OUR DEEPEST FEAR…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” by Marianne Williamson

IN HINDSIGHT…

I’m at a point right now in my life where I realize that I have to make some tough decisions… I have thoughts raging in my head, keeping me up most of the night and now I’m not sure I like this “growing up” bit of being an adult… no one gave me the break down when they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. If they did I think I would have opted to stay a child… where my only care in the world was to see my mum, sister, play, eat & watch cartoons… now those were cares indeed! I guess in the not so far future, I will look back at the cares causing me stress right now and realize… that they weren’t that bad after all… that’s the good thing with hindsight… I guess we are just meant to do the best we can… and live without regrets. I’m rumbling… I’ll be off now…

CONGRATS TO SMOOVE!

After much whining about being broke and realizing life is short I decided to finally head to Club Galileos to attend the Jazz/Neo Soul night on Thursday. It was awesome, I enjoyed every minute of it esp watching Valerie Kimani growing into her own and holding her ground with two internationally recognized and acclaimed artists - Johanes & Claire Phillips. I don’t care what everyone says about her, she’s a symbol of Kenya’s future… if we just all hold, persevere and support each other. About the whole evening all I can say about this awesome night is that I hope more like it are coming our way - so Smoove… bring it on! I wonder who Smoove are anyway? But wait… I like the anonymity.

KENYA BURNING: PHOTO EXHIBITION

“Did Kofi Annan come for a cup of tea or for truth & reconciliation?“

This is one of the striking comments captured in a photo that was taken during Kenya’s dark times early this year. I spotted at this interesting photo exhibition currently going on at The GoDown Arts Centre (Dunga Road, near Car & General). It runs from the 19th April - Closes May, 2008. Timings Monday to Friday 9am-5pm & Saturdays 10am-4pm. There will also be poetry performances on the same title starting this Saturday 26th so please avail yourself.

Let’s not forget how fragile we are as a nation.

ReLaTioNSHiPS 101

It’s been an interesting passed one year. What with the elections coming & going the way they did, Kenya & Kenyans never being the same again… lots has happened. Most of all & esp for me, that I’ve actually clocked one year in my current relationship is quite a milestone. Why that is rated as quite an occurrence because the last time that went down was maybe in 2002. Which surely shouldn’t be counted as such as it was a long distance relationship and being as young as I was, falling in love from a distance - through non existent emails and emotional turmoil - wasn’t really the way to go.

So I’m at that point where the honeymoon has just ended… where the bubble bursts! Where you start to count the days spent together or apart, moments shared or shattered, words exchange both good and bad….when you start to wonder about where all of this is going. It’s at that point that we consciously check into the relationship (because before you have been floating somewhere on cloud 23), look at our partners a little closer and wonder a little deeper.

It’s at this point that I panic at the thought of questioning my happiness and the source of it… and digging I have done in the passed months… yet slowly I’m liking what I have found in the depth of the questions. I have found that what lies within is love, warmth, hope, fun, drama, craziness, irksome thoughts, jealous rage, childish tantrums. Quiet honestly I’m finding that it’s the refuge of my emotions, the haven of my future and the hearth of my love. It’s something to write home about, and sing from the mountain top on; yet sit quietly with it over some neo soul & masala tea… counting my blessings… one by one…

TAG YOURSELF…

I came across this in Estrella Dice’s blog. Pretty interesting. Tag yourself if you wish…

4 Jobs I have had in my life:
1. Graphic Designer
2. Voiceover talent
3. Host at PetroSains Malaysia
4. Telemarketer

4 Places I have lived:
1. Nairobi
2. Kuala Lumpur
3. In my head.
4. USA (various parts)

4 Countries I have been to on vacation:
1. Thailand
2. Singapore
3. Malaysia
4. USA

4 of my Favorite food:
1. Kitfo (Raw minced meat)
2. Sushi
3. All Malaysian/Asian foods
4. Veggie Salads

4 Places I would rather be right now:
1. Home in bed
2. Partying in Malaysia
3. Watching a movie at the Cinemas
4. Walking on the beach

TALK TO YOUR MP

I haven’t done my blog trotting in a long while but as soon as I did I reaped rewards! Check out Shailja’s post on being able to sms or call your parliamentary representative and giving them a piece of your mind regarding the current (or future) political impasse(s)! I’m not sure I have the guts to do so but it surely a resource to have.

TEMBEA KENYA

I don’t know where I have been (and I suspect it’s been a very deep hole) that I found this website on an initiative by the Government of Kenya. It’s interesting that we had to go through the skirmishes for the government and Kenyans to realize the value of Domestic tourism! It’s good however that we’ve woken up now… we need to learn to be self reliant in all aspects especially appreciating the land that we love so much.

It was a couple of years back when I was watching The Constant Gardener and getting shocked at the lovely views that the movie had of my very own country! I was seated next to a KC at the time and they talked nonchalant about having being to that beautiful location and other places I have never been. I was embarrassed about my pride of traveling many other countries in the world save for my own back yard. Yet we take pride in living in Nbi, going to shags once or twice a year and coast over New Years. That to us is seeing our country! But it’s never too late.

Hopefully with the launch of Tembea Kenya (and many such initiatives) isn’t just a farse but will find a way of changing the mind sets of Kenyans and the service providers (especially) on seeing this beautiful country. I remember over the January period when one service provider was asked if they would be reducing their prices to attract more local tourists he went on to say how reducing prices would attract characters that they don’t deem worthy of using their facilities; ofcourse I have paraphrased it but it was both ashaming and angering to hear a fellow Kenyan say that.

Also it should also be made much more affordable to travel internally. I wonder if primary school kids still do those yearly trips to Tsavo or Amboseli (my school didn’t ever give us such a treat!) but those activites should be encouraged every year so that children can gain an appreciation of their own country at an early age and stop craving the business of “flying out” as soon as they are done with form 4. I also commend what Nakumatt is doing with their current promotion where one wins a trip to some place in Kenya… maybe we should stop those WIN 1M or 10M promotions and send people to see their own country!

Either way we should all encourage each other to TEMBEA KENYA!

FAME vs CONTENTMENT

I was reading an article in the Business Daily about Valerie Kimani and I got instantly confused over the idea that she can’t be accepted on home ground unless she does her music in Genge or Kapuka format! That her venturing into the neo-jazz genre that she has will damage the Tusker brand to it’s youth following.

I hate to believe that Kenyan youth are that shallow! That we can’t listen to various genre of music that comes from our own. That’s really sad in my eyes… and it’s good that foreign labels have taken her & her album up… wait and see after international acclamation how she will be welcomed back home suddenly by the very same youth. I guess a prophet is never welcome in his own home!

In any case personally I don’t like the whole Tusker Project Fame name. How is it we are advertising Tusker beer to children under the age of 18 comfortably without anyone raising any sort of objection! Then we wonder what young children are doing in the clubs, drunk and stumbling all over!

I say to Valerie… you go girl - do your thing. Take personal contentment over fame and everything else will follow… and with that I shall be buying her CD this month.

GENERATION KENYA?

I see interesting stuff has been happening at Kwani? (save for the change of management and staff)… came across Generation Kenya. I might be the last to know about this but no matter I’m pretty excited about what is being planned. It definitely be something interesting for Kenyan artists to get on board with!