2013 Nairobi Israel Film Festival at Alliance

A 5-day Israel film festival will be held at the Alliance Francaise as part of a series of festive events around Kenya by the Embassy of Israel to celebrate the 50 years of its relations with Kenya.

Date: Starts Tuesday, June 11, 2013.

What to Expect: 10 award-winning Israeli films depicting the different and fascinating facets of the vibrant Israeli society.

Entrance: Free

You can download a copy of the full program and briefs on the films HERE

Architectures Exhibitions, Till July 7th

Three exhibitions about ‘ARCHITECTURES’ at Alliance Francaise this month.

RIP Music Maestro Arthur Mudogo Kemoli

Jeff Koinange  hosts Dr. Kemoli (left) on the Bench

Remembering Musical Kemoli

Dr Arthur Mudogo Kemoli died on Sunday after a long battle with diabetes and renal disease. Many will remember Dr. Kemoli for his mastery in composing choral music with pieces such as ‘Fimbo ya Nyayo’ remaining golden. 

Dr. Margaret Atieno Ogola

Born June 2, 1958 the award winning author, human rights advocate, and medical doctor was a true
Kenyan heroine who was backed by faith and medical expertise to make the life of many poor and ailing
Kenyans bearable. From her writing prowess to her commitment to help the victims of HIV/AIDS, Dr.
Ogola was an angel sent to many.

She joined Thompson’s Falls High School, where she was the best O-level student and got a place
at Alliance Girls High School for her A-levels. In 1984, she attended the University of Nairobi for her
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and in 1990; she earned her Master of Medicine in Paediatrics. In
2004, she took a Post Graduate Diploma on Planning and Management of Development Projects at the
Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

She had written three novels, a biography, and a handbook for parents. They include:

‘The River and the Source’ that has been set book for the Kenya Certificate of Secretary Education (KSCE)
it illustrates the change in life of 4 generations of Kenyan women.

‘I Swear by Apollo’, a sequel that revolves around medical ethics and issue on authentic identity.

‘Place of Destiny’ won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature (2007). The book is a semi-autobiography
narrating a story of a woman dying of cancer and identity of a street child.

‘Educating in Human Love: Parents Guiding Children on Sex’

In 1997, she co-authored with Margret Roche a biography on Cardinal Maurice Otunga, ‘Life of Grace’.

She had worked as a consultant Paeditrician at Kenyatta National Hospital up to 1994. She then became
the Medical Director of Cottolengo Hospice, a hospice for HIV and AIDS orphans.

1994 – 1998 She was Executive Director of the Family Life Counseling Association of Kenya (FLACK).

In 1995, ‘The River and the Source’ won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the best book, African
region. The same year it won the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.

1998 – 2002 She was National Executive Secretary of the Commission for Health and Family Life for the
Catholic Bishops Conference.

In 1999 in Geneva, she received the Familias Award for Humanitarian Service of the World Congress of
Families.

In 2002, she became the Kenya coordinator of Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI), these
assembled NGOs like World Vision, Care, and Save the Children among others.

In 2004, she was part of those who set up the SOS HIV/AIDS Clinic on that served the slum dwellers of
Nairobi living with Aids.

Dr. Ogola has also been a director of Institute of Healthcare Management at the Strathmore Business
School (2009-2010). She was an advisor of family and health issues to the Kenyan Catholic bishops, and a
member of Opus Dei.

She had a long battle with cancer before dying on 22 September 2011 R.I.P.

Prolific: Ngugi wa Thiong’o

Born in 1938 in Kamiriithu, Kiambu County in Central Kenya, Thiong’o is arguably the greatest writer in Kenyan History. His official website simply describes his profile as literary and social activist. Renowned for both his English and Gikuyu works, many have compared him to the likes of Nigerian Wole Soyinka. 

Thiong'o

He joined the prestigious Alliance High school in 1954, fulfilling his childhood dream and later acquired his B.A in English from Makerere University. Ngugi also attended the University of Leeds in England on a British Council scholarship. While still at varsity, he authored many books including the popular ‘Weep Not Child’ and ‘The River Between’, which were his first and second novels in his library.

“Don’t worry about me. Everything will be all right. Get education, I’ll get carpentry. Then we shall, in the future, be able to have a new and better home for the whole family.”

A quote from ‘Weep Not, Child’

His political activism and criticism of the regime of the day landed him into trouble and was detained at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. While at Kamiti, he wrote a novel in Gikuyu, ‘Devil on the Cross.’ His publications and theatre performances were also not spared, with most being banned. This forced him to go into exile in US.

He currently serves as a professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine. He has also been a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, New York University and Yale University. Here is some of his renowned works:

‘The Black Hermit’, ‘Weep Not, Child’, ‘The River Between’, ‘A Grain of Wheat’, ‘Homecoming’, ‘The trial of Dedan Kimathi’, ‘Petals of Blood’, ‘Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature’, ‘Njambe Nene and the Flying Bus’ and ‘Wizard of the Crow’

Over the years, he has received numerous awards and seven Honorary Doctorates. These awards include, the Medal of the Presidency of the Italian Cabinet, 2001 Nonino International Prize for Literature.

His success in literature is evident everywhere and many are awaiting his Nobel Prize in Literature award.

Wanjiku Week

In celebration of the Wanjiku Phenomenal 5 days have been set aside at the Allaince Francaise Gallery. The exhibition will run from 8th March to the 13th.