IT WAS NEVER EASY TO STAGE SUCCESSFUL PLAYS ON SUCH BIG STAGES WITH INTERLLECTUALS

THE DEPARTMENT OF CLITERATURE &
OYUGI MUST KNOW
Were such big and technical scripts to direct, but i am happy that I did it.
Thank you God for this far you have brought me.

NEGRITUDE PHILOSOPHIES STILL RELEVANT? By Peter K'Ouma

It was just yesterday when I happened to disagree with a classmate during a West Africa Drama and Poetry lecture over the relevance of Negritude  Philosophies in the 21st century. I presented on Ivorian poet, Bernard Dadie's poem "Dry Your Tears, Africa" and David Diop's "Africa", two poems which actually glorifies Africa, glorifies the black continent and glorifies the black skin.

When Africa got tired of gross negligence that was geared towards its culture for a long historical time frame, her budding children manifested their feelings of this hatred artistically. At a time when Herlm Renaissance  was taking toll of the American Continent, Negritude was born in Africa to carry out a very difficult mission.It was to make African people aware of their culture and instilling a sense of pride in them about their homeland. Diop, Senghor, Dadie, and others, took their Negritude philosophies in pieces of art and made it well. They talked of the African beauty, its loving people, its wind, forests, soil, waters, landscape, dances, order and sounds. This is the Africa whom, after years of servitude, after years of slavery and broken back, her children turns back to kiss, hug and embrace. It is the Africa that is ever there to welcome her children back after fruitless journeys. This is the black mother with black children who fought to gain their lost voice and dignity, whose children were taken away, told nothing of their origin, culture or history, but fed on that of others that would later  confuse them even more. This is the black Africa where Negritude, was set to preach the Gospel of love for black skin, culture and history.

   FRIEND: Peter Ouma, I fail to understand the relevance of the Negritude Philosophies, when        actually same black people that the philosophies embraced have denounced its elements.  Talk of the corrupt systems of governance staged by same black men; non-democratic states installed  by same black leaders; ethnic wars and mass murders waged by same black Africans on their fellow  blacks; poverty and illiteracy after 50 years of black leadership. Tell us if for sure we need this  philosophy

I do agree with my friend. The last time I paid a visit at the American embassy, I knew things were running out of hands. Africans are running away from Africa, seeking refuge in oversea countries in the name of greener pastures and academic pursuits. The black continent has become a place to run away from. The beauty is gone; love has evaporated. But is it different in other countries outside Africa? 

Getting back to the back colour, colour issues remain a hot debate to date and still, identity crisis hangs on our environment. Accepting your colour as either black, brown or white, was a key element in the Negritude philosophies. This same colour identity remains a crisis even in the 21st century, and so, Negritude Philosophy remains relevant today.

Black Africans run away from their blackness, they don't see beauty in it. But, where has this led them to? Look at the many lightening or skin toning cosmetics sent to Africa from oversea countries. Despite the health hazards attached to these cosmetics (and even tablets), many men and women of black colour, are visiting these cosmetics shops in a bid to assume white or light skin that belongs to the west. When Chinua Achebe, Amos Tutuola, Ngugi wa Thiongo, Sedar Senghor, Susan Kiguli, Micere Mugo, Okot p'Bitek and Mongo Betty reminds you of the dire consequences of running away from oneself, we think that is literature and is only applicable in the literature world. All who run away from themselves are prone to tragic endings. Africa is heading the crash point, if the Negritude Philosophy is not revived to talk of the love for this black skin again.

I won't talk about the white artificial hair, wigs and weaves that our women have resorted to, because it will only add salt to the already paining would. I would want to respond to my friend in the literature class that, yes, we need Negritude philosophies even more in the 21st century than before, in order to revive the continent.

THE DEAD GOD OF RAIN By Peter K'ouma

The dead god of rain

the green bush is all gone
replaced with thick sand and dust
patched by animal bones and skulls
the wind whirling so unusually
raising strings of wind heavenwards
i can’t hear the birds sing anymore
nor even the cry of the crickets
they are all down
down on the thick dust
not even the vultures can feast
for they are all gone.
rivers are dry and dead
valleys filled with wild bones
mountains and hills
all are clear and rocky
no longer a home for the hyenas
exposing them to the cruel death

for moons and seasons
it has been shinning
as if it was lowered to earth.
just few seasons back
the ancestors would punish us
for killing a visitor
or for not offering the sacrifices
for the good harvest
but
but this is unusual
i can’t hear the sacrifice songs anymore
nor see bulls led for offerings
the god of rain is dead
very dead and buried with his clouds.
have you butchered all the fat animals
for your visitors
or taken them to the penny markets?
no more ceremonies.
or
have you killed all the old men
and prophets of god of thunder and rain?
no more messengers.
or
have we all gone to schools
and read wide
to challenge orders of the gods?
no more prayers.
or
have we all cleared
all the sacred places
and shrines of Ramogi
setting hunger in Were, the god?
the god of rain is dead and gone.

NAIROBI-THE OTHER HALF LIFE By Peter K'Ouma

The first time I sat before my flat screen LG TV to watch Nairobi Half Life, a documentary directed by Tosh Gitonga, I must admit that I almost vomited when I saw the pathetic conditions at the Central Police Station where, Mwas, the central character, was held. Nairobi is presented as lifeless, a tumor and an allure. Nairobi is presented as the worst city to be in; with its Nairobery, carjacking, commercial sex services, gang killings, corrupt policemen. Nairobi is pictured as slumming and killing the glowing dreams of the youths that swam into it, burning them into ashes.

I know that we have the largest slum in Africa, Kibera Slum. But are there no slums in the major cities that are ever presented gems? The largest slum in the world is Maharashtra, India with a population of 19 million residents. What do we know about that town? close to nothingness. In Mexico there is Neza-chalco-Itza, I also know of Orangi town in Pakistan (1.8 million), Manshiet in Egypt (1.5 million), Khayelitsha in South Africa, Rocinha of Brazil and Hidalgo County of Texas in the United States with a population of 800,000 residents. These towns are never on our sights, nor do the residents of these countries cry about it. They know that slum is a global challange and all cities share same platform on the same city challanges.

I am not driving to the point that Tosh Gitonga is not patriotic, but that we need not to use other people to identify ourselves. We need not to equate New York City or Paris to our Nairobi so as to draw the lines of rating. If we do so, we would be bending too low. We will disappoint Ngugi wa Thiongo is his decolonization of our mindset. We need to recognize our own identity as a nation, city, town and as a people.

In other words, Nairobi has got several things that she boasts of. Nairobi is not entirely as presented by Tosh Gitonga. Nairobi has got opportunities. Nairobi is not plagued, Nairobi has its own culture, tradition, and fashion. Nairobi attracts and breaths. Our city is alive.

TESO DANCE IN A STORY TELLING SESSION

I WANTED TO KISS YOU, MAYA ANGELOU- By Peter K'ouma

You remember those days in the Deep South?
Yes, those black days in Stamps
I watched you growing
A shinny black girl- you were
Outstanding, beautiful and bright
I wanted to kiss you then,
But vacancy was my place
I wanted to kiss you, Maya Angelou

A grown-up girl, Maya
Back in California, you remember?
When you resorted to singing and dancing
When you resorted to using body movements
And the power of your voice, Maya
When you were caged because of your skin colour
And you resorted to singing
The sad song of the caged.
I wanted to kiss you, Maya Angelou.

Maya, remember when you sung
The heart of a woman
The good woman feeling bad?
Yes, the riddles and the blues
I am talking about the sad blues
Maya, you said hope is a tool
And language its implement
And your war,
Was a war of words, piano and dance.
I loved that art of war
I wanted to kiss you, Maya Angelou

Maya, remember when you sung
Of God’s children who needed traveling shoes?
You remember the black woman
In the ghettos?
It was a revelation to me
And brother Martin Luther Kings
That both blacks and whites
We need to hold hands together
And sing the song of the caged bird.
I wanted o kiss you, Maya Angelou.