Lecture: Dr. Caroline Elkins, author of “Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain’s Gulag in Kenya”, Jun 16 2012 @ University of Nairobi

The Harvard Club of Kenya presents a lecture by Dr. Caroline Elkins.
Professor Elkins’s first book, Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain’s Gulag in Kenya, was awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction as well as other major awards.Her research formed the legal basis for the Mau Mau freedom fighters’ court case against the British Government for crimes against humanity. They are currently examining 300 boxes of files that surfaced last year in England (for more see this recent article from the Harvard Magazine: http://hvrd.me/NsWnxT)

This is the first time in several years that Dr. Elkins has spoken in Kenya, and the first time since the British trial. Come and hear about her journey and join in what promises to be a lively conversation with this leading luminary.

Date: Saturday 16 June
Time: 3:30 mingle over tea
4pm an hour of Dr. Elkins followed by Q&A
Cost: KES 400 for general public (HCK members free)

Venue: Education Theatre 2, University of Nairobi
This is across from the Norfolk
Lost? call Megan 0722.715.603

RSVP on the Facebook event or by email at megan [at] zanaafrica [dot] org

Theatre and Performances: Visiting Hour, Jun. 15-30, 2012 @ Phoenix Players


Phoenix Players Present visiting hour, directed by George Mungai

Opens on the 15th of June and runs until 30th June 2012. Tickets at Kshs 650
Venue: Professional Centre

SYNOPSIS
The play is written for a company of six actors, each playing several parts in the four scenes that make up one piece. In PLASTER, a hospitalized husband is visited by his canny wife, with hilarious results. KEEPING MUM is a poignant monologue by a middle aged daughter while GOING HOME traces the lessons learned by a confrontation between two women during their hospital stay MAGIC has a timid spinster suffering a visit from a crass work colleague and her ‘magician’ husband.

NB: Student nights Every Thursday. Buy 1 ticket @ Ksh. 400 and get 1 Free.

Pawa Salon: Photographer Jide Adeneyi-Jones, Jun. 14 2012 @ Pawa254 Hub


Date: June 14, 2012
Venue: Pawa 254 Hub
Time: 4.30pm

About Jide Adeneyi-Jones
Jide is a Nigerian photographer, currently residing in Nairobi. He has worked as a professional photographer in Europe, Africa and the United States since 1974, with a practice that includes; documentary, industrial and editorial photography.

Jones early work was in fashion, advertising and editorial photography, this was followed by several years in journalism and currently a practice undertaking medium and long-term documentary projects.
His work has been published and exhibited in Africa, Europe and the Americas.

This will be an opportunity to meet, listen to, discuss and liaise with a photographer who has been in the industry for over 35 years.
The salon will start at 4:30pm and refreshments will be served.

Seminar/ Politics as Culture in Eastern Africa: Nation-Building, Neo-Liberalism and Moral Rhetoric, Jun. 14 2012 @ BIEA

Date: Thursday 14, June 2012
Venue: British Institute in Eastern Africa (BIEA), Laikipia Road, Kileleshwa
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm

Politics as Culture in Eastern Africa: Nation-Building, Neo-Liberalism and Moral Rhetoric
This workshop brings together recent studies of the cultural and rhetorical dimensions of contemporary political change in Eastern Africa. The constitution of national identity has long been studied as an inherently cultural exercise. National affiliation is sustained by a range of cultural practices in which citizens actively participate.
While critical studies have concentrated on the developmental state of the post-independence period, less attention has been directed to more recent neo-liberal state formations which have emerged in Africa under pressure from donors and the international financial institutions.

The workshop seeks to explore the dimensions of this new moral culture in the politics of East Africa. It will consider in particular the potential for contest and subversion of the dominant neo-liberal common sense, as well as earlier cultural forms and moral exemplars which are still influential in East African politics.

Papers:
1. Writing ‘Project Kenya’: Public Memory and Popular Histories in Parselelo Kantai’s Writing Grace Musila (University of Stellenbosch)
2. Satire and the Politics of Corruption in Kenya John Harrington and Ambreena Manji (BIEA)
3. Remoralizing Politics in Tanzania: Julius Nyerere as a National Icon Marie-Aude Fouéré (IFRA)

The seminar is free. To RSVP please email – kerry.kyaa@biea.ac.uk Or call 0724 576600 / 0735 260004

Photo Exhibition/Charity: Equilibrium-A Moment in solitude, Jun. 15-24 2012 @ MJ Centre


Dates: June 15-24, 2012
Venue: Michael Joseph Centre
Location: Safaricom HQ2, Wayaki way
Time: 9am-5pm
Entry: Free

NB: Ample packing available

About
The exhibition ‘Equilibrium – A Moment in Solitude’ is a unique reflection of waterscapes through the lens of black & white photography, capturing the movement of water in still images to reveal vivid contract, unique tones and a feeling of space.

Equilibrium is Zia Manji first exhibition and reveals over 30 photographs from a body of work including the beaches of the Indian Ocean, the lakes of the Great Rift Valley and France, waterways in Venice and the Lochs of Scotland

The Photos capture the relationship between water and other elements mirroring the photographer’s relationship to the subject as a means of finding balance. The use of monochrome distills the essence of the photograph to reveal reflections, textures and passage of time that would otherwise be missed.

The primary aim of the exhibition is to raise funds for two charities- the Friends of Nairobi National Park and Kuona Trust.