What a beautiful way to close the year! Here is a small interview with our newest student on Drums, she shares her experience at DMA. All I can say now is that 2023 is a blast! Watch out!
Douglas Ogutu is an experienced trainer at DMA,
Saturday 31 December 2022
Friday 18 November 2022
Thursday 10 November 2022
Monday 8 August 2022
Sunday 12 June 2022
Saturday 4 June 2022
Saturday 28 May 2022
Monday 16 May 2022
Friday 15 April 2022
WHAT DO I KNOW? A SHORT MUSICAL SKIT ON COVID-19, RUSSIA-UKRAIN INVASION
This is the first episode of What Do I Know. Young musicians- Molly and Bazuu have conversations on life issues as they rehearse. Within the scenes of laughter and sadness are nuggets of wisdom we all need. Enjoy.
Tuesday 22 March 2022
Lesotho _Nviiri The Storyteller ft Ray Gee_Cover by NEEMA
Neema is Unstoppable! Check out what she did with Nviiri The Storyteller ft Ray Gee's track Lesotho. I personally think this version is wonderful. Be on your gadget on Wednesday 22nd March 2022 8:14PM EAT and rest assured you'll love everything. Here's a teaser for your patience.
Sunday 20 March 2022
Sitaki Mapigano _Douglas Ogutu ft Captain Bon Live Performance at Nakuru...
Peace
is a precious jewel that every human being must strive for at any moment in
life. At Dowe Music Arts, we believe that the basic prerequisite for progress
and success of the society is the peaceful coexistence of its inhabitants.
Building a nation takes a lot of effort and time. As it were, a positive
revolution does not happen in a single day. Arriving at an admirable
developmental stage requires trust, love for one another and the desire to see
each of us rise. In the spirit of Ubuntu-I am because we are, it is then
necessary for individuals and organizations to spur conversations around
harmony and virtuous living. The need to see every person as deserving to live
life in full without prejudice is something we must all covet.
It is in this respect that we endeavor to inspire citizens especially the youths to embrace peace. Under our flagship program Art4Leadership, we have organized a series of Concerts in the coming days under the Amani (Peace) tagline. The main aim is to use music, art, and public speaking to foster peace in the country. Our first concert is happened on 18th 03 2022 featuring Dowe Music Band, A4L sponsored Hip-hop artistes, spoken word artists, officials from IEBC, Lions Club, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) just to mention but a few. We were honored to have you participate in this event and look forward to further engagements.
Wednesday 16 March 2022
The Winning Team: MWF2021 Graduation Part II
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| Lorna Juma MWF 2021 |
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| Deogracious Maero (Left) and Brian Kiragu Improv Acting |
I found myself shouting “SUFURIA!” as my brain was telling me, “Dude, wrap it up, that’s the last item in here,” I saw mixed feelings in the audience. Mr. Machin, the facilitator of the improv acting session was a little confused. We were taking turns mentioning things that are found in a baking house. Whoever took too long to answer would be disqualified, get back to sit. To date, I still haven’t found the right translation for that term, and yes, the word pot doesn’t sit well in my brain.
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| From Left: Machin, Paul, Douglas, Trizah |
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| Winnie Barawa (Left) and Elizabeth Okullow Role Playing |
This
session came after the Ignite Talks I had been moderating earlier on. Well,
you’ll get more about that session but for now, let me focus on this beautiful
soul’s presentation. Here’s her opening line,
“COVID-19 has gradually made our world more
virtual, bringing more opportunities for the youth,”
Well, the first part is a little common, but
“bringing more opportunities…” is not a phrase you here many people coin in a
sentence where Covid is. Lorna Juma is a proud alumna of YALI, both RLC an MWF
who’s speech inspired me a great deal. She tells us of having her baby during
the pandemic and you can tell that no one is ever very well prepared for this,
no matter how many books you’ll read. It’s a hands-on learning experience that
sometimes casts whatever you had known into the trash can.
She goes on to mention the advantages we can draw from the unbecome happenings of Covid-19 such as opening of the global employment opportunities. Isn’t it amazing that the Oracle Academy Program Manager, sub-Saharan Africa has staff members whom she has never met except virtually and everyone lives in his/her own country? Thanks to the pandemic, this is just a normal thing. Covid made us empress improvisation!
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| Lorna receiving the certificate from Charge de Affairs |
Lorna doesn’t say it’s all been smooth or we
just water down the negative impact of Covid-19, No! In fact, she’s bold to
mention a halt in the operations of her own initiative. However, she notes that
that break gives one time to regroup, figure out the best foot to put forward,
come back stronger, just like someone who makes a wrong move in chess,
sacrificing the Queen, but eventually gives the opponent a checkmate, after a
time of reflection. Yes, you lost, so what?
Africa
is blessed. Apart from the natural resources that adorn this continent, she is
well endowed with youths who, if they decide, causing an overhaul of systems
and disruption of the status quo for the best is the easiest thing on the
planet. This will be our next episode, here from the fellows who intend to vie
for various seats in the coming elections! For now, Let's see some faces, shall we?
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| Philip Olilo |
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| From left: Lenah, Besnson, Esther, Nyaga and Viola |
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| Saumu Idd (Left) and Viola |
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| Stanley Ratemo |
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| Hellen Nakaru (Left) and Jacky Waiharo Photo by Jacky Waiharo |
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| Fellows pose for a photo before graduation |
Saturday 12 March 2022
The Winning Team: MWF 2021 Part I
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| Mercy and Philip Olilo (MWF 2021) |
Wednesday
night. Fellows are all over Zen Gardens. Some taking contacts you would think none
of us is in the same WhatsApp group we all belong to…but we know what that means;
someone is being intentional about keeping in touch with you or the tingling
effect just happened…or is it a spark? Forgive us, it is the first time we are
meeting physically since we started applying for Mandela Washington Fellowship
and made it. I think it’s two years now. A few of them have their eyes shining,
eyeballs widening as if in readiness for an eyeing match with owls. I tease one
of them to stand on one foot and you know how it goes with every tipsy champ, “You
think I can’t…?” Okay, let me digress a little.
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| Trizah, Lenah and Paul (MWF2021) |
Mercy:
I am so humbled. It is just amazing what young people can do. Everyone is
creating impact till I’m left wondering where I’ve been all these years.
Douglas:
I think you are doing more in your space. By the way, what drove you into
Special Education?
The
professional sign Language educator smiles and one can tell how passionate she
is about teaching children with disability and in this case, those with hearing
impairment. After a brief history…
Mercy:
To this end, I don’t think I can trade this profession for any other. The world
I’m in is so peaceful. I want to do this every day, anytime.
We
discuss the challenges facing children with disabilities among which include
the long journey that most governments in Africa are yet to accomplish as well
as the unpreparedness among families. I marvel at how she brims with joy while
describing the fun she has with the children at the school, saying challenges
are everywhere and like every other person, we ought to address them as
opportunities to make the world better.
For
a moment we talk about the differences in the sign language curriculum across
the world and that’s how I recall a Swahili short story I wrote in 2013 as a
tribute to the late Nelson Mandela. We both laugh at my sign language
translating character who was saying things that were in no way related to what
the speakers were saying, messing a trip for a deaf child whose Father had given
a treat to attend a funeral of Africa’s first President, Rufomuze. We end up
agreeing that there is a long way to go on matters disability preparedness. The
bus is arriving, we must go back to the boarding hotel… everyone wishes we just
stayed here. I wrap it up…
Douglas
:
I think you are best fit for MWF. This fellowship is about winners, and by that,
I mean people who are resilient, passionate about; community service, purpose
driven life and seeing positive change in themselves and the environment around
them. Be sure to apply when the time comes. Philip can help you with essay
reviews, I mean, all fellows here are willing to help if you get in touch. You
are a great leader.Fellows pose with Charge D’ affairs
Mercy:
Oh yes! This is something I’m waiting for. Thank you!
Douglas:
Thanks for your time, I can see the bus is ready.
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| Annette and Mr. Machin |
To
be continued….
All photos by Douglas and Saumu Idd (MWF2021)
Thursday 3 March 2022
Sitaki Mapigano Studio Version_ Douglas Ogutu X Captain Bon
As the year grows, most Kenyans are hopeful for one thing: That the election period shall be a different one this time round. Things become volatile every other five years due to conflicts that arise from bad politics. Douglas and Captain Bon have teamed up to share a reminder that we need to embrace peace in order to achieve the development goals we always dream about. Check their audio Sitaki Mapigano on various streaming platforms as well us the Studio Version Video on the YouTube Link above. Isn't it wonderful to have youths being on the forefront in preaching peace?
