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.................... List of Seasonal Words
from Kenya and other tropical areas
...................................................................
In Kenya, we have the following haiku seasons:
.. .. .. hot dry season
.. .. .. long rains
.. .. .. cool dry season
.. .. .. short rains
Some of the rainy season kigo appear twice in the course of the year.
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.. .. .. .. .. Seasonal Items
hot and dry season
(roughly November to March, with January being the hottest month)
-- Buying textbooks
-- Buying school uniforms
-- Cassia blossom Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula). Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera).
-- Caterpillar, Hairy Caterpillar
-- Census
-- Christmas worldwide
-- Dry lips
-- Dust
-- Exam resultsKCPE and KCSE Exam Registration and Results
-- February rainfall
-- First things, New Year
-- Form One entrants and monolisation
-- Frangipani, Plumeria
-- Goat Meat, also Goats in general
ice cream
-- Jamhuri Day (12 December)
-- January
- - - - Njaanuary ( njaa and (Jan)nuary
-- Maasai Cattle (Masai Cattle)
-- Mabati shimmering roofs
-- Maize, Green Maize (for corn/maize see below)
-- Mango (ripe fruit)
-- National Drama Festival
-- New Year
--- New Year's resolution 2012
open shoes
-- Orchid Show, Nairobi
-- Papyrus and other grasses couch grass, napier grass, African star grass
-- Paying school fees
-- peaches, ripe peaches
-- Plums, ripe plums, plum fruit
-- Scorching sun
-- Smell of urine
-- Start of new school year Kenya
... ... see also Start of Schoolyear, worldwide
-- sweating
Valentine’s Day, St Valentine’s Day, Valentine
-- vest
-- Water shortage , drought
-- Weeds
-- World AIDS Day
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long rains (roughly March to May)
-- Amaranth, Amaranthus leaf vegetable
-- Bombax blossom
-- First rainfall, imminent rain
-- bullfrogs Frog (kawazu, kaeru) worldwide
-- Easter
-- flooding
-- flying termites kumbi kumbi
-- Grass, fresh grass, green grass, young grass
-- Guava fruit
-- Gumboots, gum boots
-- heavy raindrops
-- Ibis (Hadada)
-- Labour Day
-- Long Rains Haiku by Bahati Club
-- Long Rains
-- Mabati roofs rusting and harvesting rainwater
Mater Hospital Heart Run
-- Mosquitoes in Kenya
-- Mud (Swahili : matope)
including: Brickmaking, Dry mud, Bukusu Initiation (Circumcision)
-- Mudslide, landslide
-- Palm Sunday
-- Plantation activities
-- Pneumonia
-- Power failure, blackout
-- Puddle, puddles
-- rain shower
-- Rhinoceros beetle , a scarab beetle
-- Sand harvesting, sand mining
-- Shoe wiper
-- Stepping stones, step-stone bridge
-- Thorn tree flowers
-- UEFA league
-- Umbrella
-- Urine smell, smell of urine
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
cold, cool and dry season
(roughly from June to September, with July being the coldest month)
-- August moon
-- Avocado pear (Kikuyu : Mûkorobîa)
-- Beanie cap Kenya
-- Budget Day
-- Bukusu Initiation / Circumcision
-- Cold Dew (kanro) worldwide
-- Cold dry season, cool dry season
-- Cold water
Datura suaveolens, Moonflower, Angel's Trumpet, trumpet plant
-- Day of the African Child (16 June)
-- Dust
-- Euro Games, UEFA European Football Championship
-- Glove, gloves
-- Frangipani, Plumeria
-- freezing
-- Hawkers for warm things glove, hot coffee, uji maize porridge, scarf, sweater ...
Irish potatoes (viazi)
-- Jiko (brazier)
-- July
-- Loquat, loquats - fruit
-- Maasai Cattle (Masai Cattle)
-- Mabati roors collect dew
-- Madaraka Day (1 June)
-- Maize, Green Maize
-- Martyrs’ Day Uganda
-- Morning glory, fam. Ipomoea (
-- Nairobi Bomb Day (7 August)
-- Nairobi International Trade Fair (end of September)
-- no meetings (August)
-- Oranges (Swahili : Mchungwa)
Referendum August 2010
-- Sunflower
-- Sesbania Tree (Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.)
-- Shivering, to shiver
-- start of university year
-- Weeds
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short rains (roughly October and November)
-- Aramanthus, vegetable
-- bullfrogs > Frog (kawazu, kaeru) worldwide
-- First rainfall, imminent rain
-- Ocotber rain
-- Flamboyant Tree (Swahili : Mjohoro)
-- Flooding in 2006
-- flying termites kumbi kumbi
-- Graduation Ceremony in Kenya
... ... see also Graduation (sotsugyoo) worldwide
-- sGrevillea tree Grevillea Robusta . Mgrivea (Swahili), Mûkima (Kikuyu)
-- Gumboots, gum boots
-- Jacaranda blossom
-- heavy raindrops
-- Kenyatta Day
-- Messiah for the Hospice
-- Moi Day (10 October) renamed :
. . Mashujaa Day since 2010
-- Mosquitoes in Kenya
-- Mud (Swahili : matope)
-- Mudslide, landslide
-- Nairobi Marathon
-- -- Plantation activities
-- Power failure, blackout
-- Puddle, puddles
-- Shoe wiper
-- School exams KCSE / KCPE
------ Short Rains and more kigo about this season
-- Stepping stones, step-stone bridge
-- Thorn tree - fresh leaves
-- Tipu tree (Tipuana tipu)
-- Umbrella
.. .. .. Glossary of Kenyan Terms and more Haiku Topics
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
............. Topics for which the season changes
-- Diwali (Devali, Divali)
-- Ramadan in Kenya
-- Ramadan ends (Idd ul Fitr)
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............. Non-seasonal Topics
Ageing ... Getting old in Kenya. Grandfather, Grandmother
Akala ... Sandals
Aloe vera
Antelope
Arfat, scarf of a muslim woman
Arusha Tanzania
. . . Brick making in Arusha
. . . Namanga-Arusha Highway Road
Banana
Banana ring, to carry things
Bat, bats . . . and the Mukuyu tree
Beggar
Bisquits and cookies
Boda boda, motorbike taxi, motorcycle taxi
Boma Homesteads
Buibui, to cover the head and face of a Muslim woman face veil
Bukusu Culture, Babukusu People
Bull fighting, bullfight
Bunche Road, Nairobi
Cabbage
Calabash, calabashes, gourd
Camel, Dromedary, Kamel, Dromedar
Casuarina Tree
Central Park, Children's Traffic Park
Chameleon
Chapati, flatbread Chokoraa, chokora - "street boy" or "parking boy"
Coconut, coconuts, coconut milk
Coffee plant blossoms, coffee blossoms
Crickets, cricket
Dandora, Municipal Garbage Site Nairobi
Day Moon
Demolitions in Patanisho, Nairobi
Duck, ducks
Elections, general election 2013
Eucalyptus tree Fam. Myrtaceae
Fences and hedges
Firefinch fam. Lagonosticta
First things
Flame tree (Erythrina fam.)
Flies, Fly, Housefly, Fruitfly
Fog
Fountain (in a park)
Garbage, sewers, sewerage
Gilgil, town in the Rift Valley
Githeri
Grevillea tree
Guitar
Hell's Gate National Park
Hornbill
Irio (mûkimû)
Isukuti Dance
Jackfruit, fenesi
Jeevanjee Gardens and Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee
Jua kali artisans
Kabaka of Uganda
Kajiado mission
Kale, kales, a cabbage (sukumawiki)
Kamba People A funeral in Ukambani
Kamukunji constituency, Nairobi
Kanga, kangas, wrapping cloth
Karura forest
Kasarani Constituency
Kenya Railway Museum Kukai August 2010
Kenyatta National Hospital,Nairobi
Khamsin wind Egypt, North Africa
Khat, miraa (Catha edulis)
Kiambu County
Kibanda hut, kiosk, stall
Kibera Slums
Kigali, Rwanda
Kikoi. kikoy - garment, shawl
Kiondo handbag (chondo, pl. vyondo)
Kisii in Nyanza Narok plains, Ogembo Street
Kisongo Market Tanzania
Kitale Town in Western Kenya
kitenge - garment
Koinange mall and street, Nairobi
Komarocks play ground and Embakasi
Korogocho slum
kuku choma - grilled chicken
Lang'ata - Nairobi
Limuru town in Kiambu West Distarict
Longido Hills
Lugari Forest
Machakos town, Masaku
Magadi, Lake Magadi in the Rift Valley
Maize (Swahili : Mahindi, American : Corn, South African : Mealies)
managu vegetable
Masai, Maasai, Massai ... indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya
Mandazi, a kind of doughnuts ndazi (singular)
Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Marikiti Farmers' Market Nairobi
Market, markets
Matatu minibus
Mathare Youth Sports Association, MYSA Mathare Valley slums
Matuu town
Mavoko county
Mitumba (singular : mtumba) second-hand goods
Mkokoteni - hand cart, pushcart pl. mikokoteni
Monkey, monkeys
Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro
Mourning
Mtumba (singular) / mitumba (plural) used items
Mugumo tree
mutura - Kenyans Saussage
Murang'a town
murram mud roads
Mzungu, muzungu ... person of European descent... "white person"
Nairobi City
Haile Selassie Avenue, Soweto Market, Wakulima Market, Thika road, Tom Mboya street, Marikiti market, Kawangare slums, Kibera slum . . .
Ngaramtoni at the flank of Mount Meru
Newspaper vendor, newspaper boy
Nightjar (Fam. Caprimulgus)
Night life
Njiru Market
Njiiru Plains
Nyama choma - roast meat
Passion fruit, Passiflora edulis
Pawpaw tree(Asimina) paw paw, paw-paw, papaw
Peace (Swahili : Amani)
Pelican
Pig, pigs
Pine tree, Pinus Patula
Pineapple, Ananas comosus
Pokot people West Pokot and Baringo Districts of Kenya
Pomelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis) Chinese grapefruit
Posho mill, poshomill -- to grind wheat, maize and other grains
Radio
Rift Valley
Royal Palm Tree Roystonea regia
Scorpion
Sewer, sewage in Soweto
shuka - blanket
shamba - food garden
Sinai slum fire, September 2011
Sisal (Agave sisalana)
..... Sisal and makongeni paths
Slasher to cut grass
Smoke and smog
Snake, Snakes
Sorghum (mtama) and milled porridge (uji)
Sowbug, a brown snail
Sufuria .. cooking pot or saucepan
Tea (Swahili : chai)
-- thermos container
Tilapia fish
Toilet, outhouse
Tomato, tomatoes
Trans-Mara region
Ugali and Uji, maize porridge
Ukwala, Muthurwa, Luthuli Avenue
Umbrella tree / Schefflera actinophylla
Upland rice
Voi, Sagala hill
Warthog
Weaver birds (Ploceidae family)
Webuye Town
Westgate Attack, Mall Attack, September 2013
Wildebeest
migration
Wimbi, bulo ... Millet
Wood, firewood
World Environment Day (5 June)
Zebra
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Haibun . Haiku in Combination
Construction and Development
. Kiswahili Haiku
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...................................... Other Tropical SAIJIKI
WKD: Trinidad and Tobago Saijiki
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.. .. .. .. .. National Holidays in Kenya
l Jan -- New Year's Day -- International New Year's Day Holiday
> -- WKD ... : New Year (shin-nen)
Varies -- Good Friday -- Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
> -- WKD ... : Easter
Varies -- Easter Monday -- Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ
> -- WKD ... : Easter
1 May -- Labour Day -- International Day of the Worker
> -- see also : Labour Day, USA
. . . . .
Mashujaa Day
10 Oct -- Moi Day -- Established on the 10th day of the 10th month 10 years after the inauguration of President Daniel arap Moi as the second President of Kenya.
October 2010:
The new constitution scrapped Moi Day and replaced Kenyatta day with Hero's (Mashujaa) Day in efforts to celebrate the men and women who fought for Kenya's freedom .
20 Oct -- Kenyatta Day -- This is to commemorate the arrest of Jomo Kenyatta and the declaration of the State of Emergency on 20 October 1952.
October 2010:
The new constitution scrapped Moi Day and replaced Kenyatta day with Hero's (Mashujaa) Day in efforts to celebrate the men and women who fought for Kenya's freedom .
Jomo Kenyatta
. . . . .
12 Dec -- Uhuru or Jamhuri Day -- This is to commemorate the day on which Kenya achieved its Independence, on 12 December 1963.
> -- Jamhuri Day
25 Dec -- Christmas Day -- Christian holiday celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ.
> -- Bahati Haiku Club : Christmas
> -- WKD ... : Christmas
26 Dec -- Boxing Day -- celebrating St Stephen's Day and the second
day of the Christmas season.
> -- WKD ... St Stephen's Day
Varies -- Idd ul Fitr
The Muslim festival of Idd-ul-Fitr is also a public holiday and takes place on the sighting of the new moon at the end of Ramadhan. The exact date varies according to the position of the New Moon.
------------------------------------------------
.. .. .. .. .. .. Annual events in Kenya
Apart from big celebrations that are held on Madaraka, Kenyatta and Independence Days, Nairobi is also the venue for a number of large international and national sports matches. Nairobi further enhances its cosmopolitan image by hosting a number of annual shows and
festivals.
The Kenya Schools Music Festival is held in Nairobi in May/June and
The Agricultural Society of Kenya (A.S.K.) Show takes place at Jamhuri Park at the end of September or beginning of October. See Nairobi International Trade Fair
The long established and international Safari Rally begins and ends in Nairobi - drawing ever larger crowds.
http://www.kenyaweb.com/
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Introduction to the
Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
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More LINKs in the Kenya Saijiki
Getting to Know Kenya
Poetry and Literature of Kenya
Music of Kenya, by Douglas Paterson
Missionaries in Kenya
Wildlife in Kenya
Plants and Animals of Kenya, LIST by Allen & Nancy Chartier
Kakamega Forest Birds
Nature Kenya Organization
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Editor: Isabelle Prondzynski
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Kutoka Wikipedia, kamusi elezo huru: HAIKU
Back to the Worldkigo Index
Back to the Trinidad and Tobago Index
Back to the KENYA SAIJIKI - TOP
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Showing posts sorted by date for query Soweto. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query Soweto. Sort by relevance Show all posts
12/31/2014
12/28/2013
Glossary
[ . BACK to worldkigo TOP . ]
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Glossary of Kenyan Terms and Topics
bob -- shillings, money
githeri -- a staple food made from maize and beans
jiko -- a brazier used for cooking or heating and fuelled with charcoal, firewood or kerosene
lesso -- same as kanga
-- a rectangular cotton cloth with colourful prints and Swahili proverbs, worn as a skirt, as a turban,
Kayole -- an Eastern suburb of Nairobi
kiondo -- a sisal basket woven by women -- plural : vyondo
mabati -- corrugated iron sheets for building houses or roofing them
mandazi, mandazis -- a kind of doughnut
matatu -- a public transport minibus
mkokoteni, a hand cart pl. mikokoteni
muthokoi -- the delicious Kamba staple food
mzungu -- a white person
Nairobi -- the capital of Kenya
ndizi -- banana
ndubia -- tea with milk but no sugar
posho mill, poshomill -- for wheat and maize
shamba -- vegetable garden
Soweto -- a slum area within Kayole
Sufuria -- cooking pot or sauce
sukuma wiki, sukumawiki -- "stretching out the week"
leafy cabbage-like vegetable
tilapia -- a fish from lake Victoria
turungi -- "tru tea" : tea with neither milk nor sugar
ugali -- a staple food, solid porridge made from maize flour
uji -- a liquid porridge made from maize or millet flour
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Reference
***** KIGO : Season Words of Kenya
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[ . BACK to KENYA SAIJIKI . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
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:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Glossary of Kenyan Terms and Topics
bob -- shillings, money
githeri -- a staple food made from maize and beans
jiko -- a brazier used for cooking or heating and fuelled with charcoal, firewood or kerosene
lesso -- same as kanga
-- a rectangular cotton cloth with colourful prints and Swahili proverbs, worn as a skirt, as a turban,
Kayole -- an Eastern suburb of Nairobi
kiondo -- a sisal basket woven by women -- plural : vyondo
mabati -- corrugated iron sheets for building houses or roofing them
mandazi, mandazis -- a kind of doughnut
matatu -- a public transport minibus
mkokoteni, a hand cart pl. mikokoteni
muthokoi -- the delicious Kamba staple food
mzungu -- a white person
Nairobi -- the capital of Kenya
ndizi -- banana
ndubia -- tea with milk but no sugar
posho mill, poshomill -- for wheat and maize
shamba -- vegetable garden
Soweto -- a slum area within Kayole
Sufuria -- cooking pot or sauce
sukuma wiki, sukumawiki -- "stretching out the week"
leafy cabbage-like vegetable
tilapia -- a fish from lake Victoria
turungi -- "tru tea" : tea with neither milk nor sugar
ugali -- a staple food, solid porridge made from maize flour
uji -- a liquid porridge made from maize or millet flour
*****************************
Reference
***** KIGO : Season Words of Kenya
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[ . BACK to KENYA SAIJIKI . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
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10/28/2012
Nairobi Digest News
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Nairobi Digest News
source : Caleb Mutua - October 28, 2012
Africa’s best haiku writers meet in Nairobi
The best group of haiku writers in the whole of Africa met in Nairobi yesterday to exchange ideas and participate in a haiku walk competition.
The Kenya Saijiki is part of a World Kigo Database (WKD) that brings together haiku writers from various parts of the world through the internet.
According to WKD owner Dr Gabi Greve of Daruma Museum, Japan, the database of seasonal words (worldwide saijiki) gives poets an opportunity to deepen their understanding of season words in haiku and to appreciate the climate, life and culture of many different parts of the world.
Haiku, a very short form of Japanese poetry, first started in Japan centuries ago and later spread to Europe and further afield.
African countries including South Africa, Burkina Faso and Kenya have in the recent past starting to appreciate this unique genre of poetry, with Kenya Saijiki members leading the way.
“This is an educational site for reference purposes of haiku poets worldwide,” says Dr Greve, who also advises Kenya Saijiki on haiku issues.
Since its inception in 2005, Kenya Saijiki members joined the wider haiku community in the WKD and have been collecting season words, known as kigo in Japanese, for Kenya and writing haiku poems.
The poems are then shared among all members and with the whole world through the internet for comments and discussion on the Kenya Saijiki web pages, starting at http://kenyasaijiki.blogspot.com/ with a long index.
“This was the 13th kukai (meeting) of Kenya Saijiki. The atmosphere was excellent, and all involved participated with full energy and in great spirits,” says the group’s Moderator Isabelle Prondzynski.
Kenya Saijiki is based in Nairobi and currently comprises three haiku clubs; the Peacocks and the Bambochas (based in secondary schools) and the Cocks, a group of poets who have graduated from high school but still write haiku.
The poets include both adults and secondary school students from Kayole Estate and Soweto Slum, Nairobi, with several other poets living in various parts of the country outside Nairobi.
Among other things, the group teaches the students how to write better poems, improve their communication skills and how to use computer and the internet.
The co-ordinator of Kenya Saijiki and the Bambochas’ Patron, Mr Patrick Wafula, recently won a prize after his poem was entered in the Annual Poets’ Choice Competition of the Shiki Kukai.
full moon—
cumulus clouds slowly
form a wolf
The haiku came into my mind while playing with my puppies in my home in Soweto. I have a habit of enjoying moonlit nights and the serenity that comes with it,” Mr Wafula told Kenya Saijiki during its 13th kukai.
During the kukai, the school-going poets enjoyed a one-hour haiku walk observing and writing haiku.
A panel of judges from Kenya Saijiki went through the haiku that were submitted and selected the following top 11 prizewinning haiku.
hot afternoon–
he washes his face
with sewage water
-Rodgers Adega
immense heat
in my white plastic shoes–
i walk on toes
-Brian Etole
scattered feathers
of a slaughtered chicken–
ginkoo walk
-Geoffrey Maina
dry grass–
a black goat struggles
to graze
-Getrude Wahu
scorching sun–
he splashes some water
down his chest
-Dennis Wright
ginkoo time–
she writes haiku
on his back
-Molline Wangui
hot afternoon–
he washes his head
with cold water
Walter Machembe
riverside–
the rustling Napier grass
bends in one direction
Stanely Joshua Kaweto
scorching sun–
two little boys fight over
a bottle of water
Julieth Oketch
garbage site–
I scare a swarm of flies
from a pawpaw peel
-Margaret Ndinda
scorching sun–
a hawk flying around
the smelly dumpsite
-Stephen Macharia
*****************************
- Related -
***** The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
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Nairobi Digest News
source : Caleb Mutua - October 28, 2012
Africa’s best haiku writers meet in Nairobi
The best group of haiku writers in the whole of Africa met in Nairobi yesterday to exchange ideas and participate in a haiku walk competition.
The Kenya Saijiki is part of a World Kigo Database (WKD) that brings together haiku writers from various parts of the world through the internet.
According to WKD owner Dr Gabi Greve of Daruma Museum, Japan, the database of seasonal words (worldwide saijiki) gives poets an opportunity to deepen their understanding of season words in haiku and to appreciate the climate, life and culture of many different parts of the world.
Haiku, a very short form of Japanese poetry, first started in Japan centuries ago and later spread to Europe and further afield.
African countries including South Africa, Burkina Faso and Kenya have in the recent past starting to appreciate this unique genre of poetry, with Kenya Saijiki members leading the way.
“This is an educational site for reference purposes of haiku poets worldwide,” says Dr Greve, who also advises Kenya Saijiki on haiku issues.
Since its inception in 2005, Kenya Saijiki members joined the wider haiku community in the WKD and have been collecting season words, known as kigo in Japanese, for Kenya and writing haiku poems.
The poems are then shared among all members and with the whole world through the internet for comments and discussion on the Kenya Saijiki web pages, starting at http://kenyasaijiki.blogspot.com/ with a long index.
“This was the 13th kukai (meeting) of Kenya Saijiki. The atmosphere was excellent, and all involved participated with full energy and in great spirits,” says the group’s Moderator Isabelle Prondzynski.
Kenya Saijiki is based in Nairobi and currently comprises three haiku clubs; the Peacocks and the Bambochas (based in secondary schools) and the Cocks, a group of poets who have graduated from high school but still write haiku.
The poets include both adults and secondary school students from Kayole Estate and Soweto Slum, Nairobi, with several other poets living in various parts of the country outside Nairobi.
Among other things, the group teaches the students how to write better poems, improve their communication skills and how to use computer and the internet.
The co-ordinator of Kenya Saijiki and the Bambochas’ Patron, Mr Patrick Wafula, recently won a prize after his poem was entered in the Annual Poets’ Choice Competition of the Shiki Kukai.
full moon—
cumulus clouds slowly
form a wolf
The haiku came into my mind while playing with my puppies in my home in Soweto. I have a habit of enjoying moonlit nights and the serenity that comes with it,” Mr Wafula told Kenya Saijiki during its 13th kukai.
During the kukai, the school-going poets enjoyed a one-hour haiku walk observing and writing haiku.
A panel of judges from Kenya Saijiki went through the haiku that were submitted and selected the following top 11 prizewinning haiku.
hot afternoon–
he washes his face
with sewage water
-Rodgers Adega
immense heat
in my white plastic shoes–
i walk on toes
-Brian Etole
scattered feathers
of a slaughtered chicken–
ginkoo walk
-Geoffrey Maina
dry grass–
a black goat struggles
to graze
-Getrude Wahu
scorching sun–
he splashes some water
down his chest
-Dennis Wright
ginkoo time–
she writes haiku
on his back
-Molline Wangui
hot afternoon–
he washes his head
with cold water
Walter Machembe
riverside–
the rustling Napier grass
bends in one direction
Stanely Joshua Kaweto
scorching sun–
two little boys fight over
a bottle of water
Julieth Oketch
garbage site–
I scare a swarm of flies
from a pawpaw peel
-Margaret Ndinda
scorching sun–
a hawk flying around
the smelly dumpsite
-Stephen Macharia
*****************************
- Related -
***** The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
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8/21/2012
Slum fire, fires
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Slum fires
(Swahili : moto (singular) mioto (plural))
***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity
*****************************
Explanation
The urban slums of Kenya are highly prone to fires.
This is due to a cumulation of causes.
Each homestead has as its main focus the jiko, the fireplace or brazier, where food is cooked and heat is generated in the cold season. The jiko can be the traditional three stones, with firewood or maize cobs used as fuel. In the urban areas, it will more commonly be a brazier using charcoal, or a small metal cooker using kerosene oil.
Light is produced by hurricane lamps burning kerosene. Most homes keep a small supply of kerosene for their lamps and jiko.
Houses are small, and many combustible materials are kept within close range of any of these open fires. People, possibly with trailing clothes, move around the vicinity, and sometimes children play too near the fireplaces. During the cold season, nights are chilly, and there can be a tendency to leave fires to burn themselves out slowly while people are already falling asleep.
Ironing is done with charcoal irons, using live coals.
Many Kenyans are smokers, and careless handling of cigarettes can also cause fires.
Some small businesses use open fires -- maize roasters, fish fryers and mandazi bakers. These fires are normally well supervised and in any case extinguished as night falls.
Slum homes may also be threatened by external circumstances. These are fires starting in their neighbours' homes, fires due to sparking electricity cables, and (in one terrible incident in September 2011) a fire at the Kenya Pipeline in the Sinai section of Lunga Lunga slum. The huge oil pipeline, which ran through the slum, sprung a leak, and the slum dwellers tried to catch the spilling oil. It caught fire and exploded, killing and burning many. Some people jumped into the burning Ngong River to quench the flames, and many drowned there.
Text and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Some terrible pictures here of the Sinai fire (explosion at the Kenya Pipeline)
source : www.flickr.com
And a video of the scene :
source : http://www.youtube.com
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Written in August 2012
About a month ago, fire broke out in one of the houses in the Tujisaidie community in Soweto (in the Kayole suburb of Nairobi), and everything that the family owned was destroyed. Fortunately, no one was injured and the fire did not spread to neighbouring plots.
The community's youth group, Tumaini, was at that time welcoming a group of British visitors. Abandoning their guests to respond to the call for help, the youth ran to the site of the fire and, together with the neighbours, worked hard to put it out. This involved carrying water over quite a distance, as the pipes were dry at this time. The visitors helped as best they could, carrying jerricans of water in a long chain from the Nursery School water tank, until the flames had been quenched.
For the next day, they had planned a programme of calls to several projects in the community. But the visitors discussed the matter overnight and decided that helping to rebuild the burnt house was much more important. And so, they each contributed whatever funds they could, so that building materials could be bought, and the rest of the day was spent putting up a new corrugated iron house.
The rest of the community also got together. Everyone who could, donated some clothes, some pots and pans, a blanket and other essential items, to give the affected family a new start. Slum families support each other... and each of them had probably been helped by others already, at some other time...
Isabelle Prondzynski
*****************************
Worldwide use
*****************************
Things found on the way
*****************************
HAIKU
as his fire crackles
there is laughter and chat --
maize roaster
last rays
of the red sunset --
maize roaster’s fire
evening cool --
the fish fryer’s fire
glows from afar
Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
updates of fire
in Soweto on Facebook --
tears on my face
the fire --
Soweto goes dark
once again
still standing --
burnt electricity poles
telling the story
black smoke
engulfs the Soweto sunset --
a rush of helpers
water water
everyone calls --
flames and smoke
Antony Njoroge
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fire in Soweto, August 2012
fire outbreak --
a woman cries pleading
for quick help
rescue group --
the watching crowd
moves away
fire outbreak --
black smoke makes its way
to the atmosphere
~ Brian Mulando
singing a song
from a blackened Golden Bells --
smouldering remains
dancing smoke
from a burnt mattress --
village fire
~ James Bundi
On Saturday at dusk, after the fire tragedy that also destroyed a transformer and left a section of Soweto in darkness for three days, while we stood by watching the Kenya Power and Lighting Company staff fixing the transformer:
shooting star--
we mistake its bright streak
for power return
Patrick Wafula, August 22, 2012
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
thick smoke --
my eyes are drenched
with tears
she wails
on seeing burnt bodies --
Sinai inferno
oil floats on
sparkling sewage --
Ngong River
an injured boy
is lifted onto a stretcher --
rescue mission
Sinai heat --
flames bubbling in
the smokey sky
Sinai tragedy --
oil fumes linger
in the air
a pastor leads
the bereaved in prayer --
Sinai fire
Tom Mboya Hall --
a pile of burnt mabati
at the entrance
bereaved parade --
a photographer identifies
an impostor
~ Andrew Otinga
(on the Sinai Pipeline tragedy mentioned above)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
fire tragedy --
a crying child asking
for her mother
Sinai fire --
displaced children
crying for food
Authors unknown
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
August cold --
a maize roaster pokes
his smouldering fire
Caleb Mutua
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
on a jam
dusty matatus on a stand still -
Nakumatt blaze
Nakumatt blaze was a great supermarket fire in 2009.
Siboko Yamame
. Matatu minibus .
*****************************
Related words
***** Jiko (brazier) and makaa (charcoal)
***** WKD : Fire (kaji)
kigo for all winter in Japan
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slum fires
(Swahili : moto (singular) mioto (plural))
***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity
*****************************
Explanation
The urban slums of Kenya are highly prone to fires.
This is due to a cumulation of causes.
Each homestead has as its main focus the jiko, the fireplace or brazier, where food is cooked and heat is generated in the cold season. The jiko can be the traditional three stones, with firewood or maize cobs used as fuel. In the urban areas, it will more commonly be a brazier using charcoal, or a small metal cooker using kerosene oil.
Light is produced by hurricane lamps burning kerosene. Most homes keep a small supply of kerosene for their lamps and jiko.
Houses are small, and many combustible materials are kept within close range of any of these open fires. People, possibly with trailing clothes, move around the vicinity, and sometimes children play too near the fireplaces. During the cold season, nights are chilly, and there can be a tendency to leave fires to burn themselves out slowly while people are already falling asleep.
Ironing is done with charcoal irons, using live coals.
Many Kenyans are smokers, and careless handling of cigarettes can also cause fires.
Some small businesses use open fires -- maize roasters, fish fryers and mandazi bakers. These fires are normally well supervised and in any case extinguished as night falls.
Slum homes may also be threatened by external circumstances. These are fires starting in their neighbours' homes, fires due to sparking electricity cables, and (in one terrible incident in September 2011) a fire at the Kenya Pipeline in the Sinai section of Lunga Lunga slum. The huge oil pipeline, which ran through the slum, sprung a leak, and the slum dwellers tried to catch the spilling oil. It caught fire and exploded, killing and burning many. Some people jumped into the burning Ngong River to quench the flames, and many drowned there.
Text and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Some terrible pictures here of the Sinai fire (explosion at the Kenya Pipeline)
source : www.flickr.com
And a video of the scene :
source : http://www.youtube.com
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Written in August 2012
About a month ago, fire broke out in one of the houses in the Tujisaidie community in Soweto (in the Kayole suburb of Nairobi), and everything that the family owned was destroyed. Fortunately, no one was injured and the fire did not spread to neighbouring plots.
The community's youth group, Tumaini, was at that time welcoming a group of British visitors. Abandoning their guests to respond to the call for help, the youth ran to the site of the fire and, together with the neighbours, worked hard to put it out. This involved carrying water over quite a distance, as the pipes were dry at this time. The visitors helped as best they could, carrying jerricans of water in a long chain from the Nursery School water tank, until the flames had been quenched.
For the next day, they had planned a programme of calls to several projects in the community. But the visitors discussed the matter overnight and decided that helping to rebuild the burnt house was much more important. And so, they each contributed whatever funds they could, so that building materials could be bought, and the rest of the day was spent putting up a new corrugated iron house.
The rest of the community also got together. Everyone who could, donated some clothes, some pots and pans, a blanket and other essential items, to give the affected family a new start. Slum families support each other... and each of them had probably been helped by others already, at some other time...
Isabelle Prondzynski
*****************************
Worldwide use
*****************************
Things found on the way
*****************************
HAIKU
as his fire crackles
there is laughter and chat --
maize roaster
last rays
of the red sunset --
maize roaster’s fire
evening cool --
the fish fryer’s fire
glows from afar
Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
updates of fire
in Soweto on Facebook --
tears on my face
the fire --
Soweto goes dark
once again
still standing --
burnt electricity poles
telling the story
black smoke
engulfs the Soweto sunset --
a rush of helpers
water water
everyone calls --
flames and smoke
Antony Njoroge
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fire in Soweto, August 2012
fire outbreak --
a woman cries pleading
for quick help
rescue group --
the watching crowd
moves away
fire outbreak --
black smoke makes its way
to the atmosphere
~ Brian Mulando
singing a song
from a blackened Golden Bells --
smouldering remains
dancing smoke
from a burnt mattress --
village fire
~ James Bundi
On Saturday at dusk, after the fire tragedy that also destroyed a transformer and left a section of Soweto in darkness for three days, while we stood by watching the Kenya Power and Lighting Company staff fixing the transformer:
shooting star--
we mistake its bright streak
for power return
Patrick Wafula, August 22, 2012
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
thick smoke --
my eyes are drenched
with tears
she wails
on seeing burnt bodies --
Sinai inferno
oil floats on
sparkling sewage --
Ngong River
an injured boy
is lifted onto a stretcher --
rescue mission
Sinai heat --
flames bubbling in
the smokey sky
Sinai tragedy --
oil fumes linger
in the air
a pastor leads
the bereaved in prayer --
Sinai fire
Tom Mboya Hall --
a pile of burnt mabati
at the entrance
bereaved parade --
a photographer identifies
an impostor
~ Andrew Otinga
(on the Sinai Pipeline tragedy mentioned above)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
fire tragedy --
a crying child asking
for her mother
Sinai fire --
displaced children
crying for food
Authors unknown
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
August cold --
a maize roaster pokes
his smouldering fire
Caleb Mutua
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
on a jam
dusty matatus on a stand still -
Nakumatt blaze
Nakumatt blaze was a great supermarket fire in 2009.
Siboko Yamame
. Matatu minibus .
*****************************
Related words
***** Jiko (brazier) and makaa (charcoal)
***** WKD : Fire (kaji)
kigo for all winter in Japan
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
3/29/2012
Mini Haiku Walk
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kenya Saijiki Mini Ginko
11 February 2012
Report by
Patrick Wafula, Andrew Otinga and Caleb Mutua
Introduction
On Saturday 11 February 2012, the haiku clubs of two schools, Bahati Secondary School (the “Bambochas”) and St. Mathew Secondary School (the “Peacocks”) converged for a mini ginkoo at St. Mathew Secondary School’s Soweto campus.
The interaction was in the afternoon, after the student haijin had finished their Saturday tuition. The Patrons of the haiku clubs (Patrick sensei, Otinga san and Caleb san) were there to provide guidance and to allow the student haijin to interact freely and write haiku together.
Agenda
Ø Brief talks from club Patrons
Ø Brief talks from the clubs’ representatives
Ø Five senses of observation
Ø February Shiki Kukai competition
Ø Message from Kenya Saijiki Moderator
Introduction
Caleb san, assisted by Peacock club representatives, helped arrange the venue and led the introduction part as the students waited for Patrick sensei and Otinga san. When the two patrons arrived at the venue, Caleb san invited Patrick sensei, who was running late for another meeting, to officially start the first Mini Kukai of this year.
Patrick sensei expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the students in the Kenya Saijiki Forum. He also thanked the Moderator of the forum and Gabi sensei for their continued participation in the Saijiki. He then proceeded to share with the students the programme and activities the Patrons had outlined for this term. Among other things were two meetings each month between the two schools and continuous discussions on the progress of the students.
Five senses of observation
Patrick sensei explained how to use the five senses of observation when observing and writing haiku -- this was after Otinga san had asked him to help his students because he had observed that most Peacocks wrote most of their haiku based on their sense of sight.
Each haijin was asked to write down each of the five senses and descriptive words that go with each sense. The haijin were then asked to bring the list with them to the outdoor activity fieldwork scheduled later in afternoon. He elaborated this by writing two desk haiku on the sense of hearing and the sense of taste.
Mr. Otinga was next. As the host, he began by welcoming the audience to St. Mathew Secondary School and asking them to feel at home. He then thanked the students for beginning the year with fervour and zest. He said he was impressed with the improvements the students had made and thanked the Moderator for her comments on the haijin’s haiku. He stressed that these comments had helped the students a lot. He also thanked Patrick sensei for taking it upon himself to give detailed responses on questions about the five senses. He hoped the haijin would make a habit of using the other senses as well as the sense of sight.
He thanked sensei for his devotion and asked to be excused from teaching haiku because he believed he still had a lot to learn. However, he asked both Patrick sensei and Caleb san to allow him accompany them every time they alternatingly went for haiku discussions. He finished by inviting remarks from all club representatives from both schools.
Club representatives were brief with their congratulatory presentations thanking their patrons and club members for the support they have been receiving.
Caleb was the last to speak. His presentation was based on a message from the Moderator of Kenya Saijiki, Ms. Isabelle Prondzynski. He read to the audience some of the latest comments from the Moderator. He underscored to the students the need to keep the words that “belong” together in the same line (together).
He wrote on the blackboard some of the haiku which the moderator had suggested that their author of those haiku rewrite by putting words that “belong” together in the same line. The meeting was closed and students proceeded to Soweto Stage where there is a market for groceries and fruit.
Mangoes
Mini Ginkoo
Haijin converged at Soweto Stage Market a few minutes past 2pm. Caleb and Mr. Andrew Otinga reminded the haijin to take a keen interest in plums and mangos, being the current kigo.
Late lunch
After the ginkoo, the haijin went to a famous café called Babylon Kitchen where they brushed up their poems over a late lunch.
On behalf of the clubs, Mr. Otinga sincerely thanked Patrick sensei for offering to buy all the haijin present at the ginkoo some snacks. He termed him a cheerful giver.
After the lunch, he patrons closed the kukai and thanked all the haijin who had given their time to make the event a success.
Recommendations and Conclusions
1. Patrons and club representatives concluded that haijin had started the year well.
2. Club representatives from Bahati acknowledged that some of their haijin had not been serious haiku poets and promised a change for the better.
3. Both patrons and haijin concluded that smell of urine is a kigo for the hot dry season because even though the smell of urine is there all year round, during the hot dry season the stench is increased because of the heat.
4. Club patrons concluded that the next ginkoo will involve haijin from St. Mathew Secondary School (Kangundo Road branch).
Plums
Patrick sensei also submitted his own poems :
morning sunrays —
our hen pecks at itself
in the mirror
shouts of goal —
a trail of dust follows
the polythene ball
Compiled by Caleb Mutua
© Kenya Saijiki
© Photos : Isabelle Prondzynski
*****************************
Related words
***** The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kenya Saijiki Mini Ginko
11 February 2012
Report by
Patrick Wafula, Andrew Otinga and Caleb Mutua
Introduction
On Saturday 11 February 2012, the haiku clubs of two schools, Bahati Secondary School (the “Bambochas”) and St. Mathew Secondary School (the “Peacocks”) converged for a mini ginkoo at St. Mathew Secondary School’s Soweto campus.
The interaction was in the afternoon, after the student haijin had finished their Saturday tuition. The Patrons of the haiku clubs (Patrick sensei, Otinga san and Caleb san) were there to provide guidance and to allow the student haijin to interact freely and write haiku together.
Agenda
Ø Brief talks from club Patrons
Ø Brief talks from the clubs’ representatives
Ø Five senses of observation
Ø February Shiki Kukai competition
Ø Message from Kenya Saijiki Moderator
Introduction
Caleb san, assisted by Peacock club representatives, helped arrange the venue and led the introduction part as the students waited for Patrick sensei and Otinga san. When the two patrons arrived at the venue, Caleb san invited Patrick sensei, who was running late for another meeting, to officially start the first Mini Kukai of this year.
Patrick sensei expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the students in the Kenya Saijiki Forum. He also thanked the Moderator of the forum and Gabi sensei for their continued participation in the Saijiki. He then proceeded to share with the students the programme and activities the Patrons had outlined for this term. Among other things were two meetings each month between the two schools and continuous discussions on the progress of the students.
Five senses of observation
Patrick sensei explained how to use the five senses of observation when observing and writing haiku -- this was after Otinga san had asked him to help his students because he had observed that most Peacocks wrote most of their haiku based on their sense of sight.
Each haijin was asked to write down each of the five senses and descriptive words that go with each sense. The haijin were then asked to bring the list with them to the outdoor activity fieldwork scheduled later in afternoon. He elaborated this by writing two desk haiku on the sense of hearing and the sense of taste.
Mr. Otinga was next. As the host, he began by welcoming the audience to St. Mathew Secondary School and asking them to feel at home. He then thanked the students for beginning the year with fervour and zest. He said he was impressed with the improvements the students had made and thanked the Moderator for her comments on the haijin’s haiku. He stressed that these comments had helped the students a lot. He also thanked Patrick sensei for taking it upon himself to give detailed responses on questions about the five senses. He hoped the haijin would make a habit of using the other senses as well as the sense of sight.
He thanked sensei for his devotion and asked to be excused from teaching haiku because he believed he still had a lot to learn. However, he asked both Patrick sensei and Caleb san to allow him accompany them every time they alternatingly went for haiku discussions. He finished by inviting remarks from all club representatives from both schools.
Club representatives were brief with their congratulatory presentations thanking their patrons and club members for the support they have been receiving.
Caleb was the last to speak. His presentation was based on a message from the Moderator of Kenya Saijiki, Ms. Isabelle Prondzynski. He read to the audience some of the latest comments from the Moderator. He underscored to the students the need to keep the words that “belong” together in the same line (together).
He wrote on the blackboard some of the haiku which the moderator had suggested that their author of those haiku rewrite by putting words that “belong” together in the same line. The meeting was closed and students proceeded to Soweto Stage where there is a market for groceries and fruit.
Mangoes
Mini Ginkoo
Haijin converged at Soweto Stage Market a few minutes past 2pm. Caleb and Mr. Andrew Otinga reminded the haijin to take a keen interest in plums and mangos, being the current kigo.
Late lunch
After the ginkoo, the haijin went to a famous café called Babylon Kitchen where they brushed up their poems over a late lunch.
On behalf of the clubs, Mr. Otinga sincerely thanked Patrick sensei for offering to buy all the haijin present at the ginkoo some snacks. He termed him a cheerful giver.
After the lunch, he patrons closed the kukai and thanked all the haijin who had given their time to make the event a success.
Recommendations and Conclusions
1. Patrons and club representatives concluded that haijin had started the year well.
2. Club representatives from Bahati acknowledged that some of their haijin had not been serious haiku poets and promised a change for the better.
3. Both patrons and haijin concluded that smell of urine is a kigo for the hot dry season because even though the smell of urine is there all year round, during the hot dry season the stench is increased because of the heat.
4. Club patrons concluded that the next ginkoo will involve haijin from St. Mathew Secondary School (Kangundo Road branch).
Plums
Patrick sensei also submitted his own poems :
morning sunrays —
our hen pecks at itself
in the mirror
shouts of goal —
a trail of dust follows
the polythene ball
Compiled by Caleb Mutua
© Kenya Saijiki
© Photos : Isabelle Prondzynski
*****************************
Related words
***** The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
2/14/2012
Valentine's Day Kenya
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
St Valentine’s Day (Valentine’s Day, Valentine)
***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Hot dry season
***** Category: Observance
*****************************
Explanation
Despite the little knowledge about its origin, the majority of Kenyans, especially the urban folks, believe Valentine to be the celebration of love. The colour red is the predominant mark for this day, and it is exhibited in flowers and clothes.
In Nairobi, St. Valentine's Day is highly commercialised. Flower, clothes, shoe and other accessory vendors and supermarkets, as well as hawkers, capitalise on this occasion and stock red coloured Valentine's items at strategic points to attract customer attention. Since red roses are expensive and in short supply, traders substitute them with plastic ones. Husbands and wives buy each other gifts and flowers and they dress in red; so do lovers. Couples go out to exclusive joints to spend a romantic moment together. Restaurants, hotels, pubs and resorts are decorated in red and special entertainments and menus are prepared to match their clients' needs.
The best climax about St Valentine's Day however is the renewal of love vows and re-affirming love and faithfulness to each other in our relationships.
A whirl of red synthetic roses with a bottle of grape drink
Text and photo © Patrick Wafula
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This year, 2012, I was amazed by the ingenuity of Nairobi business people with regard to St. Valentine’s Day. This time round they went a notch higher with the Valentine affair. To start with, a couple of days prior to St. Valentine’s Day, they put up flower tents on almost every major street in the city centre. The flower tents were complete with smartly dressed sales people; the red flowers, which are usually synthetic (plastic), were this time round mingled with real fresh red roses. Secondly, to make it even more fabulous, the flowers were wrapped along with other beautiful gifts such as red teddy bears, chocolate, ribbons, or small, cute traditional reed baskets. The prices varied depending on the package. A whirl of real red roses cost as much as Kshs. 1,200. A teddy bear could even cost Kshs 2,000.
The supermarkets too were more creative. They set up Valentine stands right in the entrances, all shrouded in red. They offered very attractive Valentine packages with alluring gifts. All packages
included at least a red flower and ribbons. But some packages contained not just flowers and beautiful wrappings, but red wine, hot chocolate and huge teddy bears with fantastic love messages, such as “I am Thinking of You, My Thoughts Are Inside,” scribbled across them. A gift wrap with a bottle of wine, sweets and a chocolate bar cost around Kshs. 1,300.
Valentine’s Day stand at Tuskey’s, Moi Avenue
Nairobi city centre last evening was engulfed in romantic shopping sprees with supermarkets remaining open up to 9.00pm to serve their ravenous Valentine clientele. Hawkers too, strategically positioned all around the city, were making a kill; they sold the flowers and gifts at a more reduced price than the supermarkets.
Kenyans may not be as romantic as Nigerians, but I can assure you, they are pretentiously romantic: during day time, they harbour severe faces and religious behaviours, but at night, as darkness descends over the land, they turn vivacious, lascivious and openly romantic.
Valentine —
a red ribbon fluttering
on a matatu mirror
Moi Avenue —
an abandoned
red plastic flower
Text, haiku and photo © Patrick Wafula
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Unusually for a saint, St Valentine’s Day is not usually celebrated in church. The reason is that he lived so long ago, that no one is quite sure whether the stories about his life are true, or whether they have grown over the centuries without there being a firm basis of truth. On the other hand, when St Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, the churches usually take the opportunity to talk about love, loyalty and faithfulness to one's partner.
It is to find red roses in Nairobi on St Valentine’s Day. Kenya produces the greatest number of roses exported in the world, many of which are red, and almost all of which come from around Lake Naivasha. But as the export trade is so strong for red roses around St Valentine's Day, there are usually insufficient of them left for Kenya itself! Every night, there are several Jumbo Jets flying out of Nairobi, loaded with nothing but flowers (mostly roses, as it happens)...
loading the plane --
surrounded by the scent
of St Valentine's
With its huge variety of other offerings in red, Kenya has truly made St Valentine's Day its very own festival.
Preparing an arrangement of red roses at City Market, Nairobi
Text, haiku and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski
*****************************
Worldwide use
WKD : Valentine's Day 2012
*****************************
Things found on the way
Haibun
In Nairobi ’s Kayole / Soweto slums where I live and work, February is usually a dry dusty month full of dusty breezes. But the sunrises are gloriously splendid. You wake up guaranteed a golden orange sun and an azure-blue sky. But on 14 February 2009, I celebrated a unique Valentine like none other I had ever had. I dated a person living with HIV/AIDS.
Valentine’s day--
red roses displayed
on dusty roadsides
17: 05 hours: I did not know what could be the best gift for my date as I closed and locked my office. I started off to our rendezvous — her flat. It was a lovely evening with a cool breeze sweeping across Soweto slum, mildly stirring up a little dust here and there, and sometimes a whole litter of polythene bags floated in the dark blue evening sky. Most of the young cute-looking people I met on the streets were either fully or half dressed in something red or at least had something red tagged somewhere on their cloth.
students crowding
a lush red coloured stall —
Valentine’s cards
Romanticism was slowly enveloping Kayole and Soweto slums in the twilight; the boldness of the uniformed students in pairs bargaining for Valentine Cards and gifts that were variously and creatively designed to offer variety totally mesmerized me; this scenario pushed me a notch higher on the Valentine Richter Scale. I was pressed for time. Not only was I required to accomplish my date with Miss L. (not her real name -- names are not mentioned here for confidentiality reasons), but I was also required to take my wife out on a date to Nyama Villa and later throw a late night family party with for our three daughters Faith, Esther and Liz.
Valentine ballads —
nostalgia for memories past
burns me up
Let me tell you more about my work. I work in a community secondary school based in Nairobi ’s Kayole Soweto slum. The school has a mixed population of both boys and girls of about 600 students aged between 13 and 18. But sometimes we receive extraordinary and unusual students not only in age, but also in background and experience. Some are aged over twenty and some are just below twenty but their experiences are flabbergasting. The oldest student we have ever received was Master R who was aged twenty-six in 2005. Master R completed his KCSE examination in 2008 and is now a teacher.
In fact, our school is a very special centre that mends broken dreams, lives, brains, hopes and hearts. For the seven years I have worked here, though, the year 2009 was an exceptional year for me. For the first time, we had two students, Miss M and Miss D sitting their KCSE exams with distended blessings in their wombs. And for the first time, we also had two students living with HIV/AIDS in our midst. They were Miss B and W. Of course I do not imply that we have never had teenage pregnancies in our school before; far from it. In fact, we do have them every year, even though our statistics for the last five years—2005-2009—show a sharp decline. The fact is that in 2009 we did not treat these cases in the usual tradition of expelling and stigmatizing. Instead, we showed sensitivity, understanding and moral as well as psychological support. We advised them to sit their exams and sternly cautioned all the other students against any form of discrimination and stigmatization. The question that triggered this was:
“Why haven’t we, as a society, ever expelled or stigmatized the boys or men who usually impregnate these girls? Why should the girls carry the burden of pregnancy alone, while the boy or man with whom they shared the pleasure of pro-creating is allowed to go on with his life totally uninterrupted?”
she is too large
to fit in between the desk —
her distended tummy
Thank God for our Government for endorsing this new policy. The girls can now sit their exams even if they are pregnant!
she tells a female teacher
that she’s older than her —
student mother
Our school also broke the record among community schools in 2009 for allowing two student mothers to study and sit their KCSE exams. The most outstanding was Miss E, who had been forcibly married off at the age of 16, due to poverty in their family. She had with much difficulty given birth to two children by the time we caught up with her in her matrimony. With the help of the authorities, we managed to extricate her from the abusive marriage. She joined our centre in 2007 and successfully sat for her KCSE exams in 2009. She had dropped out in Form 2. She had come to the centre with a broken heart, body and brain, as well as spirit, but she left the centre a healed, pretty girl in specs. She was very close to my wife.
sharing SMSes
from her ex-husband—
student mother
Generally, our students are the most beautiful-looking in the whole slum. With their resplendent uniforms and proud looks and posture, they usually attract so many others to the school. But underneath these beautiful faces and uniforms, are resilient spirits who have fought all forms of social and economic evils: drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, abject poverty, sex abuse and molestation, domestic violence and child labour. The year 2009 was also extraordinary because we had admitted the two students living with HIV/AIDS.
18:10 hours: At the market stall, I struggled undecidedly with Valentine’s cards and gifts to buy for my date. The cards and gifts, although all in red, differed in size, decorations and material and hence the variation in prices. In the background, ballads, vehicle honks and the usual market din and the hawkers’ monotonous sales slogans and stories blared on. I finally settled for a small but cute Valentine’s gift for Miss L. It was a nicely woven traditional basket made from wild date palm reeds. It had a huge fully bloomed red plastic rose at the centre with red ribbons fluttering all around the red rose and the basket. There was a simple love message scribbled on a rectangular paper glued to the side of the basket:
To Someone very SPECIAL,
On this Valentine :
I LOVE YOU!
Thinking of you : Valentine’s chocolates
18:30 Hours: It was getting dark and twilight was fading into night, but colourful lights kept shooting into life from all buildings around, thus brightening the night. Night clubs, pubs and all entertainment joints were Valentine red in lighting and decoration.
I arrived at Miss L’s flat and knocked on the door. It was a high-rise building with several other tenants in it. As I stood outside her door waiting for it to be opened, I noticed that it was smeared with several stickers, all carrying HIV/AIDS messages. But the most outstanding sticker was the one with the President holding hands in a tight circle with people of all ages, classes and religions. And the poignant message on it was:
“Tuungane
Tuangamize
UKIMWI!”
“Let us unite
to eradicate
HIV/AIDS!”
I read this message over and over again as I waited for the door to be opened. Soon there was a click and the door opened. And before me, a beautifully dressed lady in jeans trousers, open shoes and red T-shirt, stood before me in the light-flooded sitting room, smiling sweetly, but her eyes were sad and lonely. That was Miss L. She had done a lot for the community — rescuing girls and women who suffered from HIV/AIDS stigmatization and discrimination. Our school had formed a network with her organization for the same reason; she had been the first girl in this part of Nairobi to publicly declare her HIV status.
I held the gift out to her and watched as pleasant shock and surprise engulfed her; she pouted the surprise. I silenced her with a hearty embrace and two pecks on both cheeks. The light that sparkled in her dark lonely eyes as she whispered:
“Do you mean you love me this much?” made my Valentine.
“Yes,” I said, “You deserve much much more. You have made a difference in so many lives here.” We released each other. “But I’m afraid I won’t stay. I’m taking my wife out to Nyama Villa and we have a family party later to-night.”
“I’m so grateful you thought of me, Pat. You’ve made my Valentine.”
“Don’t mention it”, I said and kissed her Happy Valentine.
Valentine’s date
with a HIV/AIDS person--
the radiance in her eyes
a red night
of eating chicken and dancing jazz —
dating my wife
church flower garden --
two little girls exchanging
red hibiscus flowers
~ Haibun and photo © Patrick Wafula
*****************************
HAIKU
St Valentine’s Day --
today the computer
is my only love
St Valentine’s Day --
all the church finery
for a wedding
St Valentine’s Day --
the church warden mourns
his late wife
Valentine’s Day --
a lovers’ quarrel going
round and round my head
Valentine's Day --
who may be thinking of me
right now?
~ Isabelle Prondzynski
from Japan, with KitKat chocolate
Valentine's Day -
I send you a sweet
postcard
~ Gabi Greve
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Valentine's day --
a girl's red tongue licks
a red ice cream
~ Dennis Wright
red flowers --
the leftovers colour
the market
~ Peninah Wanjiru
Valentine's day --
she covers her neck
with a red scarf
~ Ezekiel Mbira
sudden odour --
I stare at the roses
in the market
~ Meg Ndinda
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A traditional reed basket full of Valentine’s Day gifts
Photo © Patrick Wafula
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Valentine --
a little girl undusts
her fallen flowers
red decorations
on the pear vendor’s wheelbarrow --
Valentine’ Day
youthless church
for the morning service --
Valentine’s Day
~ Hussein Haji
a couple kiss
across the bus station--
Valentine’s day
~ Kelvin Mukoselo
Soweto market --
loudspeakers advertise
Valentine products
Valentine’s morning --
vendors arrange flowers
in the wheelbarrow
Valentine’s day --
a flower hawker whistles
from door to door
~ Caleb Mutua
Valentine’s card --
some sweet melody plays
in the pub
a chocolate pack
in heart-printed wrappers --
Valentine’s gift
Valentine’s Day --
bouquets of red roses
displayed in the shops
~ Gladys Kathini
Valentine's Day --
people in red clothes on their way
carrying flowers
~ Samuel Ndung'u
in a red suit
a man carrying flowers --
language of love
~ Raymond Otieno
stout lady
clutching red roses
clad in red
twenty bob each!
shouts a jovial hawker --
red bouquets
~ Catherine Njeri Maina
people in red
laughing and cheering in the pub --
Valentine’s night
~Walter Otieno
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Teddy bears for a Valentine!
Photo © Patrick Wafula
waiters in red
serving red wine --
Valentine's Day
couples in red
cluster around flower stalls --
red twilight
a couple quarrelling
over Valentine SMSes --
sulky faces
form one students
asking the English teacher --
what is Valentine
Muthurwa --
hawkers of Valentine’s gifts
block the pathways
Luthuli Avenue --
broken roses scattered
at zebra crossings
Valentine’s Eve --
the shoe vendor's stall
gradually turns red
~ Patrick Wafula
*****************************
Related words
***** WKD : Valentine's Day 2012
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
St Valentine’s Day (Valentine’s Day, Valentine)
***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Hot dry season
***** Category: Observance
*****************************
Explanation
Despite the little knowledge about its origin, the majority of Kenyans, especially the urban folks, believe Valentine to be the celebration of love. The colour red is the predominant mark for this day, and it is exhibited in flowers and clothes.
In Nairobi, St. Valentine's Day is highly commercialised. Flower, clothes, shoe and other accessory vendors and supermarkets, as well as hawkers, capitalise on this occasion and stock red coloured Valentine's items at strategic points to attract customer attention. Since red roses are expensive and in short supply, traders substitute them with plastic ones. Husbands and wives buy each other gifts and flowers and they dress in red; so do lovers. Couples go out to exclusive joints to spend a romantic moment together. Restaurants, hotels, pubs and resorts are decorated in red and special entertainments and menus are prepared to match their clients' needs.
The best climax about St Valentine's Day however is the renewal of love vows and re-affirming love and faithfulness to each other in our relationships.
A whirl of red synthetic roses with a bottle of grape drink
Text and photo © Patrick Wafula
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This year, 2012, I was amazed by the ingenuity of Nairobi business people with regard to St. Valentine’s Day. This time round they went a notch higher with the Valentine affair. To start with, a couple of days prior to St. Valentine’s Day, they put up flower tents on almost every major street in the city centre. The flower tents were complete with smartly dressed sales people; the red flowers, which are usually synthetic (plastic), were this time round mingled with real fresh red roses. Secondly, to make it even more fabulous, the flowers were wrapped along with other beautiful gifts such as red teddy bears, chocolate, ribbons, or small, cute traditional reed baskets. The prices varied depending on the package. A whirl of real red roses cost as much as Kshs. 1,200. A teddy bear could even cost Kshs 2,000.
The supermarkets too were more creative. They set up Valentine stands right in the entrances, all shrouded in red. They offered very attractive Valentine packages with alluring gifts. All packages
included at least a red flower and ribbons. But some packages contained not just flowers and beautiful wrappings, but red wine, hot chocolate and huge teddy bears with fantastic love messages, such as “I am Thinking of You, My Thoughts Are Inside,” scribbled across them. A gift wrap with a bottle of wine, sweets and a chocolate bar cost around Kshs. 1,300.
Valentine’s Day stand at Tuskey’s, Moi Avenue
Nairobi city centre last evening was engulfed in romantic shopping sprees with supermarkets remaining open up to 9.00pm to serve their ravenous Valentine clientele. Hawkers too, strategically positioned all around the city, were making a kill; they sold the flowers and gifts at a more reduced price than the supermarkets.
Kenyans may not be as romantic as Nigerians, but I can assure you, they are pretentiously romantic: during day time, they harbour severe faces and religious behaviours, but at night, as darkness descends over the land, they turn vivacious, lascivious and openly romantic.
Valentine —
a red ribbon fluttering
on a matatu mirror
Moi Avenue —
an abandoned
red plastic flower
Text, haiku and photo © Patrick Wafula
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Unusually for a saint, St Valentine’s Day is not usually celebrated in church. The reason is that he lived so long ago, that no one is quite sure whether the stories about his life are true, or whether they have grown over the centuries without there being a firm basis of truth. On the other hand, when St Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday, the churches usually take the opportunity to talk about love, loyalty and faithfulness to one's partner.
It is to find red roses in Nairobi on St Valentine’s Day. Kenya produces the greatest number of roses exported in the world, many of which are red, and almost all of which come from around Lake Naivasha. But as the export trade is so strong for red roses around St Valentine's Day, there are usually insufficient of them left for Kenya itself! Every night, there are several Jumbo Jets flying out of Nairobi, loaded with nothing but flowers (mostly roses, as it happens)...
loading the plane --
surrounded by the scent
of St Valentine's
With its huge variety of other offerings in red, Kenya has truly made St Valentine's Day its very own festival.
Preparing an arrangement of red roses at City Market, Nairobi
Text, haiku and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski
*****************************
Worldwide use
WKD : Valentine's Day 2012
*****************************
Things found on the way
Haibun
In Nairobi ’s Kayole / Soweto slums where I live and work, February is usually a dry dusty month full of dusty breezes. But the sunrises are gloriously splendid. You wake up guaranteed a golden orange sun and an azure-blue sky. But on 14 February 2009, I celebrated a unique Valentine like none other I had ever had. I dated a person living with HIV/AIDS.
Valentine’s day--
red roses displayed
on dusty roadsides
17: 05 hours: I did not know what could be the best gift for my date as I closed and locked my office. I started off to our rendezvous — her flat. It was a lovely evening with a cool breeze sweeping across Soweto slum, mildly stirring up a little dust here and there, and sometimes a whole litter of polythene bags floated in the dark blue evening sky. Most of the young cute-looking people I met on the streets were either fully or half dressed in something red or at least had something red tagged somewhere on their cloth.
students crowding
a lush red coloured stall —
Valentine’s cards
Romanticism was slowly enveloping Kayole and Soweto slums in the twilight; the boldness of the uniformed students in pairs bargaining for Valentine Cards and gifts that were variously and creatively designed to offer variety totally mesmerized me; this scenario pushed me a notch higher on the Valentine Richter Scale. I was pressed for time. Not only was I required to accomplish my date with Miss L. (not her real name -- names are not mentioned here for confidentiality reasons), but I was also required to take my wife out on a date to Nyama Villa and later throw a late night family party with for our three daughters Faith, Esther and Liz.
Valentine ballads —
nostalgia for memories past
burns me up
Let me tell you more about my work. I work in a community secondary school based in Nairobi ’s Kayole Soweto slum. The school has a mixed population of both boys and girls of about 600 students aged between 13 and 18. But sometimes we receive extraordinary and unusual students not only in age, but also in background and experience. Some are aged over twenty and some are just below twenty but their experiences are flabbergasting. The oldest student we have ever received was Master R who was aged twenty-six in 2005. Master R completed his KCSE examination in 2008 and is now a teacher.
In fact, our school is a very special centre that mends broken dreams, lives, brains, hopes and hearts. For the seven years I have worked here, though, the year 2009 was an exceptional year for me. For the first time, we had two students, Miss M and Miss D sitting their KCSE exams with distended blessings in their wombs. And for the first time, we also had two students living with HIV/AIDS in our midst. They were Miss B and W. Of course I do not imply that we have never had teenage pregnancies in our school before; far from it. In fact, we do have them every year, even though our statistics for the last five years—2005-2009—show a sharp decline. The fact is that in 2009 we did not treat these cases in the usual tradition of expelling and stigmatizing. Instead, we showed sensitivity, understanding and moral as well as psychological support. We advised them to sit their exams and sternly cautioned all the other students against any form of discrimination and stigmatization. The question that triggered this was:
“Why haven’t we, as a society, ever expelled or stigmatized the boys or men who usually impregnate these girls? Why should the girls carry the burden of pregnancy alone, while the boy or man with whom they shared the pleasure of pro-creating is allowed to go on with his life totally uninterrupted?”
she is too large
to fit in between the desk —
her distended tummy
Thank God for our Government for endorsing this new policy. The girls can now sit their exams even if they are pregnant!
she tells a female teacher
that she’s older than her —
student mother
Our school also broke the record among community schools in 2009 for allowing two student mothers to study and sit their KCSE exams. The most outstanding was Miss E, who had been forcibly married off at the age of 16, due to poverty in their family. She had with much difficulty given birth to two children by the time we caught up with her in her matrimony. With the help of the authorities, we managed to extricate her from the abusive marriage. She joined our centre in 2007 and successfully sat for her KCSE exams in 2009. She had dropped out in Form 2. She had come to the centre with a broken heart, body and brain, as well as spirit, but she left the centre a healed, pretty girl in specs. She was very close to my wife.
sharing SMSes
from her ex-husband—
student mother
Generally, our students are the most beautiful-looking in the whole slum. With their resplendent uniforms and proud looks and posture, they usually attract so many others to the school. But underneath these beautiful faces and uniforms, are resilient spirits who have fought all forms of social and economic evils: drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, abject poverty, sex abuse and molestation, domestic violence and child labour. The year 2009 was also extraordinary because we had admitted the two students living with HIV/AIDS.
18:10 hours: At the market stall, I struggled undecidedly with Valentine’s cards and gifts to buy for my date. The cards and gifts, although all in red, differed in size, decorations and material and hence the variation in prices. In the background, ballads, vehicle honks and the usual market din and the hawkers’ monotonous sales slogans and stories blared on. I finally settled for a small but cute Valentine’s gift for Miss L. It was a nicely woven traditional basket made from wild date palm reeds. It had a huge fully bloomed red plastic rose at the centre with red ribbons fluttering all around the red rose and the basket. There was a simple love message scribbled on a rectangular paper glued to the side of the basket:
To Someone very SPECIAL,
On this Valentine :
I LOVE YOU!
Thinking of you : Valentine’s chocolates
18:30 Hours: It was getting dark and twilight was fading into night, but colourful lights kept shooting into life from all buildings around, thus brightening the night. Night clubs, pubs and all entertainment joints were Valentine red in lighting and decoration.
I arrived at Miss L’s flat and knocked on the door. It was a high-rise building with several other tenants in it. As I stood outside her door waiting for it to be opened, I noticed that it was smeared with several stickers, all carrying HIV/AIDS messages. But the most outstanding sticker was the one with the President holding hands in a tight circle with people of all ages, classes and religions. And the poignant message on it was:
“Tuungane
Tuangamize
UKIMWI!”
“Let us unite
to eradicate
HIV/AIDS!”
I read this message over and over again as I waited for the door to be opened. Soon there was a click and the door opened. And before me, a beautifully dressed lady in jeans trousers, open shoes and red T-shirt, stood before me in the light-flooded sitting room, smiling sweetly, but her eyes were sad and lonely. That was Miss L. She had done a lot for the community — rescuing girls and women who suffered from HIV/AIDS stigmatization and discrimination. Our school had formed a network with her organization for the same reason; she had been the first girl in this part of Nairobi to publicly declare her HIV status.
I held the gift out to her and watched as pleasant shock and surprise engulfed her; she pouted the surprise. I silenced her with a hearty embrace and two pecks on both cheeks. The light that sparkled in her dark lonely eyes as she whispered:
“Do you mean you love me this much?” made my Valentine.
“Yes,” I said, “You deserve much much more. You have made a difference in so many lives here.” We released each other. “But I’m afraid I won’t stay. I’m taking my wife out to Nyama Villa and we have a family party later to-night.”
“I’m so grateful you thought of me, Pat. You’ve made my Valentine.”
“Don’t mention it”, I said and kissed her Happy Valentine.
Valentine’s date
with a HIV/AIDS person--
the radiance in her eyes
a red night
of eating chicken and dancing jazz —
dating my wife
church flower garden --
two little girls exchanging
red hibiscus flowers
~ Haibun and photo © Patrick Wafula
*****************************
HAIKU
St Valentine’s Day --
today the computer
is my only love
St Valentine’s Day --
all the church finery
for a wedding
St Valentine’s Day --
the church warden mourns
his late wife
Valentine’s Day --
a lovers’ quarrel going
round and round my head
Valentine's Day --
who may be thinking of me
right now?
~ Isabelle Prondzynski
from Japan, with KitKat chocolate
Valentine's Day -
I send you a sweet
postcard
~ Gabi Greve
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Valentine's day --
a girl's red tongue licks
a red ice cream
~ Dennis Wright
red flowers --
the leftovers colour
the market
~ Peninah Wanjiru
Valentine's day --
she covers her neck
with a red scarf
~ Ezekiel Mbira
sudden odour --
I stare at the roses
in the market
~ Meg Ndinda
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A traditional reed basket full of Valentine’s Day gifts
Photo © Patrick Wafula
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Valentine --
a little girl undusts
her fallen flowers
red decorations
on the pear vendor’s wheelbarrow --
Valentine’ Day
youthless church
for the morning service --
Valentine’s Day
~ Hussein Haji
a couple kiss
across the bus station--
Valentine’s day
~ Kelvin Mukoselo
Soweto market --
loudspeakers advertise
Valentine products
Valentine’s morning --
vendors arrange flowers
in the wheelbarrow
Valentine’s day --
a flower hawker whistles
from door to door
~ Caleb Mutua
Valentine’s card --
some sweet melody plays
in the pub
a chocolate pack
in heart-printed wrappers --
Valentine’s gift
Valentine’s Day --
bouquets of red roses
displayed in the shops
~ Gladys Kathini
Valentine's Day --
people in red clothes on their way
carrying flowers
~ Samuel Ndung'u
in a red suit
a man carrying flowers --
language of love
~ Raymond Otieno
stout lady
clutching red roses
clad in red
twenty bob each!
shouts a jovial hawker --
red bouquets
~ Catherine Njeri Maina
people in red
laughing and cheering in the pub --
Valentine’s night
~Walter Otieno
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Teddy bears for a Valentine!
Photo © Patrick Wafula
waiters in red
serving red wine --
Valentine's Day
couples in red
cluster around flower stalls --
red twilight
a couple quarrelling
over Valentine SMSes --
sulky faces
form one students
asking the English teacher --
what is Valentine
Muthurwa --
hawkers of Valentine’s gifts
block the pathways
Luthuli Avenue --
broken roses scattered
at zebra crossings
Valentine’s Eve --
the shoe vendor's stall
gradually turns red
~ Patrick Wafula
*****************************
Related words
***** WKD : Valentine's Day 2012
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
11/06/2011
St Mathew Kukai Nov 2011
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Eleventh Kukai of the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
St Mathew’s Secondary School, Soweto Branch
November 5, 2011
This was the eleventh Kukai of the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi. It took place at St Mathew’s, Soweto Branch, following the kind invitation of Mr Andrew Otinga, the Patron of the Peacocks Haiku Club. It was also the last kukai for several members of the Peacocks and the Bamboochas, who were in the final days of their KCSE examinations and were about to graduate from their respective schools.
. Photo Album .
Participants :
Peacocks
Abednego Muasya
Agnetta Shikalo
Akaliene Rose
Brian Etole
Brian Mulando
Bryan Anyonya
Carolyne Wanjiru
Caxton Okoth
Ceciliah Wambui
Derrick Ambale
Diana Dolla
Doris Muthini
Elijah Juma
Elijah Noah
Esther Mweme
Faith Owila
Florence Mlangi
Gertrude Wahu
Hamisi Ishmael Kambona
James Karume
Jescah Auma
John Kennedy
Joseph Musango
Joshua Kyalo
Julie Okach
Kevin Asava
Lencer Achieng
Margaret Ndinda
Metrine Okalo
Moses Nyawanga
Pauline Wayua
Richard Okoth
Silvia Mukelli
Sharon Akoth
Stanley Mutinda
Stanley K Joshua
Stephen Munyao
Synaidah Kalahi
Titus Mutungi
Valary Knight
Virginia Njeri
Bamboochas
Ancent Mutua
Annastacia Muthini
Antony Mwangi
Cecil Wambui
Collins Omuganda
Consolata Akoth
Donnahlily Atieno
Douglas Nugi
Emmanuel Muteti
Gloriah Kerubo
Iryne Lydiah Aluoch
Isaac Ndirangu
James Bundi
John Kamau
Johnson Gacugu
Lucy Mukuhi
Mecyline Akinyi
Melcine Ayako
Mercy Muthoni
Milkah Wanjiku
Rachael Njeri
Redempta Ndinda
Sam Pirias
Silvia Khabayi
Stephen Macharia
Sylviah Mbone
Susan Njeri
Teresia Njeri
Cocks
Caleb Mutua
Catherine Njeri Maina
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While the students were gathering for the kukai, Mr Patrick Wafula, the Co-ordinator of the Haiku Clubs, gave them a quiz to solve, promising a small prize to the 16 participants who had answered all five questions correctly.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Caleb Mutua was in charge as Master of Ceremonies for the morning session. Participants were sorry to hear that Antony Njoroge was ill and sent him their good wishes.
The meeting started with lively choruses and a prayer.
The new members of the Haiku Clubs, particularly those in Form One, were welcomed.
The Chairpersons of the Haiku Clubs, Brian Etole and Synaidah Kalahi for the Peacocks and Isaac Ndirangu for the Bamboochas, then presented brief reports on the work which had been carried out in their respective clubs.
Synaidah Kalahi presenting the Peacocks’ report
Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Update on computer teaching
Mr David Kimani reported that the following computer students (all Peacocks) had been regular and committed attendees at computer classes and would soon have finished their end-of-year examinations, qualifying them for a certificate :
Jack Silingi
Pauline Wayua
Synaidah Kalahi
Benta Kisia
Stanley K Joshua
Doris Muthini
Winfrida Maheri
Elijah Juma
Joshua Kyalo
Titus Mutungi
Otakwa Livingstone
Agnetta Shikalo
Abednego Muasya
Caxton Okoth
Monica Ndunge
Joseph Musango
Valary Knight
Margaret Ndinda
Grannis Ambuli
John Kennedy
Victor Odhiambo
Jescah Auma
He expressed his appreciation for their commitment and studiousness, and he looked forward to teaching the next group soon after the start of the new school year.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Best haiku submitted to Kenya Saijiki since the previous kukai
As the Moderator of Kenya Saijiki, I (Isabelle Prondzynski) then presented prizes for the best haiku written by members of the forum during the past few months. I had been greatly impressed with the high standard of haiku written by the prizewinners, so that the choice of the top places had been a hard one. The prizewinners received some well-merited applause.
These are the prizewinning haiku :
1.
---
sunset --
a farmer scrapes mud
from his hoe
~ Victor Obutho
2.
---
Gertrude's hospital --
jacaranda flowers fall
one by one
~ J Kaweto
3.
---
light shower --
her hair shines with
raindrops
~ Brian Mulando
4.
---
sudden blackout --
the hawker lights
all his torches
~ Brian Etole
5.
---
marching scouts --
dust rises from their
stumbling feet
~ Yamame
6.
---
Mashujaa Day --
rain forces the choir
from the stage
~ Kelvin Mukoselo
7.
---
twilight --
sunrays sweep across
jacaranda flowers
~ Catherine Njeri Maina
8.
---
a dishevelled calf
shelters under a stall --
evening showers
~ Bonface Bonke
9.
---
rush hour --
a matatu spills dust
past the market
~ Elijah Juma
10.
----
goat choma point --
the sparkling light of
a burning jiko
~ James Bundi
Viewing the haiku prizes
Photo : Patrick Wafula
Numbers 11 to 18 (in no particular order)
---------------------------------------------------------
a body push
sends a lady to the floor --
avocado chaos
~ Mango Junior
a candle flame sways
side to side in the wind --
power failure
~ Stephen Macharia
muddy road --
a mkokoteni puller
in torn gumboots
~ Isaac Ndirangu
late evening --
a greengrocer lights
the first candle
~ Winfridah Malesi
moving cars --
a cloud of dust floats
in the air
~ Otakwa Livingstone
busy road --
a glimmer of light
from the matatu
~ Pauline Wayua
Soweto market --
she sprinkles water on
withered vegetables
~ Douglas Nugi
Mashujaa Day --
heavy rain interrupts
the programme
~ Douglas Kaucho
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Appreciating other people’s haiku
In a workshop, with nine groups of around nine people working together, the students discussed nine prizewinning international haiku, working out which of these they liked best, and why. Each group then presented the haiku they had chosen, explaining why they liked it best and whether it complied with the basic rules of haiku.
They realised that it was not easy to work out which was the kigo, as the seasons are different in other parts of the world, but they made a valiant effort to find the kigo in each example. They also made several thoughtful suggestions as to how the haiku could have been further improved.
The two haiku that garnered the most support in this workshop were :
paper lantern --
a moth’s shadow dances
on the wall
~ Jacek M.
after the storm --
the old dry well
full of stars
~ Manuela Dragomirescu
Haiku working groups
~ Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Poetic haiga
Isaac Ndirangu then presented a poetic haiga he had written, about Mashujaa Day (20 October), a kigo for the short rains, when the heroes of Kenya are celebrated.
in the times of war
Kenyan warriors fought for all
some even tried to build some wall
for they knew the war was not for the fool
mashujaa fought for all
National Stadium --
a presidential speech to recognise
our freedom fighters
the land was disgusting
especially where they were hiding
the wise were forbidding
for our leaders who were upcoming
bur still mashujaa fought for all
commemorating independence --
rest in peace the gone heroes
of our Kenya
some were detained
but still freedom was obtained
and now we are enjoying what our warriors attained
mashujaa fought for all
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ginkoo - Haiku Walk
After the lunch break, the haijin set out for their ginkoo, while the Patrons and the Moderator discussed haiku club business. Following the ginkoo, they became the jury, while the haijin entertained themselves and each other.
These were the haiku chosen as the prizewinners of the ginkoo :
1.
---
the thud of
a fresh mudball on the floor --
hopscotch
~ James Bundi
2.
---
muddy path --
her shoe remains
behind
~ Milkah Wanjiku
3.
---
hot afternoon --
he pours ginkoo water
on his head
~ Brian Etole
4.
---
hot noon --
she washes a baby
on the balcony
~ Brian Mulando
5.
---
cool breeze --
a tethered goat browses
on a green field
~ Asava Kevin
6.
---
sunny afternoon --
tadpoles paddling inside
stagnant water
~ Agnetta Shikalo
7.
---
water ripples --
sun's reflection on its surface
hits my eyes
8.
---
sweat drips --
he pushes a wheelbarrow
full of stones
~ Donnahlily Atieno
9.
---
afternoon nap --
haijin's footsteps wake
the goat up
10.
----
flower bed --
the gardener uproots
a moss plant
~ Gloriah Kerubo
Out for the ginkoo
~ Photo : David Kimani Mwangi
11.
----
roadside kiosk --
a vendor loading some
empty charcoal cans
~ Isaac Ndirangu
12.
----
noon --
a panting dog crosses
the stream
~ Stanley Mutinda
13.
----
rattling sound --
a toad hops over
the dustbin
~ Joshua Kyalo
14.
----
hot sunshine --
man in yellow cap relaxing
under a castor tree
~ Dominic Kuvonga
15.
----
midday --
bluegum leaves fall
beside a haijin
~ Diana Dolla
16.
----
sudden wind --
banana leaves sway
side by side
~ Mercy Muthoni
17.
----
scorching sun --
the reflection of light on
the water surface
~ Stephen Macharia
18.
----
water in a basin --
a rainbow cast on the
shiny mabati
~ Margaret Ndinda
19.
----
calm afternoon --
an eagle tries to balance
high up in the sky
~ John Kennedy
20.
----
trimmed fence --
a broken umbrella
suspended
~ Synaidah Kalahi
Prizes were distributed to the winners, and a great atmosphere continued to reign for some time after the close of the kukai, with haijin lingering, chatting to each other, and taking pictures in the evening sunlight. All agreed that this had been a splendid kukai, and expressed their congratulations to Mr Andrew Otinga, the organiser.
The ginkoo prizewinners
~ Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kukai haiku by the Patrons
Following the kukai, the Patrons also sent in their haiku of the day, remembering the pleasure it had given them. So here, as an afterword, are the Patrons’ haiku :
the Moderator helps
a ladybird cross the table --
11th kukai
withering flowers
in old plastic bottles --
the din of haijin
Kukai workshop --
two chicks peck bread crumbs
under chairs
~ Patrick Wafula
she moves
to inspect haiku groups --
eleventh kukai
open windows --
cool breeze drifts
into the hall
eleventh kukai --
flower vases on the
front table
~ Andrew Otinga
eleventh kukai --
the flower arrangement wilts
before my eyes
lunch break --
a hen and chicks peck
for our fallen crumbs
lunch break --
a kitten is resting
on a haijin’s lap
jury meeting --
haiku entries weighed down
by our fingers
~ Isabelle Prondzynski
The top table at the kukai,
with the flower vases we all enjoyed
Photo : Patrick Wafula
*****************************
Related words
***** . The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi .
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Eleventh Kukai of the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
St Mathew’s Secondary School, Soweto Branch
November 5, 2011
This was the eleventh Kukai of the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi. It took place at St Mathew’s, Soweto Branch, following the kind invitation of Mr Andrew Otinga, the Patron of the Peacocks Haiku Club. It was also the last kukai for several members of the Peacocks and the Bamboochas, who were in the final days of their KCSE examinations and were about to graduate from their respective schools.
. Photo Album .
Participants :
Peacocks
Abednego Muasya
Agnetta Shikalo
Akaliene Rose
Brian Etole
Brian Mulando
Bryan Anyonya
Carolyne Wanjiru
Caxton Okoth
Ceciliah Wambui
Derrick Ambale
Diana Dolla
Doris Muthini
Elijah Juma
Elijah Noah
Esther Mweme
Faith Owila
Florence Mlangi
Gertrude Wahu
Hamisi Ishmael Kambona
James Karume
Jescah Auma
John Kennedy
Joseph Musango
Joshua Kyalo
Julie Okach
Kevin Asava
Lencer Achieng
Margaret Ndinda
Metrine Okalo
Moses Nyawanga
Pauline Wayua
Richard Okoth
Silvia Mukelli
Sharon Akoth
Stanley Mutinda
Stanley K Joshua
Stephen Munyao
Synaidah Kalahi
Titus Mutungi
Valary Knight
Virginia Njeri
Bamboochas
Ancent Mutua
Annastacia Muthini
Antony Mwangi
Cecil Wambui
Collins Omuganda
Consolata Akoth
Donnahlily Atieno
Douglas Nugi
Emmanuel Muteti
Gloriah Kerubo
Iryne Lydiah Aluoch
Isaac Ndirangu
James Bundi
John Kamau
Johnson Gacugu
Lucy Mukuhi
Mecyline Akinyi
Melcine Ayako
Mercy Muthoni
Milkah Wanjiku
Rachael Njeri
Redempta Ndinda
Sam Pirias
Silvia Khabayi
Stephen Macharia
Sylviah Mbone
Susan Njeri
Teresia Njeri
Cocks
Caleb Mutua
Catherine Njeri Maina
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While the students were gathering for the kukai, Mr Patrick Wafula, the Co-ordinator of the Haiku Clubs, gave them a quiz to solve, promising a small prize to the 16 participants who had answered all five questions correctly.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Caleb Mutua was in charge as Master of Ceremonies for the morning session. Participants were sorry to hear that Antony Njoroge was ill and sent him their good wishes.
The meeting started with lively choruses and a prayer.
The new members of the Haiku Clubs, particularly those in Form One, were welcomed.
The Chairpersons of the Haiku Clubs, Brian Etole and Synaidah Kalahi for the Peacocks and Isaac Ndirangu for the Bamboochas, then presented brief reports on the work which had been carried out in their respective clubs.
Synaidah Kalahi presenting the Peacocks’ report
Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Update on computer teaching
Mr David Kimani reported that the following computer students (all Peacocks) had been regular and committed attendees at computer classes and would soon have finished their end-of-year examinations, qualifying them for a certificate :
Jack Silingi
Pauline Wayua
Synaidah Kalahi
Benta Kisia
Stanley K Joshua
Doris Muthini
Winfrida Maheri
Elijah Juma
Joshua Kyalo
Titus Mutungi
Otakwa Livingstone
Agnetta Shikalo
Abednego Muasya
Caxton Okoth
Monica Ndunge
Joseph Musango
Valary Knight
Margaret Ndinda
Grannis Ambuli
John Kennedy
Victor Odhiambo
Jescah Auma
He expressed his appreciation for their commitment and studiousness, and he looked forward to teaching the next group soon after the start of the new school year.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Best haiku submitted to Kenya Saijiki since the previous kukai
As the Moderator of Kenya Saijiki, I (Isabelle Prondzynski) then presented prizes for the best haiku written by members of the forum during the past few months. I had been greatly impressed with the high standard of haiku written by the prizewinners, so that the choice of the top places had been a hard one. The prizewinners received some well-merited applause.
These are the prizewinning haiku :
1.
---
sunset --
a farmer scrapes mud
from his hoe
~ Victor Obutho
2.
---
Gertrude's hospital --
jacaranda flowers fall
one by one
~ J Kaweto
3.
---
light shower --
her hair shines with
raindrops
~ Brian Mulando
4.
---
sudden blackout --
the hawker lights
all his torches
~ Brian Etole
5.
---
marching scouts --
dust rises from their
stumbling feet
~ Yamame
6.
---
Mashujaa Day --
rain forces the choir
from the stage
~ Kelvin Mukoselo
7.
---
twilight --
sunrays sweep across
jacaranda flowers
~ Catherine Njeri Maina
8.
---
a dishevelled calf
shelters under a stall --
evening showers
~ Bonface Bonke
9.
---
rush hour --
a matatu spills dust
past the market
~ Elijah Juma
10.
----
goat choma point --
the sparkling light of
a burning jiko
~ James Bundi
Viewing the haiku prizes
Photo : Patrick Wafula
Numbers 11 to 18 (in no particular order)
---------------------------------------------------------
a body push
sends a lady to the floor --
avocado chaos
~ Mango Junior
a candle flame sways
side to side in the wind --
power failure
~ Stephen Macharia
muddy road --
a mkokoteni puller
in torn gumboots
~ Isaac Ndirangu
late evening --
a greengrocer lights
the first candle
~ Winfridah Malesi
moving cars --
a cloud of dust floats
in the air
~ Otakwa Livingstone
busy road --
a glimmer of light
from the matatu
~ Pauline Wayua
Soweto market --
she sprinkles water on
withered vegetables
~ Douglas Nugi
Mashujaa Day --
heavy rain interrupts
the programme
~ Douglas Kaucho
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Appreciating other people’s haiku
In a workshop, with nine groups of around nine people working together, the students discussed nine prizewinning international haiku, working out which of these they liked best, and why. Each group then presented the haiku they had chosen, explaining why they liked it best and whether it complied with the basic rules of haiku.
They realised that it was not easy to work out which was the kigo, as the seasons are different in other parts of the world, but they made a valiant effort to find the kigo in each example. They also made several thoughtful suggestions as to how the haiku could have been further improved.
The two haiku that garnered the most support in this workshop were :
paper lantern --
a moth’s shadow dances
on the wall
~ Jacek M.
after the storm --
the old dry well
full of stars
~ Manuela Dragomirescu
Haiku working groups
~ Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Poetic haiga
Isaac Ndirangu then presented a poetic haiga he had written, about Mashujaa Day (20 October), a kigo for the short rains, when the heroes of Kenya are celebrated.
in the times of war
Kenyan warriors fought for all
some even tried to build some wall
for they knew the war was not for the fool
mashujaa fought for all
National Stadium --
a presidential speech to recognise
our freedom fighters
the land was disgusting
especially where they were hiding
the wise were forbidding
for our leaders who were upcoming
bur still mashujaa fought for all
commemorating independence --
rest in peace the gone heroes
of our Kenya
some were detained
but still freedom was obtained
and now we are enjoying what our warriors attained
mashujaa fought for all
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ginkoo - Haiku Walk
After the lunch break, the haijin set out for their ginkoo, while the Patrons and the Moderator discussed haiku club business. Following the ginkoo, they became the jury, while the haijin entertained themselves and each other.
These were the haiku chosen as the prizewinners of the ginkoo :
1.
---
the thud of
a fresh mudball on the floor --
hopscotch
~ James Bundi
2.
---
muddy path --
her shoe remains
behind
~ Milkah Wanjiku
3.
---
hot afternoon --
he pours ginkoo water
on his head
~ Brian Etole
4.
---
hot noon --
she washes a baby
on the balcony
~ Brian Mulando
5.
---
cool breeze --
a tethered goat browses
on a green field
~ Asava Kevin
6.
---
sunny afternoon --
tadpoles paddling inside
stagnant water
~ Agnetta Shikalo
7.
---
water ripples --
sun's reflection on its surface
hits my eyes
8.
---
sweat drips --
he pushes a wheelbarrow
full of stones
~ Donnahlily Atieno
9.
---
afternoon nap --
haijin's footsteps wake
the goat up
10.
----
flower bed --
the gardener uproots
a moss plant
~ Gloriah Kerubo
Out for the ginkoo
~ Photo : David Kimani Mwangi
11.
----
roadside kiosk --
a vendor loading some
empty charcoal cans
~ Isaac Ndirangu
12.
----
noon --
a panting dog crosses
the stream
~ Stanley Mutinda
13.
----
rattling sound --
a toad hops over
the dustbin
~ Joshua Kyalo
14.
----
hot sunshine --
man in yellow cap relaxing
under a castor tree
~ Dominic Kuvonga
15.
----
midday --
bluegum leaves fall
beside a haijin
~ Diana Dolla
16.
----
sudden wind --
banana leaves sway
side by side
~ Mercy Muthoni
17.
----
scorching sun --
the reflection of light on
the water surface
~ Stephen Macharia
18.
----
water in a basin --
a rainbow cast on the
shiny mabati
~ Margaret Ndinda
19.
----
calm afternoon --
an eagle tries to balance
high up in the sky
~ John Kennedy
20.
----
trimmed fence --
a broken umbrella
suspended
~ Synaidah Kalahi
Prizes were distributed to the winners, and a great atmosphere continued to reign for some time after the close of the kukai, with haijin lingering, chatting to each other, and taking pictures in the evening sunlight. All agreed that this had been a splendid kukai, and expressed their congratulations to Mr Andrew Otinga, the organiser.
The ginkoo prizewinners
~ Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kukai haiku by the Patrons
Following the kukai, the Patrons also sent in their haiku of the day, remembering the pleasure it had given them. So here, as an afterword, are the Patrons’ haiku :
the Moderator helps
a ladybird cross the table --
11th kukai
withering flowers
in old plastic bottles --
the din of haijin
Kukai workshop --
two chicks peck bread crumbs
under chairs
~ Patrick Wafula
she moves
to inspect haiku groups --
eleventh kukai
open windows --
cool breeze drifts
into the hall
eleventh kukai --
flower vases on the
front table
~ Andrew Otinga
eleventh kukai --
the flower arrangement wilts
before my eyes
lunch break --
a hen and chicks peck
for our fallen crumbs
lunch break --
a kitten is resting
on a haijin’s lap
jury meeting --
haiku entries weighed down
by our fingers
~ Isabelle Prondzynski
The top table at the kukai,
with the flower vases we all enjoyed
Photo : Patrick Wafula
*****************************
Related words
***** . The Haiku Clubs of Nairobi .
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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