somebody very dear to me sent me this forward and i thought it had sooo much to say.
Listen to life. stop worrying so much about what you're trying to say, and listen for a while. Though it may seem strange, one very effective way to express yourself is by listening.
Listen, carefully, lovingly and attentively to the world around you. Listen to others and listen to life.
Let go of your assumptions about what you expect to hear. Listen not only with your ears, but also with your heart and spirit.
Pay attention to what life has to say to you. There is no end to the valuable lessons you can learn.
When you think you know it all, you deny yourself the opportunity to learn new things. When you interact with others only to impress them with how much you know, they'll soon understand that you know very little.
The more you listen, observe and learn, the more powerfully you'll be able to express yourself. Take heed of what life has to say, and what you learn will carry you far.
so often we go about life just talking and laughing, gossiping and scheming and we fail to listen to life, and our hearts and most importantly to God! the messages that we miss, the secrets that are revealed are worth so much and can take us so far...yet here we remain, not listening.
Lord knows im guilty of that....
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Message of abstinence from our celebs..
Just heard this via Wassapangaz and was moved by the message that came out. Listen HERE : 'Vumilia' on record agaiinst HIV. It is a powerful thing for these YOUNG peoople, considered the domineering voice of reason and culture for many young kenyans. It is great to see them use their gifts for something that is not just about making themselves more money.
Hopefully this will recieve some MASSIVE airplay at radio stations back home. At first it was almost comical to listen to as I listened to Nonini, of 'We KAMU' fame, croon about abstinence, but i'll cut him some slack. All entertainment value I hope and these are his real sentiments.
All the performances are timam, definitely worth the listen.
On Abstinence: Do you think abstinence is harder to do when there is no motivating religeous drive behind it? Should the fear of death be the number one motivating factor behind the call for abstinence? Will it be effecive when people have already witnessed the sweeping effect of death in their villages, families, homes? Would it be sheer naevity to push for abstinence o the basis of purity instead? As in honour/respect thy body sort of purity?
Fear is an incredibly strong influence in the decisions we make, however something in me has always told me that Decisions based on strength/principle are the defining ones that last. Maybe thats what we should be striving to elicit from our peers and our youth: The principle that will lead them to abstinence.
Hopefully this will recieve some MASSIVE airplay at radio stations back home. At first it was almost comical to listen to as I listened to Nonini, of 'We KAMU' fame, croon about abstinence, but i'll cut him some slack. All entertainment value I hope and these are his real sentiments.
All the performances are timam, definitely worth the listen.
On Abstinence: Do you think abstinence is harder to do when there is no motivating religeous drive behind it? Should the fear of death be the number one motivating factor behind the call for abstinence? Will it be effecive when people have already witnessed the sweeping effect of death in their villages, families, homes? Would it be sheer naevity to push for abstinence o the basis of purity instead? As in honour/respect thy body sort of purity?
Fear is an incredibly strong influence in the decisions we make, however something in me has always told me that Decisions based on strength/principle are the defining ones that last. Maybe thats what we should be striving to elicit from our peers and our youth: The principle that will lead them to abstinence.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Friday, May 20, 2005
of shooters and dairy farms
Also feel sad too see how things went with Tom, but they put something into perspective that many have ignored. Those rangers were in plain clothes and did not identify themselves prior to confronting him. I can understand if they looked like thugs, or trespassers. Am not saying he did the right thing, i believe a charge of manslaughter should have been preferred against him. But some time ago, CID guys popped at home jumpin over the walls brandishin guns and lookin very rogue, not wanting to identify themselves. So we naturally raised the alarm.
The AG should have bonded him in custody until the necessary investigations are done, as now he may interfere with the process.
Rule of law my smelly behind, and we are the same ones who dont even follow the simplest of dictates within the Traffic Act.
The AG should have bonded him in custody until the necessary investigations are done, as now he may interfere with the process.
Rule of law my smelly behind, and we are the same ones who dont even follow the simplest of dictates within the Traffic Act.
An Uncommon Dialogue
Ok i have a confession to make. havent completed a book in eehh..ehh lets just say a really long time. I decided to ease my way into this whole umm reading thing by beginning with audio books since that way my sessions will be less suceptible to my chronic ADD caused by my incredibly alluring ibook. (proof - i just stopped listening to jot down this blog! what would i do without wifi..)
Currently listening to Conversations with God
, by Neale Donald Walsch and is thus far, nothing short of AMAZING. In the Book, Neale chronicles his 2 way dialogue with God.
Not just its comfortable prose, but the 'dialogue' helps one ease into the strong opinions emanating from this piece - as the reader it is almost as if you are a bystander listening in on a great conversation between 2 people, and the ideas(heavenly inspirations?) pushed forth by the author thus goo down a whoole lot easier. This literary style is great as it avoids the a condascending approach of other books of similar subject matter, which usually lose the battle to convince before they even begin.(at least for me)
It is helping me ask a whole lot of the questions about my faith that were stuck in the labyrinth of my spiritual senses - and is somewhat of a reawakening becuase of this. Highly recommended read. (or listen if ur as distracted as i am).
Jehovahs Witness wont know what hit them next time they come by my apartment..
Currently listening to Conversations with God
, by Neale Donald Walsch and is thus far, nothing short of AMAZING. In the Book, Neale chronicles his 2 way dialogue with God.Not just its comfortable prose, but the 'dialogue' helps one ease into the strong opinions emanating from this piece - as the reader it is almost as if you are a bystander listening in on a great conversation between 2 people, and the ideas(heavenly inspirations?) pushed forth by the author thus goo down a whoole lot easier. This literary style is great as it avoids the a condascending approach of other books of similar subject matter, which usually lose the battle to convince before they even begin.(at least for me)
It is helping me ask a whole lot of the questions about my faith that were stuck in the labyrinth of my spiritual senses - and is somewhat of a reawakening becuase of this. Highly recommended read. (or listen if ur as distracted as i am).
Jehovahs Witness wont know what hit them next time they come by my apartment..
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Why you can afford to ignore blogging
Business Week just did a piece on why
Blogs Will Change Your Business. Though primarily building a case for the potential economic value behind a massive blogging culture by exposing the disruptive nature of the blog (in quotes since its not quote one), the article also explores in a straightforward and witty manner everything else you ever wanted to understand about this quasi-hysteria I have about blogs and the Internet 3.0.
Must read..and looking forward to the business week blog!
Blogs Will Change Your Business. Though primarily building a case for the potential economic value behind a massive blogging culture by exposing the disruptive nature of the blog (in quotes since its not quote one), the article also explores in a straightforward and witty manner everything else you ever wanted to understand about this quasi-hysteria I have about blogs and the Internet 3.0.
Must read..and looking forward to the business week blog!
Chicagocrime.org
Cant wait for Google to implement google maps for Kenya and greater Africa for that matter. I mean think of the birth of complimentary technology that would stem out of this. Few poosts ago i gave an example of the brilliant fusion of Google maps & craigsList Realestate listings. Now check THIS out.
chicagocrime.org, is a free browsable database of crimes reported in Chicago that fuses this useful plethora of data with the Google Maps interface, allowing views and persectives of live crime data by street, police district, location etc. As if this was not enough, all this info, in a preferred format, is available through RSS feeds, the same syndication technology that allows the tracking of blogs on feed aggregators such as *cough* *cough*Nchi Yetu Daily or Bloglines.
Cool!
chicagocrime.org, is a free browsable database of crimes reported in Chicago that fuses this useful plethora of data with the Google Maps interface, allowing views and persectives of live crime data by street, police district, location etc. As if this was not enough, all this info, in a preferred format, is available through RSS feeds, the same syndication technology that allows the tracking of blogs on feed aggregators such as *cough* *cough*Nchi Yetu Daily or Bloglines.
Cool!
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
RE:East Africa
Hey deno, when we took world civilization i happened to catch a few things in between naps. That there was already a civilization established much earlier than the Egyptian civilization around east Africa. There is proof that they were the first to domesticate the chicken,whose remains were accurately identified and dated to before the era of the Pyramids, within the area of present day Coast and into Tanzania. It's believed that they had links to the Shanzus who appeared later.
But interestingly,this ancient kingdom fell to a northern force, which totally destroyed any eveidence of its existence. That is why it's not well documented as there is very little in terms of remains.
PS: HAve u wondered why most of the early Egyptian paintings and monuments are black? It's coz they were ruled by blacks, with origins from present day Sudan.but again they fell as a result of a revolt by the middle east inhabitants whom they tolerated.
But interestingly,this ancient kingdom fell to a northern force, which totally destroyed any eveidence of its existence. That is why it's not well documented as there is very little in terms of remains.
PS: HAve u wondered why most of the early Egyptian paintings and monuments are black? It's coz they were ruled by blacks, with origins from present day Sudan.but again they fell as a result of a revolt by the middle east inhabitants whom they tolerated.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Not so eternal Egypt..
Last week a friend of mine did something together that we had postponed for far too long - hit the Museum circuit of montreal. No not something that we do all the time, and in a city thats is apparently such a liberal art vortex, its about time we indulged in a dose of 'culture' and exorcised the complacent 'mshamba' aura that we had become so accustomed to. My most memorable thoughts on: Eternal Egypt @ The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts:
* First off, we get in in laughing at all the suckers who opted to pay an additional 5 bucks for an 'audio' guide - a clumsy looking phone like contraption that speaks out a commentary on each respective artifact once u come within kidu 0.5 metre radius of it. I mean call me cheap, but 5 bucks to hear some mechanical voice payuka what i can read on the walls, no soundtrack, no headset - Surely ..i expect a such a respectable museum to be slightly more 'creative' in their efforts to rip us off.(the entrance fee is 7 bucks..to put things into perspective)...
* The female form is thing of beauty. And I ain't talking about the exhibition. It took me a while to get into the idea that I had come to see egyptian collections and not for my restless eyes to be darting around the stunning women present. Such a great pick up spot - cant believe my Mac radar had failed to pick up on this earlier. The atmosphere of brought about by a cluster of impatient people desperately struggling to appreciate art must certainly have accentuated the impression of the female in all her curvaceous glory upon my weak senses. Each curve complementing the other in seamless fluidity ..oh man..I wouldn't classify myself as a shameless gawker, just one who like to give credit where its due with my eyes...
* None of the artwork exhibited gave any slight mention as to how they were found.mostly what they represented. I felt it ironic that this stunning egyptian art was so far protracted from the people who championed it. This british museum is profiting immensely from the relics that should belong directly to the linked and owned by Egyptian heritage; I mean what makes the british any different form art conscious grave robbers?
* The theme that most jumped at me from observing the archaic pieces of limestone, papyrus reeds, gold, silver and bronze was this: man, today, yesterday, tomorrow, has an undying obsession with his past. Thats what each artifact essentially was: an individual time capsule, a means with which to iconify some individual for times to come. Skilled sculptoring was a much heralded profession in the middle ages before Christ, and really only aristocracy could afford them. One had to be trained extensively to write in hieroglyphs - meaning the vast majority was left out of these 'history books' and 'time capsules'. I want to hear what the average man in 1872 BC was about. Hopefully by the same token 4000 years form now the web server that hosts this blog will be unearthed by some 'digi-ologists' who can read my blog and ascertain what it was like to be a thoroughly cool average joe from kenya studying in Montreal. (and just incase u do read this from the future...i lied..I was the most influential person in Africa for the next 30 years.)
*I have a childlike impatience after like an hour of standing in an enclosed area.
* Who do they think they are..those kings and queens of misri..ati considering themselves 'deity'! Hapana. Thats just plain presumptuous. Power is a dangerous thing to have. The one great thing that came our of their ego-stroking art work is that most of the stone figures were sculpted in larger than life size.something that perhaps useful for archeologists today who aren't fans of the shovel.
* Every sculpted face was missing its NOSE. No this one has bugged me ever since i was a kid wondering what the hell went wrong with the sphinx. (ever read the Asterix comic with Cleopatra& ceasar..haha good stuff). Seriously though, it didn't matter how small the sculpture was - the mapua was ALWAYS missing. Something these grave-robbers knew that we don't. I posit that either these artists had one zany sense of humor , or that something seriously valuable was stored there in a not so discrete fashion.
* What was the rest of Africa doing 2000 years before Christ? was this obsession with capturing history something isolated only to the egyptians? I am especially concerned with what may be left of such an archaic East Africa. i refuse to believe it was a bunch of hunters and gathers struggling to figure out how to trap their next antelope dinner.
Looking forward to my next Museum trip..
* First off, we get in in laughing at all the suckers who opted to pay an additional 5 bucks for an 'audio' guide - a clumsy looking phone like contraption that speaks out a commentary on each respective artifact once u come within kidu 0.5 metre radius of it. I mean call me cheap, but 5 bucks to hear some mechanical voice payuka what i can read on the walls, no soundtrack, no headset - Surely ..i expect a such a respectable museum to be slightly more 'creative' in their efforts to rip us off.(the entrance fee is 7 bucks..to put things into perspective)...
* The female form is thing of beauty. And I ain't talking about the exhibition. It took me a while to get into the idea that I had come to see egyptian collections and not for my restless eyes to be darting around the stunning women present. Such a great pick up spot - cant believe my Mac radar had failed to pick up on this earlier. The atmosphere of brought about by a cluster of impatient people desperately struggling to appreciate art must certainly have accentuated the impression of the female in all her curvaceous glory upon my weak senses. Each curve complementing the other in seamless fluidity ..oh man..I wouldn't classify myself as a shameless gawker, just one who like to give credit where its due with my eyes...
* None of the artwork exhibited gave any slight mention as to how they were found.mostly what they represented. I felt it ironic that this stunning egyptian art was so far protracted from the people who championed it. This british museum is profiting immensely from the relics that should belong directly to the linked and owned by Egyptian heritage; I mean what makes the british any different form art conscious grave robbers?
* The theme that most jumped at me from observing the archaic pieces of limestone, papyrus reeds, gold, silver and bronze was this: man, today, yesterday, tomorrow, has an undying obsession with his past. Thats what each artifact essentially was: an individual time capsule, a means with which to iconify some individual for times to come. Skilled sculptoring was a much heralded profession in the middle ages before Christ, and really only aristocracy could afford them. One had to be trained extensively to write in hieroglyphs - meaning the vast majority was left out of these 'history books' and 'time capsules'. I want to hear what the average man in 1872 BC was about. Hopefully by the same token 4000 years form now the web server that hosts this blog will be unearthed by some 'digi-ologists' who can read my blog and ascertain what it was like to be a thoroughly cool average joe from kenya studying in Montreal. (and just incase u do read this from the future...i lied..I was the most influential person in Africa for the next 30 years.)
*I have a childlike impatience after like an hour of standing in an enclosed area.
* Who do they think they are..those kings and queens of misri..ati considering themselves 'deity'! Hapana. Thats just plain presumptuous. Power is a dangerous thing to have. The one great thing that came our of their ego-stroking art work is that most of the stone figures were sculpted in larger than life size.something that perhaps useful for archeologists today who aren't fans of the shovel.
* Every sculpted face was missing its NOSE. No this one has bugged me ever since i was a kid wondering what the hell went wrong with the sphinx. (ever read the Asterix comic with Cleopatra& ceasar..haha good stuff). Seriously though, it didn't matter how small the sculpture was - the mapua was ALWAYS missing. Something these grave-robbers knew that we don't. I posit that either these artists had one zany sense of humor , or that something seriously valuable was stored there in a not so discrete fashion.
* What was the rest of Africa doing 2000 years before Christ? was this obsession with capturing history something isolated only to the egyptians? I am especially concerned with what may be left of such an archaic East Africa. i refuse to believe it was a bunch of hunters and gathers struggling to figure out how to trap their next antelope dinner.
Looking forward to my next Museum trip..
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
You and Drugs
Hey guys, how are you doing? Hope you are all fine. Long time eyy?
Well, drug trafficking/smuggling has become an issue of concern, over the last like 5 months. That is, here in the Land Down Under.
Remember before you left for your respective host countries…
Mum: Make sure you lock your luggage. Make sure you keep your luggage with you at all times. Don’t trust anyone you meet at the airport.
You: (thinking) what is she rambling on about. Yeah Yeah Yeah... (You say)
Mum: Listen…
You: Ahh. I heard you the first time, wacha kunisumbua.
Mum: (mumbling) Asiyefunzwa na mamaye, hufunzwa na ulimwengu.
You: What?
Mum: Nothing. Sitaki kukusumbua.
Consider the following scenarios:
Scenario I
You’ve been in your host country for a couple of years, and you decide to go home for the holidays. Then, the holidays are up and you are back in JKIA returning to your host country. You have problems both at home and in the host country. A well-dressed man walks up to you…
Man: Is everything ok?
You: No, not really. Don’t want to talk about it.
Man: Come on get if off your chest.
You: I have so many problems.
Man: Well, I can solve your problems.
You: Am listening…
Man: I will give you $ 1 million right now, if you carry ‘this’ to your destination.
You: (thinking) AUD$ 1M almost Ksh 60M. What do I do? My rent is overdue. I have been unable to finish paying fees. My granny is sick in hospital and there is no money to pay for her much needed operation. My parents are broke… etc
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Scenario 2
You are in the airport. Right then (for the men) you see a well endowed tall blonde, short skirt, full red lips and legs reaching Korogocho. (For the ladies) You see a tall, dark and well handsome guy. Large green-grey eyes, very dark medium length locks, lean but muscular, 5 o’clock shadow beard… Is it getting hot here ama it’s just me. (Let me turn on the fan, setting no. 2.) Ok, they see you staring at them like a person who has the biggest eyes without eyelids. They have seen their prey.
The Hotties: Can sit here?
You: Yes Yes!
After a few niceties here, chit chats there and giggles, guffaws and snorts everywhere…
The Hotties: (smiling sexily) its hot in herrrre right? (the chic- undoes one button and pulls the skirt a little bit higher. A kabead of sweat drips into her cleavage) (the guy- he undoes 2 buttons, his chest is just there staring at you)
You: (drooling bucketfuls of saliva) Yeah very hot indeed….
Your bladder: Hey you? Empty me, empty me!!!
You: Shut up you whinger! WAIT UNTIL WE GET INTO THE PLANE. CAN”T YOU SEE AM ABOUT TO GET LUCKY!
Your bladder: Geez, you don’t have to be such a yeller. I’ll wait then.
While you are debating with your bladder, the Hotties see your legs fidgeting.
The Hotties: Is everything ok? You seem pressed. Maybe you should go to the ladies/gents. I’ll look after your luggage.
You: OK
You bladder and brain: No, maybe you shouldn’t, not without your luggage.
You: SHUT UP!
And you go. When you get back from the ladies/gents, your hottie suddenly wants to make a call or get a sandwich. Last time to see them.
When you reach your host country, you’re caught with drugs. ‘They are not mine.’ You say. You've been duped by your hottie.
WHO WILL BELIEVE YOU?
Scenario 3
You and your so-called trusted friend are going for a holiday. What you know about your ‘friend’- such a wonderful friend. What you don’t know- They loathe and detest you because you have it all together. They want to be better than you. How do they do this- ruin your life by putting an illegal substance in your luggage. For example, Bridget Jones’ Diary: Edge of Reason- Bridget was caught with drugs in Bangkok Airport and her friend left her at the time of greatest need. Now if you do not have a BF or GF who is a high-flying international human rights lawyer, to get you out of jail like Mark Darcy/Dashing Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth, you will die and rot for sure. (Hey Colin, if you are reading this blog, post a comment and include your number…) Ohhh Colin (Fan setting no. 4)
Sorry for the brief detour, I was imagining Colin…mmm (sigh) Anyway back to the blog.
- A number of Aussies have been caught drug trafficking in Bali-Indonesia. They all claim that they are innocent. The first one to be arrested was student Shappelle Corby. On arrival, customs asked to open her body bag, she refused. She admitted that she had drugs, which were not there when she had left Australia. The Aus govt. suspects that baggage handlers put drugs into the body bag. Her sentencing options were the Death Penalty or Mandatory Life Imprisonment. Luckily, she escaped the Death Penalty. We hope that she will also be able to escape the life sentence as well. The final sentence will be handed down by the end of this month.
- 3-4 weeks ago, 8 men and 1 woman (btn ages 19-29) were caught in Bali Airport, the drugs strapped to their bodies. One of the guys is thought to be the god-father. He is currently in a separate jail-cell, because it is thought that he has threatened to harm the families of his mates, if they fail to maintain silence. They may face life imprisonment.
- Two days ago, a guy (probably in his mid-30s-early 40s) was caught with hashish. He says it’s for personal use, but he is facing the prospect of a 10 year jail sentence.
The moral of this long winding blog is: Be careful. Don’t be a know it all. Lock your luggage and be with your luggage at all times. Don’t trust anyone at the airport and choose your friends wisely.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Hip Hop Colony
This is a siiiiick website - Hip Hop Colony..Recently discovered via MsaniiXL's blog ..man everything about it is jus slick..havent got this excited about anything as kenyan hip-hoppy as this since my first listen of E'sir's Nimefika.
Still im old school at heart..no one in kenyan is making hip hop like they used to...ama its me who became Mainstream listening to too much hova, Naz and Game? The hard core 'Tafsiri hii's' and the K-south classics like 'watu wengine wana Tabia Mbaya' etc.
can they release this movie chepchep..
Still im old school at heart..no one in kenyan is making hip hop like they used to...ama its me who became Mainstream listening to too much hova, Naz and Game? The hard core 'Tafsiri hii's' and the K-south classics like 'watu wengine wana Tabia Mbaya' etc.
can they release this movie chepchep..
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Bravo: Kenyan Researchers !
Its no news that Im a news junkie - it is morphing into an ADD of sorts that doesnt allow me to read books - but i digress.. in todays 'hit' i was pleased to find
Kenyan Researchers have developed an animal model for HIV research, significantly cutting costs and research time down.
A cure beckons...(though my mom would disagree..she is sure HIV is the modern day plague and a sign of the end times....)
Kenyan Researchers have developed an animal model for HIV research, significantly cutting costs and research time down.
A cure beckons...(though my mom would disagree..she is sure HIV is the modern day plague and a sign of the end times....)
Beat me a picture...
Stumbled accross this photoblog and thought i should share...
gotta love jungus with their obsessive travel photography...and some interesting captions.
I want to travel!!!!
gotta love jungus with their obsessive travel photography...and some interesting captions.
I want to travel!!!!
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Of Lucy, Feminism, and objectivity
While it is commendable that MJY & Memoire in their recent Lucy posts have attempted to attack the 'real issues' I feel that both posts had too little objectivity in them and was marred (in self admission) to their knee jerk support for the quote unquote underdog. Not to label anyone, I feel like 'feminists' are hijacking this issue and masquerading as 'victim' on behalf of Mrs kibaki, following the public backlash after her actions, in a very inappropriate and unconvincing manner.
I chose Memoire's post as the base of my rebuttal as it was most recent and captured most of what i thought was wrong; keep in mind this opinion holds for other blog posts I have read.
The real issues, in my view, in respective rebuttal sequence are:
1) Lucy demands that music be turned off :
No big deal? The big deal is in how she carried herself as first lady. She has every right to be mad, but to storm in the way she did, say the things she did, and even try disconnect the sound is inexcusable for a person of her stature. 'decency' & respect in the way you approach a situation is not a western concept here - The story claims Diop Called State house to inquire if the party could go on, and he get the green light. When your own children are trying to calm you down, i think the term hysteria can be appropriated. Real issue: Manner of conflict resolution in times of anger.
This assumption that Diop failed to tell Mrs Kibaki of the party because she is not a man. I mean this is tantamount to reading the guys mind!
A fine specimen of what is fundamentally wrong with our politicians in Kenya once they get into power. With great power, comes great responsibility. irresponsibility is when those in power, ABUSE it, just by virtue of the fact that it is at their disposal and because they cannot be held accountable. Memoire, lets hope you dont become Mrs Kibaki anytime soon. And we are certainly holding you accountable Mrs Kibaki.
2) Lucy 'Storming' into Nation Centre
3) Lucy and feminism:
This one i dont know where to even begin. Not to get too far into this ensuing feminist debate, I will say that this statement betrays the lack of objectivity yet again:
Doesn't Diop have the right to hold a gathering in his house and make merry? Ama Lucy's right to be downright rude is of more pertinence & convenience to the feminist movement? I mean she is asking this guy who his mother is!?!? Lets be real. there's a difference to being outspoken and downright abrasive. The sad thing is, as mentioned by many other bloggers, that no one can particularly blame her as it appears to me a medical condition gone worse.
And the call to feminists to justify her obstinate behavior - i mean..this one lathers me with ire - is this what feminists are all about? Do you speak on their behalf? If there are any feminists reading this, please come correct, because this statement may have you grossly misrepresented.
I find that women in the diaspora especially get so detached from african culture that they fail to see how the distinct roles of a man and a woman in african home can live in harmony. This is the reason perhaps phrases like 'head of the home" or 'control the family' are sure to rattle the cages of many a feminist - but i digress. The real issue here is that Kibaki is expected to CONTROL his own household because it is is OUT OF CONTROL and because Lucy is in the centre of this hurricane...Not because he is a man, something feminists were incredibly quick to jump on. If Kibaki was the one going bananas, many including myself would expect LUCY to take control of her family.
This is a case of, as Mato from Bullets and Honey would say, delicious irony;Kibaki's family is perhaps the perfect microcosm of Kenya. He is the head of the family. Something that might be a bitter pill to swallow, but he really is. This is a debate of its own. He is also the President of the republic. Questions of Leadership in both areas, or lack thereof, are unsurprisingly abound.
Hate or love the WB, one needs to hear Diop's take on the economy to give this man some due respect. I watched him on 'up close and candid' and was impressed - kenya should feel a sense of loss IMO...however that is neither here nor there.
Real issue here: far too many to enlist..will save for another post.
4) Lucy's mistakes:
Perhaps you need to watch the video again. I and many others are basing all arguments on what I SAW. A lady assaulting , yes assaulting, a poor Camera man DOING HIS JOB. If anything he should be commended for such bravery. Assault is Backward, and uncouth. Anywhere else in the world, this woman would not be chekaing at the implications of that action. I mean we are talking some serious litigation here.
A woman Hijacking a the largest media house in the country..Laughable and yes, backward - you should read some of the posts non-kenyans have been writing about this.
With the media nitpicking her style of dress and manner of speech - (which i didn't personally find overemphasized) perhaps you are correct. My feeling is that this and past generations of Kenyans have forgotten what it feels like to 'have' a first lady, and that their images of a first lady construed in their minds don't quite match that of the Lucy persona. And lets not be naive..The media is in the business of selling papers..so when a story of such sensationalist nature literally brings itself into the publishing house, it is hard to imagine that the Publishing house would ignore Lucy's insistence on 'bikini's'. Real issue here: First lady is accountable to the public for the persona she projects as she is a public figure. The media is in the business of holding the figures accountable. So either dance the dance or face the consequences.
5) Kenyan journalism :
I choose to look at the glass as far more than half full. Kenya's media enjoys some amazing talent that has been globally recognized.I watched with great zeal as Kenyan journalists swept the CNN sponsored African journalist of the year awards in south africa Last summer. Political analysis is stellar, but perhaps tainted at times. And no they were not freelance.
Spend some time watching Fox News, and you will begin to be grateful at the quality and debatable objectivity of the kenyan media (not just publishing houses). Relative to other countries in africa I would say that Kenya is a shining star in terms of the great leaps taken freedoms allowed to journalists and presentation of content. Something that is manifest in the selection of Nairobi to host this years CNN African Journalist awards
While the there has been some display of shoddy journalism (see Thinkers room plagiarized), I think we ought to take some time to honor the Lucy Oriang's , the Linus Kaikai's, Farida Karonei's ,Kwendo Opanga's and even the Immanuel Juma's . I was extremely active in my high school newspaper and I can tell you the little I know of true journalism is that it is a dedication like no other...
Real issue here: Blanket standards for the entire kenyan media: they are not productive.
So much more to say, but my summary skills leave much to be desired, so I will give it a rest here for now.
This post is nothing without the feedback, so let it come raining in.
I chose Memoire's post as the base of my rebuttal as it was most recent and captured most of what i thought was wrong; keep in mind this opinion holds for other blog posts I have read.
The real issues, in my view, in respective rebuttal sequence are:
1) Lucy demands that music be turned off :
No big deal? The big deal is in how she carried herself as first lady. She has every right to be mad, but to storm in the way she did, say the things she did, and even try disconnect the sound is inexcusable for a person of her stature. 'decency' & respect in the way you approach a situation is not a western concept here - The story claims Diop Called State house to inquire if the party could go on, and he get the green light. When your own children are trying to calm you down, i think the term hysteria can be appropriated. Real issue: Manner of conflict resolution in times of anger.
"I say to Diop: a woman is equal to a man, tell her about the party if she lives next door."
This assumption that Diop failed to tell Mrs Kibaki of the party because she is not a man. I mean this is tantamount to reading the guys mind!
"oh how I wish I had bodyguards, I would do what Lucy did."
A fine specimen of what is fundamentally wrong with our politicians in Kenya once they get into power. With great power, comes great responsibility. irresponsibility is when those in power, ABUSE it, just by virtue of the fact that it is at their disposal and because they cannot be held accountable. Memoire, lets hope you dont become Mrs Kibaki anytime soon. And we are certainly holding you accountable Mrs Kibaki.
2) Lucy 'Storming' into Nation Centre
"I dont give a damn kind of women"Ur kidding me right? The only reason Lucy was able to orchestrate her shenanigens @ the NC are becuase she is the wife of the most powerful man in Kenya. Period. You try and go hijack the nation in your free time and see how long it takes u before your thrown out by security. Real issue here is : ABUSE OF POWER, and disregard for protocol.
3) Lucy and feminism:
This one i dont know where to even begin. Not to get too far into this ensuing feminist debate, I will say that this statement betrays the lack of objectivity yet again:
"where are the real feminists?f Lucy wants to be bad tempered, outspoken, adamant, she has every right to be, as does every human. Diop abused his capacity as a tenant and he thought that being a world-bank bigshot gave him immunity."
Doesn't Diop have the right to hold a gathering in his house and make merry? Ama Lucy's right to be downright rude is of more pertinence & convenience to the feminist movement? I mean she is asking this guy who his mother is!?!? Lets be real. there's a difference to being outspoken and downright abrasive. The sad thing is, as mentioned by many other bloggers, that no one can particularly blame her as it appears to me a medical condition gone worse.
And the call to feminists to justify her obstinate behavior - i mean..this one lathers me with ire - is this what feminists are all about? Do you speak on their behalf? If there are any feminists reading this, please come correct, because this statement may have you grossly misrepresented.
I find that women in the diaspora especially get so detached from african culture that they fail to see how the distinct roles of a man and a woman in african home can live in harmony. This is the reason perhaps phrases like 'head of the home" or 'control the family' are sure to rattle the cages of many a feminist - but i digress. The real issue here is that Kibaki is expected to CONTROL his own household because it is is OUT OF CONTROL and because Lucy is in the centre of this hurricane...Not because he is a man, something feminists were incredibly quick to jump on. If Kibaki was the one going bananas, many including myself would expect LUCY to take control of her family.
This is a case of, as Mato from Bullets and Honey would say, delicious irony;Kibaki's family is perhaps the perfect microcosm of Kenya. He is the head of the family. Something that might be a bitter pill to swallow, but he really is. This is a debate of its own. He is also the President of the republic. Questions of Leadership in both areas, or lack thereof, are unsurprisingly abound.
"I say: be gone, world-bank bigshot, be gone, the world bank is only plundering and looting and pillaging our continent."
Hate or love the WB, one needs to hear Diop's take on the economy to give this man some due respect. I watched him on 'up close and candid' and was impressed - kenya should feel a sense of loss IMO...however that is neither here nor there.
Real issue here: far too many to enlist..will save for another post.
4) Lucy's mistakes:
"media doesn’t seem to understand that their representations of women are backward and chauvinistic."
Perhaps you need to watch the video again. I and many others are basing all arguments on what I SAW. A lady assaulting , yes assaulting, a poor Camera man DOING HIS JOB. If anything he should be commended for such bravery. Assault is Backward, and uncouth. Anywhere else in the world, this woman would not be chekaing at the implications of that action. I mean we are talking some serious litigation here.
A woman Hijacking a the largest media house in the country..Laughable and yes, backward - you should read some of the posts non-kenyans have been writing about this.
With the media nitpicking her style of dress and manner of speech - (which i didn't personally find overemphasized) perhaps you are correct. My feeling is that this and past generations of Kenyans have forgotten what it feels like to 'have' a first lady, and that their images of a first lady construed in their minds don't quite match that of the Lucy persona. And lets not be naive..The media is in the business of selling papers..so when a story of such sensationalist nature literally brings itself into the publishing house, it is hard to imagine that the Publishing house would ignore Lucy's insistence on 'bikini's'. Real issue here: First lady is accountable to the public for the persona she projects as she is a public figure. The media is in the business of holding the figures accountable. So either dance the dance or face the consequences.
5) Kenyan journalism :
I choose to look at the glass as far more than half full. Kenya's media enjoys some amazing talent that has been globally recognized.I watched with great zeal as Kenyan journalists swept the CNN sponsored African journalist of the year awards in south africa Last summer. Political analysis is stellar, but perhaps tainted at times. And no they were not freelance.
Spend some time watching Fox News, and you will begin to be grateful at the quality and debatable objectivity of the kenyan media (not just publishing houses). Relative to other countries in africa I would say that Kenya is a shining star in terms of the great leaps taken freedoms allowed to journalists and presentation of content. Something that is manifest in the selection of Nairobi to host this years CNN African Journalist awards
While the there has been some display of shoddy journalism (see Thinkers room plagiarized), I think we ought to take some time to honor the Lucy Oriang's , the Linus Kaikai's, Farida Karonei's ,Kwendo Opanga's and even the Immanuel Juma's . I was extremely active in my high school newspaper and I can tell you the little I know of true journalism is that it is a dedication like no other...
Real issue here: Blanket standards for the entire kenyan media: they are not productive.
So much more to say, but my summary skills leave much to be desired, so I will give it a rest here for now.
This post is nothing without the feedback, so let it come raining in.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Eating Ethiopias Dust
The launch of Broadband makes Ethiopia's lead in African ICT all clear cut black and white.....
I love to see the phoenix rise!!! Look out for Africa - this is a significant but subtle stepping stone. Kenya just needs to get ORGANIZED. I dont see any particulary reason why we were not in a position to pioneer this feat, apart from the shenanigans Tuju has been so embroilled in, a major hindrance in getting anything done.
It is interesting to note that Ethiopia is the only country that was never colonised (a fact that they will never fial to mention) . My brother and Sister in law passed by Addis ababa on their way home last summer, and apparently their Airport puts JKIA to unbridled ridicule. It is sophisticated in a way that is almost incongrous of what we know as 'Africans'.
I love to see the phoenix rise!!! Look out for Africa - this is a significant but subtle stepping stone. Kenya just needs to get ORGANIZED. I dont see any particulary reason why we were not in a position to pioneer this feat, apart from the shenanigans Tuju has been so embroilled in, a major hindrance in getting anything done.
It is interesting to note that Ethiopia is the only country that was never colonised (a fact that they will never fial to mention) . My brother and Sister in law passed by Addis ababa on their way home last summer, and apparently their Airport puts JKIA to unbridled ridicule. It is sophisticated in a way that is almost incongrous of what we know as 'Africans'.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Kenya Times 2.0 sneak preview
Slight domain confusion
With this Roocy bonanza going on..(I mean the hits jus keep on coming!!) I have been eager to hear what everyones take on this craziness is at a glance:
I apologise profusely for the downtime we have faced leo: please visit the daily through this link for now:
Nchi Yetu Daily
The link is slightly harder to remember i apologise..the easy to to remember daily.nchiyetu.com will be back up soon I promise!
Thinker is unusually quiet on this one....I smell a bomb cookin....
I apologise profusely for the downtime we have faced leo: please visit the daily through this link for now:
Nchi Yetu Daily
The link is slightly harder to remember i apologise..the easy to to remember daily.nchiyetu.com will be back up soon I promise!
Thinker is unusually quiet on this one....I smell a bomb cookin....
New Wave In V.I.
How did you beat me to it soulsystah... I was itching to be the first to break the breaking news.
Oh well you said it. Its kinda embarassing. But it doesn't get better than actually being in Kenya and listening to this unfold as it unfolds. What do we say what do we do. I have been unable to do much work since I got to the office as we all tallk about the current situation. I will hold up my opinion till I get all the facts right.
You jua I'm one for avoiding drama who knows the next headline may well be. First lady Lucy storms Virtual Insanity!!!!
Enjoy your day and stay real....It could happen to you..
Oh well you said it. Its kinda embarassing. But it doesn't get better than actually being in Kenya and listening to this unfold as it unfolds. What do we say what do we do. I have been unable to do much work since I got to the office as we all tallk about the current situation. I will hold up my opinion till I get all the facts right.
You jua I'm one for avoiding drama who knows the next headline may well be. First lady Lucy storms Virtual Insanity!!!!
Enjoy your day and stay real....It could happen to you..
its abit tooooo much now
k, so at first i thought it was hilarious that Mama Lucy had become Muthaiga's official noise patrol, but after reading todays news about her storming of the Nation Centre , something just doesnt seem right, funny as the whole situation may still appear to be.The paranoia, the demands, the abuse and the petty complaints....not too mention the melodrama of wanting to carry out a hunger strike, are merely symptoms of what i fear is a much larger concern.
Its kind of embarassing actually, for me as a female who hopes to one day be involved in our nation's political landscape, that a woman in such a high position (albeit by virtue of her hubby's role) would be so rowdy, undiplomatic and quite frankly, a drama queen.
However, perhaps what is even more concerning, is the fact that Papa Emilio, is not doing anything to calm Lucy and her actions down. What sort of a president allows their spouse to run amock and embarass herself, and him, and the entire nation in general?
From literally holding the Nation Centre hostage with her body guards, to physically abusing a camera man, and imsulting what has been the country's forerunning media house, this mama has just done it all , and frankly if u ask me....its really time she stopped.
Its kind of embarassing actually, for me as a female who hopes to one day be involved in our nation's political landscape, that a woman in such a high position (albeit by virtue of her hubby's role) would be so rowdy, undiplomatic and quite frankly, a drama queen.
However, perhaps what is even more concerning, is the fact that Papa Emilio, is not doing anything to calm Lucy and her actions down. What sort of a president allows their spouse to run amock and embarass herself, and him, and the entire nation in general?
From literally holding the Nation Centre hostage with her body guards, to physically abusing a camera man, and imsulting what has been the country's forerunning media house, this mama has just done it all , and frankly if u ask me....its really time she stopped.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
forget the cops...call Lucy
So....sii normally its the cops who come to bust and break up parties, like the one we had last night at my pals!
NOT in NAI!!!!!
apparently, the new jeshi is Mama Lucy herself, coz she doesnt like dignitaries to have farewell parties in her compound. shes not one of my favourite people, but for real thanks to her, this presidency has been one of the most entertaining ones ive ever seen!!!
maoni?
NOT in NAI!!!!!
apparently, the new jeshi is Mama Lucy herself, coz she doesnt like dignitaries to have farewell parties in her compound. shes not one of my favourite people, but for real thanks to her, this presidency has been one of the most entertaining ones ive ever seen!!!
maoni?
Rape in Kenya
This daily Nation piece reports of some eye popping stats: to quote 1
What this translates into is that women in Kenya are living in trememndous fear. Are there any women from Kenya reading this that can affirm this feeling? Kindly tell us your thoughts. I surely hope I am wrong.
one out of every five people interviewed randomly in 14 urban centres in Kenya claimed they knew someone who had been raped in the past three months.
What this translates into is that women in Kenya are living in trememndous fear. Are there any women from Kenya reading this that can affirm this feeling? Kindly tell us your thoughts. I surely hope I am wrong.
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