Kwa Shina na Shida

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Sijui katika kiswahili tunamwitaje mama wa mama wa mama, au kwa vingine nyanya wa mama yangu. labda itakuwa bii mkubwa - lakini sioni. labda nyanya mkubwa? nitawachia wenzangu waliokita katika lugha kunifahamisha.

juzi basi, nyanya wa mama yangu alipatwa na jeraha kutokana na kuanguka toka juu kitandani mpaka sakafuni. akapelekwa hospitalini ili kuchunguzwa na kupata tiba. sote tukawa tunampitia kumjulia hali na ilipokuwa desturi yake, tukacheka na kutaniana kwenye wodi utadhani hakuwa mgonjwa!

nilipotoka huko, nilifikiria sana. fikira zenyewe ziligonga kuwa yeye ndiye shina la familia yetu na alivyotoka mbali, hatuna budi kumshukuru Mola kumfikisha mpaka alipo. Isitoshe, wengu wetu hatukupata fursa ya kuwaona wazee wa wazazi wetu, hivi mimi najihesabu kubarikiwa sana kumwona nyanya wa mama! isitoshe tena, tukaweza kukaa chini na kuwa na mazungumzo ya maana, akinipa ujasiri na ufahamu wa mambo.

kisha nikawaza sisi tulivyo na watoto wetu wanavyolelewa. Kama huku si shida, basi sijui nilitamkie neno gani. Watoto waliolelewa na runinga na "mobiles". Wasiojua tofauti katika umri na heshima. Naweza kuendelea lakini sote katika jamii tunajionea.

Nikafikia kuwaza, yaani sisi katika shida na balaa zote hizi tutaweza kukaribia au hata kufikia vyegezo waliofika wazazi wetu. Au babu zetu?

Is Wapi Going Anywhere? A Response

As I read Mbaratho’s version of what WAPI is, what the neo-poets and artists that flock it are or have become, the thin yet very loud trail of skepticism in this entire article just couldn’t escape me. Comparisons with greats Okot p’Bitek and Taban lo Liyong are splattered everywhere. My frail understanding begs the question why?

I ask why because it shakes the very cornerstone of my interpretation of what WAPI is. And most importantly where it’s going. Where its going in terms of the influence it will have on these “rebel-soldiers-look-alike-sweaty-gum-chewing-rough-rap-loving with dreadlocks Mau Mau wannabe’s”.

Forgive me for (maybe) extrapolating the description of how these artists are viewed by Mbaratho, but the article has litters of extrapolated overtures of what they are, or aren’t and am left wondering, who is s(he) to judge? Can’t they be hip-hoping, Sean John clad sagging their extra baggy jeans and still contribute to a cultural reawakening? Can’t they because of their outer look and disposition have a say on the societal issues that affect them? Must they be “mainstream”, cultivated in the words of Soyinka, Okot or Shakespeare, refined with the strokes of Rembrandt, Pablo or Maasai paintings to be culturally relevant?

What WAPI is in my view is simple. It’s a forum for underground artists to express themselves. Artists of any persuasion. Artists who are NOT mainstream. And what is mainstream anyway – actually obliterate that word. Artists who are not mainstream or are mainstream, the whole bunch, mixed together into a cauldron of creative space. So in the midst of this “…splatter (of) unintelligible paint on the wall of a parking lot”, they might discover the next graf king. In this process of doing “…everything and anything with everything and anything to achieve nothing”, they might just discover themselves and maybe by a stroke of luck, achieve something!

Where is WAPI going? I’d rather look at it this way. What would the artists involved in WAPI get out of it? In my opinion an awful lot. They come from different walks of life, quite contrary to the generalization that Mbaratho paints in his/her article. They come with one vision in mind, to share their talent, their passion. To get inspired by interacting with like-minded and not-so-like-minded individuals. They come to watch others up their game and get motivated to reach that height too. They come to find a creative outlet that dissolves the troubles that confound them as youth, if only once a monthly Saturday. They come to be given that chance to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be. And ultimately they come to have an opportunity to discuss, express and voice their opinions on anything and everything they feel and experience.

So rewind, where is WAPI going? Only the artists who have found a voice through WAPI will answer that question. In a few days, weeks, years when those activities they were hauling right in the middle of the British Council parking lot come full circle and they touch their triple beam dreams, they will tell you where it all began.

Visual Poetic Weekend IV

slumvillage

I thought i'd compare slum life and basketball. Vile naishi maisha yangu kwa hizi slums, utadhani life ili slam dunk on my face. Dreaming of making out of these playoffs za mangeta na kangeta na kunyeta.....

This was one of my exhibitions at the 6th WAPI this weekend, the theme being "Slum Village". We were out there to take a critical look at the slum life (and one of my pieces was too radical to get any air play... and i shall refrain from displaying it here - case in point, the recent Mathare violence). Anywaaaaaaaaaaay, we were also there to celebrate the slums and people who against all odds came up from there! Diego Maradona, Mandela, Hip Hop Founding Fathers.

Uhuru killed it this time.... i think he's more creative with a furahi-day hangie! The graf officiel screaming "Slum Villa!"

Bankslave as usual made the compe seem faded. His wax here "Kibera" and crowning himself (which he deserves). Check out the dark terror gripping the slums.

And yes, this time, BC was a full hauz! It rained, then it shone. Yet, they came.

Aaaaaah, camera slipped. Oops!

My dude Pointblank had me envious. His piece "Revolution" just says it all and he says when he/she comes from the ghetto, that future leader, he/she has my vote. No Question. Am with that!

More graf wax. Feel the ease flow jo!

And more. Phiks fixed himself on the concrete! Hatucheki na wadiiiiiiii!

The other dude acheki na watu is Ill Art Squad, jamaa uses the wall like a canvas!

Our very mobile Choo. Ujipate ndani na imetoka!

Yes, going to whatever lengths to do it.

Simba wa Yuda fully represented.

Watu Kibao kila mtu na pose yake!

I'll let you decipher what that is. 1st to get it right gets a graf of her/his name done right here. Free.

The temperature rose, and rose and the umbrellas became shades.

Bila fashion show ingekuwaje? Though kuna vile i couldn't understand tangu lini gunia imekuwa fashion??? Ladies, help me out.... as to the point of wearing anything???? It was all good though, flowed vilivyo.

the end.