Wam artlook

 ‘The Essence’ is not just a new alphabet that Dr. Anne Ntinyari Mwiti is trying to invent but it is her discovery of authenticity, identity and self-actualization. Dr. Anne Ntinyari Mwiti is not only speaking for herself but desiring that we take a step back and reflect on our individual and collective identities.  'The Essence' exhibition in May 2024 at Alliance Francaise opened up a reflection on origin, identity, and culture. With an array of works on display, Kenyan artist Dr. Anne Ntinyari Mwiti sought to interrogate, the past, present and future and how they play at an individual level. Conceived as a basis of her research three years ago, the Kenyatta university don brought a collection of paintings, embroidery and knitwear to interrogate what she calls her multiple identities.   The work on display took us on a journey of language and culture. From the artist’s point of view, the work navigates through her multiple heritage and identity. It traverses through...

  The Grand Slam 2024/25 will be held on 23rd-26th January 2025 in Nairobi. In preparation for the country’s premier poetry competition, the organizers Creative Spills held three preliminary rounds this year each with 9 contestants.  This year’s grand slam participants drawn from the three preliminary rounds include: Scar Poetry, Writefully Ochomo, Ni T.A.P, Kiragu, Dominion, Timelines, Nature Servant, Musaa King, Belvin Thee poet and Just Wairimu. Scar Poetry, Writefully Ochomo and Ni T.A.P move into the Grand Slam as winners of the first, second and third preliminary respectively.  To participate in the Slam, prospective poets send three pieces to Creative Spills in Word, PDF, Audio, or Video. After submission, those shortlisted will be called for an interview at named locations in Nairobi. Thereafter, the judges will train the selected 9 or 10 on the performance art before the material day. This ensures that all the performers are up to date with the requirements of th...

  The event marked a milestone in Kenya’s protest poetry. Gufydox and Mufasa used this event as an indictment to the Kenyan society which is complacent as politicians squander national resources. They wanted the audience to reflect on who is to blame for bad governance and rampart injustices. Mufasa, Wanda and Gufydox by Balusi Mugoha  Renowned Kenyan constitutional Lawyer and public Law Professor P.L.O Lumumba once said; ‘The forests keep changing but the monkeys and their habits remain the same.” This was in reference to Kenyan politics which, 61 years later has never changed despite the change in leaders and most recently constitution. As it were, two Kenyan poets, Gufydox (Ogero Oscar) and Mufasa (Ken Kibet) staged a show –“You Remind Me of Someone” – on 7th December at The Braeburn Theatre along Gitanga Road in Nairobi to reflect upon the similarities between the current leadership and that of Kenya's second president Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.  Gufydox and Mufasa Ph...

The event comes in the wake of 2024 GenZ protests, a corrupt government and harrowing economic turmoil brought in by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  After the lockdown under the corona pandemic, the organizers of slam festival went into a short hiatus to regroup before coming back with slam poetry competition in 2024. Slam Poetry, for over a decade now, had become part of annual Kenya’s entertainment calendar. This year, slam picked up from where it left in 2021 to bring back its annual calendar of three preliminaries and a grand slam festival in January 2025.  Speaking to Ian Gwagi, one of the organizers, the event had not sparked enthusiasm as it has been before. However, there is hope that the event will revive its lost glory and become what it has been- Kenya’s premier poetry competition and entertainment show. Ian Gwagi hopes to introduce new concepts in the show especially during the grand slam which crowns new slam Kings and queens. Lovers of poetry and those in academia will b...

 A showcase packed tight with an array of emotions to trigger healing from the past wounds. Gufydox was on it again, this time unearthing the pains and scars we carry from our past.   Stage set up for the show, 'From What We lost' ‘From what we Lost,’ opened a tad late, which is a bit unusual for Kenyan Poet and filmmaker Gufydox Aka Ogero Oscar. Known for his punctuality, the curtains rose at around 8pm on 17th May 2024 at the Braeburn Theatre in Nairobi. The show was scheduled to begin at 7Pm. Though the wait was unusual for someone as tardy as Gufydox, the audience seem not to notice as many interacted in the hallway, smartphones tucked in purses and pockets. The camaraderie, snacks and drinks held them until the doors opened. Before the audience could settle in their seats, the stage opened revealing a thoughtful Gufydox seated on a stool surrounded by the Babaz on the Instruments and Rockapella as the backing vocals.  The television Series Boston Legal (2004-200...