SIFF 2016

Slum Film Festival 2016, Aug. 22-26 2016 @ Various Venues in Nairobi

SIFF 2016
Dates: August 22-26, 2016
Venues: Mathare, Kibera, Kawangware and Mukuru

About
The 2016 edition of the Slum Film Festival, taking place from 22nd to 26th August, focuses on the various achievements that have been made in the past decade through the Millennium Development Goals, and aims to promote citizen engagement with regards to the newly formulated Sustainable Development Goals.

For 5 days, the communities in Mathare, Kibera, Kawangware and Mukuru will be treated to a repertoire of films from 70 countries around the world – some of which were nominated in the festival and others that are pre-selected for screening by the 2016 panel of judges. The community screenings will focus on short stories representing and exploring slum realities.

For more information on the 2016 edition of the Slum Film Festival: http://www.slumfilmfestival.net/about-sff2016/

TNL@C ANYANGO August 25th, 2016

Thursday Nite Live ft. Anyango – Direct from Japan! Aug. 25 2016 @ Choices – Baricho Road

TNL@C ANYANGO August 25th, 2016
Date: August 25, 2016
Venue: Choices, Baricho Road
Time: 8-11 pm
No Cover Charge

About
In 2005, a young Japanese lady by the name Eriko Mukoyama visited Kenya and spent close to a year in a village in Western Kenya learning how to play the nyatiti, an eight-stringed lyre of the Luo community from nyatiti master Okumu K’Orengo. On graduating, she became the first female nyatiti player in the world, and Anyango was born.
Anyango became a household name in Kenya after she appeared on several TV stations and performed at the STOP AIDS Concert held in Kenya, hosted by the United Nations in 2007.

In September 2010, she released her debut solo album “Nyatiti Diva” which was ranked first on Tower Record’s World Music chart in Japan. She also performed at the fourth Tokyo International Conference of African Development (TICAD IV). To date she has 5 albums to her name and has traveled and performed all over the world. She has also inspired numerous other female artists to take up the nyatiti.

In 2015 Anyango signed a deal with Ketebul Music that will see the label release and distribute her music in the region. She also recorded a number of songs with Kenge Kenge and Makadem, which will be featured in a compilation album called Anyango. The Safari of Eriko Mukayama which will be released by Ketebul Music in August 2016.

the Women in my Life

Exhibition: The Women in My Life by Michael Soi, Aug. 24 -Sept. 9 2016 @ Circle Art Gallery

the Women in my Life
Opening/Private View: August 24, 2016
Venue: Circle Art Agency

Until: September 9, 2016

The Women in My Life – Mother, Sister, Daughter, Granny, Aunt, Friend, Life Partner
Born in 1972, Michael Soi graduated in fine art and art history before joining Kuona Trust in 1996. He worked as an arts administrator at Kuona Trust before delving into full time practice in 2010.
Working from his studio at the GoDown Art Centre, he has participated in numerous artist workshops/residencies and exhibited widely locally and internationally and has a huge following of collectors and enthusiasts globally.

With a reputation of producing imagery of commercial sex workers and characters of not-so-reputable character, Soi’s work has been misconstrued to glorify immorality while demeaning women. He has come under immense scrutiny and has had to explain his position/opinion in regard to women. The Women in My Life is the artist’s response to this and is more of a celebration of the fine women who have played an integral part in his life helping shape the human being that he has become. “They have all had a very positive role – socially, spiritually or even those who broke my heart….LOL!” says he.

“The Women in My Life is in a nut shell a celebration of all the women I interact with on a day to day basis. They are all the women in my life. My mom, my sister, my daughter, my best friend, my clients, workmates and the girls I see on the street,” says Soi.

Soi says he is not intent on telling any story but is just documenting the nuances that remind him of some of them. The mundane things like the garment they wear, their preferred hair style, their sunglasses of choice and other little things that remind him of his interaction with them – whether professionally or personally.

This is a very personal statement from the artist as most people only publicly recognize women in their life’s contribution on designated days – International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day etc and rarely do it beyond a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. This tribute to women is his acknowledgement of these unnamed individuals who not only continue contributing to his life lessons and his everyday delight but also go a long way to giving him a lifetime of happiness.