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SEPTEMBER 2004 - PART ONE

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Jumping from China's  tallest building

Nearly 40 stunt parachutists have been leaping off China's tallest building, the

Jinmao Tower in Shanghai. However, an Australian parachutist was seriously injured.

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Welcome mum, well not Miss Langata

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The film "Gari letu manyanga" to

be screened to Kenyans in the UK

The film to be screened to Kenyans in East London, North London, Luton, Northampton, Oxford, Reading and Slough

I am an independent filmmaker. Up to date, I have written, directed, edited and photographed two short films, Report Card Anxious (1998), A Video Poem (2000) and one feature documentary film, Gari Letu Manyanga -- closely trans. Our Vehicle is Beautiful Girl  (2004), currently in post-production. Gari Letu Manyanga is my most important filmmaking project yet. The film is a story about the colourful private public transport system in Kenya. It features three professionals and their vehicles whom we follow on the job. The story reveals the forces at play in the often times controversial operations of the Kenyan public transport system known as the Matatu industry. Also, I have recently finished a fictional feature film script titled Siku Zangu Shuleni -- trans. My Days in School (2003), and this is ready for production.

Currently doing his PhD in media in the UK but doing his filming in Kenya

Mr. George Ngugi King'ara posing as he explains his intentions to screen the film "Gari Letu Manyanga"  to Kenyans in the UK

George is never short of ideas nor is he short of posing styles - Contact 07906659922 email ngugik@yahoo.com

He has been in the US studying for over 10 years

Name: George Ngugi Kingara

Country of Origin: Kenya

Education:

School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 2006: PhD Media Studies

*California State University, Los Angeles, 2000: Masters, Communication Studies (Script Writing)

*California State University, Los Angeles, 1999: Bachelor of Arts, Film & TV Broadcasting

*Kennesaw State University, Georgia, 1993: Bachelor of Science, Mass Communication

I am an independent filmmaker. Up to date, I have written, directed, edited and photographed two short films, Report Card Anxious (1998), A Video Poem (2000) and one feature documentary film, Gari Letu Manyanga -- closely trans. Our Vehicle is Beautiful Girl  (2004), currently in post-production. Gari Letu Manyanga is my most important filmmaking project yet. The film is a story about the colourful private public transport system in Kenya. It features three professionals and their vehicles whom we follow on the job. The story reveals the forces at play in the often times controversial operations of the Kenyan public transport system known as the Matatu industry. Also, I have recently finished a fictional feature film script titled Siku Zangu Shuleni -- trans. My Days in School (2003), and this is ready for production.

I am a member of the Kenya Film and Television Professional Association (KFTPA).

Between January 2001 and May 2003, I taught Screen Writing and Broadcast Writing at Daystar University, Kenya.

The title of my research project is TELEVISION AUDIENCES IN NAIROBI, KENYA: ETHNOGRAPHY OF A DISCOURSE IN THE MAKING. This project is based on my observation that there exists in Kenya diverse institutional ‘realities’ of the television audience, as varied discursive formations. This apparent diverse discursively in the construction of the TV audience by the institution of the television industry, government, private enterprise etc. also confirms, therefore, that underlying each category formation is a dynamic agent that spawns its unique constitution.

My study attempts to gain insight into the sites of the rooting of the above formations, that is, the particularities of the agencies that instigate the production of these varied discursive constructions (audiences), and whose agendas are represented in the profiles of the audience they construct. At the onset of this task, a summary of assumptions about Kenyan Television and audiences in relation to the aforementioned bedrock of the agency that determines the conduct of the institutions of television in their business, particularly that of imagining their audiences, promise to be a good entry point into this problem:

1. The political and economic history of Kenya has provided the occasion for public (state) television to function as a tool for fabricating an ideal ‘tribeless’ (national) Kenyan identity, and as a tool for the project of development/ modernisation. Therefore state television is a good site for investigating how the power of the state is manifested in the identity of the television audience.

2. For commercial television in Kenya, the audience is a market-- an abstraction created with a ‘front’ of knowledge over the audience’s needs, identity, desires and interests.

3.‘Other’ media in Kenya acquiesce in the power position they are subjected to by the state and the machinery of capitalism, and therefore articulate the audience in a way that reinforces either the state’s view of its subjects, or that of commercial television of its subjects.

These assumptions will enable this study to focus on the conditions under which various groups, namely the producers and professionals of state television, producers and professionals of commercial television, commentators on Kenyan Television, and legislators of media, have tried to articulate particular accounts of Kenya as a modernizing nation through their understanding of the role of television in Kenya. Hence, this study will also try to account how these people have set about imagining audiences (constructing them as existing categories of people), in order to discover the singularities of this process that are specifically of the Kenyan Television context. In accomplishing this task, I shall contrain myself to possible answers to the following key questions relating to television audiences in Kenya:

1. How has the Kenyan TV audience been imagined? First, by the producers of the state (public) television. Second, by the producers of commercial and other private television. Third, by other media during the significant periods in Kenyan television history?

2.In other words, when has the Kenyan television audience been imagined (‘constituted’) by whom (e.g. the state or commercial enterprise) as what for the purposes of what, and in which occasions?

This study will engage in an empirical ethnographic study of the ‘workings’ of specific commercial and national television stations in their process of production—of both the audience and media products, and whose agendas are represented in the profiles of the audience they construct. It will also analyse inter-media commentary texts from two newspaper dailies and one weekly magazine, and discussion notes from interviews with people affiliated with the profession of television in order to explore how audiences of television can also be imagined by other media.

=========advertiser's announcement=========

Fundraising for Kangethe on 09/09/04

The committee members, friends and family of Stephen Kangethe in Northampton invites everybody to a fund raising event of Stephen Kangethe (By Law) who was deported back to Kenya from his place of work early this year. The fundraising will be held on Saturday 9th October, 2004 as from 6.00 p.m. to 12.00 midnight at Afro-Caribbean Hall, Clare Street, Northampton NN1 3JF. You are all welcomed with your donations and prayers. Your prayers, presence, contribution will be highly appreciated.

R.S.V.P. 079844035335.

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Sad flamingo tries to hatch stone

Andy tried to incubate a pebble which he had mistaken for an egg

A lonely and confused male flamingo has caused a flap at a nature reserve in Gloucestershire. Andy, an Andean flamingo, spent a fortnight trying to incubate a pebble which he has mistaken for an egg. Wardens at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge first thought the 40-year-old bird had injured himself. Nigel Jarrett, a bird nesting expert, said: "The birds are very attentive and do make excellent fathers, but this is above and beyond the call of duty." Mr Jarrett eventually replaced the pebble with a wooden replica of a flamingo egg. Two weeks on, Andy is still there, leaving the "egg" for only an hour a day when he goes to feed. Mr Jarrett said: "We let Andy sit on the replica in case a female flamingo for some reason rejected her own egg. "We could have then placed the rejected egg under Andy for him to incubate as an alternative parent." Mr Jarrett believes Andy's broodiness is down to his body being full of hormones at the end of the breeding season. "He doesn't seem to have a mate. It's possible that he did have a partner and for some reason their egg didn't survive as they can be snatched by gulls and crows. "His mate may have left after the egg disappeared, but Andy may still not have noticed and carried on, thinking the pebble was a prospective chick."

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Ketepa tea now in London shps

Ketepa tea pride spreads wings from Nairobi to London and beyond. Ketepa tea is arguably the most recognisable name in tea production in Kenya. It is also a prominent firm in Africa. Ketepa (Kenya Tea Packers Ltd) made its name nearly half a century ago. The company is owned 66% by small scale tea growers through KTDA. Every factory in Kenya supplies 6% to 7% of their tea to Ketepa who then pack and distribute processed tea independently. But now the heads of Ketepa have decided that it was about time they started conquering news horizons. They are now concentrating their efforts on the European market. The head of this venture is the highly enterprising Simon M. Gicheha, a Kenyan businessman, who has pioneered the marketing of Ketepa both in the UK and in mainland Europe. He is to be assisted by Colin Muirhead, the managing director of the UK based CMI group of companies and Mr. S. Shah the managing director of Top-op Foods Ltd. Mr. Lee Kinyanjui is also going to act as the linkman between Kenya and the regional COMESA market. Several shops now in London are selling Kepeta Tea. If the Ghanians and Nigerians are supporting their own - why should the Kenyans not support their own? You want to sell Kepeta tea in the UK? Please contact Mr. Simon Gicheha on 07960290080 or Mr. Shah, Top-op Foods Ltd Tel: 0208 9513636.  CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST OF THE SHOPS WHERE YOU CAN BUY KEPETA TEA.

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Equity Building Society launching in the UK

"We are here to give services to you Kenyans in the U". This was the message which was echoed all around at the launching of Equity Building Society in the UK on Saturday 18th September, 2004 at Hotel Ramada Jarvis in West London. Over 300 Kenyans attended the function where the guest of honour was the Kenya High Commissioner in the UK HE Joseph Muchemi  the chief guest. The Equity team arrived in full swing with the top management in attendance which included the chairman Mr. P. Munga, Mr. J.N. Mwangi, chief executive, Mr. F. Muchoki the chair-board credit committee and Winnie Kathurima Imanyara the head of human resources and marketing. While addressing the gathering Mr. Mwangi the chief executive explained and demonstrated using high tech equipment how Equity Building Society operates, its management structure and the society assets. He explained that the vision of society is to be the leading and preferred Micro Finance Services provider. He continued to explain that the building society is turning into a bank.

A number of Kenyans around explained to the Equity Building Society management that they are willing to bank with them but the society must make sure that their customers money was in safe hands. "We have no objection banking with you, but we are cautious about the safety of our money". one Kenyan explained. A number of speakers at the launching asked Equity Building Society to open a venue in London as a collection point to help Kenyans to transfer their money back home easily.  While addressing the gathering, the Kenya High Commissioner in the UK Mr. Joseph Muchemi explained to the Equity management that there is a lot of potential in the UK but the management should make sure that people's money are in safe hands. "It is all about money, and when it comes to money everyone smiles. I went to a wedding of Gitau wa Njenga in Manchester last month and when guests were asked to say cheers when taking the photos - one man explained that it should not be cheers - it should be MONEY....." the High Commissioner explained. Over 100 Kenyans opened new bank accounts during the launching among them them the Kenya High Commissioner.

Mr. James N. Mwangi the chief executive addressing the gathering	Over 300 Kenyans attended
Mr. P.K. Munga the chairman addressing the guests	Mr. F. Muchoki Chair-Board Credit Committee

FACTS ABOUT EQUITY BUILDING SOCIETY

18 Branches in Kenya

85,000 Borrowers

Over 360,000 customers

Started with KShs. 23 million and now running at KShs. 5 billion

Wnnie Kathurima Imanyara the head of human resources and marketing also addressed the gathering

In attendance was well known Kenyan solicitor in London Mr. Elias Leichana (left)

Those in the UK had a lot to ask

Kenya High Commissioner Mr. Joseph Muchemi addressing the guests during the launching	The chairman of KMDJ Mr. Ngethe Mbiyu addressing the guests at the meeting
Kumar Satish a friend of Kenyans addressing the guests at the meeting	The Kenya High Commissioner in the UK Mr. Joseph Muchemi (left) filling up his forms to open an account with Equity Building Society
Maina Kanyora (right) with a team from Reading joined the meeting	Posing with the team from Equity is from right Mr. James Karanja formerly of Pigeon, Mr. Muchoki, Mr. Muraya and Equity chairman Mr. P.K. Munga
Equity Chairman Mr. P.K. Munga (centre) posing with Gaitho's family in the UK after the meeting	Rev. S. Maina from Worthings (centre) was among the guests

Caught by the Seed camera

A team from East London was caught at the launching with kuku choma this time - from right is Ms Nyaga, Mrs. Pouline Munyota and Wangu - Wangu is a sister to professor Mbatia of University of Nairobi

Mr. Boniface Nganga (seated right) was caught with his family at the launching

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Uganda still in turmoil

The LRA rebels are notorious for their brutality

Northern civilians risk losing their ears, lips and noses

A woman, named Anne, stands in the charred remains of Barlonyo camp, near Lira in northern Uganda, the scene of a massacre at the weekend.

Uganda says its army has killed at least 25 fighters from the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in an operation to capture rebel leader Joseph Kony. Attack helicopters were used in the cross-border raid in southern Sudan, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said. He said seven rebels were captured in the area, where the Sudanese government has permitted Uganda's army to operate. The claim is hard to verify but the LRA has clearly been weakened recently, the BBC's Will Ross in Kampala says. He adds that rebel attacks on civilians have not ended but, in recent months, the level of atrocities committed by the LRA has significantly reduced. At the same time, some rebels have taken advantage of an amnesty offer and surrendered their weapons. President Museveni has said recent indications that key rebel commanders want to take up an offer of peace talks is a mark of their desperation. The latest raid on alleged rebel positions in southern Sudan took place near a town called Pakanyara, 160km (100 miles) north of the Ugandan border. The LRA leader is believed to have sought refuge in the Imatong hills nearby recently. Mr Museveni said the raid resulted in the capture of Mr Kony's bodyguard and his intelligence officer. He said Mr Kony's second-in-command, Vincent Otti, may have been killed in another raid earlier in September. "Either he [Mr Otti] is very seriously injured or he may have gone to hell where he belongs," Mr Museveni told the Reuters news agency. The LRA's exact aims are uncertain - beyond an apparent commitment to a hardline Christian state - but it has fought in northern Uganda for more than a decade. About 1.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict, which gained notoriety for the LRA's massacres and its tactic of kidnapping children for use as soldiers and slaves.

Roads and Public works Minister, Raila Odinga addresses an LDP political rally in Western Province over the weekend. LDP recruitment exercise was top on agenda. - 20/09/04
 

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Flower power turns up the volume

What tune would your flower sing?

The plants are happy to deliver music says Mr Gotoh

Green-fingered gardeners have long espoused the positive benefits of talking to plants. Now a gadget developed in Japan is allowing flowers to answer back - with music. Called Ka-on, which means "flower sound" in Japanese, the gadget consists of a doughnut-shaped magnet and coil at the base of a vase. It hooks up to a CD player, TV or stereo and relays sounds up through a plant's stem and out via the petals. The speakers shoot sound in all directions, filling a room with music. The idea is the brainchild of Let's Corp, a Japanese telecommunications equipment company. It plans to develop a flower with a speaker phone to allow users to carry out conversations with their plants later this month. As well as being a novel idea for flower table arrangements at weddings and reception desks, Ka-on is also being used for concerts in Japan. The Ka-on vases and amplifiers come in various sizes, priced from £25 to £250. President of Let's Corp Masumi Gotoh says that the system is also beneficial to the plants, keeping bugs off and helping them last longer. "The plant is happy listening to music," he said. "Gerberas and sunflowers work especially well as speakers," he added. Surfers are responding to the musical flowers. Some 10,000 orders have been received via the internet and 3,000 have already been sold.

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Probably the most famous southern African in history, Shaka Zulu is known for his peerless leadership of the Zulu clan. He was a fierce and militaristic king, contributing to the murder of a million people. To understand the man we know today as "King Shaka", we have to understand the driving force that made him to be the noted leader he was.

Shaka's mother was a child of a deceased chieftain of the eLangeni clan and her name was Nandi. Shaka's father was a chieftain of the small, then unknown Zulu clan and his name was Senzangakona. But an out of wedlock pregnancy--Nandi was said to be suffering from 'iShaka'(1)-- and a failed marriage forced Nandi to return to her tribe, but she was less welcomed there then with the Zulus. Shaka grew up fatherless among people who despised his mother and him. He was made the butt of every cruel joke and ridiculed about his body. He grew up lonely and bitter with his only companion being his mother, whose life also was miserable. The intelligent and naturally sensitive boy knew of his royal blood and the origins of his tormentors. He harbored great hatred for them till his death.

At the age of 23, he was called to serve as a Mtetwa warrior and did so for the next six years. In battle, he found an outlet for his pent-up frustrations and developed his political policy. He saw battle as the one safe method of political growth and was never satisfied with a clan's submission before being taken to war. He fought for total annihilation. He also developed a brutal and fatal weapon called the 'iKlwa'.

In his first battle, he fought the Butelezi clan winning their territories that included the Zulu clan. At this time, Dingiswayo, the Mtetwa chieftain, saw the qualities of a leader in Shaka. He decided that he would be the potential chieftain of the Zulus, especially since they were too far out in the Mtetwa territory and could be a buffer from outside attack. Meanwhile, Shaka was made the leader of the Mtetwa army and here he refined his battle tactics, tools and the army. When Senzangakona died, Shaka was made the Zulu chieftain. From that day forward the Zulus were destined for fame.

Shaka worked the Zulu warriors rigorously, treating them as clay for his molding. He punished the sign of slightest hesitation with death, commanded his army to become celibate except for those already wed, placed them under one roof but separated them in specialty regiments, made weapons from scratch and instilled in the warriors the same fighting spirit he had. He spared himself no luxury of a true king. He had now reshaped what had been the unknown Zulus.

The first people he attacked were the eLangeni clan. From them, he only spared those who showed him and his mother kindness. Then he went on and destroyed the Butelezi clan, leaving few survivors. He took the Butelezi maidens and formed them in a seraglio, which eventually numbered to 1,200 women. He never referred to them as his 'wives', which is what they would have normally been, but as his 'sisters'. He claimed offspirng were undesirable because they might someday oppose him, so he would only engage in ukuHlobonga (2). It is probable, due to his character in every other aspect, that he never managed to consummate a full relationship with any of these women.

By 1817, the Zulu territories had quadrupled. In that autumn, word got to Shaka that his stepfather lay dying. He returned to bid him good-bye. He then met with the Mtetwa chief, Dingiswayo, and they decided to engage in a major expedition that would take over much of Southeast Africa. That year, Dingiswayo died and battles between major clans began to take over the Mtetwa Empire. By 1820, Shaka had won and commanded most of southeast Africa and Natal.

In 1824, Europeans had arrived at Natal post and visited Shaka. During this visit, Shaka was stabbed by enemy clans and was treated by the Europeans. Shaka held these Europeans in high regard. He signed over land to them not knowing he had actually given it away. The Europeans aided Shaka in his wars to conquer more of South Africa. While on a hunt with Europeans, word came to Shaka that his mother lay dying. In grief, Shaka ordered several men executed but in the chaos, over 7,000 people died. Shaka practically ordered his clan to death by starvation in reverence to his mother. After three months, order was finally restored, but the seed of anguish against Shaka had been sowed. Shaka and his army began to go downhill as Shaka seemed to increasingly lose touch with reality. On September 22nd, 1828, this once great 'king' and warrior of Africa was murdered. His half brothers from his father repeatedly stabbed him to death. They took the body and threw it in an empty grain pot, which then was filled with stones.

This ended the 12-year rule of 'King Shaka'. He was believed to be 41 years old at his death. His legacy, to this day, still echoes and lives on.

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Notes:

1. An intestinal beetile on which menstrual irregularities were usually blamed.

2. External intercourse, not full, which still could result in pregnancy. This was allowed among unwed couples.

3. Background is South African art.

Sources:

Morris, Donald R. The Washing of the Spears. first ed. New York: Somon and Schuster, Inc, 1965.

Mostert, Noel. Frontiers. first ed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.

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Snake menu

He's a real charmer: A garden snake brings tears to the eyes of exhibitionist C Manoharan aka Snake Menu

Tears as C. Manoharan aka Snake Menu puts snake up his nose and lets it wriggle out through his mouth in India. The exhibitionist already holds the world record for swallowing 200 10cm earthworms in 30 seconds. Now he is seeking a place in the record books for becoming the first man to put a deadly cobra up his nose. The man has been practising for the feat with bright green garden snakes at his home in Chennai.

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2 x 2 =

A 84-year-old former Mau Mau freedom fighter sets aside his pride to take a place at a school in Eldoret, Kenya. Whenever the teacher asks a question he is always among the first to put up his hand. You can do it even at the old age. At Oxford University, you would find a 82-year-old John Edward who is doing his 6th degree before he calls it a day. It is on this base that you wonder how come 70 per cent of Kenyans in the UK never like to go back to school. Mr. Seed has been on the front line campaigning for  Kenyans in the UK to go back to school as it is a fact that uneducated community always runs behind others and end up doing the dirty jobs. A 25-year-old Kenyan lady was overheard by Mr. Seed commenting: "Mr. Seed thinks education is for everyone - it is good to look for Mbau (pound) before you grow old.".  Her comment was prompted by a comment by Mr. Seed at a function that "it pure waste of resources for a Kenyan who is under the age of 30 years to come to the UK and not bother to join a college or a university." The two richest Kenyan in the UK are part time students in the university. The profile of the richest Kenyan in the UK and the second richest is coming soon on this column.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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