Date: October 6, 2011
Venue: Goethe-Institut, Auditorium
Time: 1-6pm
Entry: Free
Sheng has become the basic urban vernacular for the youth in Kenya these days. It is a coded language associated with youth sub cultural identity and has become the most enduring expression of youth hybrid culture.
As opposed to English and Swahili, which are still oftenconsidered foreign languages, Sheng is a language that Kenyan youth cancall their own. On the other hand, men profit much more from speaking the language than women do. Women’s skillful use of Sheng is still associated with prostitution and low moral values. But can we talk about an urban youth culture, if half of the young population is – more or less – excluded from speaking it?
During the symposium there will be a discussion with sociolinguists, gender experts, media representatives, artists, and the youth on the relation of Sheng, gender, and youth culture in Nairobi.
This symposium is organized by Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, Youth Forum.
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