Greetings ravers.

As the pioneers of the Ultraviolet Parties in Kenya, 6:AM proudly presents this year’s U.V light party!

The DJs are out in full force this time round with an unstoppable night of the finest electronic music, the most beautiful party people and the most mind blowing themed party this month.

DJs DRAZEN, BARNEY BARROW & MIKHAIL KUZI are on the decks belting out tune after tune of the finest House, Minimal, Techno, Trance and Progressive music.

Entry is just 500 kshs for a momentous evening of debaucherous dancing and trancing!

The dress code is WHITE / UV COSTUME so remember to be creative with your party gear on the night. Get out some old eighties neon spandex or come dressed in a toga… As long as it’s white or fluorescent.

Strictly over 18 only.

Conference Series
25.11.2009 at 6.00 pm
info:+254 20 2224640, prog2@nairobi.goethe.org

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

Session 14
1. ‘From Qatar with Love for the Soil’: Between Agro-Colonialism and Globalization
2. Population Settlements: Opening up new Corridors

In cooperation with Ford Foundation und Twaweza Communications

ASYLUM-NO-MORE
Sam Ondieki and the Bakowola Band
Friday 27 November, 7pm
Alliance Française gardens,
Tickets: 500/-
A cocktail of high powered ethno fusion music from Sam Ondieki’s two albums ‘Monto Monene’ and ‘His Excellency’.

SOMEONE TO RUN WITH
by Muishehu Larutz Ito (2006 – 1h58)
presented by the Embassy of Israel
Monday, 23 November, 6pm
With English subtitles, Entrance Free

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Miami International Film Festival. The film follows Assaf and Tamar on parallel timelines, highlighting the distance between them and the loneliness they must endure before their narratives finally converge. Assaf, a shy, awkward 17-year-old is given an impossible task to track down the owner of a lost Labrador found wandering the streets of Jerusalem. The owner, Tamar, a gifted musician is ensnared in a seamy underworld that captivates Assaf.

Performances by East African and Kenyan Dancers
Dance Performances
20.11.2009 and 21.11.2009
6.00 pm (Friday and Saturday)
Entry free
info: +254 20 2224640, vo@nairobi.goethe.org

This is the third edition of the first festival of contemporary Solo & Duet dance pieces in Kenya. In this year’s edition, contemporary dancers and choreographers from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya and, as a very special guest, Adedayo M. Liadi from Nigeria, will come together to teach and learn, network and perform.

Performances by: Isaac Mulumba (Uganda), Aloyce Makonde (Tanzania), Neema (Kenya), Sarah Opondo (Kenya), Wamaya/Okobo (Kenya), Atulo/ Gathara (Kenya), Kebaya (Kenya)

In cooperation with Dance Forum-Nairobi and GoDown Arts Centre

Heartstrings Kenya is back with this year’s curtain downer, TEN ANGRY KENYAN WOMEN

Comedy: TEN ANGRY KENYAN WOMEN
Directed by: Victor Ber and Sammy Mwangi
Concept by: Dan Ndambuki aka “Churchill”
Venue: Alliance Française de Nairobi
Times: 6.30pm weekdays 3 & 6.30pm weekends
Charges: 500/-

Dates and status:
Tuesday 24th Nov
Press Night and Friends of Heartstrings Night, to our friends and die-hard fans, this is a special night, where we’re offering one ticket for every that you buy as our reward-15year reward dont come this easy! While they last!!!
Wednesday 25TH Nov,
This is Rotary Night -organized by Rotaract Club of Westlands in conjunction with Heartstrings Kenya to support the Fairmille Project in Kangemi. This is also our community social responsibility and sensitiveness to the community and environment we live in as we are called upon to leave this society better and more refreshed than we found it.
Thursday 26TH Nov,
It is NGOs Night- this organized under the auspices of networking-in-entertainment for the likeminded socialites in the Community and Non Governmental Organization’s players for an evening of networking, refreshing acquaintances and developing more, amongst other things. Coordinated by Akiba-Uhaki’s Mr. Kephta Ombati
Saturday 28th Nov,
Sunday 29th Nov
Tuesday 1st Dec, OPEN
Youth and Colleges/ Students Night, (proposed) a chance of students who love theatre to come and watch the show at an affordable rate
Wednesday 2ND Dec, -
Professionals Night, (proposed) – people who work as professionals in all the sectors, this is the night to meet, brush shoulders, renew acquaintances, energize your momentum, know the other players, while sitting down and being entertained, and also being seen to support the arts—now that’s something worth the while!
Thursday 3RD Dec, OPEN
Saturday 5TH Dec, 3pm
Sunday 6TH Dec
Tuesday 8TH Dec, OPEN
Wednesday 9TH Dec, OPEN
Thursday 10TH Dec, OPEN
Saturday 12TH Dec,
Sunday 13TH Dec

Tickets Hotline: 0721 60 86 56

SYNOPSIS
This comedy (Ten Angry Kenyan Women) is a must for all women but compulsory to all men.
It is a show written by Kenyan men for Kenyan women.
This comedy explores how politics, economy, society, education, poverty, marriage, business, religion, tribalism, corruption etc have managed to successfully categorize and marginalize women as the weaker sex. This is a cliché that the comedy will succeed in defying. Heartstrings Kenya strives to put women at the forefront for the first time. This is because the exclusion of women at the forefront has thrown our society into disarray and thus the ills that are afflicting us. The society is now reeling from the effects of neglecting the womenfolk. This has been witnessed in all spheres of life. Politics, religion, and economy: the list can go on.

The comedy thrives to raise and lift the woman to her deserved position: the top. This we will show by showing the anger that they are going through. This sidesplitting comedy will manage to drive the message home amid jaw dropping laughter. This we believe is the best way of passing on messages that need to be thrown out to the wider public. The pillars of society sit steadily at the lap of women. We are staring at a disaster if we ignore this. Heartstrings Kenya is proud to bring this home.

Among the talents featuring in this side-splitting comedy is the 6 finalists of TOP COMIC by Churchill.

Heartstrings Kenya is a versatile theatre company in Kenya which engages the society with their satires

Heartstrings Kenya
P.O. BOX 43321-00100
NAIROBI
www.theatrekenya.com

Sorry – very last minute

Welcome tonight at National Museum for the launch of the much anticipated debut album of Dela’s
400ksh at the gate

we love supersonic is a series of private parties organised in Nairobi since 2006. It is special, it’s about fun, dancing and hot electronic music you would usually not find in the city’s clubs and bars. Tonight, it’s we love supersonic #8 in an incredible outdoor location “somewhere in Nairobi”, a spectacular sound system and for the first time together, five among Nairobi’s top electronic music djs: ugomatic (nairobi now), jean-marie, drazen (6am), nairobi dhobi (just-a-band) and zelalem (havanatronic)

To celebrate this unique line-up, we are happy to provide directions to this otherwise private, almost secret party to a maximum of 10 Nairobi Now readers. Just text the word ’supersonic’ to 0736815961 and you’ll be sent directions to the party. Hurry up!!

Between Two Worlds, an exhibition of stone sculptures by Mieke van Grinsven, runs at the Nairobi National Museum until the 30th November 2009.

Mieke van Grinsven is passionate about her art.

The inspiration for her current body of work came not only from the concept of bridging her native Europe to the culture of Africa but also from the very essence of the material in which she sculpts. She works with exceptional and rare stone of volcanic origins found in the heart of the continent. Faces and torsos shine through to captivate the viewer. Rooted in the earth but reaching to the heavens, the twenty pieces created in serpentine and opal stone evoke a feeling of other-worldliness.

“The stone speaks to me”, says Mieke, “I listen to my intuition. I see faces and bodies that reveal themselves from the inner stone.” Since discovering her preferred medium in 2003 her work has evolved from primarily faces to torsos and now groupings of figures. Mieke says it was a natural evolution and she was surprised when the pieces morphed into torsos that had equal expression even without a face. She has just returned from time spent at an artist’s studio at Pietrasanta, Tuscany in Italy where Michelangelo also found inspiration centuries ago.

Now a resident of Tanzania, Mieke has lived in Africa for over twenty years.

18.11. 2009 at 6pm, Entry free

In our series of outstanding and remarkable films from Africa we turn again to Kenya and get a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming feature film Togetherness Supreme, a follow up to the award-winning film Kibera Kid. Togetherness Supreme is the story of an artist, Kamau, seeking peace and the possibility of hope in the midst of tribal strife. The film that is currently being edited is a unique collaboration between slum youth and film professionals shot using Red One, the latest cutting edge digital cinema technology.

The audience is invited to learn how the film was made and see behind the scenes footage and films. Togetherness Supreme was produced by Hot Sun Films/Foundation.

More can be found on the blog kiberakid.blogspot.com.

Kathrin Racz is a Swiss artist who is on a two month art residency at Kuona Trust in Nairobi.
Her work grabs the viewer’s attention directly, they can be seen as mirror images depicting the human condition. Her innermost need is to creatively transform life impression and social processes into art: “My first impression of Nairobi was the one of a lively city. Huge billboard, traffic jam, men walking through the lines of slowly moving cars and huge walls with barbed wire or electrical wire on top. I tried hard to have a concept before coming. Impossible! So I decided that my main concept is I don’t have one. Just to get influenced by the daily life, my own perception and all those visual impressions!”

Europe laughs -Film Screenings
17.11.2009 – 17.12.2009 at 5.30 pm
English Subtitles, Entry free
info: +254 20 2224640, prog@nairobi.goethe.org

This compilation of films presents a cross-section of most hilarious situations in the lives of people living in Europe, of individuals and families alike. All of them touch on the funny side of life as it presents itself: very normal or not always normal. Laughter guaranteed!

Tuesday 17. November 5.30 pm:
Schwarzfahrer by Pepe Dankwart, Germany 1991 (short film)
Polska Love Serenade by Monika Anna Wojtyllo, Germany 2007 (75 min)

Tuesday 24 November 5.30 pm
Flores de otro Mundo by Iciar Bollain, Spain 1999 (108 min)

Tuesday 1 December 5.30 pm
Just get married by Hussam Chadat, Syria/Germany 2003 (short film)
Geboren in Absurdistan by Houchang Allahyari and Tom Dariusch Allahyari, Austria 1999 (89 min)

Tuesday 8 December 5.30 pm
Padam by Juan Manuel Carrasco, Spain 2007 (short film)
Helsinki – Napoli all night long by Mika Kaurismäki, Finland 1987 (89 min)

Tuesday 15 December 5.30 pm
Die Sprachschule by Andi Bausch, Luxemburg 2006 (short film)
Red coloured Grey Truck by Srdjan Koljevic, Serbia/Montenegro/Slovenia 2004 (95 min)

Thursday 17 December 5.30 pm
Shouf shouf Habibi by Albert ter Heerdt, Netherlands 2004 (108 min)

Screening of the Oscar winning movie ‘Ladri di Biciclette’ (Bicycle Thieves) by Vittorio De Sica

1949 Honorary Oscar Award

Starring: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart
Running time: 104 minutes
In Italian, with English subtitles
Rated: G.E. (General Exhibition). Film censored by the Kenya Film Censorship Board.

Antonio Ricci, unemployed for over two years, is overjoyed when he’s finally given a job putting up posters. There’s a catch, though – he needs a bicycle as a requirement of the job, so he pawns the family linen to get a pawned bicycle back. He goes off to his first day’s work, truly happy for the first time in years – and the title of the film gives away what happens next…

At Westgate (Silverbird Cinemas)
on Thursday, 12th November 2009 at 8pm

Seating limited to 120 (first come first served)
For Members (card holders) of the Institute. Enrolment is also possible at the venue on any night on which the films are screened

3rd Festival of Solos & Duets
Presentation by Contemporary Dancer Adedayo M. Liadi (Nigeria)
Dance/ Presentation
12.11.2009 at 6.00 pm
Entry free
info: +254202224640, vo@nairobi.goethe.org

The very special guest of the 3rd Festival of Solos & Duets Adedayo M. Liadi will talk about his work, his approach to dance and the development of contemporary dance in Nigeria; he will share his ideas and discuss with the audience.

Adedayo M. Liadi is an internationally acknowledged contemporary dancer and choreographer from Nigeria. He was trained at the Ecole des Sables (Jant-Bi) of Senegal and is a holder of several awards. In 1998 he founded the company Ijodee. In 2003 the piece ORI (destiny) choreographed by Adedayo won the 1st price of the 5th African/Indian Ocean choreographic contest in Madagascar.

In cooperation with Dance Forum-Nairobi and GoDown Arts Centre

After a successfull European tour, Sautil Sol brings the Soul back home for their fans in partnership with KISS FM/TV in a show dubbed ‘UNPLUGGED’. For more information, visit www.penyafrica.com

Eric Wainaina’s Mo Faya: “A Ghetto Story” is currently being performed at the GoDown; the highly entertaining musical drama gives us a slice of life in a ghetto in Kenya and features a lively mix of reggae and African rhythms coupled with energetic and highly compelling choreography, in a blend that is bound to light up the stage. The show runs every week, Wednesday to Sunday, until December 20th.

We have seen this show on November 18th, and it is absolutely fantastic. We can’t recommend it enough. Everyone should go see Mo Faya and support an exceptional Kenyan production which was acclaimed in recent shows in New York!

DJ Lwanda’s voice rings out daily on local radio, leading and inspiring the Nairobi community of Kwa Maji. But Anna Mali, an avaricious real estate diva, craves the land beneath their slum. She seduces the fiery young DJ away with a job at a top nationwide station, and organizes a violent campaign to terrorize the people of Kwa Maji. When the government and media turn a blind eye to the decapitated bodies in the streets, DJ Lwanda must return home to expose the truth. But at what cost?
Performed in English with Swahili.

Read a review of Mo Faya by Margaretta wa Gacheru on Kenyanpoet

More about the show on the official website

Wednesday 7pm Kshs. 300 for 2 tickets (yes, much much cheaper!) (apparently sold out on Wednesday until December 2nd)
Thursday 7pm Kshs. 400 for students and 600 for adults
Friday 7pm Kshs. 400 for students and 600 for adults
Saturday 2.30pm and 7pm Kshs. 400 for students and 800 for adults
Sunday 2.30 pm Kshs. 400 for students and 800 for adults

Please book in advance to avoid disappointment. MoFaya sales department on 0720492540
Get you ticket from Silverbird Cinemas at the Village Market, The Junction and Westgate or Selected Uchumi Supermarkets outlets.

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

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
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).

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.

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

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

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

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.