To this day, I remember my first experience with school-based spelling tests. I was in lower primary, either Class 2 or 3, when our class was introduced to daily oral spelling tests. Much to my delight, I discovered that I was good at spelling. However, I also realised not everyone in my class enjoyed spelling [read more…]
I don’t know many people who developed the habit of reading in their adulthood. I haven’t yet heard a story about someone who hated reading as a child and then had adulthood open their eyes to the wonder that are books. I’m sure they are there but in my experience book-lovers are often people who [read more…]
So far yet so near: Liberation? Over the past few months, I have felt unusually saddened by events (especially politically inclined) in my motherland, Kenya. You see, like many of my fellow wananchi (citizens) I had a lot of hope in devolution: serikali mashinani. Such hope that I had foreseen getting a stable job and [read more…]
“Most Kenyans today exclusively associate wildlife conservation care, compassion and even ownership with white people. At a time when Africa has more cell phones than Europe, this same old narrative has weathered the storms of modernity. Africans of European descent have continued to advance the same narrative more than 100 years since Africa’s colonialist – [read more…]
For more than 55 years, CODE, a Canadian based international development organization, has worked in partnership with local organizations to expand literacy in Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada by supporting the professional development of teachers and librarians, by providing children and youth with access to high quality reading materials, and helping to strengthen the local [read more…]
Read Part One Here Shanice wished she was mistaken but one look at the woman’s face confirmed her fear. “Mom?” she said again. The woman holding Hera was frozen in shock. In fact, Hera was the only one moving, although slower than she usually did. “Mama,” said Hera, twisting to look up into the woman’s [read more…]
An African writer? A writer is a writer. Those were my initial thoughts, but a little contact with African literature and my perspective was changed. It first started when I read works of with the prolific Binyavanga Wainana, and Okwiri Oduor, both who have both won the Caine Prize for African Writing. Later, I discovered [read more…]
I have grown up in a period where the attitude towards careers lies somewhere in between utter disdain for the arts (read anything that isn’t part of the handful of careers that parents generally consider serious) and acceptance that people can actually make money from things other than sitting in an office all day. So [read more…]
Ng’ash P aka Ulimi Tamu, has deep spiritual poetry that revolves around the issues in his background. He is good in delivery, word play and storytelling, making him an all-round spoken word artist, a rare thing to find in this industry. His well-done videos feature common themes such as calling out the evil in church, [read more…]
‘Armageddon seems to have arrived sooner. Much sooner than I expected. Tumepelekwa ndani.’, read Suraya’s text. It had to be her. Suraya, the angel of darkness. Suraya who prays for the cockroaches in her house. Suraya who gets arrested on a Friday morning. Suraya who texts me about Armageddon when I am anxiously waiting for [read more…]
