(Re)Membering Kenya, Nov 11 2009 @ Goethe-Institut

Conference Series
11.11.2009 at 6.00 pm (Wednesday)
+254 20 2224640, prog2@nairobi.goethe.org

Conveners: Dr. George Gona and Dr. Mbugua wa-Munga

Session 13
1. Worst Case Scenario: The Morning after Kenya’s Water Sources dry up
2. ‘Who Stole the Rain?’: Creative Responses to Drought

In cooperation with Ford Foundation und Twaweza Communications

Exhibition: Amnesia, until Dec 31 2009 @ National Museum

Amnesia: “Sindika Dokolo African Collection for Contemporary Art”
Exhibition
04.11.2009 – 31.12.2009
National Museum Nairobi/ Museum Hill
Museum charges apply
+25420 2224640, vo@nairobi.goethe.org

Amnesia is a provocative conceptual framework for a cultural process with the intention of examining the cultural and creative consequences of collective cultural memory loss. It propagates the deconstruction of cultural consequences of multi-generational breakage & colonialism, such as displacement, loss, confusion, anger, pain, fear, mis-education & identity crises.

The project celebrates the cultural clash that begat multiculturalism and from it attempts to sow the seed of a common history which the present & future generations can excel in as brothers and sisters, irrespective of race, faith, gender or heritage.

Amnesia was structured into platforms, which were opportunities for Artists from Africa & its vast Diasporas of working together and address issues related to memory, Africanity, contemporaneity, identity, sexuality, politics, to individually and collectively create new visions for a future. Participating artists included IngridMwangiRobertHutter (Kenya/Germany), Aida Muluneh (Ethiopia), Andrew Tshabangu (South Africa), Bili Bidjocka (Cameroon), Ananias Leki Dago (Cote D’Ivore), Moataz Nasr (Egypt), Peterson Kamwathi (Kenya), John Kamisha (Kenya), Ogonga Thom (Kenya), Prina Shah (UK/Kenya), Ato Malinda (Kenya), Miriam Syowia Kyambi (Kenya), Jacob Wachira Ezigbo (Kenya) among Others.

This platform, “Made in Africa” is the beginning of a long journey of curated exhibitions, will showcase works by some of Africa’s most prolific and celebrated contemporary artists, starting with pieces from the Sindika Dokolo African Collection of Contemporary Art (SDACCA) in Angola. The Sindika Dokolo African Collection of Contemporary Art (SDACCA) was created seven years ago in Luanda. Since then it has launched the first African Triennial in Luanda Angola (2007) . It has also enabled the visit of important art figures such as Miquell Barcelo, Alfredo Jaar, Professor Henry Gates Jr., David Elliott to Angola. The dream of opening the first Centre for Contemporary art in Luanda by 2012 is now a reality. The unanimous decision of the jury in the Venice biennale (2006) in selecting the collection to represent the African Pavilion has confirmed the importance of linking the art world to the African continent, while greatly underlining the value of exposing the African public to its contemporary production.

The collection shall be presented by Fernando Alvim, Curator/Artist/Vice president of Sindika Dokolo Foundation.
The project & Exhibition is curated by writer, curator Simon Njami, curator of AFRICA REMIX, founder/editor of Revue Noire.
The project is directed & hosted by Nairobi Arts Trust / Contemporary Art of East Africa (CCAEA).

In cooperation with Goethe-Institut Nairobi, Sindika Dokolo Foundation (Angola), Ford Foundation, HIVOS, National Museums of Kenya, Arts Collaboratory, Mondriaan Foundation, Stichting DOEN.

Exhibitions: Joseph Bertiers, Ernersto Houngbo, Gilles Porte, Nov 9-20 2009 @ Alliance

EXHIBITIONS
9 – 20 November
Alliance Française Galleries

FROM KENYA: JOSEPH BERTIERS
paintings and sculptures

Bertiers’ obsession with art was ridiculed by his parents until an in-law prophetically intervened, convincing the family that this might well be his future livelihood. Bertiers also holds a diploma in commercial art. His satirical and colourful pictorial commentary earned him the ‘Jury Prize’ at the 2006 Juried Competition/Exhibition organized by Alliance Française and Goethe-Institut in Nairobi. Bertiers continues to draw attention to social and political issues of the time through his brimming canvasses that display penetrating wit.

FROM BENIN: ERNESTO HOUNGBO
paintings and totems

Self-taught artist, Ernesto holds a diploma in commercial graphic design. He undertook further fine art training in Abidjan following in the vein of expressionism. He also had the opportunity of indulging in the sport of fencing which led to improved steadiness of the hand. Ernesto does not use paint brushes, he paints with his fingers. Ernesto defines his art as having gone through three stages of metamorphosis: the form (he started with figurative painting), the force (the vigour that begin to impose on the form) and the essential (he learnt to go beyond the physical to the spiritual). Ernesto has exhibited in several West African countries, in France and in England. Ernesto will be an artist in residence at Kuona Trust from 11 to 18 Nov. interacting with Kenyan artists.

GILLES PORTE
Portraits & Autoportraits

A series of portraits and auto portraits by children from over 20 countries to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Convention on Children’s rights (20 Nov. 2009).

Movie: MR73, Nov 9 2009 @ Alliance

MR73 by Oliver Marchal (2007 – 2h4)

Monday 9 November

With English subtitles, Entrance Free

A discredited and alcoholic detective Louis Schneider earns a chance at redemption by protecting a woman from the man who killed her parents as he is about to be released from prison.

Exhibit: Violent Cartographies, until Nov 19 2009 @ Kuona Trust

Please join us at the exhibition, ‘Violent Cartographies’ a multi-media photo installation by Hawaii-based artist, Rujunko Pugh, at Kuona Trust
Gallery, until 19th November 2009

Kuona Trust, Centre for the Visual Arts
Likoni Close, Likoni Lane, off Dennis Pritt Road, Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya
PO Box 4802, Nyayo Stadium 0506
Tel: (254) 0202405960
Mobile: 0721 262326, 0733 742752
www.kuonatrust.org

Concert: Spotlight on Kenyan Music – Final 2009, Nov 13 2009 @ Alliance

Concert: Blick Bassy, Nov 12 2009 @ Carnivore

Concert: KONIKIEWICZ@TRANSGROOVE, Nov 10 2009 @ Italian Cultural Institute

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi would like to invite you for a jazz concert

KONIKIEWICZ@TRANSGROOVE
on Tuesday, 10th November 2009, at 18.30
at the Italian Cultural Institute in Nairobi

Italian Cultural Institute in Nairobi
Grenadier Tower
Woodvale Grove – Westlands
(Opposite Jacaranda Hotel)

Wojciech Konikiewicz, born 1956, is a rare example of a person whose educational background includes studies in classical music, piano, composition, technology, electroacoustics. Konikiewicz has a well-established position in several fields of activity especially as a: Composer – he creates music from works for symphony & chamber orchestra, choir, string quartet, reed trio, saxophone and piano, saxophone and organ, harp and organ etc. to progressive jazz, experimental, electronic, ambient, ethno and sacral pieces.

“…excellent Konikiewicz”
John Fordham, The Guardian

“one of the most interesting, most open and creative musicians of Polish jazz”
Bohdan Chmura, Jazz Forum

more info about KONIKIEWICZ@TRANSGROOVE: http://free.art.pl/konikiewicz/main_eng.html

Embassy of the Republic of Poland
Red Hill Road, 00100 Nairobi
P.O. Box 30086
tel. +254 20 7120221
fax. +254 20 7120106
email ambnairo@kenyaweb.com

Play: Absent Friends, Present Enemies, Nov 6-8 2009 @ Alliance

The guests have interrelationship tensions and this is near erupting when Collins (Derrick Amunga) arrives for a party in his honour. John, Evelyn’s husband (Paul Mbuthia), has no business sense and needs Paul (Francis Amos) for deals that amount to handouts. But Paul has recently had an affair with Evelyn (Shirleen “Shish” Wangari), John’s wife. Diana (Angie Musira) hangs in as Paul’s wife, as long as she can pretend they have an open marriage. Her self-righteous friend, Marge (Margaret Karanja) chooses to confront Evelyn over her affair with Diana’s husband, heightening tension.

Give your spirits a boost: go see Absent Friends, Present Enemies at Alliance Francaise from 6th to 8th November 2009, Fri 6th @6 & 8pm, Sat & Sun @ 3 & 6pm . Tickets are on sale at Alliance Francaise, Assanand’s Music Shop on Moi Avenue and at Sarit Centre Information desk on ground floor at 500/= (students tickets at 400/=). Special offer of 400/= per ticket for tickets purchased by Thursday 5th November

FOR TICKETS: Call 0726-524-124
Or 020-2025811, 0728-130-134, 0733-993-654.
You can purchase tickets via Mpesa tel 0726-524-124, 0728-130-134

Play: Take Away the Lady, Nov 6-21 2009 @ Phoenix Players

This week Take Away the Lady, a play by Jimmy Chinn opens on stage at Phoenix Players. This show is a wonderful showcase of Chinn’s ability to capture trepidation and intrigue at its best.

SYNOPSIS:
A family that was torn apart by a tragedy is once again brought together in a bid resolve a mysterious murder in the family that has remained buried for the last fifteen years. A thrilling ‘who done it’ that takes an intriguing humorous glimpse into a closet full of family skeletons, together with some serious, and not so serious, detective work, combined in this unusual suspense play, to keep everyone guessing until the very last scene! With a cast consisting of a Scornful Celia (Nice Githinji), dotty Emma (Lynda Nyangweso), cold Lavinia (Milo Ogutu), flighty Gilda (Liz Boi) or even gentle Father (Salim Gitau), Take Away the Lady is bound to keep you on the edge of you sit.

Tickets: Kshs 500 Adults, Kshs 300 Students.

Friday 6th November to Saturday 21st November
Saturday 21st two shows @ 3p.m and 6p.m

For bookings, please call Lucy on 0202225506 or email phoenix@swiftkenya.com.

Exhibits: Charles Ngatia, Larisa Sjoerds, First Portraits, Nov 4 – 26 2009 @ RaMoMa

ValDor Gallery – Charles Ngatia
Charles Ngatia was taken in at the “Shangilia Mtoto wa Africa” centre in his mid teenage years. It was while there that he created art that was to be in the public domain; painting backdrops and stage sets for the centre’s performances. He however got his first for direction to be an artist, after joining Kuona Trust. Here, he was able to attend some workshops and to gain access to a studio space for his art.
One thing that captures attention in his work is the brave mix of colours that he utilizes besides the variety of material. Blue is a standard colour and forms the base over which he introduces strong, contrasting yellow and red. This, for him, is the only way to liven the environments that he is depicting in his work – ghettos, the very spaces he gets his ideas and inspirations from. He likes looking at this environment from different perspectives both visually and mentally. It is not only the ghettos that are his subject. He also experiments with collages and sculptures from found objects. The only thing that he buys is his paints and occasionally a canvas but would rather collect material on which to paint or put together as a sculptural composition.
He hopes with this exhibition, people will be able to relate to his thoughts and illustrations of his world.

Dodhia Gallery – Larisa Sjoerds
Larisa Sjoerds is a full time artist since 1996. She graduated from the Amsterdam Free Art Academy and holds a certificate of the Amsterdam School of Fine Art in Education. In 2004, a year before moving to Kenya, she started working on her “brain cell” series ( almost 40 works so far) in which she has found a theme: exploring the variety of shapes of neurons and the function and dysfunction of the human brain together with a combination of techniques that keeps inspiring her. This show at the Dodhia Gallery in RaMoMA will be her first solo show.

Rahimtulla Gallery – First Portraits
First Portraits is a quick look and exhibition of portraits primarily from artists working in the GoDown and Kuona Trust art studios in Nairobi together with a few others. It is a quick engagement with an art form that a lot of the less initiated people associate artists with. There’s numerous ways in which artists choose to represent people and other subjects besides the very traditional depiction of a person’s head and shoulders as a portrait. This is the first exhibition of a series looking into portraits and the art of visual portrayal.

The exhibitions close on 26th November 2009
RaMoMA is open 7 days a week, 9:30am – 4:30pm
closed on public holidays
2nd Parklands Avenue PO Box 1040 Sarit Centre 00606 Nairobi Kenya Tel +254 20 3748612/8 ramoma@africaonline.co.ke

Concert: Ratai Arati in Ethnofusion, Nov 6 2009 @ Italian Cultural Centre

Battle of the Bands, Nov 7 2009 @ GoDown

Battle of The Bands is a rock concert with a unique concept. The performing bands are actually competing or ‘BATTLING’ if you may, to see who will be crowned supreme at the end of the show, and walk away with the grand, cash prize.

This annual edition dubbed, SHOWDOWN @ THE GODOWN 2, is a follow up to the first edition held at The GoDown Arts Centre in September of 2008.

On Saturday, November 7th 2009, elleven (11) of Nairobi’s hottest and loudest rock bands will be ‘BATTLING’ it out at the GoDown Arts Centre from 1.00p.m to 7.00p.m.

Mics will be drawn and guitars held steady as – BLOODSHED, DOVE SLIMME, JASON & JAZZ, LAST YEAR”S TRAGEDY (LYT), M2O (MUSIC 2 OVERDRIVE), MURFY’S FLAW, ROCK OF AGES, SEISMIC UNDYING, THE AWAKENING, THE BEATHOGZ, THE KREMLIN DIAMOND FUND, and UETA, rock you with their numbers.

There will be a surprise reward for the best Lead Guitarist of the event.

Come cheer your favourite band(s) to victory. Entry is KShs. 200/=.

Kwani? Open Mic, Nov 3 2009 @ Club Soundd

Kwani Trust is inviting you to Kwani? Open Mic on Tuesday 3RD November 2009 7pm at Club Soundd, Hamilton House Kaunda Street Entry ksh 100/- only.

Featured Poet will be Kennet B
Born Odongo Kennedy Leakey at the shores of Lake Victoria,Kennet B wrote and recorded his first poetry piece in 2003 at Chuqua Records in Kisumu where he was also mentored to become a sound producer.

He also gained music arrangement skills and mostly worked in underground studios helping young artists musically grow up. He moved to Nairobi after hearing of Slam Africa Spoken Word Poetry competitions; he won on his first trial.

The win motivated him to produce a seven-track poetry album “Coming Of Age” of which he wrote the lyrics and was the chief sound producer. Each poem in the album is backed up with sound effects, which are skillfully placed to create the desired suspense to the listener. The authenticity of the album is supported by the fact that “Kitambi ya Sugar daddy” a poem dispelling girl child abuse by married men is receiving good airplay by various local radio stations.

Kennet B has gone an extra mile and produced the first Luo Poetry album,”Twak Galamoro Mokwongo”which has not been officially launched to the public, though a single from the album has been released to a Kisumu based radio station.

As a performing artist, he has been able to execute his delivery at Kwani? Poetry Nights,Wapi Hip Hop and Spoken Word Festvals,Lafesta in Kisumu, PEN international just to mention a few.
Currently, he is writing the scripts for the “Coming Of Age” album which he expects to be out by April next year.
Kennet B writes on social issues relating to Church and State. He believes that with the power of the word all is possible even when the pen has run out of ink.

Party: Trick or Treat!, Oct 31 2009 @ Toona Tree

TRICK or TREAT!
Once again ladies and gentlemen, the darkest time of the year is here. A mystical night when the strangest things are said to have happened! It’s HALLOWEEN! WE will be joining hands with Bound by Sound to bring you the sickest night ever!

DJ line up is as follows:
MIKHAIL KUZI
GALIVIA
DRAZEN
DJ B
THE GLIB
SZABANOWICZ
JLN

This Halloween, it’s all about Fancy Dress!
Entry charges: 500 kshs
Gates swing open at 6pm, Happy hours up to 9PM.

Toona Tree is behind Blue Times at Museum Hill

Rocktober Fest 09, Oct 31 2009 @ Carnivore

Party: Werewolves, Witches & Wierdos, Oct 30 2009 @ Double Inn

Start Halloween early at the Double Inn in Karen, with an amazing set of djs. A party hosted by The Beat Factory in-conjunction with Double Inn, 7 Grams, Turbochill & Maxiis N Vos introducing international Dj Bros the “TEICHMANN BROTHERS” from Berlin Germany, in town also for Saturday’s Urban Beats.

When the Teichmann brothers are at the decks or playing live they ride high with the crowd, 2 guys on a natural high, jumping, raving, always wearing the distinctive Teichmann smile, a euphoria reflected in the music and a smile you can’t help returning. The Teichmann sets – ping pong sets with the 2 brothers playing eachother the ball, consistantly unpredictably and focused. Dramatically mixing genres from minimal, to acid, to chicago, techno rock & house as one. The Teichmann party raved about not only by Berliners & crowds in Europe, but even those in the dept of Siberia, Asia, South America & the middle east.

Entrance 400ksh

Concert: Aziza in A Fusion of Afro Music, Oct 28 2009 @ National Theatre

Ewfx records presents Aziza in A Fusion of Afro Music, an evening filled with back 2 back performances of acoustic tunes, a new trend for the music industry in Kenya

28th october 2009, from 6pm to 8pm at Kenya National Theatre (concert hall)
Tickets: 100ksh

Find more information about Aziza on Facebook: search “aziza muzik”

Nairobi Now t-shirts available again!

Dear readers and supporters of Nairobi Now,
We’ve just received a new batch of t-shirts: have a look and buy one if you want to support us.
Thanks!

Party: Urban Beats, Oct 31 2009 @ Marshall House (Loita St.)

The German Cultural Weeks will climax with a huge party. In Berlin and in Nairobi, hiphop and electronic music are an ever-present feature in the clubs. However, there is still no exchange between the two metropolises. Urban hiphop and techno artists from Berlin and Nairobi will gather to get you to dance in an unmissable event

From Nairobi will be the hiphop DJ Bob (headbangaz), the Swahili hiphop collabo Ukoo Flani, the MC Abbas Kubaff, the B-Boy crew Sisko Dancers and the house and techno DJ Drazen (6am).

From Berlin will be exceptional B-Boy Raphael (moov’naktion), the groovy live act between 2step, hiphop and electro Jahcoozi (asound), and the legendary techno DJs Teichmann Brothers (Festplatten).

The party will take place in an completely unusual location: the Service Workshop of Marshall House, for one night only transformed in a Club!

(Re)Membering Kenya – Session 12, Oct 28 2009 @ Goethe-Institut

Conference Series
28.10.2009 at 6.00 pm at the Goethe-Institut
+25420 2224640, prog2@nairobi.goethe.org

The public lecture series, supported by the Ford Foundation and Goethe-Institut Kenya, brings together academics, members of civil society groups and the general public to engage with issues that were thrust into the limelight by the jolting events that unfolded after the December 2007 general elections. These crises constitute a watershed moment for Kenya in many ways. It is necessary to pause and ask not just what went wrong but also why it went wrong.

Session 12
1. The Politics of Environmental Conservation: The Mau Water Tower and Nairobi River Cases
2. Environment and Culture

IngridMwangiRobertHutter: Intruders, Oct 27 – Nov 12 2009 @ Goethe

As part of the German Cultural Weeks in Kenya, the Goethe-Institut is showcasing the first solo show by the artist collective IngridMwangiRobertHutter, born 1970 in NairobiLudwigshafen.

Ingrid Mwangi is perhaps the most internationally significant Kenyan artist. She grew up in Kenya as the daughter of a Kenyan father and a German mother and has lived in both Germany and Kenya. Assuming a single, artistically inseparable identity with Robert Hutter, they create artworks using video, sound, photography, installation and performance which are prominently exhibited internationally. Mwangi has always stayed in contact with Kenya – yet IngridMwangiRobertHutter has still not had their own big exhibition in Kenya.

The exhibition Intruders is therefore an important aspect of the cooperation between Kenya and Germany. Central to the exhibtion will be new works created for the Cultural Weeks. For the exhibition MwangiHutter’s methodology is presented: upon the particular stages found on arrival at ‘unknown places’, the objective is to intertwine with peoples’ lived reality for some moments in time.

Opening of the exhibition
27th of October, 6.00 pm

Exhibit: Interior Mood by Miriam Rinck, Oct 30 – Nov 12 2009 @ Le Rustique

Workshop: Learn to critic your photos, Oct 24 2009 @ Kuona Trust

An opportunity to learn from professionals to inspire creativity and expand technical skills

Getting people to talk to you about your photos is a rare opportunity, so don’t waste it. This Saturday you will learn how to critic yours and others work. Let people talk…it’s their opinion, and your target audience should be important to you. Let them rant, and if you really have to, defend yourself afterward, once it’s all finished. Although — honestly — if you feel you have to defend yourself, you might want to take a step back and consider why

Some of you have requested we do this class to help you critic your own work and style. Please come with some of your images/pictures, which we will review during the workshop. These can be some of your very best images or what you consider your worst images. Also, remember that there’s no right or wrong in photography. Gross technical errors (vast exposure problems, for example) can be universally wrong, but artistic considerations are not universal. Hope to see you this Saturday at Kuona 10am- 1pm

10am – 1pm on Saturday October 24th – Please let’s try and keep time
Facilitated by Sylvia N Gichia
Participation Fee: 400/-

Kuona Trust, Centre for the Visual Arts
Likoni Close, Likoni Lane, off Dennis Pritt Road, Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya
PO Box 4802, Nyayo Stadium 0506
Tel: (254) 0202405960/1
Mobile: 0721 262326, 0733 742752
www.kuonatrust.org

Contemporary Dance: Zahrbat, Oct 23 2009 @ Kenya National Theatre