Archive for February, 2009
Art Exhibit: Unity Through Diversity, Mar 2nd – 8th @ Alliance
UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY – A KENYAN PERSPECTIVE
an exhibition of artworks
Presented by the Embassy of the United States of America
2 – 8 March @ Alliance Française ground floor gallery
The United States celebrates its many cultures – native and immigrant – throughout the year. On 20 January, America highlighted this diversity in a unique way with the inauguration of its first bi-racial president on the day after Martin Luther King, Jr Day. To mark US-Kenya mutual respect for diversity, the US Embassy invited artists to submit representations on the theme in song, poetry, visual arts and dance. This exhibition is a display of the winning artworks.
Movie: The Black Candle, Mar 2nd 2009 @ Alliance
THE BLACK CANDLE
by M.K Asante Jr., (1h11min)
a Pamoja Film inititive
Monday 2 March, 6pm at Alliance Francaise
in English, Entrance Free
The Black Candle is an extraordinary, inspirational story about the struggle and triumph of African-American family, community, and culture. It is the first feature film on Kwanzaa (the week long cultural holiday honoring Africa heritage observed from 26 Dec. to 1 Jan. and dedicated to the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), Imani (Faith).
Japanese movie: Kagemusha, MAr 1st 2009 @ RaMoMa
FILM: kagemusha (the shadow worrior)
a kurosawa film with lucas and coppola in conjunction; wonderful scenes of medieval japan. A powerful warlord is dying and they find a double to replace him, with the hope of keeping the kingdom stable. They successfully take a criminal and school him, and fool everyone…. But cannot leave the one thing which would unseat him.
The film will be shown at RaMoMa on 1st march at 6.30 pm, there will be wine to buy, by the glass and bitings.
Membership to the film series is 3000ksh – for 10 films
Extra tickets will be sold at the door, last 10 minutes before the film, if there is space.
Please bring a cushion to ensure your comfort
Contact Carol Dunlop at tel 0733 552 999 to become a member.
New Exhibit: Fred Abuga, Omosh Kinde, Charles Ngatia, Wilson Mwangi, Feb 27th – Mar 26th 2009 @ Le Rustique
Opening Friday February 27th from 6pm to 9pm
Kwani? 5 part 1 launch, Mar 5th 2009 @ Nu Metro Junction
Look out for Kwani? 5 part 1 launch on 5th March 2009 6.30pm at Nu Metro Junction, Ngong Rd.
Entry free
This is the first part of the double Kwani? 5 – focused on the crisis in Kenya emerged with the 2007 elections.
More information to come on a second party-launch for Kwani on March 8th: this will be a Super Sunday Salon featuring prose and poem readings from Kwani? 5. Among the readers will be writers whose works appear in Kwani 5.They include David Kaiza, Samuel Munene, Neema Ngwatilo and Betty Wamalwa.
Kwani? Open Mic, Mar 3rd 2009 @ Club Soundd
Kwani Trust is inviting you to Kwani? Open Mic on 3rd March 2009 7pm at Club Soundd, Hamilton House Kaunda Street Entry ksh 100/- only.
Featured Poet will be Patroba a participant of Kwani? Krismas who came in 4th.
Patroba is a 22 year old Nairobi based poet and a college student. He has been writing poems for the past three years, but started poetry perfomce in 2007. He has performed at forums such as Nu metro Poets club at the Junction, Kwani Open Mic at Clubb Soundd, Amplified Tongues at Mai Loan, WaPI amongst other venues. He has also participated in the Kwani Krismas slam and the Slam Africa poetry competitions.
Open Mic slots are open from 6pm all are welcome to register.
Muziki wa Kenya: Ratai Arati and Enyamumbo Band, Mar 1st 2009 @ Goethe-Institut
Ratai Arati and his band perform a contemporary form of the seldom heard music from Kisii peoples in the West of Kenya. The music is centered around the Obokano, a huge eight stringed lyre with a unique percussive tone. The group’s frontman, Moses Arati calls this music Enyamumbo, music that celebrates the “power of the earth”.
Arati has made innovations to the folk music by creating a new instrument called the Enkano, a modernized version of the Obokano. He sings about contemporary issues using humour and satire to deliver the message as heard in an AIDS awareness song Ajali Kitandani. This will be a fun concert with a unique sound.
Foundation for Tomorrow’s Gala, Feb 28th 2009 @ Muthaiga Country Club
Exclusively this Saturday, 28th of February The Foundation For Tomorrow’s S.O.S Gala at the Muthaiga Country Club, with performance by famed Jazz singer, Maia van Lekow. Tickets are still available today ONLY.
Please Join Us This Saturday at 6:00 PM
Dinner, Dance, Open Bar, Raffle and Auction to Follow
Proceeds Benefit The Foundation For Tomorrow: http://www.thefoundationfortomorrow.org/
To Purchase tickets please contact Lali Heath on +254738129351 or events[at]thefoundationfortomorrow.org
Tickets: $100 USD, please also inquire about our NGO rates
Photo Exhibition: Turkana Cultural Festival, Feb 26th – Mar 19th 2009 @ National Museum
Opening of the exhibit February 26th at 6pm.
The first Lake Turkana Cultural Festival took place last June in Loiyangalani. The festival was organized by the German Embassy and cofunded by the EU-Commission. Joan Perreruan and other photographers captured some of the highlights of this unique event. In October, the photographs were shown in an exhibition at the Goethe-Institut. As a reaction to the interest elicited by the exhibition, a wider range of photographs comprehensively documenting the festival held at Lake Turkana will be on display at an exhibition at the Nairobi National Museum, Hall of Kenya. The German Embassy is planning to hold a second festival 15-16 May in Loyangalani at the Lake Turkana.
For more information please visit: http://www.nairobi.diplo.de or email to: pr-100[at]nair.diplo.de
Kenyan Premiere of Slumdog Millionaire, Mar 4th 2009 @ Westgate
Come to the Premiere of Slumdog Millionaire on March 4th at Westgate at 7pm
Cocktails and movie 2000ksh in aid of Rhino Ark. Hosted by Team 25
Conversation: Looking Back, Looking Forward, Feb 25th 2009 @ Goethe-Institut
Conversation: Looking Back, Looking Forward – Enhancing Sports and Social Facilities in Our Neighbourhoods, 25 February 2009, 6.00 pm
National Forum on Safe Neighbourhoods
Public Discussion: ‘Looking Back, Looking Forward – Enhancing Sports and Social Facilities in Our Neighbourhoods’
Over the past several years, before our eyes, many sports and community social facilities across our city have become dilapidated, poorly managed, poorly staffed – mere shadows of their yesteryears. Broadly, sports fields and social halls have lost the diversity, focus, and core function that supported the development of communities, especially youth, through sports, music, dance, and art programming targeting the holistic advancement of the individual. Indeed some open spaces and facilities designed and planned for the public have been acquired or secured by private actors for personal gain and use, further depriving youth and communities the very opportunities that engage and entertain, discourage delinquency and crime, and that foster social cohesion, ownership, and enhance quality of life through availability and access to decent facilities.
By engaging with a dynamic panel of urban governmental and non-governmental actors, the discussion will look at the 60s onwards, presenting a glimpse of the neighbourhood sports grounds, social halls, public spaces, activities, and programmes that helped to created lively, healthy, secure, and memorable environments for children and youth, what has happened to bring about the deterioration of these facilities –social, institutional, spatial, economic factors – and most importantly, what can be done, and by whom, to restore these facilities to their rightful place in our cities, and enhance efforts to create better and safer neighbourhoods.
The conversation will take place in the context of the exhibition “It’s a pity that we only exist in the future.”
Kenya Burning exhibit & book launch, Feb 28th – Mar 2nd 2009 @ KICC
The Kenya Burning book is out! The book based on photographs of the election period of 2007 up until the effects of the post poll violence in 2008 will be launched at the KICC on Saturday, February 28, accompanied by an exhibit from photographers featured in the book. The exhibit will continue until March 2nd.
contacts: 555227, info[at]godownartscentre.com
AfricanColours 2009 Gallery Walk, Feb 28th 2009 @ Marula Studios, Kazuri Beads and Pimbi Gallery
Since 2006, AfricanColours has organized the Gallery Walk as an annual re-affirmation of the importance of art in cultural development but also as an expression of Nairobi’s constant attempt at self-definition. But the circle does not become complete unless an audience completes the loop that the artist begins – which is the essential purpose of the walks.
This year’s theme has inadvertently centred around art and the environment – not out of conscious choice but because Marula Studios, Kazuri Beads and Pimbi all use materials – plastics, glass or metal that have been discarded – to create sometimes visually startling art works.
Marula Studios – Karen @ 9.30am
See and buy brilliant creations out of recycled slippers, plastic bags and bottles and car tyres…
Kazuri Beads – Karen @ 12pm
Lovely ceramic & glass jewelry…
Pimbi Gallery – Lavington @ 2pm
Interact and purchase from the “father of junk metal art in Kenya”, Kioko Mwitiki
Transport, Lunch and refreshment will be provided
Tickets: Adults 2500ksh, Kids 2000ksh
GalleryWalk guests to meet for pick up between 8am and 9am at the following locations: RaMoMA Museum of Modern Art, 2nd Parklands Avenue and AfricanColours offices, 1st floor room 16, Chester hse, Koinange street in the city center. For bookings contact Maggie at maggie[at]africancolours.com, Beatrice at bnjoroge[at]africancolours.com or tel. 0724 231 071/020 2250373.
More information available on AfricanColours’ website
WAPI – Spiritual Minded, Feb 21st 2009 @ British Council
WAPI PRESENTS: SPIRITUAL MINDED
MC: JEFRO
Performances by Juliani, Number 8, Jefro, Holy Dave, Pope, Advocate, Njeri Wangare, SIC Dance Crew, DJ Octave and much more
LIVE @ British Council, Upper Hill Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi
Saturday, February 21st, 2009, 9am-4pm
GRAFFITI BY UHURU, ESSEN, ABU, SHAN, HARI, SMOKILLAH , BANKSLAVE & FELOK, SCOPTER, FACT, JKELLO, LASE, SCHEME, BANDITS, ABYSS, FINGAZ, SWIFT
OPEN MIC: 1pm
LADIES & GENTS- Free Entry
HIP-HOP-POETRY- SPOKEN WORD — B-BOYING – GRAFFITI – ILLASSTRATION – CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP – SELF ELEVATION- STREET LINGUISTICS- FASHION- BUSINESS NETWORKING
(NEXT WAPI: SATURDAY MARCH 21st 2009: UNSUNG HEROES)
6th Slam Battle, Feb 20th 2009 @ Daas
IMANI INK & SPARK AFRICA present
The 6TH SLAM BATTLE – Slam Poetry Galore
LIVE @ Daas Restaurant,
Woodvale Grove ‘Electric Avenue’, Westlands, Nairobi
8pm Friday, February 20th , 2009. Entry: Ksh. 300
Tickets selling fast. For advance tickets call: 0721 219 564/ 0736 528 116
Urban Legends, Feb 26th 2009 @ Carnivore
Urban Legends featuring Atemi and the Fame Affair:-
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2009
Time: Gates open at 6pm, Showtime at 7.00pm
Entrance charges: Kshs. 300.00
Coast Nite, Feb 27th 2009 @ Carnivore
The first Coast Nite of the year, it happening again, it is huge, it is interesting, its tam tam…. don’t miss out.
Live Music by: Safari Sounds, Brasso Band, Gogo Simo, Utamaduni Band, Zed Anto of the Binti Kiziwi Fame
Date: Friday, February 27, 2009
Charges: Kshs. 500 from 6pm
Venue: Carnivore Simba Saloon.
Live music, Feb 20-21st @ Tamambo Tapas
Friday 20 February from 9pm
amazing vocals – Eddy Gray and House of Gray
Saturday 21 February from 8.30 pm
afro jazz, blues and soul – MAIA
Free Entry
At Tamambo Tapas – Village Market
contacts: 0207124005 / 0722385089
Three Short Plays, Feb 20th – Mar 7th 2009 @ Phoenix Players
The next production is a set of 3 short plays: WINDOW CLEANER by Gillian Plowman, COUNTDOWN by Alan Ayckbourn, and A MAN’S BEST FRIEND by James Saunders.
In the Window Cleaner, Jill has served term for killing her husband who abused her. Making a new start, she has been entrusted to clean the windows of an extensive flat while the owners are away. But she disturbs Daryl who is midway through a burglary. Panicking, Daryl holds Jill captive but she cleverly gets him talking about his life of crime and the wife who left him, taking with her the daughter on whom he dotes. In turn, Jill relates the tragic history surrounding her husband’s death and how her baby, born in prison, was taken from her and adopted. As it becomes apparent that they have much in common, a final twist throws them together in an unlikely partnership with hope for the future.
The cast includes Mkamzee Chao Mwatela, Niq Ndeda, Harry Ebale, Wairimu Mwaura, Naomi Wanjiru & Charles J Ouda. The plays are directed by Mkamzee Chao Mwatela & Milo Ogutu.
The shows will run from Friday February 20 to Saturday March 7. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday shows are @ 6:30 pm while Saturday shows are at 6pm. Tickets are free for members and 500/= for Adults. Given the adult content of the plays, the shows are not suitable for children.
For tickets and more information call 2225506 or email phoenix [at] swiftkenya.com for tickets.
Kijani Kenya Music Festival, Feb 26th- Mar 8th 2009, in Nairobi & Mombasa
This year’s festival will be held from the 26th of February to the 8th of March.
The venues will be The Arboretum, by kind permission of FONA, The racecourse, by kind permission of the Jockey Club and at Fort Jesus in Mombasa.
Friday 27th, February, 6:30 p.m. @ The Arboretum, Nairobi
Mozart’s The Magic Flute performed by Operaplayhouse
Pamina and Tamino triumph in this most joyous of operas. The young lovers give up their freedom for love’s sake, discovering a still greater freedom. The Opera enchants both the novice and the sophisticate.
Adults: 5,000/- and 3,000/-. Children 500/-
Saturday 28th, February, 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. @ Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi
Musical Medley of Great Hits
Celebrating musical diversity, a fabulous blend of styles and character: brass bands, jazz, pop, fusion & gospel. Performed by popular Kenyan and international artists including Eric Wainaina, the London Adventist Chorale, Suzzana Owiyo & others.
Adults: Grandstand (Prime) 2,000/-, Grandstand(outer) 1,000/-, General area – 500/-, Children :100/-
Sunday 1st, March, 3:00 p.m. @ The Arboretum, Nairobi
Great Classics Concert
Classical music from diverse genres performed with consummate style. A breathtaking performance by the members of the London Adventist Chorale, Guildhall Strings, Operaplayhouse soloists & Kenyan singers conducted & accompanied by Lesley-Ann Sammons.
Adults: 3,000/- and 1,500/-. Children: 500/-
Tickets are on sale at: Nakumatt( The Junction, Westgate, and Village Market), RaMoMa Gallery, 2nd Parklands Avenue, The Energy Source, 26, Karen Connections, Forget – me – not, Nyali, Mombasa, Severin Sea Lodge/ Jahazi Marine, Mombasa, Cape Chestnut, Nanyuki
Children’s prices apply for 12 years and under
Check Kijani Kenya’s website for more information on concerts in Mombasa and flyer of the event
Concert: Journey through Italian popular music, Feb 19th 2009 @ Italian Cultural Centre
Concert of Italian popular music with:
Ambrogio Sparagna (traditional accordion, vocals)
Erasmo Treglia (traditional reed flute, wheel fiddle, violin)
Valentina Ferraiuolo (tambourines)
At 7pm Thursday, February 19, 2009
Place: Italian Cultural Centre, “Michelangelo Hall”
Free entrance
A vocal and instrumental project that lets us know intimately the compositional mastery and passion of performance of one of the most important musicians in the field of Italian folk music and a great virtuoso of the traditional accordion.
In this “Journey through Italian popular music” the repertoire explores the musical tradition of the Italian area through a series of original pieces composed by Ambrogio Sparagna and accompanied by a small orchestra of instruments that range from the traditional accordion to the shell, from the tambourine to the wheel fiddle, from the chitarra battente (Italian traditional guitar) to the violin and the trumpet.
The guiding light is the mythical journey of Giuseppantonio and his musical companions, embarked on in the early 1900’s, on foot, from Naples to Marseilles, narrated by Sparagna “with words and music”, between serenades and ballads, lullabies and courtship tarantellas, frenetic rhythms and saltarellos, always careful to involve the audience and make it “walk” on the music.
For more information: http://www.iicnairobi.esteri.it/IIC_Nairobi/webform/SchedaEvento.aspx?id=118&citta=Nairobi
Psychosafari Guide, Feb 15th-Mar 6th 2009, all over Nairobi
It’s a pity that we only exist in the future continues with events all over Nairobi.
Sunday Feb 15th:
If there is no soccer on TV, let’s play ourselves Arsenal against Man-u
Bring your red and blue T-shirt. Bring Balls.
where: Uhuru Park. 4. p.m.
Tuesday Feb 17th:
conversation: Current policies and politics around urban public space & And what happens if the public space turns into a pitch for mobilisation?
where: Goethe-Institut 7pm
Thursday Feb 19th:
conversation: The future of urban public space & development
where: Goethe-Institut 7pm
Sat Feb 21st:
visit to Massai Mbili Art Centre in Kibera
Meeting point: Prestige Nakumat, Ngong Road, Saturday 21st Feb 1 p.m.
Nyama Choma and Drinks…
Phonecontact: 0732248249
Nyama Choma and Drinks
Friday Mar 6th
Finissage – Visit to the Cave Restaurant @ Chester House
Djsets by Ugomatic & Jean-Marie
Contributions from contemporary artists into public space, often happens on the fragile borders of urban space. Jacob was asked and hired to turn the entrence of an restaurant into an installation. A kind of semi public space. We want to invite you to visit that place, and also our newspaper “african maximalism”…
for more detailed information, check African Maximalism online or call the hotline: 0732248249
Party: Love Struck, Feb 14th 2009 @ Steve’s Steakhouse
A special party for all house music lovers – the maddest craziest way to let valentines go down!!!
At Steve’s Steakhouse by Ngong Race Course
Dj line up including: DJ Foozak, Dj Maxiis, Dj Vos and all the way from Berlin, Germany – DJ Andi Teichmann, for his second djset after the “It’s a pity we only exist in the future” show on Friday at Goethe-Institut.
Love Struck starts at 8pm on Feb 14th and ends at 6am on Feb 15th
Entry is 400ksh, advance tickets 300ksh, VIP advance is 3000ksh and VIP tickets are 3500ksh with unlimited drinks
contacts: 0735326515, summer4sho[at]yahoo.com
It’s a pity that we only exist in the future, from Feb 13th 2009 @ Goethe-Institut
Art in public sphere – exhibition opening, concert and dj-sets: February 13th at 8.00 pm – free entrance
Special guest at the opening will be Techno DJ Andi Teichmann, one half of the famous DJ-duo, the Teichmann Brothers. He will perform alongside DJ Ugomatic and Ukoo Flani. After the launch of It’s a pity, Andi will play once again in Nairobi. Download flyer of the event
The exhibition will remain open until March 4th, Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 6.00pm
info:+254202224640, prog2[at]nairobi.goethe.org
Art, understood as an imaginative representation of the world, is not only an integral part of everyday life, but can also be seen as a barometer of intellectual freedom. Art in the public sphere, that is the performing of cultural expressions in public, is a further distillation of this and a critical indicator of a culturally healthy society.
Nairobi, a vibrant city and a leading African metropolis, pulsates with a wealth of new forms of cultural expression, many of which exist beyond the frontiers of conventional institutions. It’s a pity that we only exist in the future is an exploration of the city’s terrain with the aim of representing these fascinating phenomena within the context of a discourse about public space.
This is by no means an exhaustive show, but rather a sample of the city’s cultural nuggets. From matatus to community radio, from art performance to grassroots TV, from rappers to mobile photographers, we try to showcase the spectrum of culture on offer. The show will be accompanied by a series of informal Psycho Safaris (discussions and excursions). It’s a pity that we only exist in the future is curated by African Maximalism, an open source movement. Check back Nairobi Now for programme updates…
New exhibits, opening Feb 18th until Mar 8th 2009 @ RaMoMa
RaMoMA-Museum of Modern Art invites you to the opening of the following exhibitions on the 18th Feb 2009 from 6pm
RaMoMA is open 7 days a week and closed on public holidays
P.o Box 1040 Sarit Centre 00606 Nairobi. Tel:3748612/8 0724256136
ValDor Gallery – Umbrellas, Shanghai to Nairobi
This started as a project called “Art Intrude” and its aim was to bring art to the citizens of Shanghai; to ‘intrude’ into their lives with art. A scheme whereby different umbrellas would be painted, which then could be folded and sent to Shanghai was devised and was accepted with enthusiasm by Liz Coppens, the Curator of Zenai MoMa which sponsored the project. That ended up with 31 umbrellas from 10 countries; Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, UK, and USA with extremely diverse themes. Kenyan artists have also been asked to take part in this as some of the exhibition comes to Kenya.
ValDor Gallery Annex – BohemiAfrica
Three visiting Czech artists, (two master glassblowers, one a glass painting professor in the Glass Institute in Novy Bor, Czech glass town), Marek Bartko, Emil Kovak & Sarka Zikmundova are in Kitengela demonstrating Czech techniques in a three week workshop at Kitengela Hot Glass. Arnout Visser, from the Netherlands, and Mikko Merikallio (Finland)will be also be present, Arnout developing his BushGlass products with both Czech and Kenyan skills, and Mikko pursuing his quest for reduction of lifetime energy costs.
Dubbed BohemiAfrica, the exhibition will showcase the results of this exciting first time collaboration between the Czech republic and Kenya. Hosted by Anselm Croze, director of Kitengela Hot Glass, this event is open to the public for free viewing during the working week.
Dodhia Gallery – Mieke van Grinsven
Mieke van Grinsven was born in the Netherlands in 1957 and studied handicrafts at the Arts Academy in Arnhem. She studied at a Carpentry Cooperative in Oosterbeek, Netherlands before coming to Africa in 1987 to manage a crafts workshop in rural Zambia, where she remained until 1992. After that she ran her own leather factory in Tanzania for eight years, until in 2003. Later she found the beautiful green serpentine stone in Tengenenge, Zimbabwe, the material in which she felt most able to express herself. She sold her leather factory and decided to fully concentrate on sculpting. During the first years she was guided by the shapes of serpentine stone to create her ‘smiling faces’. The move to sculpting torsos was never intended, but the first two bodies she made surprised her with their remarkable expressiveness, even without a heads. She loves to work in her outdoor workshop and gallery in the acacia woods near Arusha, Tanzania, with the sounds of the birds and the village in the background. She lives with her husband and two children, and sculpting has become such a part of her life that a day without it isn’t balanced. Her work is inspired by the people of Africa.
Rahimtulla Gallery – Umberto Signa
Umberto Signa (Palermo 1942) is an architect who has recently taken up his juvenile passion for painting and sculpture. In the early seventies, at the beginning of his university studies in architecture, he was “affected” by the “syndrome of the white sheet”. This all happened at a time when in the 20th Century there was a clash between visual arts and architecture.
Only in the last four years the author has overcome his hesitation also thanks to the encouragement of a friend, who is also an architect and an artist. Therefore starting from where he had stopped years ago, but with more critical awareness, he starts his first studies in “honour” to futurists and purists who can be considered his first landmarks, together with Mr. Burri. Now we can say that the artist (a definition which Mr. Signa refuses ) has found his way. He works and experiments without caring to be always consistent or to belong to the one or the other movement.
Photographers Gallery – Celebrating daily life
Celebrating Daily Life – Photos from the Samosa Festival 2008 comes to RaMoMA. Teeku Patel and his photographer colleagues have captured some of the scenes which depict the commonalities in our cultures, which we take so much for granted. The mixed race families, the African woman rolling out a “chapati”, the glorious and mouth-watering colours of vegetables and spices and the multi-racial shoppers who are sampling the wares! The row of jikos and sufurias, each with a well-known and popular food item, makes us aware of the amazing extent of sharing and enjoyment. The striking pose of the two young models unreservedly proclaims that beauty is not confined to race.
Ford Room – Maasai Mbili Art Center
Maasai Mbili Art Center (M2) is a community art group from Kibera that was started in 2001. The group has always worked from a studio situated along Kibera Drive and has been used for community outreach projects, working with Kiberian children and women in workshops where fine arts, and culture in general, are turned into effective tools for community cooperation.
Today Masai Mbili faces a crucial challenge. The plot where the center works is for sale and it needs urgently funds to buy the plot and secure its future for the Community. The exhibition aims at raising money to help the center to carry on its very important work in Kibera.
Worlds of the Indian Ocean – Festival Schedule, Feb 19th-23rd 2009, various locations
Worlds of the Indian Ocean festival is presented by the Aga Khan University’s upcoming Faculty of Arts and Science, East Africa, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Aga Khan University. The five day event will revolve around intellectual and imaginative explorations of the Indian Ocean cultural realm. It will feature a series of conferences, discussions, exhibitions, performances and film screenings at various venues in Nairobi including the National Museums of Kenya, the Godown Arts Centre, Alliance Française, Goethe-Institut and Nu-Metro cinema.
For more information visit the festival’s website
Find information on the parallel conference as well
All events are free, apart from a charge of 500ksh at Club Afrique
16 – 28 Feb. Photo Exhibition @ Alliance
‘Moroni in 1898, Henri Pobéguin’s collection. Grande Comore – Ngazidja, yesterday and today, 1897-2005′
exhibition produced by Sophie Blanchy.
A collection of photos by the 1st Governor of France of the Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Henri Pobéguin, put togeher with modern day photos of the same places. The exhibition illustrates the social significance of each place and shows the dual inhabitants of Moroni: the descendants of the noble Sunni Arabic-speaking Persians from Shiraz and the Swahili settlers of Bantu origin.
Thu. 19 Feb.
Exhibit & Festival Opening: “Doorway to the Indian Ocean”, 5pm @ National Museums of Kenya
Inauguration of exhibit on the Art of Swahili Door Carving, images from Lamu and sculptures from Mombasa
Reception for conference participants and invited guests.
‘As old as my tongue’, 7pm @ Alliance Francaise
Film on the living legend Bi Kidude, followed by discussion with the co-producer Rita Ray and a live performance by Bi Kidude and Unyago Ngoma
The Zanzibari queen of taarab and Unyago music has beguiled audiences around the world. Her story is remarkable, challenging our perception of age (she is ninety-three going on sixteen) and of women in Muslim society.
Concert: Nawal (Comoros), 7pm @ GoDown
Indo-Arabian-Persian music meets Bantu polyphonies, the syncopated rhythms and Sufi trance of the Indian Ocean
Fri. 20 Feb.
‘Retracing the benga rhythm’, 7pm @ Alliance
film screening and discussion with the producer Tabu Osusa followed by a live concert with D.K. Mwai and Queen Babito
Benga is a Kenyan musical style. ‘Retracing the Benga Rhythm’ chronicles the history of benga relating the genesis and evolution of one of Africa’s most dynamic music genres. The film will be followed by concerts by benga maestro Daniel Kamau Mwai (D.K. Mwai) and Queen Babito and D.O 7 Shirati Jazz Band, led by the dynamic Queen Babito, widow of another Benga maestro, the deceased D.O. Misiani.
Dj-set by DJ Yusuf, from 10pm until late @ Club Afrique
The phattest beats from all over Africa, the Caribbean, Arabia and beyond
Sat. 21 Feb.
Film: Infinite Justice, 10:30am @ NuMetro Westgate
Jamil Dehlavi’s last feature film starring Kevin Collins and Raza Jaffrey is the story of a Jewish American journalist who is held for ransom by Muslim fundamentalists against the release of prisoners of Guantanamo Bay, followed by discussion with film maker
‘Poetry in Motion’, 7pm @ Alliance Francaise
The film explores the 100-year history of Zanzibar’s oldest taarab orchestra, ‘Nadi Ikhwan Safaa’ (1905-2005).
The film will be followed by a concert by singer and violinist Mohamed Ilya (who was lead singer with ‘Nadi Ikhwan Safaa’ orchestra) and the Nyota Zameremeta taarab group (many of who originate from the Nadi Ikhwan Safaa orchestra). Mohamed Ilya’s voice conjures up a multitude of images, from glittering sunsets on the Indian Ocean, to lovers’ romance and betrayal, to the smells of cloves and frangipani that makes the Swahili culture come alive and paints an emotional picture of Zanzibar.
Concert: Mazaher (Egypt), 7pm @ GoDown
One of the last remaining all-female Zar groups from Egypt in an unforgettable performance
Feb 22nd
An Afternoon of Stories, 4pm @ Goethe-Institut:
Storytelling from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia; directed by Aghan Odero, accompanied by live musicians.
The Story of Musical Neighbors, 7pm @ Goethe-Institut:
Concert by Nizar Lalani (Pakistan) and Njane Mugambi (Kenya) exploring the way in which the Indian Ocean has brought different worlds together through music.
Film screening by the filmmakers Christine Coulange and N’Chan Manoyan presenting musical and visual samplings collected during a 6-month expedition from Egypt to Comoros and Zanzibar.
Indo Masai Fusion Dance, Feb 18th 2009 @ Alliance
INDO MASAI FUSION DANCE
by Jaya Pachauri, classical dancer from Rajasthan and Fernando Anuang’a, Masai warrior from Kenya
Wednesday 18 February Alliance Française garden
Tickets: 400/-
Dance enthusiasts will remember Fernando Anuang’a and the Masai Vocal Dance group who showed a unique choreography blending traditional Masai dance and song to contemporary movements at Alliance Française in March 2008. Anuang’a returns to Nairobi accompanied by a classical Indian dancer to present a stunning new cultural fusion. This contemporary dance fusion is the improbable meeting of two different universes: a classical Indian dancer from Rajasthan, Jaya Pachauri, and a Masai dancer from Kenya, Fernando Anuang’a. Jaya specializes in the North Indian dance, Kathak, a classical dance steeped in ancient artistic traditions, and Anuang’a incarnates the Masai warrior, defender of ancestral lands and customs. The two met at the Festival d’Avignon where there individual performances inspired them to create a choreography rooted in the distinct traditions of India and Africa. In this Indo-Masai fusion, the grace and delicacy of the Indian dancer encounters the strength and sculptural beauty of the Masai dancer. Their interlacing dance and music shows that art in all its forms is a universal language.
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