snippets (part two)

'Self-indulgent bullshit'.

So I attended the Slam Open Mic at Dass on the 18th February and to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. I thought I remembered more meaningful poetry the last time I went. I thought I remembered more meaningful entertainment, through the use of music to accompany the poetry or floetry, the last time I went. But perhaps things have changed and the Slam Open Mic is an entirely different event from the Open Mics/Poetry Nites that also happen at Dass.

I say that there are several things to juggle which is what outdoes these anspiring poets;
1) They have to be entertaining which usually means that they will rely on storytelling, which in turn will focus on making humour out of current affairs which in effect will cheapen their 'poems',
2) They will want to be deep but in literally claiming and reclaiming to be deep will end up showing off about nothing or being self-indulgent and
3) They will try to rhyme or to do spoken word/floetry which may compromise the content of the poetry itself.

And so we left before finding out who won that round. I mean, 3 hours? (8pm to 11pm and it hadn't even finished) - it's a bit much.

snippets

 I suppose I'm still recollecting myself and my position on art events in Nairobi. So here are snippets of my experiences since the beginning of 2011.

I watched Clint Eastwood's 'Gran Torino' on the 2nd Jan and was genuinely surprised by the ending. Walt's bravado throughout the film almost bespoke of a grand showdown in the final scene. So it was reflective to show Walt's input through martyrdom instead of heroism (of the Hollywood kind). His sacrifice was so pure it was almost spiritual.

Part of my disruption in blogging was because I was moving house. The last few days of living in my old house (on a mattress on the floor with belongings yet to be packed into boxes), I watched 'Dances with Wolves', a film I was too young to remember.And there was something comforting about it. Perhaps it was John Barry's musical score. Perhaps it was the poetry of the narration. Or the story itself of new worlds taking over old worlds, or an appreciation of the land and the peoples of the land and the discovery of our place in it. Either way, it kept me from feeling sentimental about leaving my old house. It kept me preoccupied between going to work and packing my stuff.

So by February I was in a new apartment and with the prospect of being taken on as permanent staff at work... which didn't work out lol. But I'm still here and I'll stay until the end of my contract... wondering what the next step will be. Perhaps I won't renew my contract but finally write that script and shoot that movie...

I watch 'Black Swan' and find myself wanting at the end of it. The paranoia and reality checks throughout the film spoil the twist in the ending. You have bought into the inner turmoil already and so all you can do is wait for her to overcome it.

Alliance Francaise hosted a series of human rights films and forums in the second week of February. I watched 'Kikulacho' and 'Seeking Peace and Justice in Africa'. Kikulacho, short for Kikulacho Kimo nguoni mwako, (that which bites you is from you/within your clothes), ie. the bite within, tackles the question of corruption and corruption primarily in the form of land grabbing and the embezzlement of public funds. The allocation of lands following independence is discussed and high profile corruption cases such as the Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals are also revealed. I applaud Rayani for his boldness in articulating these sad instances in our history but I also hoped he would be even braver or be allowed to be even braver and name names or go into such detail that there would be no need to name names. His tongue-in-cheek approach using animations is remindful of Michael Moore's style of criticism.

'Seeking Peace and Justice in Africa' once more brought the question of peace versus justice but also enlightened me as to the disconnect between the idealistic ambitions of the ICC and its practical limitations. For what it's worth, I hope it continues and I hope it receives much support.