were and they could act just in case. It was a Friday and it looked like we could go to court on Monday. That was our fear. You see we had a small function to attend the following day, Saturday. We didn't want to miss it, me and Ritongo of Afrika Band. Teto was supposed to have rehearsals that evening with his band for a show at the Bomblast site the following morning. We were then pushed into the cells by a rowdy officer where we met fellow cell mates who received us with mixed reactions. In the cell we discovered there was a young cellmate, a boy aged about ten and wondered what had brought him there. He had been there for two days and did not seem to be troubled at all. He was at home and seemed to enjoy every moment in there.

He wore light green cotton clothes which were dirty and tattered. It was said that he had no parents and that he had stolen sugarcane. He seemed like those children who have not gone to school and from his talking he did not seem to know his predicament. He was just happy to be there. He had been released but decided to come back where he can relax, play and eat with other cellmates.

When we were in, some hardcore guys who seemed to be at ease in the cell and had formed a gang with a leader emerged and started to assess the newcomers. They came to us demanding that we give them what we had brought “from the outside world ” or else we will be in trouble when night comes. They looked at Me, Amaka and Teto and came slow. Looks like they thought we looked like hardcore so they only asked for cigarettes or money to get Bhang. We gave out fifty Shilings to them. They then turned to the newcomers; two guys we entered with, who looked shy and uncomfortable and they started bullying them, kicking and slapping them while frisking them. They were saying things to the effect that; “nyinyi mtalala chooni, mtamob hio choo. Leta kity kwani sisi ni mama yenu” They even layed a stinking smelly mobbing cloth on their laps. It was stinking of urine. Meanwhile, the toilet was emitting a sickening stench. In the cell there are two inner cells and a toilet. They could call newcomers to the inner cells to frisk them. “Hakuna mama yako hapa” was writen on walls, dirty walls which were written all over with obscene and strange graffiti, others
were like no police no cryme Lord of mercy help me. Shikubale was here, “Ukoo wa maumau shinyalu ingo”. I then realized that the underground hiphop “Ukoo flani Mau Mau ” was known even in the cells. We also realized that these guys hide Marijuana and Cigarettes on the cell's ceiling.

As we relaxed in the cell, one guy told us that they were arrested while watching movies at a local video showing shop. Another guy who was traveling to Mombasa with heavy commercial truck was arrested while purchasing airtime at a shop.

The funniest thing of our incident is that the conductor of the Star bus we were in, managed to jump over the window and was not arrested neither the driver.

The most hilarious thing in the cell was when two drank and dirty Jamaas were ushered in. Their eyes were red like rotten tomatoes. They appeared weak and tired . They had bruises on their bodies , a sign that they might have been bitten by a mob. They seemed to be surprised when they saw everyone rushing to them . We watched as they were being frisked and kicked about. The guys seemed to be enjoying and we could not help but laugh. It was humorous.
“Nyinyi mmepigwa na mob justice, eh? Mbona nyinyi ni wachafu hivi, ama ni design yenu ya kudunga”

“Aki tusamehe nyinyi ni mabeshte”
“Sisi mabeshte wenyu, mnatujua?”
“Hapana”
“Mmeletwa kwa noma gani?”
“Si ni pipe, ndogo tu, mnaiba pipe watu wazima kama nyinyi, pipe ndio imekuleta Nairobi ukaona we ni mwanaume na bibi na watoto?”
“Hajui vile nitaruka, ameniweka wapi hapa”
“We ndio umefanya huyu akashikwa”
“Si aliniambie abebe tu tukashikwa, si pipe iko hapa”
“Oh mna exhibit tayari?” mtalala kwa choo kwanza nyi ndio mtaosha na vile ni chafu. Ulevi ni kitu mbaya, kwani hamjui? Mtafungwa mtasahau bibi na watoto, leo bibi zenu wataona, hata hao watoto si wenu.
“Nyi mna watoto kweli”
“Ehe, si ndio lakini mkubwa ni wa jirani”
(Laughter)

It was interesting peeping through the window mesh we so Aziza and Ann, our two beautiful friends. They were looking for way to get us out. We were served with a plate of Ugali and badly cooked cabbage, I ate small bits then left it for someone else. We were happy someone had come. It was a friday and we could be there till Monday. I did push ups. The guys were scared, “kwani Ras niaje? mmetupangia nini? si mseme hata sisi tujipange?”
It was time we were leaving the cells.
Teto lost his wallet and I lost my hat. We were free at last. Thanks to Ann and Azziza.

POETRY; RESURECTED, ALIVE BUT DYING SOON

2009-10-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

In the past five or so years, poetry has been alive and kicking more than it was before through events like Kwani?, Storymoja, Nu Metro poets club among others. It is now the latest fad/fashion in the urban areas like Nairobi after its resurrection.Infact it was unheard of in the 80s.How it has come to be appreciated and now read in pubs is something astonishing.

It was in the 60s and 70s where we had vibrant and great East African poets like Taban Lo Liyong,David cook,David Rubadiri,Okot pBitek,Jared Angira and many more.this was the time many great poets released works and were published in large numbers and in anthologies. Back then, there were no open mics but the intellectual debates were lively.Infact, many of us can attest that these are the poets we read in school and they are read and studied in school even now.

Come the late 80s, there was a sudden death of poetry and other intellectual activities in Kenya partly because of political reasons. Kenya then experienced massive brain drain. Nothing can be written home about in this period. The sudden resurrection of poetry again appeared in the late 90s and the post 2000 in the form of open mics.However new poets are hardly read in schools nowadays because they have not been published in large numbers. And they are many. It makes one wonder what there destiny is if not to be published. May be their obsession is to have blogs where they rest their hopes of getting published and to read some of their poems in entertainment venues.

Mainstream newspapers in Kenya publish poetry but they give very little space. But these poetry is helps one to make a name and not fortune since it is claimed to be a hobby.well,why is poetry regarded to as a hobby that cannot earn one money if other hobbies are the biggest earners of many people who engage in them. Here we are talking of hobbies like cycling, football, golf, volleyball and athletics. Even writing is a hobby that is earning people a lot of money. The fact that now every other pub in Nairobi has a poetry night and patrons are parked inside shows that poetry is a popular form of entertainment now that generates money.So,who contributes to the growth of poetry in Kenya and at the same time killing it. We all may be responsible.

Publishers in Kenya are responsible in the lack of more poetry books since they are not keen in publishing poetry citing that the public does not read poetry in Kenya. Their lust for money is fulfilled with the publishing of school texts.
Most poets with resources opt to publish themselves like Tony Mochama and others. But what happens to those who are unable? Their work is resting under the comfort of their beds. Only fate will decide their destiny. It is very interesting that it isn’t to publish in Kenya.

Hence my saying that poetry is alive today, in terms of reading and open mics, but to disappear again is something to take no
te.Infact poetry in Kenya in this case is no longer ailing, but it is recuperating. Among the poets who have emerged lately are Tony Mochama, Caroline Nderitu, Imani, Masese, Andrew Odongo,Tim Mwaura,Njeri Wangari,Cindy Ogana,Muki Garang and Terryann Chebet among others. Forget that the new poets have been labeled literary gangsters by the poetry police; they are earning their sweat the hard way.

So who is contributing to the death of poetry? I think we are all playing a part in the killing and the executing of poetry. From the poets, organizers of open mics to the media. As for the media, they are not treating poetry as a strong form of art, but just as a pastime and hence they are not giving it the coverage that it needs like they do with hip hop, kapuka and genge which are offshoots of poetry. It is interesting to note here that lewd poetry in the form of kapuka and genge continues to dominate airspace in Kenya than any other form of poetry.

Most of these poets have not been published at least any where apart from there blogs. For them, the only forum they have is to read to the audience and then keep posting their pieces online. Very good poems have been read and why they can’t be published is a question I will not answer in my position.

Ritongo Afrika

2009-09-13T02:59:00.000-07:00

Ritongo Afrika was conceived by Grandmaster Masese from early last year as an idea.Initially the idea was to have it called Harptone Afrika as in the Obokano Harp's tones in Afrika turned out the look could not represent the Kisii origins where i was born and brought and where the music is rooted.After a while,I thought of the best way to give it a natural origin and I settled for Ritongo Afrika meaning The Traditional elders Court in Afrika.In Kisii before the coming of the white people,the elders had a place on top of Manga Range where all the community issues were settled.The place was called Manga Itongo.The court in Manga.Ritongo also means a good place,if it is land;fertile;good things.And what a good name to give a group of young people solely dedicated to carry on with elders teachings and sayings through the elders music in contemporary set up.We that is the origin of Ritongo Afrika.

It was early this year 2009 that I decided to assemble people to work with in music.By March I had a number of people in mind and we began the journey. It has Nelson Amaka from Mombasa who is a hip hopper who is now singing in Kisii after rigorous Training and rehearsals.Ken Nyamweya does the Ong'eng'o/orutu,and sings as well.Grand Masese does the singing and playing Obokano and percusion.Jumba Chagala does percusion and drums,Eunice Nyaboke does the singing and dancing;Brenda Kemunto does the singing.We are six members.We have an album called Rigwencha.

NB;will be back with more info.

Thanks,

Masese

Mstari Wa Nne on the Mic

2009-08-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

They connected the mics to the speaker
Then they called the speaker called mike

Mike gave them thoughts that made their blood pressure spike
They started thinking seriously about the people they love to spite

And now to the people, Mike had a letter from Masese
With the inscriptions “ I speak for the people and to the people
For I am a Bantu and I preach Ubuntu”

Words with rhymes, a blend better than vodka and lime
Things said or otherwise speaking to all and sundry over time

A mic to words spoken is like weed to a ganja man
And like the loudspeaker, I need not speak loudly to be heard
For I speak loud thoughts that makes one want to grab the mic
Mstari wa Nne.

STORYMOJA HAY FESTIVAL TO ROCK NAIROBI;July 31st-August 2nd

2009-07-13T03:52:00.000-07:00

2009 Theme: “Many Stories, One World”

The international Storymoja Hay Festival is expected to draw 10,000 visitors in a three-day celebration of stories, ideas, writing and contemporary culture through books, storytelling, skits, music, live discussion forums, demonstrations, workshops, open-mike sessions, debates, exhibitions, live performances and competitions.

There will be plenty of entertainment including music concerts, storytelling and mchongoano competitions.

The festival is modelled on The Hay Festival held in the UK every May in which up to 100,000 people attend - ranging from presidents to authors to fans. The Storymoja Hay Festival will run as a partnership between Storymoja, an emerging local company, and 22 year-old, Hay Festival (UK).
The festival will be held in a temporary ‘tented city’ at the Impala grounds and will include a main stage for live performances and competitions, and themed tents in which 4-6 two-hour events will be held concurrently. The events are intended to generate public debate around critical issues facing East Africa including Literature, Environment, Gender, ICT, Health, Diversity, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Gender, Beauty and Self-Development.

Venue: Impala Club, Ngong Road, Nairobi
Dates: Friday 31st July, Saturday 1st August, Sunday 2nd August 2009
Day Pass: 500 Kenya Shillings
Festival Pass: 1500 Kenya Shillings (covers unlimited events throughout the festival including the launch ceremony on 30th July)

Over 50 international and local literary luminaries are invited to this monumental event, including leading thinkers and writers Wangari Mathai (Kenya), Hanif Kureishi and Vikram Seth (UK), Petina Gappah and Brian Chikwava (Zimbabwe), Danial Morden, Germaine Greer (UK), Monica Arac de Nyeko and Doreen Baingana (Uganda), Sarah Manyika and Tony Kan (Nigeria), Suleiman Addonia (Ethiopia/Eritrea), Mohamed Haroun Kafi (Sudan), Sandra Mushi and Abdou Simba (Tanzania), Mukoma wa Ngugi, Billy Kahora, Rasna Warah and Parselelo Kantai (Kenya) and many others.
What is the purpose of the Storymoja Hay Festival?

The festival hopes to encourage Africans to ‘own’ their problems by exploring our situations/stories, and search for solutions by generating platforms for discussion and debate. To achieve our 2030 vision, Kenyans need to read widely, discuss ideas, and exploit our diversity of stories/backgrounds for the greater good. It is also part of a longer-term campaign to get East Africa to value reading, writing and ideas in general.

Who are Storymoja?

Storymoja, a publishing company formed in 2007 by five writers committed to spreading the gospel of reading, writing and ideas, has held two previous annual festivals to promote books - dubbed Storymoja Nyamachoma Fiesta. We actively nurture partnerships and work closely with NCC, NBDCK, and Enterprise and Leadership Foundation. Our 2008 event attracted 2200 people. The 2009 Storymoja Hay Festival will utilise and build on that experience, and is the next step in achieving our Storymoja mission of getting ‘A book in every hand.’

Build-up events to the festival include:

1. Storymoja’s Cut Off My Tongue is currently performing back-to-back venues in Kenya before going on tour in the UK

2. Battle of the Universities Storytelling Competition commences in June, 2009

3. Mchongoano Competition commences mid- June, 2009

4. Diversity Case Study presentations - Nigeria, USA, India, SA and Rwanda – public discussions from June

5. ‘Women in Leadership’ mentoring series meets once/month from January 2009

6. ‘To Be A Man’ meeting series to commence in May 2009

7. Spelling Bee in 203 schools around Nairobi – ongoing, and televised show to air on Citizen TV from June 2009

8. Writing Workshops – Testimonials (based on interviews and essays), Crime, Fiction, Self-development/Motivation, Writing for Children, Editing, Manuscript doctor etc – ongoing

For more information, contact Storymoja Africa on:

E-Mail: info@storymojaafrica.co.ke
Tel: (+254) 20 208 9595
Text / Call Mobile: (+254) 722 838 161
There will be weekly updates of the programme and participants on the Storymoja Website and Writer’s Blog.

Grand Masese's music to be featured on The NUBIART DIARY SITE LONDON

2009-06-17T02:23:00.000-07:00

From My Friend KUBARA ZAMANI and Afrikan Quest

FORTHCOMING NUBIART PROFILES

NUBIART:

Focus on arts, business, education, health, political developments and the media. ~ Interview with author, publisher and barrister Aliyi Ekineh on the Niger Delta independence struggle.

JUNE PROMOS ~ ’Promo’ – Grandmaster Masese [White Label] We picked up this 18-track promo during the tour of ‘Cut Off My Tongue: A Kenyan Storymoja Production’ last month when Grandmaster Masese was providing the music. The tracks are in KiSwahili, Kisii and Sheng and played on a range of traditional instruments such as the Obokano, kayamba, chikonu, djembe, maboum, ekeroria, flute and rattles. The final track is a sketch on Islam and terrorism. Contact Grandmaster Masese at: www.grandmasterobokano.blogspot.com

~ ‘Music of Nubia’ – Various Artists [5 Stars – Out Now] This CD features some of the major figures in Nubian music over the last 50 years such as Hamza El Din, Said El Gaber, Roupert Mattoll, Folklor and Slim Sharawy. Track 2, Nora, is a full album from the late great master Aly Hussein Kuban with his mix of traditional Nubian, funk, jazz, highlife and reggae grooves that is worth the price alone.

~ ‘Nubian Rhythm’ - Various Artists [Pyramedia – Out Now] The Egyptian-based Pyramedia label produce CDs and DVDs featuring artists from across the whole span of north Afrikan and Middle Eastern music but this has to be the pick of the pile and the most relevant to Afrikan music lovers. The 11 tracks range from the traditional to funky grooves with driving bass and tight horns that would get the approval of the Godfather himself and show that the Nubians in Egypt and Sudan have a strong sense of their musical connections to the Afrikan diaspora.

Contact: Kubara Zamani, Afrikan Quest International, PO Box 35165 , London , SE5 8WU . Tel: 07811 494 969. E-mail: afrikanquest@hotmail.com Web: www.southwark.tv/quest/aqhome.asp

NB: Nubiart Diary can also be read at www.ligali.org and on the Afrikan Quest website. For security reasons Nubiart Diary and Afrikan Quest do not join or promote Facebook-related sites.

THE OBOKANO SOUNDS AND MUSINGS IN THE UK

2009-06-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

Before I left Kenya I had picked a cold and it was wearing me down on the way to the UK via Dubai.
It was a long flight and we had to be on transit in Dubai for three hours. Pressure (air) made me wail as we were about to land and i was in deep pain. I was sick completely but I vumiliad. I could not hear what the people were saying as my ears were blocked. It actually made me have a mood and some attitude and may be someone even made it worse. Any way I swallowed hard and let it go. I was fine; a man must live.
Now walking around Dubai airport was like walking along Paradise streets with shops and glass all over. It is amazing how the technology of the Middle East is developing, and the worlds. I mean you see it the moment you land in the airport. Big buses, nice and comfortable to take you from the runway to the lifts and check in.I did not explore much of Dubai apart from the airport.It were a fantastic experience for me.
Well, in the troupe I was with Isaac Anyanga,Alice Karunditu,Sitawa Namwalie,the author of the anthology of poems,Amimo Olembo,Chichi Seii,Joshua Ogutu Muraya,Isaac Anyanga,Sitawa Namwalie,Alice Karunditu,Muthoni Garland and Shan Bartley.
We landed at Heathrow Airport and it was amazing seeing the London skyscrapers.
At Hampstead Theater where we had our first performance, we were amazed at how the lighting was so professional and efficiently operational at the touch of a button and the lights changed. No static lighting but rotating lights with effects just automatic at the touch of a button.
Many Kenyans came to support us in London’s Hampstead Theater and Centerprise trust. I cant forget Emmanuel Amevor and Namvula,also martin Mbugua Kimani for their work in making the shows happen. Some Kenyans saw the performance twice while there are those who came to Hay Festival to give us a Kenyan support with the foreign audience. In fact one of our fears was that the show would not go well with the audience which was entirely white from around the world but we were shocked that they received it very well and we had more laughs and more interaction with them so much. They liked the presentation and the music so much.
Then there was a market.
Camden market is like the Gikomba of Nairobi but not in the same way, it is the biggest market that I went to. There you get everything. But I can say that London is quite expensive. We went to Camden market for two days where we shopped for percussion instruments from a Philippine seller who sells mainly African instruments and to purchase the drum to replace the broken one. On one night we went to Camden lock side lounge for beer and experienced Caribbean music.
I never quite really saw a night in Europe, they are so short. The sun is up at 4am in the morning and it sets at 11pm, otherwise it comes out like a morning in East Africa. It was so confusing. The security here is so hi-tech including automatic keys and doors. Streets on cctv and all houses. You can imagine how they even make those crazy videos. If Kaz were here she couldn't complain of nude pictures but talk of videos! No pun intended. Am saying, it is so tight to the hole including the underground. Imagine speed cameras on highways and cctvs.It is crazily amazing that all this is here. I can't imagine them in Kenya.
Amazingly, in the UK didn’t see any trouble at all in terms of insecurity. The cameras are everywhere and this means no jobs for watu wa rungu, watchmen.
We then went the following day to Twickenham Rugby Stadium to watch Kenya play Wales to win the bowl. I have never watched the Virgin boys live in Kenya before but here was a moment and a chance to see them live in a global stage representing Kenya and they did us proud. Near the stadium we had bought a Kenyan flag that made us receive mad cheers and love from foreigners who really love Kenya’s steady rise in rugby. They wanted to be associated with Kenyans and so many of them joined us on the terraces cheering for Kenya, all clad in Kenyan colors’. Rugby gives Kenyans honours and I believe if we do well in other sports,then we are going to be celebrated a lot.
In London sometimes I felt like we were looking like some sort of good looking suspects in the midst of other people, whether in the underground or anywhere I cant understand why people are so conservative and so into themselves so much including the Kenyans I met at Twickenham rugby stadium apart from my friends Wanjiku Croy,Sam mfalme Omoga,Ronald Elly Wanda who were so cool, we went out and listened to dub music at various clubs including a Kenyan club where we enjoyed tusker and nyamachoma.
Now why am I talking about stadiums and rugby? I have never been to a stadium in Kenya apart from the Gusii Stadium which is like City Stadium.Twickenham is very well constructed and fitted with giant screens and what with a man running naked in the stadium when England was playing New Zealand in the finals.
The transport system here works so quick and efficiently. The tunnels and tubes and the over ground/underground amazed me so much. That you are travelling underneath the city where the phones networks never work was breath taking.Fast.I have known underground in Nairobi to mean artists who are not mainstream; here underground means transport.
I visited the Museum of London and learnt of the greatest fire that destroyed the city in 1665, went to London Bridge, Hyde Park, the Tower Bridge and the Thames bank walk and to Shakespeare's globe where he wrote plays and acted and Birmingham Palace. Now these guys can smoke outside the church but not inside, not in any building since the 1665 fire that destroyed London. Can you imagine that in Kenya?
At hay festival was Desmond Tutu among others. Our performance was recorded by the BBC for broadcast. But the highlight was the Hugh Masekela concert where he paid tribute to Mama Africa Miriam Makeba and the disadvantaged people in the society. The show attracted a crowd of about 7,000 people and we enjoyed the music so much dancing till mid night. He also talked of his new CD, Pola which means to be cool, and it was on sale. In fact before his show, Masekela was eating just a table away from our crew and he came over to say hallo, but do I say.

The Hay festival treated us like mini kings and queens; a crew to show us around, including the changing rooms and all. I learned that the whole of Hay On Wye town, which is very small has more people who read books and write with a dedication unmatched anywhere and it has most bookshops than shops and pubs.
This is what I wrote on my way to Wales for the Hay festival;
A. UHURU,
Black power on your lips
Thrusting angry fists
Into thin air high up
But where is the action?
B.
Naked man running in the stadium
Flying tongs and underwear
From up Cromwell Tower
Across Barbican in London
To Emirates
Then Land in River Thames
C.
They doubt me
Because am black and from Africa
They ask me
Do you sell weed
Am suspect
I say, I thought it was you
D.
Hay –on- Wye
On this small town on the Hay valley
In Wales,
Little beautiful hillocks and mountains
Green area soaking-ly cold
A place for thinkers and writers, poets
Canoeing at the river hay
A place of sheep and llamas
Foxes and horses

Tossing my eyes over the little castle
From up the hill
I see Hugh Masekela
Trumpeting
Desmond Tutu
Engaging writers with his philosophy
E.
I eat with mouth open
I smoke when it is favorable
I mix medicine with alcohol
It doesn't work
Am not worm enough
Is not a friend to anybody?
So I will not make tea to my friends

And now is the time to quit
From alcohol
From mixing
From talking
Singing,writing,poetry
Coz I want to retreat quietly

Now you are witnessing a moment
A great moment
When am going away
To a far off destination
Keep watching and witness
Because this moment will never be celebrated
When am long gone to the land of my ancestors
My songs will not be remembered
And this poetry will not be read by scholars
For this is a moment
And when we went to The Zenith club in Islington the cold was biting me so much I thought;
I will look like a zenith
Intoxicating the minds of folks
Who will never listen to me
Am I ignoring myself too much? Will I find myself?
Did I come far away to ignore myself?
I don’t want to die in Babylon
Some things come from the heart

My other thoughts in London;

If strength and courage are a must
If a lion has to hunt
For strength
Then am not
What makes it a must
For a lion to hunt
Hustle and bustle aren’t they
Burdens
Why should I need this?
Strength when I have these burdens
Leaning forward, am tired
Leaning backwards, am tired

The fact that I went to England and Wales to me was a great honor and a dream for this has never been in my mind although I have always wanted to travel and perform in different spaces. The arts in the UK are taken seriously and there are various art competitions that are there in all arts.

All Rights Reserved

Dalston Street,Hackney in London

2009-05-31T05:34:00.000-07:00

We walk down the road
And there we are before a night club
As we want to get in,
The bouncer looks at us
from our toes to the head
And then he asks

Are you gay?

We are astonished and perplexed
Unable to answer
But why,we ask
he then says

It is a gay club

we turn away and leave
without answering
leavinggils and men
smoking outside
all looking like they are getting ready
to feature in an horror movie

rights reserved

My Personal Tribute to DR. Bantu Mwaura

2009-05-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Rest In Peace Brother;UHURU

I witnessed to day the burial of my friend,fellow poet,teacher and performer Dr Bantu Mwaura at Lang'ata Cemetery.

Ever since the news broke out about his death,I have been thinking and trying to imagine the moments we shared together,though on a short time since 2006.It was short but good to know him as a a great light to the people through his art and work.He inspired me and mentored me.He taught me performance poetry and encouraged me to carry on doing my traditional music and poetry when not so many people wanted to say it.Here was somebody outside my tribe who really enjoyed my Obokano so much than what some of my fellow tribesmen would encourage.

I met him at The KWani?Litfest where he taught me performance poetry with Shailja Patel and we later kept meeting and sharing in many debates like at the Nairobi Book fair where we debated about Sheng.He was charistmatic and every time we met,the first thing he asked me was how I was doing with my music,poetry and Obokano.

I will miss Bantu.I will catch up with him in the work that he left behind.

So yesterday at Wasanii,Kenya National Theater i had to sing and play Obokano-the instrument that he loved asking me to keep playing and a poem in his honour.

Am saddened by Bantu Mwaura's dead.I can't believe he is no more.

TRIBULATIONS OF A RASTAFARIAN IN THE VILLAGE

2009-04-01T01:37:00.000-07:00

Last month I went to the highlands of Nyamira after almost a year in the city of Nairobi. If you don’t know where Nyamira is, I can tell you. It is a place where people eat bananas in all its forms; yeast, boiled, and fried including with ugali. This part of Kenya is where I was born and brought up. In fact I had missed eating ugali served with ripe bananas by Alixina, my mother.

In the period I was in the city I had decided that the comb belonged to the ladies handbags and the salons and for the school going fellows. So, I had decided that no razor and comb should touch my head. In other words, I had become a follower of Lucky Dube.

So I arrived in Nyamira, whistling a happy tune, as did many Kenyans first because Pamela Jelimo had won Kenya’s,and women the fist Olympic medal. I did not have much difficulty because it was in the evening, meaning not so many people could see me.

However, my troubles started the following morning when I decided to take a walk around the town to see what was new. It all began with three children. They were following me from behind stealthily without any knowledge. By the time they started giggling, I turned and looked behind and at last there were about thirty kids following me and shouting “Rasta! Rasta! Lucky Dube”

Before I could say Grand Rasta, curious looking people had started gathering along the road and shops, eyes open wide like bulbs threatening to pop out of their sockets. In short, their eyes were tuned on my head. I thought it was amusing and funny, and kept moving ahead. I thought they were celebrating the fact that God had blessed my head so much that there were no signs; it could ever look like Mau forest.

Judging from the gathering of people, I thought I had become a celebrity of some sort in this Alvaro generation where it is not easy to be one. In fact I even thought it nice to make a stopover and send greetings to my fellow villagers and if possible sign some autographs. You see it is rare for the villagers to see a celebrity. You see like any youth in these days of Alvaro have a vision and ambition. My vision is not like that of our politicians who have different ambitions and visions.

That is to say that they are not short sighted even though they,indeed are,by giving us vision 2030 when they are simply telling us that theirs is vision 2012 and hence we should never be worried.Since am not stupid I decided that mine could not be 2035. it has to be present maybe God or Jah was smiling down on me and saying; Grandmaster the son of Masese who people confused his name to grand coalition, Grand opposition, Grand slam and even Grand Regency. Here is your chance to be a celebrity. These people “are coming because you are a celeb.”

Times with a celebrity?I smiled and decided there and then and let them have enough.
Alas! How wrong was I. the people surged forward and closer to me, they were now asking me questions; are you the one? Is it you? Do you smoke? Are you in mungiki? Before I could answer I started sweating heavily they were becoming rowdy. They demanded that I answer them.

I instead decided to address them and tried to defend my self. In spite of their anger, I told them that all the things they had said were not fit for my status. They started blaming the police for letting criminals like me have a field day event when they know our whereabouts.They said that the fact that I have locks on my head suggests that I own a plantation of weed that can make professor Saitoti and Hon. Hussein Ali smile and send their “Mboys and Ngirls to nget” me .

Before long people started touch me first to be sure I was a normal person some even tried to pull my locks yet some also asked me to sing for them. Some asked if I was a woman. Since it was a market day, all the people going to the market also joined the party.
Walked in a manner to suggest that they were careful and concerned to whoever person they were with. In short the women walked holding their baskets and purses tightly as many put all their pockets on constant vigilance.
All this time I smiled and happy because I was enhancing security but my mood was changed when they forced me to feel guilty.

TO BE CONTINUED.........