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.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
POETRY; RESURECTED, ALIVE BUT DYING SOON
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.
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.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Ritongo Afrika
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
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
Monday, August 17, 2009
Mstari Wa Nne on the Mic
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.
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.
Monday, July 13, 2009
STORYMOJA HAY FESTIVAL TO ROCK NAIROBI;July 31st-August 2nd
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Grand Masese's music to be featured on The NUBIART DIARY SITE LONDON
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.
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
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
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
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Grandmaster Masese
