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Carlile Kukai, 11 June 2011
Isabelle Prondzynski reports:
Today, we held the tenth kukai of Kenya Saijiki, at Carlile College, Nairobi. This venue, organised for us by our Master of Ceremonies, Antony Njoroge, turned out to be the best we have so far had for a kukai. Specifically, we appreciated St Philip's Chapel, which we were allowed to use, as well as the spacious grounds where we held our ginkoo, and the hospitality of the Carlile College staff. In return, we were told that our group was very well behaved and a pleasure to host in the College.
I was slightly surprised at this reaction by the College authorities, as we were definitely a high-spirited, noisy lot, equipped with drums, energetic drummers, other percussion instruments, excellent singers and amazing actors. When the jury retired to judge the haiku, we were assailed by the screams of tortured humanity -- all part of a drama being acted out during the interval!
The morning started with welcomes, greetings and reports on activities carried out since the beginning of this year.
We were then joined by two Irish girls, Emma Dunwoody and Kirsten Brown. They had become curious about haiku and used the opportunity to ask the haiku club members questions about what is haiku and why write it?
Why choose a Japanese form of poetry in Kenya?
The haijin were articulate in their responses, telling the visitors about the history of haiku, both in Japan and in Kenya, the basic elements of a haiku, and the benefits they had experienced from writing haiku poems and from interacting with haijin in other parts of the world.
The haijin were then awarded prizes for their haiku in the "Lent / Palm Sunday / Easter" competition as well as that on the topic of "Markets". Each prize winning haijin explained the background to the haiku they had written, and they received generous applause.
This was followed by a series of presentations, showing the extraordinary wealth of talent to be found among the members of Kenya Saijiki in the wider cultural world -- dance, drama, recitation. The haijin had committed much of their spare time to preparing these presentations, and the enthusiasm they had brought to the practice sessions showed. Much fun was had by the performers themselves -- and at least as much fun by the audience!
One performance stands out.
This was a drama piece about the life of Matsuo Basho, the early master of haiku, in a Kenyan setting.
Here, Master Basho lives at home, enjoys writing haiku and is the host in a generous and hospitable household. His wife understands haiku very well, and while she is out and about, she joyfully informs her friends and acquaintances, such as a group of market women, about this new form of poetry. Invited to his homestead, Master Basho tells the women all about haiku, and they leave suitably impressed.
The church pastor and congregation too, hear about haiku and come as a group to Master Basho's house to be told more. Meanwhile, his daughter asks many questions, shows her first haiku to her father and becomes an ever better haijin, thanks to the loving care with which both her parents encourage her and answer her questions.
The acting in this story was extraordinary, and we enjoyed the haiku lessons while laughing out loud at many of the scenes.
Just one picture is already here, of Master Basho,
his wife and daughter discussing haiku :
After lunch, we set out on the habitual ginkoo, following which the jury retired and enjoyed going through the haiku while it rained for a while.
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The prizewinning haiku, announced as the sun reappeared,
were as follows :
1.
---
silent chapel --
chirping weaver birds
break the silence
~ Milkah Wanjiku (Bamboocha, F3)
2.
---
cool afternoon --
a dove flaps its wings
and flies away
~ John Kennedy (Peacock)
3.
---
wild palm --
a crow perches on the
rustling fronds
~ Beryl Achieng' (Bamboocha, F4)
4.
---
noon breeze --
again and again
the fronds sway
~ Duncan Karanja (Bamboocha, F4)
5.
---
parking lot --
she crushes a dry leaf
in her palm
~ Brian Etole (Peacock, F3)
6.
---
she tries to
describe an avocado tree --
tenth kukai
~ Bonface Kariuki (Peacock)
7.
---
warm afternoon --
avocado fruit crush
under his shoe
~ Barrack Elung'ata (Cock)
8.
---
cool breeze --
she lies on the grass
with legs interlocked
~ Monicah Ndunge (Peacock)
9.
---
scorching sun --
unfinished maize cob
besinde the dustbin
~ Noah Elijah (Peacock)
10.
----
avocado tree --
a student climbs up
in a hurry
~ Joseph Musango (Peacock)
11.
----
silent classroom --
he stares as the
busy students
~ Jacklyne Anyoso (Peacock, F4)
12.
----
rusted cabin --
a mouse moves
in a rush
~ Esther Obwamu (Peacock, F4)
13.
----
sweating --
a nail slips from a
constructor's palm
~ Eric Mwange (Bamboocha, F4)
14.
----
windy afternoon --
avocado fruit swings
over and over
~ Elijah Juma (Peacock, F2)
15.
----
trimmed fence --
a black butterfly rests
on a leaf
~ Sharon Akoth (Peacock, F3)
16.
----
dirty pool --
a tadpole's tail wags
and wags
~ Mercy Nthoki (Peacock, F4)
17.
----
sudden wind --
a bird balances on a
guava branch
~ Jescah Auma (Peacock, F2)
18.
----
cool breeze --
an avocado leaf drops on
a dusty mabati roof
~ Asava Kevin (Peacock, F3)
19.
----
heckling sound --
matatus loaded with passengers
pass by
~ Willis Wanga (Bamboocha, F2)
20.
----
water shortage --
she instructs students to use
only one plastic cup
~ Peter Kalivo (Bamboocha, F2)
Congratulations to all the prize winning haijin!
At the end of the afternoon, the haijin set out again for their homes.
All agreed that an excellent day had been had.
We look forward already to the next kukai, planned for early November in St. Mathew's Soweto school.
Big thanks to the many who contributed to this kukai, which was so enjoyable,
Isabelle.
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Patrick Wafula shares his impressions
10th Kukai--
a stray kitten walks
accross the pulpit
10th Kukai--
jugglers and dancers
in haiku
10th Kukai--
drama and haiku
on stage
10th Kukai--
white Irish guests
in attendance
Patrick
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***** The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
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