Archive for July, 2010
Photographic Exhibition: Kenya’s Nubians, Jul 17 – Aug 14 2010 @ GoDown
This Saturday 17th July, Greg Constantine will partner with UNHCR to present The Nubian Photographic Exhibition at The GoDown Arts Centre at 2:30 p.m. The exhibition shall portray the statelessness and the denial of citizenship on Nubians in Kenya with rare historical photographs and documents from their personal collections. The exhibit will travel to indoor and outdoor venues in downtown Nairobi, the Nubian section of the Kibera neighborhood of Nairobi, and London. The aim of the project is to advocate for basic rights, inclusion on Kenya’s census, and the issuance of Kenyan ID cards for Nubians.
The exhibition shall run from 17th July to 14th August 2010.
Concert: Classics at the GoDown, Jul 17 2010 @ GoDown
On the 17th of July at 7:00 p.m, The Kenya Conservatoire of Music presents Classics at The GoDown, an evening of popular and not so familiar music by upcoming and well known musicians in Nairobi and by the Conservatoire Orchestra. The Music includes: Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, Nella Fantasia by Ennio Moricone, Overture to The Barber of Seville by Gioachinno Rossini. Some of the performers include: Cynthia Mungai, David Ralak, Quintatone, Julia Njoroge, Dipto Chakrabarti, The Conservatoire Orchestra and more.
Theatre: There is a Girl in my Soup, Jul 30-Aug 1 2010 @ National Theatre
Unicorn Arts Production
Presents a rib cracking comedy
THERE IS A GIRL IN MY SOUP
Venue: Kenya National theatre
Date: July 30-August 1 2010
Time: Friday 30th at 6.30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm & 6pm
Advance tickets available at Kenya National theatre; Alliance Francaise and Burgerdome restaurant-Kimathi Street or call: 0713 181667, 0724 005284, 0733 956924, 0733 437783
Cast: ‘Jalango’, lydia Gitachu, Eric Ndungu, Andrew Muthure, Wanjiku Mburu, Sam Kihiu, Sialo Luiza, Robert Agingo
Concert: Otto Lechner & Windhund Music, Jul 17 2010 @ Goethe-Institut
OTTO LECHNER & WINDHUND MUSIC
At Goethe Institut, Monrovia Street, Nairobi
Saturday 17 July, 6.00 PM
ENTRY: Free
Otto Lechner, a blind accordionist and member of the famous “Accordion Tribe”, an all star group of world-renowned accordionists who were brought together by American accordionist Guy Klucevsek. Karl Ritter, a true “Guitar King” and Melissa Coleman, Cello, complete the Trio Windhund Music representing different sound worlds, its members are well known for their musical globetrotting. They move around in many areas of music, never restricting themselves to any cliché. The combination of high professional standards of music making, artistic maturity and a common understanding of musical performance spark the creation of pieces which could not have been better written if they had been pre-composed.
Thai Food Festival, July 16-18 2010 @ Tribe
The Royal Thai Embassy have partnered with Tribe, Kenya Airways and Royal Umbrella to bring a fantastic food festival to Nairobi. The chef-couple, Chana and Wanna Saengnil have been flown directly from Bangkok for this three day Thai food extravaganza.
Buffet Dinner: Kshs. 2,000 per person
Book: fnb@tribehotel-kenya.com
Idol Competition: Tribal Idol, July 20 2010 @ Tribe
DATE: July 20th
TIME: 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm
PLACE: Tribe
Book: sm@tribehotel-kenya.com
Tribe hosts the first ever Tribal Idol – an evening of talent…and the lack of it!
With Judges: Mark Somen, Nonini & amp; Nina Ogot
Hosted by: Rand Pearson
Only one thing is certain, this night will be legendary and the winner will walk away with a night in Tribe’s celebrity suite – THE PENTHOUSE!
ENTRY FREE
Concert: Muthoni + Dela, Jul 16 2010 @ Capri7
Muthoni the Drummer Queen and Dela will be playing together again on Friday, July 16, 2010
Location: CAPRI7 , a Garden/Lounge Bar/ restaurant at the end of Jabavu rd, next to Chaka Place, off Argwings Kodhek Rd, Kilimani
Tickets are Ksh 400 available at the door – the concert will begin at 9pm (really)
Artist Talk on “NotAboutKarenBlixen”, Jul 16 2010 @ RaMoMa
As part of the continuing exhibitions NotAboutKarenBlixen, RaMoMa is hosting an Artist Talk on 16th July – 6 p.m. featuring:
Miriam Syowia Kyambi (Kenya)
Søren Assenholt (Denmark)
RaMoMa is on 2nd Parklands Avenue
Tel +254 20 3748612/8 info@ramoma.com
Phoenix Players Present: Role Play, Jul 16-31 2010 @ Professional Centre
ROLE PLAY
By John Sibi-Okumu
Opening Friday 16th July to Saturday 31st July
Mzee Jonathan Juma is living his final illness. Born in 1930 and after living a full and exciting life he has misgivings. Those around him including his family have their misgivings too – about Mzee, their relationships and their country. All this provides a Journey into the Kenyan Psyche.
DIRECTED by Nick Njache
Opening Fri 16th July to Sat 31st July
Weekdays @7p.m Saturdays 3p.m and 6p.m
Tickets Kshs. 500/- Students Kshs 300/-
Tickets available @ The Professional Centre, Parliament Road.
For Ticket bookings call 2225506 or 0729 913425 or email: info@phoenixtheatre.co.ke
Go to www.phoenixtheatre.co.ke for more information about Phoenix Players
Exhibition: Colour Language, Jul 15-26 2010 @ Village Market
Visual Art Exhibition by
James Mutisya and Moses Muigai
Venue: Village Market (Main Exhibition Hall)
Date: July 15-26 2010
Time: 8am-7pm Daily
Entrance: Free
Contacts: 0733 888 566/0726 967531 and 0733 220824/0710 256677 for James and Moses respectively
Exhibit: Eyes Have It, Jul 10-30 2010 @ Kuona Trust
“Eyes Have It- politics through art” exhibition curated by Carol Lees
Opening Saturday 10th July from 2.30pm – 5.00pm until 30th July
An art exhibition featuring policially inspired works by Richard Kimathi, Camile Wekesa, Michael Soi, Patrick Mukabi, Allan Githuka, John Kamicha, Bertiers and Willie Wambugu
Busia Community Library Benefit Party, Jul 10 2010 @ Makini School (by Impala Club)
Benefit Party for the Construction of a Public Library in Busia
July 10, 2010 3pm-6pm at Makini School (poolside), near the Impala Club off Ngong Road
map here: http://www.makinischool.com/contact-us/directions-a-maps
Entrance: 750 KSH minimum donation at the door
This event is hosted by MP Hon Chrys Okemo, and will feature special readings and performance art by artists from Kwani Trust, a literary organization that publishes edgy, modern, and distinctly Kenyan voices. Eva Kasaya, author of Tale Of Kasaya ,will be reading from her book.
This party is organized by Maria’s Libraries, a US-based NGO that has partnered with a number of Kenyan governmental and non-governmental, as well as international organizations, with a mission to promote and develop an integrated network of libraries and library services in Kenya, fully connected with each other, their national system, and the world. We do this in three ways: building libraries, interpersonally and technologically networking libraries, and supporting the development of a reading culture. Our primary project is currently in collaboration with Family Support Services (FASSCO), a Kenya-based CBO, to construct a new library in Busia. This project is an attempt to encourage readers young and old, and to provide access to resources that do not exist in the region–the nearest modern libraries are in Kakamega and Kisumu. Both the party at the Makini School and the Busia library building project are undertaken in collaboration with the Friends of the Busia Community Library, a group of expats from Busia, many of whom are based in Nairobi, and who recognize the importance of giving back to their home community and enhancing educational and development opportunities for Busia residents.
To enter the party, please bring 750 KSH as a minimum donation. This buys 75 bricks for the new library construction. Students, and anyone else, may sell 75 bricks at 10ksh each to raise the 750ksh entrance fee. If you choose this option, it would be wonderful (though not required) if you collect the names, email addresses, and number of bricks purchased by those who contribute, so we can thank them later! All donations and net entrance fees received for this event will go directly toward construction of the new library in Busia. To donate only, at any time, mpesa: 0718 201591
Exhibit: A for Africa, Jul 15 2010 – Jul 2011 @ National Museum
The A for Africa exhibition is a place of discovery, of questioning and participation.
From A to Z, from Africa to Zenith, the exhibition questions the realities of the African continent based on the alphabet, through 26 issues/letters.
This vast continent, with its 57 countries and territories, is examined through a variety of disciplines: culture, society, art, science, landscapes, etc., with the wish to throw a light on the present through the knowledge of the past, and a projection towards the future.
A for Africa will open on 15 July 2010, on the main site of the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) in Nairobi, Kenya, and in September 2010 in Ouagadougou at the National Museum of Burkina Faso. The exhibition will be open for a year on both sites.
More information is available on the official website of the exhibition
NM – Jacob Oketch in Wasanii
“Nairobi is a land of opportunities. But Kenyan society doesn’t believe in art and artists are used to shying away. They should sensitize themselves to the fact that they are key decision makers.” Jacob Oketch
It is a common discourse amongst wananchi that culture in Kenya is still a rural asset and that the city is only a den of vice. However, in recent years, Nairobi has seen art spaces expand and a whole host of cultural agents invest in them, making Nairobi a cultural metropolis in its own right. But to who is this flourishing activity addressed? Indeed, one could argue that cultural production in the city has had a strong tendency to cater for the expatriate market, providing only exportable art such as paintings, sculptures or attire that represent a limited idea of Africa.
Storytelling is one of those arts that is difficult to export. As Jacob Oketch will say, eye contact with the public is essential. While using Dholuo, he is famous for exuberant, overflowing and very communicative performances. According to him, storytelling is also an art that has an important history in African societies and one that should be better valued. Some institutions are pushing to make these art forms more visible on the kenyan art scene. Storytelling can now be found in different places in town, at poetry and open mic events organised by Kwani? or PEN, or in festivals that occur from time to time (Sigana, Jukwaani, WaPi, etc.).
Jacob participates in some of those events, but his main base – like a large part of the art community – is Wasanii, the bar above National Theatre in the Kenya Cultural Centre. Despite the sarcasm triggered by the ‘National‘ nature of the centre, the KCC has grown into a thriving hub for artists who meet there on a daily basis to exchange ideas and projects. Polopiatch!!
Olivier Marcel for the Nairobi Mint project.
Exhibition: Lake Basin Art Group, Jun 23- Jul 6 2010 @ Village Market
Lake Basin Art Group
Opening Date: June 23 2010 at 6.00 pm
Venue: Village Market
Exhibition runs from: June 23-July 1 2010
The exhibition got extended until 6th July 2010 at the village Markets Old hall. It features TAKATAKA TREASURE ART where art is created from Takataka(TRASH),hence the name. Do rush there for great art pieces at great prices. for more info. call + 254 733 609 511/ 715 011 524.
Public Lecture: Genesis, Growth and Genealogy of the IPR, Jul 5 2010 @ National Museum
Kenya Museum Society Presents
A Leakey Legacy: Genesis, Growth and Genealogy of the Institute of Primate Research
Date: July 5 2010
Time: 4.30pm
Venue: Louis Leakey Hall, National Museums of Kenya
Presenter: Professor John E. Cooper (DTVM, FRCPath, FSB, CBiol, FRCVS)
Professor of Veterinary Pathology
Member of IPR International Advisory Board
Department of Veterinary Medicine
University of Cambridge, UK
Louis SB Leakey founded the IPR which has matured into a world renowned scientific facility for conducting biomedical and conservation of non-human primates. The story of this development is marked with success, challenges, relocation, expansion and Prof. John E. Cooper has been associated with it. Come and hear it from him as he shares his experiences and knowledge of the man and his contributions to IPR and NMK.
Exhibition: C-Stunners, Jun 30-Jul 7 2010 @Kuona Trust
Exhibition By: Cyrus Kabiru ft. Sylvia Gichia & George Ndagu
Venue: KUONA TRUST
Exhibition runs from: June 30-July 7 2010
Description
Inspired by memories of his childhood, Cyrus has always been fascinated by eyewear thus decided to make his own line of sunglasses.
He creates his limited edition ‘stunners’ branded C-STUNNERS using old and broken pieces of sunglasses fused with other found objects giving them a unique and ‘arty’ feel as no two look alike.
For more information and a great selection of pictures from the exhibit, visit Mutua Matheka’s blog.
Movies, Debates & Cartoon Exhibit: Walking The Constitutional Talk, Jul 5-31 2010 @ Alliance
July 12: RIGHTFUL PLACE: Endorois’ Struggle for Justice
by Fabian Daub & Andreas Grafenstein (2009), Kenya, 16min
In 1973, the Endorois commuity was evicted from their land by the Kenyan Goveremnt to make way for a game reserve and a tourist resort. The film tells the personal stories of members of the Endorois community and the impact of displacement on their identity and the struggle to reclaim their rightful place.
Panel Discussion: Do the clauses on land seek to increase security of land ownership, or can issues of community land right lead to ethnic conflict? And is it true that small holders of land will lose their parcels?
Panelists: Lumumba Odenda,Co-ordinator, Kenya Land Alliance, Charles Kanjama (Lawyer), Hon.Wanyiri Kihoro (Former M.P) and Dr. Ekuru Aukot, Director (Committee of Experts). Moderator: Mr. Maurice Makoloo, Director, Institute for Law and Enviornmental Governance
July 19: LAKE OF FIRE by Tony Kaye (2006), USA, 60min
The film takes a brave look at abortion, one of the most divisive subjects in the United States today. Fifteen years in the making, the film by no means offers viewers an unequivocal and definitive answer to the question of abortion. The film covers both sides of the abortion issues presenting points of view from across the spectrum.
Panel Discussion:The divisive issue of abortion and its place in the Proposed Constitution
Panelists: Rev. Oliver Kisaka-NCCK Deputy Secretary, Dr. Njoroge Waithaka (Chair, Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society), Dr. Jean Kagia-Gynaecologist, Grace Maingi-Executive Director (FIDA-Kenya), Dr. Ekuru Aukot, Director (Committee of Experts) Moderator: Murithi Mutiga, Senior Writer, Daily Nation
Art Festival: Annual Cultural Festival, July 10 2010 @ Ngecha YMCA
Ngecha Artist Association
Cordially invites you
To an Annual Cultural Art Festival
At Ngecha YMCA Grounds on 10 July 2010 as from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
ACTIVITIES
Cultural dances from Kikuyu, Luhya, Maasai, Nandi etc
Visual Arts Exhibition
Acrobats Shows
Dramas
Poems
Traditional Cat Walks
THEME: Healing local community after Post Election Violence
CHIEF GUEST
NANI CROZE (KITENGELA GLASS)
OTHER GUESTS
Nancy Farwell
Ellen Bienstock (Cultural Attache US Embassy)
Erin Murphy
Meri Bauer
Area Chief
Engineer John Kiragu
Entrance: Free
Theatre: The School for Wives, July 10-11 2010 @ National Theatre
The School for Wives
‘To be OBSCENE and not HEARD’
Venue: Kenya National Theatre
Date: July 10-11 2010
Time: 3.30pm and 5.30pm
Charges: Advance Kshs 300 and at the gate Kshs 400
Directed by: Onyondi Imbuchi, Edijoe Kihara
Theatre: Don’t Dress for Dinner!, Jul 9-11 2010 @ Alliance
The Friends Ensemble
Presents, for the first time in Kenyan theatre History….
a DOUBLE TREAT
….the World CUP final
and
A hilarious, clever and sexy COMEDY
by Robin Hawdon
DON’T DRESS for DINNER!
Directed by Ellis Otieno
Venue: Alliance Francaise de Nairobi
Date: July 9-11 2010
Time: 9th-6pm & 8.30pm, 10-11th-3pm & 6pm
Tickets: Advance (by 8th July) Kshs 400 and Gate Kshs 500
For more information and booking: 020 340 054/79, 0720 861 236, 0733 720 585, 0725 237 371 or email: friendsensemble@gmail.com
The 3rd & 4th Place & The FINAL WORLD CUP matches will be screened after the performances starting 9 pm on July 10-11 2010 respectively.
SYNOPSIS
This farcical concoction involves a married couple, an old friend, a voluptuous mistress and an outlandish cook who’s enlisted to take on different identities in a succession of lies, deceptions and misunderstandings. The plot is a recipe for hilarious confusion with more twists than a corkscrew.
Don’t Dress for Dinner is a frenetic case of mistaken identity. When Jacqueline decides to visit her mother for a few days, her husband Bernard sees an opportunity for a cozy weekend with his new mistress. His bachelor pal Robert calls to announce his return from Kampala, so Bernard invites him along as his alibi, also hiring a cook to cater a delicious dinner.
But when Jacqueline realises Robert is coming for a visit everything changes, and the high speed farce begins!
One impossible situation leads to another as the hapless friend Robert finds himself the target of both amorous attention and wrathful vengeance, while Bernard tries desperately to salvage a scrap of illicit bliss from the wreckage of a weekend….
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