Help stop the auction of Stolen 16th Century Benin Mask

The picture above shows members of the British Expeditionary Force posing with looted art from the palace of the Benin King, Nigeria.

A few of these are back now, mostly on short loans from Britain. The vast majority are still in museums on foreign lands and in peoples private collections. One such artifact is a 16th century Benin Mask which is due to be auctioned off under controversial circumstances. A petition page has been created to stop this!

The page according to the creators is an effort “to put a stop to the auction of a 16th century Benin mask stolen during the invasion of the Benin people by the British. 

It recently resurfaced after going missing for many years and is being put up for sale according to artdaily.org along with five other Benin objects by the “descendants of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Lionel Gallwey ( in 1913 he changed his name to Galway) who was appointed deputy commissioner and vice-consul in the newly established Oil Rivers Protectorate (later the Niger Coast Protectorate) in 1891. 

He remained in Nigeria until 1902 and participated in the British Government’s “Punitive Expedition” of 1897 against Benin City. The faces of the five known pendant masks have been interpreted widely by scholars of Benin art as that of Idia, the first Queen Mother of Benin. Sotheby’s plans to auction this precious mask and other Benin objects on 17 February 2011. We plan to put a stop to the sale and get the items returned to the Benin people in Nigeria”.

According to Artdaily.org  ”The mask is estimated at £3.5-4.5 million. It had been on public view in 1947 as part of a loan exhibition at the Berkeley Galleries in London entitled ‘Ancient Benin’, and then again in 1951 in ‘Traditional Sculpture from the Colonies’ at the Arts Gallery of the Imperial Institute in London”.

If this campaign suceeds, what happens next is just as important. As Seyi, a commentator on this post states ” Please let 95% of the proceeds of the sale of this mask be used in a foundation or a relevant transparent body where the people of Benin will benefit- i.e. the rehabilitation of trafficked women and their families or a similar real benefit. 

If this is returned to the Benin people it will end up- now they know the material worth- sold on the black market anyway to a private international collector with the millions going to a few big wigs. Let us be real .Let not one theft of a hundred years ago be an excuse to proceed to another theft- even though it will be done by the sons of the soil”.

Seyi, makes an important point, however, it is imperative to STOP this auction NOW then begin to highlight the issue of stolen African artefacts and how those artefacts could be returned.

As another commentator, Michael Kirkpatrick rightly puts it “I find it extremely hypocritical that the art world is discussing how to return artwork that was stolen by the Nazi’s during WWII, but they don’t see the parallels with African items stolen from the continent by “explorers” and “collectors”.

From: Myweku.com

POLISH PIANIST IN NAIROBI

On the occasion of the Chopin Year the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nairobi and Chopin 2010 Office in Warsaw presented "Chopin in Africa", Fryderyk Chopin Christmas piano concert by renowned Polish pianist Janusz Olejniczak on Thursday night at the Kenya National Theatre.

Chopin, considered one of the great masters of romantic music, was born in Zelazowa Wola (near Warsaw) to a French-expatriate father and Polish mother and was cosnsidered a child-prodigy pianist. All of his extant work feature the piano in one way or another.

They are technically demanding and requiring nuance and expressive depth.
His 200th anniversary is celebrated this year all over the world, and Janusz captivated the audience with his inspiring Chopin Piano recital.

The great Polish pianist lavished his soulful eloquence on the music of his compatriot to the audience whose eyes locked on the man on the piano as music wafted through the theatre with occasional hand clapping, cheers and ulalation each time
the man finnished a number.

The event was graced by Kenya's classical music afficiaonados, Polish Embassy officials as well as other foreign dignitaries with abundant wine served.

THE RULES OF STYLE

The Right Jeans, The Right Fit ...

MoneyGram Recipients to be Rewarded

MoneyGram Recipients to be Rewarded

Maisha Film Labs Give East Africans Chance to "Tell Our Stories"

If there are any images made of contemporary Africa at all, it is a grim reality that Africans do not create them according to narrative written by the founder of Maisha Foundation, an organisation whose aim is to assist in recording and telling the stories of the times in East Africa.

Renowned Palestinian documentarian Abdel Salaam mentored the 2010 Documentary Lab in Kampala' Royal Impala Hotel

 For the past six years, the Maisha Film Lab has become a beacon for East Africans interested in media.

Independent filmmaker Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay) started Maisha after discovering that few locally produced films from her adopted country of Uganda were poorly done, and she believed that 'empowerment through training was the key to improving the quality of Ugandan films'.

Inspired by the talent she found in East Africa, and her experience as a filmmaker, Nair initially conceived a contrite idea of Maisha as an arts and cultural centre in Kampala that would provide training and inspiration to artists of all media.

After forming a Board and a small staff for the undertaking, Nair and the Board recognized that aspects of funding and management would prevent the immediate development of an arts center. Thus the decision was made to focus on the more immediate goal of film training labs.

An on-line posting about Maisha reckons, "the organization is motivated by the belief that a film which explores the truths and idiosyncrasies of the specifically local often has the power to cross over and become significantly universal."

Since its inception, Maisha has modified its programs in response to its constituents and external environment. Maisha’s Board made the official decision to focus solely on East African participants, due to the disparity in skill levels of participants, and the differences between the East African and South Asian film industries. 

Maisha’s current outreach materials include the long-term goal, to see family grow into alumni of leaders in the development of a local, self-sustaining film industry in East Africa” with a motto: ‘If we don’t tell our own stories, no one else will.’” 

To this end, Maisha has offered training to East Africans at no cost to the participants, providing them with the tools to create film.

Working with pro bono mentors drawn from seasoned filmmakers from around the world, though primarily from the United States and Europe, the mentors serve as teaching staff for the ongoing training labs.

The Maisha mentors form the backbone of the Maisha film labs. Each session, Maisha invites a diverse group of directors, screenwriters, film professors, and other industry professionals to hold seminars as well as work one-on-one with Maisha’s screenwriting and directing participants

The just concluded Documentary Lab inside Royal Impala Hotel in Kampala focused on exploring non-fiction forms and developing technical production skills with hands-on workshops with both theoretical approaches and real-world applications in documentary making.

Seventeen participants of directors, editors, cinematographers, and sound persons drawn from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda Qatar and Pakistan took part in the lab under rich mentor trio of Abdel Salam Shehadeh from Palestina, with extensive experience in television production as well as technical skills in camera and sound.

Peter Chappell has photographed, directed and produced documentaries and fiction films in Africa, Latin America and Middle East. His documentaries such as Our Friends at the Bank and The Origins of AIDS have won numerous international awards and is a mentor at the National Film School in the United Kingdom. And Shireen Pasha is a renowned filmmaker recognized for her sensitive handling of socially relevant themes. Her documentaries have won numerous awards.

Maisha has accomplished much in its first six years. The Maisha Film Lab has trained 400 students in the disciplines of directing, screenwriting, acting, producing, cinematography, editing, and sound design.

Over 30 short films by Maisha students have been screened all over the world.  Thanks to a few key private philanthropists and foundations, each of these participants attends Maisha’s programs free of charge.

After the completion of their training, Maisha alumni have gone on to participate in the Berlinale Talent Campus, become staff writers on MNET television serials, write a hit Bollywood film, and be awarded scholarships to MFA programs at New York University and Columbia University.

Thanks to Maisha, there is a greater pool of trained technicians, screenwriters, and directors in East Africa than there has ever been.

A recent survey done by consultants from the NYU Wagner School of Public Management showed that more than 90% of Maisha's alumni have found gainful employment in the local media industries.

In six short years, the Maisha Film Lab has become a beacon for East Africans interested in media, yet it is only the first step towards its broader vision for the Maisha Arts and Cultural Center which addresses the dual goals of arts education and cultural preservation.

"With a population of nearly 700 million, there’s need to see African voices reflected in films, visual arts, literature and general media. Says Nair.

The impact of colonialism and Africa’s post-colonial independence has always been an intermediary for African artists, and now is the time for Africans to reclaim their creative identity".Says Nair.

Mr. and Miss Uganda Crowned in Kampala

What is the problem with Uganda ...? 

This was the crown question whose answer would decide the queen who will represent Uganda at the Miss World.

Well, wasn’t just only about the answer. How the beauties paraded out on the podium in the finals of the Miss Uganda beauty pageantry inside the Royal Imperial Hotel last Saturday night was the decider.

You have to remember this is where the award-winning American gospel great, Nicole C. Mullen and team are staying and we saw her signing autographs, beaming watts of smile to fans as she went to the hotel restaurant for a bite.

"Answers varied and unvaried, ritualistic killing of children in Uganda, hunger and starvation, violent crime to organized crime, and burst sewers across the city. Joblessness among the youth, unaffordable health care and uneven distribution of national resources" were cited by the contestants – something ruling NRM government billboards across the city streets claim otherwise!

One that was not to be mentioned by Kampala’s beauties but that kept the audience wishing for more Waragi shots was the dull emceeing techniques, by a 'wacky' duo of one Mackenzie of Hot 100 FM and UBC's Laurine - who suggestively hugged a haggard looking and untested newly crowned Mr. Uganda, Lincoln Binomugisha. 

The newly crowned Mr. Uganda was decided swiftly  a single strut down the fiberglass runway ,and  he was gone in a huff moments after. 

The women were the attraction apparently. After hours of question and answer session that didn't seem to end for most, and show of modest creative regimen that saw the ladies do the gaitsy, and bosom gyration ‘Kona dance', with a fashion banquet in numerous categories including a steamy beach-swimwear category, the judges were ready with the scores.

Lead in great ability and prowess by one Allan Kasuja of Capital FM in Kampala, the panel of judges of former Miss Uganda Monica Kasyate and Van Narthan gave their verdict that was announced by the models' chaperon with the longest pony-tail in that night, the beautiful Miss Diana Alinafe who was once a winner in the regional categories and who was the manager of the event.

“And the winner is, contestant number one, Heyzme Nansubuga!”

A beaming Miss Nansubuga however appeared very calm the whole time, the announcement coming somewhat as no surprise, but she later spoke to The Star. The judges scored big with me in my areas of strengths that include confidence, intelligence and ability to interact, with a great smile”.

But shortly after the winner was announced, Mr. Kasujja told journalists of the grim fact that Miss Aisha Nagudi had actually been the judges highest scorer, distancing himself from the newly crowned princess. But Joyce Church, the holder of the Miss World licence in Uganda and event organiser said the judges' decision wasn't final, since winning according to her 'was not solely based on the activities of the evening. 

 

Other judges at the pageant included former Tri-Star Apparel Managing Director, Veluppilai Kananathan, Miss Uganda 1995 Phiona Piloya and 2007 Miss Uganda Monica Kansiime Kasyate.

The girls had been apparently awarded marks during a three-week bootcamp in Entebbe according to Joyce Church, herself a British national.

Wendy, (TPF 2 contestant), and hip hop artist, BSG Labongo from Gulu entertained those in attendance to a ragga session.

Photos|Carl Odera

Poor pay or lack of it and messy logistics killing journalistic passion in Kenya?

Feature this, many a Nairobi journalist balk at the idea of reporters pestering a source for a story, then coming back to harangue the same source to buy advert space in their newspaper ...!

Such is the low that our new and uniquely Kenyan brand of journalism has sunk.
Kenya may have the distinction of having one of the freest and radiant press in Africa, but the freedom still comes at a steep price.

Corruption, low pay, and favoritism remain the top issues that Kenyan journalists have to grapple with aside from the daily deadline that they have to meet - but they are hard-working, some utterly brilliant.
It's a situation that exposes journalists to risks that range from physical to moral ones; Kenyan journalists continue to be vulnerable to bribery.

But why is this case?
A senior correspondent with a giant television network revealed to me at a corporate dinner party weeks back that many media companies do have the capacity to pay their staff well to keep them away from such lowly and corrupt practices but greed and the general economic politics of the Kenyan media will ensure that is non of that.

They are owned by the one per-cent rich elite with political and trade connections in and outside the country, thus anyone not ready to suckup to the trends and 'culture' better hit the paves.

A mid-level reporter in a media house in Nairobi told me he survives by working as a freelancer for a national television/newspaper network. They pay little compared to the returns coming in everyday to the company, and only for stories aired/published that are few and far between.So the reporter works double time by acting as a producer and an anchor in another private radio station.

To top it all off, this industrious reporter also works as a marketing and advertising person looking for advertising space from people heis suppose

A Diying City, Kisumu on the verge of Infrastructural Collapse

One year ago, it seemed the world was going asunder for Kisumu residents. The post election chaos and its aftermath across Kenya hit Kisumu the worst in terms of destruction to its infrastructure.

Popularly known as Wang Taya to the locals, the sun drop city centre went up in smokes, with looters having a field day. The city has since faced uncertainties among investors.
These are hard times for captains of the city that was once the pride of this side of the country.

With years of marginalization by both Kenyatta and Moi regimes, industries collapsed vast numbers of workers and families were badly hurt and continue to be seriously affected.
Siasa mbaya maisha mbaya as the self-proclaimed professor of politics (read Moi) aptly coined it simply meant nothing in resources flowed to the city that didn’t sing Mama Kanu.

Recovery over the years has been long and slow, made only worse by the mess of post 2007 presidential election heat. Stubbornly high level of youth unemployment persisting, the last the residents want to hear is a scary dark city patrolled by police and thugs.

Tushar Joshi has been doing business in Kisumu for many years. He laments the status of the city currently. “We don’t know what is going on, few years ago it was both dry taps and dark streets. But since the new water pipes were laid in the city, it has not been a huge problem with water even though there are still times when the water runs dry”.

Joshi adds that it has become almost impossible to go anywhere at night in the city. He is also the chairman of the Hindu Council, Kisumu chapter.

The scars of the post poll precipice are still raw; Ukwala Supermarket building that was torched allegedly by Police during the skirmishes is still under reconstruction. A boda boda ride from Nyalenda has become bumpier, as the motorcyclist has to wiggle his way out of potholes that came to being out of bon fires caused by rioters as they tried blocking the anti-riot police during the violence. “As the fires burnt , the tar that bound the materials together melt away, leaving the ballast loose, and with each day of traffic, the tires dig holes on these areas” Explained motorcyclist, as we arched our way through Milimani area.

A major form of transport between the estates and the sun kissed city centre boda boda employs many youths in Kisumu city. Both bicycle and motorbike have become the hallmark of Kisumu’s transport system, and has become the young investor’s choice.

Over 200 hundred motor bike ply the Dunga-Town route alone, says Biggy, a motorcycle repairman, no matatus operating this route, but security has become a concern for us”  there are no street lights at all these days”.

Police have had to heighten vigil on the streets, that most of these young operators see as harassment, but which is very much justified.
Police patrol vehicles are everywhere around the city, the dark Oginga Odinga Street alone is under strict police surveillance.

“Since the supermarket (Nakumatt) runs twenty-four hours, we have to ensure shoppers are safe.” A police officer told me as he walked some youthful men and women to a waiting police Land Cruiser, handcuffed. Ogaga Osiro is the Town Treasurer with the dream to change the face of Kisumu He says that “much as the city seems to have few friends in the media these days”, they are already doing much to rebuild the confidence that is much needed”.

Rumors of the city’s demise as a regional hub may have been exaggerated, for one reason, the port city formerly known as Port Florence is still strategic for  communication and trading, a confluence for the Great Lakes region -Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
While infrastructure may be battered, the mere potential of the city remains unexplored in terms of port services on the fresh waters of Lake Victoria.

And Kisumu’s politicians aren’t helping. Too much obsession with politicking at the national level has not helped. How would you explain an unlit city streets at night without a single comment from the area politicians.
Asigo, he may be “six months old in the post as Town Treasurer”, his youthful verve assuring, but the dark cloud over City Hall of Wang Taya is a crisis that bureaucratic excuses cannot suffice for a reason to continue.

That the company that was awarded the tender to light up the city cannot, since 2007, reinstall or repair the broken street lamps and according to Osigo, these are contractual issues that we have little authority over” Who has the authority then if not City hall official like him, you may ask ...

It is something that we read from our procurement and logistics text book, and even common sense has it that an unyielding supplier’s contract must be reviewed should they fail in their contractual binds.
Post 2007 has been described by some as Kisumu’s own “financial meltdown’. While towns like Nakuru and Eldoret seem to have recovered fast, Kisumu still struggles.

At night Nakuru is a sea of yellow neon lining the streets, second only to the capital, Nairobi.
Abundant sunshine and strong winds from the lake, one wonders where thinkers at the City Hall have their priorities. Solar and wind-powered city lighting have become much preferred, especially in cities like Kampala. It would be a financial prudence to have such installed.


Kisumu is a ghost town by night. Not even the once tendered and manicured garden near Mayfair Bakery is anymore, and businesses close as early as seven in the evening.
There is need to maintain the conditions that allow business to flourish in Kisumu, and street lighting shouldn’t be something to remind the mayor and his henchmen at the City Hall.

Tensions and Reversals in Democratic Transitions: The Kenya 2007 General Elections

Reviewed by Carl Odera

A book by a group of Kenyan scholars was launched this Monday at Serena Hotel. Dubbed Tensions and Reversals in Democratic Transitions: The Kenya 2007 General Elections, the publication reflects on the progress that has been made and the inherent threats in respect to democratic process in Kenya.

With quite a scholarly ambition, the book undertakes to provide under one roof, a scholarly inquiry into all the key elements, issues, and driving forces of the 2007 general elections and its aftermath. 

Youth in Kibera block road in protest in early 2008

The Kenya 2007 General Elections was a hotly contested one without a clear winner, at least by the findings of an inquiry that followed afterward and brought the worst post-electoral precipice in the country’s recorded history. 

Highlighting the balance sheet of Kenya's democratization project the publication demonstrates a mixed result. 

Whereas in the period leading up to December 2007, the "assets" side of the balance sheet was arguably healthier, the subsequent events, and post-2007 election violence in particular, exposed huge liabilities - mostly hidden in the structural inefficiencies of the Kenyan.

There had been expectations in the country that the repeal of the Section IV of the Kenya constitution would fundamentally change the electoral and political culture and lay a framework for democratic processes henceforth, which has never been.

Elections often turned out to be tourneys of communal and or ethnic values in which interests compete in pursuance of centralized political powers in search of an imperial presidency. 

From the role of mass media, soft power in electoral politics, the dynamics of religion, to the institutional capacity of political parties an manifestos, to the geopolitics of development and elections, the book is a valid source of  facts and figures as pertained  to the subjects in question.

The book uniquely  and aptly, with its stellar cast of largely Kenyan academics and writers whose analysis and perspectives provide quite a considerable information and highlights various dimensions of what is referred as in the book as  "democratic accident that was Kenya's 2007 general elections" is a must-have for any student and pundit, or perhaps this could be one of the best for scholastic reference on the questions of election and democracy in Kenya, and even Africa.