:: Heroes and football: Kwani Open mic
7 March 2007

The matatu I took into the city this day was called mamluki. It had images of the Artur brothers, famous for investing in Kenya and threatening airport security. The Arturs seemed to appear on the scene just after that infamous Standard raid (or operation depending on who you are listening to). It seems like it was just juzi and it’s already a year since that crazy time. Time really does fly I guess. I wonder just what on earth the standard was publishing that led to them being raided by the rattlesnake team. Did they discover that Michuki was in fact a woman? Or there was a plot to feed the ODM fellows some dodgy cheese thus making them flatulent during the State opening of parliament? You really have to wonder.

It was a bit ironic the Mamluki angle as this month, the Kwani open mic was celebrating heroes. Something the Arturs were clearly the opposite of. Again. I guess themes are hard to come by nowadays as this was the same theme that had run in October last year. Lets see... according to my calculations, next months theme will be... "Stop violence on children." The poets tonight were quite a few. As usual, the open mic was at the Club Soundd. The MC this time was one Kariuki Thige sports caster with KBC the national broadcaster. The pal introduced himself and them informed us this that there was a man present tonight that exemplified being a poet. His name was Tony Mochama said our MC and we dutifully applauded. Such an introduction had to have clapping involved.

The less experienced poets were on first and they were followed by the more recognised ones. And they came fast and thick. Cecilia. Harriet from our Nyaribari Chache corner. The Nyaribari Chache corner is where I normally sit and it is usually full to the brim with pals calling you mogaka and Harriet was one of the mogakesses. Several poets came and went and thus coming to an end the first of the poetry sessions. Our MC informed us that more hot poets were on the way and kept on reminding us that Tony Mochama was in the house. I started getting worried for poor Tony. He was being hyped so much by our MC who was clearly smitten (get it? smitten?) with the man skills. So when the Tony fellow came the whole audience stopped and listened. Would he deliver?

Tonight, Tony was taking no prisoners. His poems were not sugar coated or playing nice. His poem on Dedan Kimathi was especially vitriolic. The poem was about the new statue of Dedan Kimathi on Kimathi Street. And how the statue saw the new Kenya as City Hoppas went and the normal hustle and bustle of life in the city street. And the drama the freedom fighter had to go through in the streggle (South African accent here). It was a gem that poem. His other poem was on that useless diving jerry curl wearing kubaff called Didier Drogba a.k.a “Doggy bag”. The poem was tight too. I hate to say this but this season “Doggy Bag” has really exceeded all expectations. There was no denying him the African footballer of the 2006. The man is a hero clearly but that hair surely!

Other poets of interest included Grandmaster Masese who also played his trusty obokano (he tells me the poems he performed could be accessed at his blog). A major highlight was Michere (last month I had called her Michelle - one of them is wrong, which one I am not certain). The lass has extremely large body features in the frontal area and it was real hard listening to what she had to say. And off course there was Bantu Mwaura with his irreverent poetry. And Habib who reminded us to be heroic before turning into Evangelist Habib. Have you made a difference today asks Habib? Err... I brushed my teeth and saved everyone around me from bad breath. Does that count? I was slightly disappointed not to see Eudia and Denis perform. They had just cause what with the repeated theme and all but these guys are really good. Only original themes from now on woiyee my Kwani people. I can’t miss these poets waxing lyrical another month.

After the poetry a bunch of us trooped into Hooters to watch to watch the football. The beauty of Hootie off course is that there are two big screens and thus one could watch two matches simultaneously and catch all the action. At Hooters there was Steve Thiga a pal and we chatted as we caught up of what was up before all the action begun. It was good catching up matie.

The matches on that night for residents of Mars were Liverpool Vs Barcelona and Chelsea and Chelsea Vs Porto. It was interesting watching those games. Both English teams (Liverpool and Chelsea) went through. Later today, the Arsenal goes up against PSV Eindhoven and I do not expect much really.

>> Related Links
:: Grandmaster Masese
:: Red streaks at the Junction
:: A quiet Kwani Open Mic
:: Stop violence on Children (Kwani open Mic)
:: Issues, Blue Smudges reviewed
:: A Call for Kiswahili poets
:: I Call it A Culture
:: Mathrees at the British Council
:: Celebrating Kenyan Heroes
:: Hip Hop Misconceptions at the British Council
:: Dadahood at the British Council
:: Comedy and Poetry at Club Galileo
:: Marion Vionna Dreams (Kwani Open Mic)
:: Kwani Open mic (Binyavanga Returns)
:: Words and pictures at the B.C
:: Poetry Slam at Club Soundd

<< Back Home  | All Categories  | Talk to Nairobiliving.com! >>