From: AKPA
Proudly Kenyan…..A tribute to one that fell and the legacy they left behind in our beloved country.
Dear…
The tribute last night at the museum was moving, so in keeping with the depth, height, breadth and weight of the late professor’s writing. The siege at Westgate is still ongoing and a climate of fear permeates the air, but about 150 people showed up. Love and respect were palpable in the room. Two of Professor Awoonor’s sons, his daughter and niece, the Ghanaian High Commission and several Ghanaians came. We sang the Kenyan and Ghanaian national anthems. Most of us read from his works, many of which are elegies, hauntingly beautiful funeral songs inspired by his Ewe traditions. Kwame Dawes’ and John Sibi-Okumu’s tributes moved us to sorrow-tinged laughter. Tears threatened to overcome Nii Parkes, Paula Kahumbu and Warsan Shire during their tributes. Several others read from Professor Awoonor’s work including the Occupy Nairobi poets, Teju Cole, Michael Onsando, Aghan Odero of the Kenya Cultural Centre, Njeri Wangari who served as MC, and Binyavanga and Billy Kahora of Kwani, myself (Muthoni Garland) and others.
One of the outcomes of his passing is a surge of interest in Professor Awoonor’s work – younger poets, in particular, demand we get his work to Kenya. The irony is that Africa is where is it most difficult to access books by Africans, even the most prominent! The Ghanaian High Commissioner said to me, “Next year, I will bring you more writers from my country. That is what Kofi Awoonor would have wanted.” Auma Obama not only sent a tribute that we read, but she also confirmed that she is ready to be our next Storymoja Hay Festival Director to rally our spirits and ensure that the greater cause is not buried under by this tragedy. Nii Parkes, Teju Cole, Atinuke and Jenny Valentine insist they want to be on the SMHF programme next year. As Aleya Kassam said, “Just when we were feeling way too overwhelmed to imagine continuing on this journey, it seems we must.”
We will print out the tributes and paste them in the book of sympathy that most people signed, and give them to his family, together with the photos and voice recordings of his last class, a master-class in which he talked about ‘death and a writer’s legacy’, to his family.
Regards
Muthoni
p/s feel free to circulate this…and the links to where people can post their tributes
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Professor-Dr-Kofi-Awoonor-A-Tribute/446364045480284
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from: Comfort Mwangi
date: Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 8:58 AM
subject: FKPV Radio -Diaspora Voting Discussion with Presidential Candidates Kenya 2013
FKPV Radio -Diaspora Voting Discussion with Presidenti?al Candidates Kenya 2013
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Comfort Mwangi
11/24/12
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from: Comfort Mwangi
KPV RADIO DISCUSSION
SAT NOV 24TH
2PM EST (7PM GMT) (10PM KENYA)
Topic:
KENYA DIASPORA VOTING
Seeking Common Ground
Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly (KDLA) hosts Kenyan presidential candidates in a community discussion on Diaspora Voting
Listen online: www.kenyaprogressivevoice.org.
Your questions are important and will be addressed. Please send any questions during the show by text to +1-904-418-2608 or by email to info@kenyaprogressivevoice.org.
INVITED GUEST PANELISTS:
HON. MARTHA KARUA
PROF. JAMES OLE KIYAPI
HON. UHURU KENYATTA
HON RAILA ODINGA
HON. MUSALIA MUDAVADI
HON KALONZO MUSYOKA
HON. PETER KENNETH
HOST PANELISTS:
Ms. Sarah Richson (London, UK) , Dr. Juliana Mwose (Indiana, USA), Dr. Frank Mwaniki, Prof. Kefa Otiso (Ohio, USA), Mr. Tegi Obanda (Toronto, Canada), Ms. Jane Wanja Gakinya (Boston, MA, USA)
MODERATOR: Ms. Comfort Munoru Mwangi (Jacksonville, Florida, USA)
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Connect to us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/KenyaProgressiveVoice
Listen online and share views at Kenya Progressive Radio http://kenyaprogressivevoice.org/
KDDC aims to give Kenyan Diaspora members a rallying point for mutual self advancement through cooperative ventures aimed at enhancing sustainable development in Kenya. KDDC’S Mandate is to serve the interests of all Kenyans in the Diaspora globally. KDDC is registered as a non-profit in the United States since December 22, 2011.