Development and its Discontents: Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, Nov. 17 2016 @ Rift Valley Institute

Date: November 17, 2016
Venue: Seminar Room, Rift Valley Institute
Location: Laikipia road, Kileleshwa
Time: 10am – 12pm
Entry: Prior registration, RSVP here

About
Over the past decade, African countries have experienced significant economic growth rates. Despite this, most face a myriad of developmental challenges, and public dissatisfaction with how governments are addressing corruption and delivering public services. There is a common perception that government is run for the benefit of the few, rather than all its citizens.

On Thursday 17 November 2016, the Rift Valley Forum will launch a new report by the Pew Research Centre that investigates public attitudes to social and economic development in Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. Based on the annual Global Attitudes survey by the Centre, the study surveys opinions about the economy, government, corruption, perceived barriers to getting good jobs, access to clean water, health care and education, and civic participation.

Katie Simmons, the Associate Director of Research at the Pew Research Centre, will present the findings of this report.

Professor Yash Pal Ghai | Photo via the NMS

Kenya’s Constitution: Origins, Objectives and Impact by Professor Yash Pal Ghai, Nov. 19 2016 @ Nairobi National Museum

Professor Yash Pal Ghai | Photo via the NMS
Professor Yash Pal Ghai | Photo via the NMS
Date: Saturday, November 19, 2016
Venue: Louis Leakey Auditorium, Nairobi National Museum
Time: Refreshments for sale at 3:15pm; Talk at 4:00pm

Donation: Ksh 200 Student, Ksh 400 KMS member and Ksh 500 Guest (MPESA no: 400800 Account no: 6571570019)
Tickets: 0724 255299, 2339158 or info@kenyamuseumsociety.org

Yash Ghai will discuss why Kenya needed a new Constitution and briefly describe the process, including the hurdles that faced it. He will describe what the new Constitution tries to achieve, taking issues like national unity, respect for diversity, integrity, popular participation and social justice.

He will also give an interim progress report on these issues, and the resistance the Constitution faces, especially from government and politicians, as well as from continued corruption.

About
Yash Pal Ghai is Kenyan. He studied law at Oxford and Harvard and taught in Dar es Salaam, where many distinguished East African lawyers were his students. Later he taught at universities in Sweden, the UK and Hong Kong, and as visiting professor in many more.

In Kenya he chaired the first phase of the constitution making process from 2000 to 2004. Much of the fruit of that stage of the process can be seen in the Constitution adopted in 2010. Yash Ghai has advised on constitution making in 20 or so other countries.

Dialogue by Evanson. Photo via the National Museum

Exhibition: Dialogue with Evanson Kangethe Njuguna, Nov. 5-30 2016 @ National Museum

Dialogue by Evanson. Photo via the National Museum
Dialogue by Evanson. Photo via the National Museum
Dates: November 5-30, 2016
Venue: National Museum

DIALOGUE
This exhibition is a selection of works that represent the artist’s long-term trajectory defined by figurative representational art, linism and ‘smoke painting’

Evanson Kangethe Njuguna began as a self-taught artist in 1982, then received art tuition from John Mayienga, lecturer Department of Design, University of Nairobi. In 1985-1987 he created murals on commission. In 1990-2011 held several solo and joint art exhibitions in such places as the Nairobi National Museum, French Cultural Center and Goethe Institute. Other works have been exhibited in Germany and USA, among other countries. Most recently he had a show at the British Institute in Eastern Africa. One of his sculptures is in permanent installation at the Nairobi National Museum. Kang’ethe also volunteers at Nest Childrens Home in Limuru as an art tutor as well as theatrical practices.

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Screenings: Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Nov. 14-17 2016 @ Alliance Française

hrw-festival-2016
Dates: November 14-17, 2016
Venue: Alliance Française

Human Rights Watch Film Festival
The 2016 HRW Film Festival returns to the Alliance Française. Nairobi is one of over 20 cities around the world that hosts the Film Festival.

The festival encourages filmmakers around the world to address human rights subject matter in their work and presents films from both new and established international filmmakers. The films brings to life human rights abuses through storytelling in a way that challenges each individual to empathize and demand justice for all people.

At Alliance Française, the following films will be showing. The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, Among the Believers, Mediterranea & Tuko Macho.

All screenings will be followed by panel discussions.

https://ff.hrw.org/nairobi

breakfast-jam-finals-uganda

Out of Town/Annual Break Dance Finals: Break Fast Jam 2016, Nov. 19 & 20 2016 @ YMCA Wandegeya (Kampala-Uganda)

breakfast-jam-finals-uganda
Dates: November 19-20, 2016
Venue: YMCA Wandegeya, Kampala-Uganda
Time: 2pm until 9pm both days.
Entry: 5000 ugx each day and free for kids aged 10 yrs and below

Activities: Bboying/Bgirling (break dance) & popping battles, performances & showcases in Rap, dance & beat boxing/vocal percussion, DJ-ing, free workshops (dance, beat boxing, DJ-ing etc..), Educational discussions and Q & A sessions, press conferences, parties and many more.

Find more info., here http://break-fastjam.com/break-fast-jam-2016-finals-19th-20th-nov/

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Book Launch: Parliament of Owls – A Collection of Poems by Adipo Sidang’, Nov. 17 2016 @ Goethe Institut

parliament-of-owls
Date: November 17, 2016
Venue: Goethe Institut Auditorium

About
A collection of Poems by Adipo Sidang’

Parliament of Owls, published under the Contact Zones Series established by the Goethe-Institut Kenya and Native Intelligence, is a collection of poems by Adipo Sidang’ one of the most talented Kenyan poets of his generation. In the words of Tony Mochama (writer), “Parliament of Owls heralds the arrival of a new emperor on the African poetry scene … and this emperor, Adipo Sidang’, is hooting the naked truth”.

– The collection of poems will be discussed by Dr. Tom Odhiambo (literary critic) and Khainga O’Okwemba (poet and journalist).