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.

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 18^th 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.

The Winning Team: MWF2021 Graduation Part II

 

Lorna Juma MWF 2021

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.

From Left: Machin, Paul, Douglas, Trizah

The Cultural Attaché did well to bring life lessons in a simple and fun way. Imagine being called on stage, no script, no direction except a brief explanation to a conversation you are supposed to pick and build upon. Fellows volunteered to do this and as some fumbled or gave responses, it was easy for the audience to realize which response would end a conversation thereby “killing” the scene. This got me thinking, isn’t this life in real sense? Shakespeare’s words that the world is indeed a stage, and every human is an actor make more sense now. Taking from what Covid-19 has taught us, nothing could be further from the truth that improvisation is something we do as humans every day. It is then the decisions we take that decide how long we keep whatever we have, sadly, including life itself. Preparation is good; however, I dare say that the best way to do this is to keep an open mind, orient ourselves to the possibilities that could come about our lives.

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!

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?

Philip Olilo

From left: Lenah, Besnson, Esther, Nyaga and Viola

Saumu Idd (Left) and Viola 

Stanley Ratemo

Hellen Nakaru (Left) and Jacky Waiharo
Photo by Jacky Waiharo

Fellows pose for a photo before graduation

Douglas Ogutu is the founder of Dowe Music &Arts. He is passionate about sound leadership and social positive change in Africa. Art is a tool he uses to transform lives in Kenya and Africa.

**Unless otherwise stated, all photos by Douglas and Saumu Idd.

The Winning Team: MWF 2021 Part I

 

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.

Trizah, Lenah and Paul (MWF2021)

I love engaging people. I move a way from what seems to be a dance floor where fellows are trying so hard to make moves. Annette, the Cultural Specialist at the US Embassy-Kenya, and the lead organizer of this event is present. I wish I captured the video. Well, it suffices to affirm that she’s good at it.  I go to Phillip Olilo’s table. The tall dark young man (MWF 2021 Alumnus) smiles at me with a good mastery of eye contact. I realize though, he must be busy on phone, perhaps with an ongoing online meeting. Anyway, he’s a colleague, we can catch up later. I’m interested in Mercy, his sign language translator. She is a teacher at Farther Auderaa School for the Hearing Impaired, at Nyangoma village, Siaya County of Kenya. We had introduced each other earlier so our chat can take any angle.

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

Fellows pose with Charge D’ affairs

: 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.

Mercy: Oh yes! This is something I’m waiting for. Thank you!

Douglas: Thanks for your time, I can see the bus is ready.

Annette and Mr. Machin

Everyone gathers their gift hampers, and the driver is aware of such a night, so he is patient with the few who must stagger as they walk, talk and sing to the bus. The event has been a great one. The kind that has somehow soothed the disappointment brought by Covid-19 hindering us from travelling to Washington DC for an in-person fellowship. Thanks to the Embassy officials under the leadership of Mr. Machin Christopher.

To be continued….

All photos by Douglas and Saumu Idd (MWF2021)

The writer is the founder of Dowe Music &Arts. He is passionate about sound leadership and social positive change in Africa. Art is a tool he uses to transform lives in Kenya and Africa.

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?