I had the pleasure of having lunch with my good uncle, Keith Pearson, Director of The Theatre Company. We went to Parklands Sports Club for their buffet.
Luck had it that I’d run into Kiran Jethwa, who was also having the buffet at Parklands. We had a great chat on what’s new, his selection for the best job in the world, and how he was faring as in the polls. I guess this is where I tell you to vote for him, so yes, make sure you vote for Kiran, our very own slice of Kenyan talent for The Best Job In The World. He’s a fantastic guy and he deserves it.
I owe a lot of what I can call my writing to Keith and my Mumbi, who gave me a chance to attend a playwriting workshop of theirs in late 2007, it’s led to working with Warner Bros the following January, and eventually becoming a Maisha Alumnus.
We had a great lunch, with dessert, don’t know how I lasted the afternoon without a snooze. What was interested is that he had mentioned to me that he was wrapping up his presentation for Pecha Kucha. Slightly surprised, I remembered Dickson Migiro mentioning that he would be presenting at the same event, but I never quite got a date.
I happened to be in attendance at the first Pecha Kucha (ペチャクチャ) Night which was on the 20th November 2008 and was very impressed with the format of Pecha Kucha, and some of the presentations were remarkable. Not to mention, two of my villagers: Gakunju was presenting his sculptures, and taking people on a trip through his work over the years, and Mumbi, who is the MC for the event.
Pecha Kucha Night happens 357 times a year, that’s almost a Pecha Kucha Night every night of the year.
So yet again it happened that to my surprise I would find that it was happening serendipitously, and I had the amazing @louizah for company. We arrived promptly at 7:50, ten minutes earlier than when it’s scheduled to start. It’s 400 Shillings, and 200 Shillings for students.
Mumbi Kaigwa, the MC, called things to order at around 8:05. I had the pleasure of enjoying finger foods and drinks with my uncle, Gakunju before it started. Had a great couple laughs, looking forward to it starting.
Pecha Kucha, in a nutshell, it’s a format of presentation for mostly creative work where you present a Powerpoint slideshow of 20 slides, spending 20 seconds on each slide. It’s mostly for creative work, but has been adapted to the business world. Typically, the crowd represents creative and design fields: architecture, advertising, photography, interior design and other fields.
So it began with Keith Pearson of The Theatre Company, my uncle, who took us through a project where The Theatre Company has been given a grant to renovate the theatre at The National Museum. Taking us through how it is restoring the dilapidated rooms and halls, and restoring what will surely be a beautiful stage and theatre in the near future.
Joseph Barasa was next with some of his photography. He presented at the last Pecha Kucha Night as an illustrator, and this time he gave a great presentation with some illuminating photography. From The Nakumatt Fire to lovers in Uhuru Park and a fight in his village upcountry, his photography provoked chuckles and giggles with his laughable captions.
Faith Koli went up next, and took us through how she and her 4 friends started Take 4 Productions, with an enlightening look at the risks and jeopardy of starting a business. She was accompanied by her other associate, Mia, who presented later on how she was the first to quit her full-time employment for the business. It was great to see because, I spoke to Mia afterwards, keen to find out what kind of a production house they are. For a business starting out, they were able to get their name out to a crowd that matters in art circles. That’s forward thinking on publicity, kudos for that.
Dickson Migiro went up next, taking the audience through ADAM Magazine, it’s inaugural issue, and the thought that went behind Kenya’s first men’s magazine. Christine Gitau followed him. A flowerpot painter, I especially liked some of her more charismatic colour combinations on her pots. She painted with different cultures in mind, from Indo-Asian influenced pieces, to Chinese oriental patterned pots as well as more contemporary palettes, her work was eye-catching. Including her final piece, which was a toilet converted to a flowerpot. Wonderful.
Rhodia Mann went up next, and totally blew my mind. I had never heard of her or her work, but wow, it was incredible. She’s been doing beadwork and making jewellery for over 35 years. She captivated the audience and took us through her journey across continents in search of beads. With her, we travelled from haggling with bead merchants on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, to a striking sunrise in Mali, where she stayed and learnt from a tribe who made their own beads. In 1974 she was featured in The New York Times at her New York home, as one of the 5 Women to Watch, she showed us a clipping with the story.
Erik Kigada from Planning Systems presented an absorbing look at the Master Plans drafted of Nairobi Province, and how since the last one, drafted in 1975, we’ve exceeded the growth numbers projected and grown in the wrong direction. Instead of growing towards Thika, we’ve grown towards the southern parts of Nairobi, and the projected plan drafted by Erik and others, included The Masai Mara, all the way down to the coast.
He showed the misuse and mismanagement of the water catchment areas in the cities, and how the river system works, with insight to how bad it could get it we don’t make some key changes in the city’s infrastructure. A stirring awakening to what our city could look like, given Vision 2030 if we implement some changes to our city, making for more accessible water reserves. I later asked him how long the drafts and projections he had shown had taken to create, and he said 8 years, and counting, as they keep working on them. I pray they don’t take 8 years of government red tape to take shape.
There was a 15 minute potty break, with some of us grabbing snacks and mingling with the people. I enjoyed a couple more laughs with Jacky and Gakunju, looking at the paintings as well. I dashed in to the gallery to see the art. Otieno Kota has his sculptures being exhibited at RaMOMA, if you get the chance to go, it’s pretty good, and surprisingly affordable.
A Pecha Kucha video for those blessed with the bandwidth.
Next was tattoo artist Nick, of ‘Tattoos by Nick’, he sent his associate to present on his behalf and she did a good job. They showed tribal, oriental and Maori tattoos. Soon after was Andronico Otieno, who I’m sure many of you might be familiar with. A thespian, appearing frequently for Fanartics, yes fa-nar-tics, Productions, so the theatre crowd, will no doubt recognize him from Phoenix and Alliance Francaise. He presented his work with Eco-sandal and the sandals they make, along with the curious names for their sandals.
Jason Corder came after Andronico, and according to the program, he defines himself as an ‘Earth Painter.’ Lecturing at the Nairobi University Department of Design, he’s been in Kenya for over a year, and showed his work while describing his intimate connection with the earth, and how as a painter using mixed media, he combines with the earth both spiritually and artistically. He left a couple raised eyebrows in the crowd, and seemed to lose @louizah at some point, but his work was commendable, and his understanding of art unique.
Finally, Planning interiors had Eryll Jalipa and Emily Odongo up as the final two presenters. Eryll showed us some of the interior work Planning had been doing including Maisha, a spa of The Serena Hotels. The creative concept was borne from the Jasmine flower. She also included the Private Lounge for Kenya Airways at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Along with IBM’s Offices here in Nairobi, where they adapted the artwork and ambience to reflect IBM.Using barcodes and signatures on microchips on glass. Illuminating.
Lastly (I seem to be doing the ‘In conclusion’…’finally’…lastly…’finishing’) Forgive me, I’m Kenyan. Emily Odongo, a painter with great abstract work, now employed by Planning Interiors, she shed light on where she draws inspiration from and about her style of painting and her work. She’s gathered a following and is known in art circles for her ‘red paintings’ blending elements from crimsons, carmines, rubies and reds in her works. She has now developed her work and works with a wider palette, keeping her unique style and adapting it to the paintings.
Summing it all up, Pecha Kucha Night was fantastic for inspiration, networking and a night out. Best thing is if you arrive early, and get good seats. If you’re in any of these areas and are thinking of presenting, I’d recommend you attend one, then apply, but if you’d like to wing it, here’s the application form.
Or you can get in touch with Marta Anna Gloserova on 0733 – 245 – 813 or email her on wateringcanevents {at} gmail {dot} com.The organizers of the event are Kenya Buzz. It’s supported by RaMOMA Gallery of Modern Art, and The British Council.
If you were there what were your thoughts, what did you like? And if you weren’t, what do you think of the format? Would like to know.
I’m seriously considering applying to present at the next one, to be held in may, possibly at a larger venue because it was very well attended this time round.
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A couple years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend what I consider one of the greatest Kenyan theatre plays of all time. It blew my mind to possibilities and intricacies in my culture and more specifically 
