BAKE Blog Awards: Vote for your favourite blog by May 3 2012

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The BAKE Blog Awards has been set up by the blogging fraternity to rewards bloggers that post on a regular basis, have great and useful content, are creative and innovative.

These awards represent BAKE’s efforts in the promotion of quality and content creation.

Key timelines on the Blog Awards
1. Submissions
These were held from March 15-29, 2012. BAKE was accepting submissions in the competition’s 14 categories.
2. Short listing by Judges [the Best 5 in each category] From March 29-April 9, 2012 judges comprising of bloggers and media experts decided on the 5 blogs that advanced to the next round in all 14 categories.
These are the blogs that are in the running to win a BAKE blog award.
3. Online voting
The ballot box was opened on April 10 and will close on May 3, 2012. This is the link for voting for your favourite blog. http://bloggers.or.ke/voting/
4. And the winner is…
The winners will be announced at a gala event to be held on May 5, 2012 at a hotel in Nairobi

Some of the sponsors who have made this a reality: Safaricom, Capital FM, Samsung, Google, ICT Board, Serena Hotels & Virtual City.

BAKE Contacts
Email: info@bake.or.ke, Facebook or Twitter
Hashtag: #BAKEawards

PS: Bloggers are reminded that to attend this event they MUST RSVP early to assist in preparation logistics.

Invitation to participate in Kenya visual artists networking exhibition, May 22- Jul. 22 2012 @ Nairobi Gallery

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The Non State Actors Support Programme (NSA – NET) is a democratic governance capacity building programme which seeks to enhance the role of civil society and cultural actors in the development process. The Programme is implemented by the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs with financing from the European Union through the 9th European Development Fund (9th EDF).

NSA – NET in collaboration with the National Museum of Kenya [NMK] and in consultation with visual artists have organised an exhibition dubbed “Power of unity: creating a vital voice for artists to influence good governance” The main objective of this initiative is to enable the artists to create a platform / forum in which they can continuously use to articulate issues affecting them as a discipline. The exhibition will serve three purposes, namely:

1. To provide an opportunity for artists to show case their work, specifically reflecting their interpretation of the networking/unity theme;
2. To provide an opportunity for visual artist to discuss and endorse the formation of a visual artists network; and
3. To officially launch the visual artists network.

The exhibition is open to all visual artists and is scheduled to take place at The Nairobi Gallery, National Museums of Kenya starting 22nd May 2012 and run up to the 22nd July 2012.

All participating artists are expected to fulfil the following eligibility criteria to participate in the networking exhibition:

• The artist must be 25 years of age and above;
• He / she must be a practicing artist and has participated in at least 5 exhibitions locally and internationally;
• Every artist will be required to submit one piece of artwork whose specifications are 100cm by 100cm for the largest piece, and 25cm by 25cm (quarter of the same) for the smallest;
• The artwork should address either of the three good governance themes, namely: promotion of public participation, promotion of peaceful co-existence and promotion of effective service delivery;
• The artwork should be delivered to the Nairobi gallery ready for hanging latest on 23rd or 24th April 2012 not earlier or later;
• The artist will be required to surrender to the gallery, 30% as commission from the proceeds of their sales during the exhibition period; and
• All the unsold artwork at the end of the exhibition should be collected by the 24th July 2012. The uncollected artwork within the designated time will be considered a donation to the Museum.

Click this link to download artist-questionnaire (pdf), which should be duly completed and submitted to The Nairobi Gallery (old PC office), National Museums of Kenya, clearly marked visual artist exhibition by 5th April 2012.

All enquires on the exhibition should be directed to Lydia G. Galavu, email: lgatundu@museums.or.ke or Scholastica Kimanga, email: schola_kiragu@yahoo.com with a copy to info@nsa-net.org.

Find more information on their blog about the project and artists database: http://visualartsnetworking.wordpress.com/

Submit your favourite blogs to the BAKE Blog Awards, until Mar 29 2012

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The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) announces The BAKE Blog Awards, in a bid to reward exceptional bloggers and to also promote content creation in Kenya. The idea is to recognize bloggers that post consistently, have great and useful content, and are creative and innovative.

There will be a submission phase starting March 15th where blogs will be nominated in 14 categories below.

Though there is no specific arts & entertainment section, feel free to nominate Nairobi Now – maybe under Best General Blog! 🙂

1. Best Technology Blog
Blogs that cover tech matters like social media, internet usage, consumer electronics, mobile phones, tech startups etc.
2. Best Photography Blog
Blogs that showcase original photos or have photography related content.
3. Best Creative Writing Blog
Blogs that feature original creative writing in the form of poetry, fiction and essays.
4. Best Business Blog
Blogs that feature business content like business development, entrepreneurship, startups, stocks, investments, banking etc
5. Best Food Blog
Blogs that focus on food, cooking tips, restaurants, wines and recipes
6. Best Agriculture Blog
Blogs that focus on Farming, marketing of agricultural produce, and environmental impact of climate change
7. Best Fashion Blog
Blogs that highlight current trends in Fashion as well as personal grooming, fashion shows
8. Best Politics Blog
Blogs that cover political issues in Kenya.
9. Best New Blog
Outstanding Blogs that were set up from March 24th 2011 onwards.
10. Best Corporate Blog
Blogs run by companies.
11. Best General Blog
Blogs that features content that is exceptional but doesn’t don’t fit into any of the other 13 categories.
12. Best Sports Blog
Blogs that feature sports content.
13. Tweep of the Year – Individual
The best individual twitter user in Kenya.
14. Tweep of the Year – Corporate
The best corporate twitter user in Kenya.

The submission phase will run until March 29th and then judges will choose their best 5 in each category. The judges will be drawn from the media and the blogging community. After the judges pick their best 5 in each category, they will then be voted for by the public from April 10th. The winners in each category will be announced at a gala event on April 28th.

For more details about the BAKE Blog Awards visit http://bloggers.or.ke , the awards website, or email awards@bloggers.or.ke.

Request for Material/Share Experiences: For Jomo Kenyatta-Hope and Unity Exhibition, by National Museum of Kenya

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The National Museum of Kenya is requesting for materials and/or calling out for experiences you would like to share with them pertaining Mzee Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya’s first president) for an exhibition that will be hosted at the same venue.

The time frames to be covered by this exhibition will be his early life as a young man and the challenges he faced, his time abroad, his return which covers the time frame from 1946 to the year he died, in 1978, and finally, the impact of his Legacy, extending to present day Kenya and beyond.

The National Museums of Kenya extends an invitation to anyone with memorabilia or experiences associated with the late Mzee Kenyatta that can go into the making of this exhibition and provide a refreshing look at the life and legacy of Kenya’s founding father.

They are looking for materials that include, but are not limited to, photographs, letters and written accounts of experiences you or people known to you would have shared with Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

More information on this and how to get in touch with the National Museums of Kenya check this link:
http://www.museums.or.ke/Jomo_Kenyatta_Exhibition/request_for_materials.html

Consultative Workshop on Climate Change and Heritage, Mar. 21 2012 @ National Museum

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The National Museum of Kenya is holding a consultative workshop on Climate change and Heritage. This workshop will be held on the March 21, 2012.
For further information, kindly contact Dr. Ali Adan, Team Leader, NMK Environment, Climate Change and Heritage Policy Group through + 254722961233; Email; aadan@museums.or.ke.
NB: Participation is strictly by invitation only.

For more information and project concept check their website

Updated – Why does Eat Out steal our content?

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Nairobi Now normally cares about one thing only: posting arts and cultural events that we believe deserve more publicity in Nairobi.
Most event organisers contact us asking to promote an event. Occasionally, we find out about events through other websites, write about them and link to the original source.

You can imagine our disappointment when we found out that the 5 most recent entries on Nairobi Now feature on Eat Out’s mobile website [update: Eat Out no longer uses our content, just see the pictures below] – but without any mention of our blog. In fact, they appear on a page titled “Eat Out on Twitter”. Though it is an honour to be featured so prominently on such a useful service, it is also wrong on many levels. This is what we don’t like:

  1. There is no mention of the source, nor of the author of the blog posts. Readers on Eat Out are fooled into believing this is a service provided by Eat Out itself.
  2. We were not asked our permission for use of our content. Permission that we would have probably granted, maybe in exchange for some visibility.
  3. The arrogance of calling their page Eat Out on Twitter – how about calling it Nairobi Now, for example?
  4. It is not a coincidence that this is happening to a blog. Do you think Eat Out would have done the same with arts & entertainment content posted by, for example, Kenya Buzz or Up Nairobi – websites that actually have advertising partnerships with Eat Out?

Here is some evidence collected today, Friday 17th 2012.

You can also compare pictures of the three latest posts published on Nairobi Now and on “Eat Out on Twitter”.
Probably this very post will end up on their page too 🙂

So, the bottom line of this story is: Nairobi Now and all Kenyan blogs deserve to be taken seriously. And to be treated fairly. Behind their posts, there is a lot of creative work. Whether writing a review, editing press releases, selecting what to publish and what not to publish, fact-checking to avoid confusion or adding links to relevant digital media, we add value to the arts world. We certainly do not deserve to have our content be reused by Eat Out – or anyone else – without prior agreement and mention of the actual source.

If you like Nairobi Now, support our work and believe in the power of blogs, share this post, comment with your views and ask Eat Out to use our content fairly from now on – or to stop using it immediately otherwise!

Update: As some of you might have noticed, Eat Out has changed the link in their mobile site, now actually pointing to their twitter account. Someone asked why didn’t we just contact them in private first. The reason is simple: this is not about Nairobi Now – this is about all blogs, easily abused in the digital economy. Thank Eat Out for stopping to steal our content – although we wished you had asked us in the first place, and we would have all benefited.

Second update: We have now had a very positive conversation with Eat Out. We are happy to accept their apologies and to look into ways for us to collaborate. Hopefully this story can teach us how to better engage in partnerships online. Nairobi Now is happy to expand the reach of its content and to increase the visibility of the events we are selecting and promoting. All we ask is to always agree on the modalities for collaboration. For anyone who would like to partner with us, get in touch at nairobinow at gmail dot com.

Free Download: A dollar a day – An African music collaboration

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A dollar a day is a wonderful 18 track album produced by Kenya’s South African based Akili Blaq. The project was overseen by Kenyan artist/activist Muki Garang, founder or founder of Maisha yetu (Arts and culture ngo). The music in the album is prominent with a mixture of cultures from East,west  and South Africa, with innovations in contemporary Hip-hop, a fusion of Setswana and Swahili.  The content in the musical compilation is not isolated to the youth but also accommodates the wider African society. It covers topics such as; Civil strife, The Malema effect,Love, HIV and Aids, Xenophobia, land reform policy and ethnicity.

This project involves renown artists from across the continent: Mpho ya Badimo(Motswedini fm,Mafikeng), Lerato Mosimane (formerly of BOP Tv), Apu, TLS, Relevant source(SA), Angell Nthoi (Botswana),Bra Sam Bass (Zimbabwe) Ngozi Chukura (Botswana),Omodada (Nigeria) and Kenya’s Akili Blaq who doubles as a rap artist.

Lastly the album contains interviews with policy makers and stakeholders from the post apartheid region mainly Sylvia Liabile (Chair person of South African Business committee on Hiv and AIDs).

The album was produced during the month of December 2011 at Dextraw studios in Mahikeng,Northwest province, South Africa

Download the complete album and find out more about the project on Maisha Yetu’s website: http://maishayetu.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/a-dollar-a-day/

Call for entries: African Film Festival-FCAT Córdoba 2012, by May 15 2012

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FCAT-Cordoba main objective is to direct its efforts to promoting and spearheading African and Arabic cinematography in Spain and Spain speaking Latin America through specific actions focused on cooperation, teaching methods and training.

Rules and regulations
Application form
Dead Line: May 15, 2012
Festival dates: October 13-21, 2012
Contact Person: Marion Berger / marionb@fcat.es

Call for entries and more info available on their web site: http://www.fcat.es/FCAT_en/

Open: Pawa 254 Hub. This is a space for creatives, journalists and community organizers

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About PAWA254
This is Nairobi’s unique new social enterprise and collaborative space for creatives and youth to achieve work of social impact. It opened its doors on January 3, 2012.
This hub aims to house, foster, and catalyze creative and community-driven projects for social change across Kenya. It is the first of its kind in Africa.

PAWA254 derives its name from a combination of “power” in Swahili and 254, Kenya’s country code, as a symbol of national strength and unity.

The new hub aims to facilitate the use of visual and graphic arts, independent and citizen journalism, documentary film and photography, and digital and social media as means of civic expression and social action. To achieve this, the hub facility will bring together established and aspiring photographers, cartoonists, animators, creative designers, video & filmmakers, as well as entrepreneurs and activists, to work, learn, and share in an environment that inspires creativity and innovative efforts to bring about social change.

PS: This is a membership paying facility and more information can be found on their website http://www.pawa254.org/

OneBeat Competition for Musicians: Application Open Jan. 16-Feb. 24 2012

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The US Embassy, Nairobi’s Public Affairs section is pleased to announce an open competition for One Beat, a music exchange programme that will bring foreign musicians from several countries around the world to the United States for a residency and tour.

About One Beat
One Beat is an international music exchange project that brings together musicians from around the world through a residency and tour program focused on creative collaboration and social engagement.
This peer exchange will invite more than 50 young professional musicians (ages 19-35) to the U.S. to work with their American counterparts in the composition and the performance of new cross-genre works, the creation of innovative recordings & videos, and the development of practices of music as civic and social engagement.

Who is eligible to apply?
One beat is open to musicians ages 19-35, who demonstrate both an advanced proficiency in their musical work, an interest in cross genre collaboration, and an experience with or interest in developing ways to use music as a way to improve their communities. Musicians from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, with or without formal musical training, from all genres, including BUT not limited to: hip hop, traditional, experimental, electronic, jazz, classical, sound design, beat making, multimedia art, DJ-ing, audio engineering, or any combination of these styles. They are especially looking for musicians that have a strong commitment to their communities, seeking new ways to engage youth, arts-in-education, music therapy, conflict resolution, and many other ways of working towards more egalitarian and democratic societies.

What expenses will be covered for the participants?
All costs will be covered for the fellows, including travel, food, and accommodation. Fellows will also receive a per diem and modest honorarium.

Can Artists nominate themselves?
Yes, artists can apply without being nominated by anyone else.

What are the artist’s selection criteria?
1.Musical Excellence: A high level of performance, composition, improvisation, production and/or technological skill. Ideally OneBeat musicians will be innovating either stylistically, lyrically, or technologically within their own musical worlds.
2.Collaboration: Applicants willingness to cross cultural and genre divides in creating original music, or re-interpreting traditional music, while trying to maintain the essence of each tradition.
3.Social Engagement: Musicians must have used music to serve their communities or greater societies. This might consist of starting a music school, promoting peace and democracy through musical contest, reviving dying musical traditions and more. In addition participants should be eager to tour to smaller and mid-sized cities of the US to engage with citizens including other artists through performances, workshops, discussions and social activities.
4.Age: Applicants must be 19-35
5.English Proficiency: Applicants should be able to converse in Basic English, as it will be the common language of all OneBeat fellows.
6.Country of Origin: OneBeat fellows must live full time in one of the 38 eligible countries, and have NOT travelled to the US or have rarely performed in the US.
7.Internet proficiency: Ideally participants should actively use email and be able to connect to internet to participate in OneBeat website based activities.

Timelines
Application Opens: January 16, 2012
Applications Closes: February 24, 2012
OneBeat Fellowship notified: April 2012
Programme Dates: September 11-October 7, 2012

For more information visit their website: www.onebeatmusic.org
Read more information about this initiative here