Fiction/Book Reviews/ Life in Nairobi
On a lazy Saturday Afternoon, my sister and I decided to see what the Ubantu Festival was about. The festival was held in the now familiar Uhuru Gardens along Langata road. This time however, no cake to eat, just loads of creativity, and wonderful art. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
And that’s that… beautiful art, beautiful beaded jewelry..
I hope the next Ubantu Festival is even more lively.
The Storymoja Hay Festival is 7 Days Away..they’re moving very fast, Speeding I tell you….
It’s been an exciting journey on my end. Going through the program, working with the other interns as we prepare to be part of the festival. We now have our jobs and know what our roles will be during the festival. We’re excited to meet you at the festival, and help you out, as you experience the Storymoja Hay Festival.
If you’re coming, and have your ticket, Great! Count the days!
If you’re not convinced and are on the fringe, here are a few things that you mustn’t Miss:
What is a Storymoja Hay Festival Masterclass?
It is an interactive 3 hour session that draws from the Session Leader’s experience to encourage and inspire creatives…Session Leaders are Writers, Poets, Musicians, Filmmakers, Journalists, Illustrators, Affluent Entrepreneurs and many more…brought together by Storymoja Festival
Masterclasses are wonderful for people interested in a particular industry. People who want to learn more about writing both fiction and non-fiction. There are blogging masterclasses. There are topics on film, poetry and art, even entrepreneurship.
Expect to see Vuyelwa Maluleke, Chief Nyamweya, Alexander Nderitu, Mathew Shenoda, Dilman Dila, Prajwal Parajuly, Tony Mochama, Jackson Biko, Dizraeli & L-ness and so many more….
An Example:
Masterclass: How to Make Awesome Comics with Chief Nyamweya
It is scheduled on Wednesday 17th from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. If you’re interested in drawing comics or even reading them, sign up for the class and spend these three hours having a conversation with Chief Nyamweya who is a talented and creative illustrator, you’ve read his work, Roba published by The Star newspaper, if not go check it out! You get to ask him questions about his work, the industry, and any other burning questions you might have. He too will ask you questions. You’re welcome to having a lively discussion in this space. If you want to be an illustrator, this is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about what it takes.
Sign UP Here for this particular Masterclass.
Cost: Kshs. 500 per Masterclass. (On top of your Festival Entrance Fee)
Masterclasses are scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 – Friday, September 19th, 2014
Visit this Link for More Masterclasses. Sign UP now so you don’t miss a Spot. You don’t want to miss a Discussion with your favorite Writer, Poet, Filmmaker, Journalist, Artist, Musician….so many are coming.
Children’s Program
This runs from Wednesday September 17th, 2014 to Friday September 19th, September
We’ll have loads of students coming to the Festival and experiencing the different sessions prepared just for them. There will be stories and songs at the Koko Riko Tent, Dance with Poetry at the Kanga Tent. The Kanga Tent will have Joanne Ball-Burgess from Bermuda. She’s an accomplished Dancer and a Sakata Dance Competition Judge. Don’t miss out on this!
There are Spoken Word sessions with Dizraeli (UK) and L-ness (Kenya) Find the Careerpedia Tent where students get Tips from Successful Entreprenuers like Rose Maket from Alive & Kicking and Ritesh Doshi (Naked Pizza). There are so many guests, I can’t name them all, you just have to make it to the festival. Parents, get your kids to this three-day Program if possible. The festival is hosting over 2,000 students. Don’t be left out!!
Cost: Kshs. 1,000 at the GATE.
WEEKEND Events include The Launch of Diaper Mentality Exhibition and an Exhibition of Our Nairobi: A Westgate Memorial.
Enter the Dome for a Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture with Professor Wole Soyinka (Nigeria).
The Careerpedia Tent has fun reading sessions. Have a conversation with Ms. Joanne Ball-Burgess, Shariffa Keshavjee, and Harriet Matsaert. There will be a children’s book launch happening. H_ART the Band is in house at the Courtyard discussing poetry with other Kenyan poets. Teju Cole is in house celebrating Nigerian Writers. Filmmaker Kenny Man launches her film Beautiful Tree, Severed Roots. The Drumbeats Romance Series brings a session on How Do Africans Kiss? With the Drumbeats Writers and Editors. (Hot Discussion. Don’t miss it!)
Explore the Program Schedule, it’s packed with amazing events that will leave you excited, inspired, and wanting to change the world! Both on Saturday and Sunday!
I hope that is enough to convince you to come……What?
Not Enough yet?….Well…..
Alright…. how about……
After 7 PM on Saturday, it’s time to Party!!!
Saturday Night, One Time Performance….
One Stage you get SAUTI SOL(Kenya) , DIZRAELI (UK) AND BERRY HEART (Botswana)!!
One big stage, all you have to do is bring those books you don’t read in your house, you know the ones on a shelf you pass by everyday without giving them a thought. Those ones, bring them over and help fill a parked Matatu (public service Van) with books. The goal is to help Storymoja’s START – A – LIBRARY stock school libraries!! Great Cause right…….(****lost in thought***)
Sorry, I was just imagining @Sauti Sol on stage, singing…Dizraeli…getting down on stage…And Berry Heart…giving a heart stopping performance…yeah, no sleep required on Saturday!!..
The ticket for this Event is separate from your Entrance Fee!
Yeah, I know….but you can just buy the ticket for this which is Kshs. 1,000. Show up at 7 pm, and experience the concert. (If you do this, we’ll miss you during the day….^_^) So, we hope you get both the day’s ticket and the Concert Ticket. Support Start-a-Library.
Okay!! Now you really must come to the Festival! #GetFestivalTickets
I really hope to see you guys at the Festival. We’re counting down the days now. I’m excited, nervous…excited…what about you? Hey, go get a ticket so we meet there okay. Ticketsasa.com/ Storymoja Hay Festival. You don’t want to be left out of this!!
Now for the Blog Giveaway!!
I have the hook-up for one lucky person! Only one!
It’s a FREE TICKET – SATURDAY EVENTS FROM 9am to 7 pm.
This blog is collaborating with a fabulous Online Bakery named Amari Bakery to sponsor one (1)person for the Storymoja Hay Festival Saturday Events.
Event: Storymoja Hay Festival
Date: Saturday, September 20th, 2014
Location: Nairobi National Museum
Time: 9 am to 6 pm.
There are night events, as the Sauti Sol concert is scheduled for 7 pm. (This is a separate charge however. (It is not included in our free ticket.)
What to do:
Answer the Following Two questions to the best of your ability:
1. What Type of Oven does Amari Bakery use?
(Answer should be the type of Oven and the Name of the Company.)
2. Tell us Why You REALLY, REALLY Want to go to the Storymoja Hay Festival. Impress us with your answer!
Amari Bakery and I will choose the winner and Make an Announcement by Friday September 12th, 2014.
Don’t worry, the winner will get their ticket delivered personally by me or the Amari Bakery Rep. Here’s a picture of the Ticket!
Let’s go!
Ticket Available through collaboration with:
Mr. Bright Kyadiva is the the Coordinator of Phanicey Charitable Foundation. An organization committed to improving lives of the poor and the vulnerable (particularly women and youth) in social, cultural and political settings by creating an enabling environment for their participation in community development.
PCF runs different programs in the community, all of them focused on initiating a number of development programs on water, health, education, agriculture and environment. PCF has run successful medical camps and ran Life Skills training programs in rural and marginalized areas.
I caught up with Mr. Bright Kyadiva and was happy when he took the time to answer my questions and here’s a glimpse of his Nairobi.
Name: Bright Kyadiva
Occupation: Coordinator, PCF
Elly in Nairobi: What part of Nairobi do you call Home?
Mr. Kyadiva: Kibera
Elly in Nairobi:Tell us about what you do? For example what you do working with Phanicey Charitable Foundation (PCF)
Mr. Kyadiva: PCF is a charitable/humanitarian organization and myself I like challenges in life, to make life better. I decided to offer my expertise through such an umbrella organization to reach the vulnerable and less fortunate in the society especially slum areas.
Elly in Nairobi:Were you born in Nairobi? If not, tell us where you were born and why you moved to Nairobi.
Mr. Kyadiva:I was born in Vihiga County, and raised in Nairobi. My parents (Dad) was working in Nairobi by then and by chance we happen to live in Town to date
Elly in Nairobi: Describe your Nairobi. The people you meet, help, have fun with, your work place, or home area…What makes your Nairobi?
Mr. Kyadiva:Nairobi people are very conservative depending with the area you’re living in. I have managed to intermingle with few of my neighbors,many of them are my church members and selective friends I’ve met both at work and profession.
Elly in Nairobi: What is your favorite place/spot in Nairobi city?
Mr. Kyadiva: Ongata Rongai farms and Kitengela. It’s green and peaceful, with fresh air
Elly in Nairobi: How have the experiences you’ve gone through in Nairobi affected you? Why do you work with Phanicey Charitable Foundation?
Mr. Kyadiva: My experience in Nairobi has made me aggressive and made me think outside the box in order to make a living. I work with PCF to reach many by creating a just and poverty free society as per the mission and vision of PCF.
Elly in Nairobi:How do you feel about your fellow Nairobians?
Mr. Kyadiva: Nairobians are very industrious, hardworking and innovative in business
Elly in Nairobi: What is the best thing about Nairobi? What is the worst?
Mr. Kyadiva:You can live anywhere in Nairobi, buy anything within your budget limits but it’s also not easy to live in Nairobi without liquid cash; There are insecurity worries and it limits people’s movement – a 24hr economy is jeopardized.
Elly in Nairobi:Tell us more about Phanicey Charitable Foundation and its place in the Nairobi City. What is your vision?
Mr. Kyadiva: PCF is working with youth groups who are legally registered, improving their livelihoods, Youth reaching their fellow peers to change Nairobi County
Elly in Nairobi: What would you tell others about your Nairobi?
Mr. Kyadiva: It’s a modern beautiful city in the sun, only one in the world with a walk-in national park, vibrant commercially, despite the few insecurity incidents; me & you can make it safer.
To learn more about the Phanicey Charitable Organization, check out their website below. They’re always working on projects with youth, and helping young children in need.
Website: Phanicey Charitable Foundation
Twitter: @phaniceykenya
Facebook Page: Phanicey Charitable Foundation
Youtube Channel: Phanicey Foundation
Follow them on Twitter, and Like their page.
Our first Interview on the My Nairobi, My City goes to someone I know very well. Her name is Maureen Kamari and she’s the founder and owner of Amari Bakery in Nairobi. She was born in Nairobi, grew up in the Waithaka/Riruta area. Her primary education was in Nairobi Primary School, which she remembers fondly because she made lasting friendships. She left the city for a few years, and did her high school and college abroad. She returned six years ago to start a business in this beautiful sunny city. Here’s what she has to say about her Nairobi.
Elly in Nairobi: Describe your Nairobi? How do you see Nairobi from your perspective?
Maureen: My Nairobi is beautiful, grimy, busy, fashionable, tough and oh so loveable.
Elly in Nairobi: What is your favorite place/ spot in Nairobi city?
Maureen: Driving in a car in Nairobi, listening to music and watching all the activity in the city as I go by.
Elly in Nairobi: How would you describe yourself in Nairobi city?
Maureen: When I’m in Nairobi, I feel excited, motivated, renewed & inspired. All those things rolled into one.
Elly in Nairobi: What feeling does Nairobi give you?
Maureen: I feel nostalgic, hopeful and happiness because to me, Nairobi is home, and the place I’m most comfortable.
Elly in Nairobi: How do you feel about your fellow Nairobians?
Maureen: I feel one with them, although there are times I don’t always understand them, I feel our unity as a city is unquestionable. When it comes to certain situations you always feel you can find another Nairobian who’ll understand it.
Elly in Nairobi: What is the best thing about Nairobi? What is the Worst?
Maureen: The Best is the People. Nairobians are so open-minded and just energetic. The Worst thing about Nairobi is the Corruption.
Elly in Nairobi: Tell us more about what you do and how that has changed your view of the city?
Maureen: I bake. I run a small business in Nairobi. I have met amazing people that inspire me to do great things and who keep me going even when I feel I’m going to give up. They’ll come into my shop and tell me, “This is a great job you’re doing, great job, keep going. We like coming here and seeing you doing well.” And that keeps me motivated.
Elly in Nairobi: What would you tell others about your Nairobi?
Maureen: She’s the best city ever! But you have to be build tough to survive her.
She’s made me cakes for my birthday since I can remember and that always makes me feel very special. Maureen’s Bakery is located along Kikuyu Road in Nairobi. Visit her shop or order cakes online and she’ll deliver to you.
Address:
Amari Bakery, Kikuyu Road, Beulah Plaza, shop no. 2.
Visit her website: http://www.amari.co.ke or her blog http://www.quickbreads.blogspot.com
Do you have questions? Ask them and we’ll get the answers for you.
