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.
4 comments:
Good piece. However, I beg to differ with you in this one, as in, it entirely depends on what the film makers want to show. If you want to see a movie on the Liveliness of Nairobi...try Pearls of Africa, If you want to see a movie on the craziness of Kenyans, try House of Lungula or Fundimentals, If you want to see drug trafficking and the dirty games, try Veve and so on and so forth. Now, NHL is a perfect depiction of the life of a hustler in Kenya, but that is not to say that is how Kenya is. It is only capturing just but a click of what happens to hustlers, majority of them, in the streets of Nairobi. Of course with some exaggerations here and there but then that is the creative and aesthetic purpose of art. I personally see NHL as an eye opener to what happens to the lowest ranked mwananchi in the streets of Nairobi. The conmenship, prostitution, being hustled by 'kanjos' and police who are only up for bribes are all real life experiences we all encounter in Nairobi...so if that is what Tosh Gitonga wanted to capture, then I entirely dont find him at fault.
I do agree with your opinion on art, but I tend to believe that things never happen by mistake. Ask yourself for example, the damage caused as a result of exaggerations in the film. It is not worth man. Look at it from the perceptive of tourism, confirmation of past and false history regarding Africa and third world countries. Look at it from the perspective of our image as a nation. I don't think we are that bad man
It was to harsh for us.Least is said of the major cities slums and we should not be in the forefront bedeviling our own.
Obviously, any negative showcase, has a bitter result.Work of art is no exception.We need to harness our energies in building our city.
Good and timely piece.Bravo!
i dont know what really to say about this movie. i loved it. i believe it just opened our eyes to what happens behind the scenes in the city. and those photos you posted,they are so cute man. i wish what they portray is what Nairobi is.
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