Tea in Kenya

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Tea (Swahili : chai)

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Plant / Humanity

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Explanation


Tea, for Kenyans, is first of all a drink. For most Kenyans, it is also part of the landscape. For many, it is something they own, a job, an income. For several big companies, it is big business. For foreigners, Kenya is the place of origin of much of the tea on the world market (see the Black Tea from Kenya entry in the Worldkigo Database below).

Tea, in Kenya, is prepared by mixing water and cold milk 50 : 50 in a sufuria (saucepan) and heating the mixture on a jiko (brazier) or cooker. Once the mixture boils, a handful of majani (tea leaves) is generously added, the tea left to simmer for a moment or two, after which the whole is poured through a strainer (see photo below) and into a thermos flask, from which it is served into mugs, stirring in a good double spoonful of sugar. That is tea (Swahili : chai). In Mombasa, tea is often spiced with tea masala and tastes very similar to the masala tea drunk in India.


© PHOTO http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/kenya/eating.html

Those few who do not take sugar in their tea, drink ndubia (Kikuyu), called sugarless tea in English. Only the poorest people drink turungi (Kikuyu), called true tea or strong tea in English, and containing neither milk nor sugar.

Tea in Kenya is a meal for the many who are not able to eat several times a day. A short prayer may be said before taking tea together. The milk and sugar make it quite filling, and a mug or two keeps people going for hours until they can eat. Every Kenyan greets a visitor with a cup of tea, and it is not polite to decline the offer. Family hospitality takes place with mugs of tea, church services end with cups of tea, the luckier office workers and their visitors are served a mug of tea mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Tea in Kenya grows at higher altitudes. One does not have to travel far outside Nairobi (but very far if starting from Mombasa) before meeting the first tea plantations. Much of Kenya’s tea is grown by smallholders, encouraged by effective government schemes, providing a reasonable income and ensuring places at school for many Kenyan children. Other tea plantations are in the hands of large international companies, employing many workers, who are housed with their families on the plantation, and whose children attend the company schools.


Tea growing in Limuru
Photo © Isabelle Prondzynski

The tea plantations, whether large or small, invariably look beautiful. Unlike those of Japan, the tea bushes grow up to a certain height, where they form a plateau at roughly hip level, through which the pickers walk, picking always two leaves and a bud, every seventeen days, as the tea plants continue to grow all year round in the favourable climate of Kenya. From time to time, the tree bushes are cut back very low and given several seasons to regrow before being picked again.

Tree plantations are normally mixed with eucalyptus or blue gums, as the tea factories need firewood to dry the tea leaves. This makes the landscape look interesting and varied, and makes good use of renewable resources.

There are many tea processors in Kenya, large and small, and always very busy. The co-operative tea processors give their members a chance to buy back a limited amount of processed tea leaves at a low price for their own use, which is greatly appreciated. Most tea is sold as small tea leaves, although teabags have become quite popular too. While black tea is the regular tea of Kenya, green tea is beginning to make first inroads. The high quality of Kenya tea is recognised in many countries. Even though most of it is still blended together with tea leaves from other countries, an increasing amount is now sold as Kenya tea and gaining an excellent reputation abroad.

Text © Isabelle Prondzynski

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Compiled by James Bundi, September 2016

most of the information is collected from Kirinyaga County, Central Province, Kenya.

INTRODUCTION
Kenya is the World’s third largest Tea producer with an average of 303,308 tonnes per year. Kenya’s production is mainly on small farms,less than an acre and this accounts for 90% of its production.
Tea was introduced in Kenya as early as 1903 by European Settler G.W Caine who was experimenting by planting a few tea bushes on a small 2 acre parcel of land in Limuru, Kiambu District. Lowlands are too hot for tea growing hence Tea growing is in highlands. The rich, red volcanic soil provides the perfect base, while the cooler air with ample moisture provides everything necessary for tea leaves to flourish.
The common variety of tea in Kenya is the Black tea. Recently, purple Tea was introduced in Kenya. The first test plantation for purple tea in Kenya, is at Kangaita Tea Factory in Kirinyaga County. The Purple tea is believed to be more nutritional and of more medicinal value than the black tea.
Even though tea grows all year round in Kenya, we have specific season when tea is supposed to be planted, when tea picking is at its peak and the pruning season. To gain more information on this I visited Kimunye Tea Factory in Kirinyaga County.

a distant hum
at the tea factory's gate--
Kimunye's dawn

factory’s office--
a rusty smell of tea leaves
hit my nose

Most of us are familiar with the final product; processed Tea, but it is all a product of a lengthy process from tea planting to processing. You can now get a hot cup of tea and relax as we learn together. It reminds me …

I slowly whirl
it in a sufuria --
morning tea

1. Tea planting.
Cuttings from mature plants are planted in a nursery that is then covered with a polythene bag and left to sprout and develop roots. This mostly takes three months. The nursery is then uncovered and watered for some days before they are transplanted.
Tea is planted 1.5 meters apart. So before the bushes develop, farmers can also use it for other meaningful ways.

planted in rows
in between the tea bushes--
young spinach

It is then left to manure with intervals of weeding and manuring if necessary.

foot paths
segments this sloppy land --
Chuka tea

(Chuka is in Meru County.I collected this on my way to Meru.)

black stripes
at a distant green field--
pathways

2. Tea picking.
When the planted tea matures, it is then picked. In Kenya, most of the tea is handpicked. Females are the most frequent tea pickers. They are preferred over men since tea picking requires tender care on the leaves, skills and patience.
The standards of tea picking dictate that only two leaves and its bud should be picked. This attributes to the excellent quality of tea produced. The picked tea is usually placed on airy baskets that are usually carried on the back of the tea pickers.

a shinny droplet
on this curled tea leaf --
morning dew

infection?--
a yellow patched leaf
on this tea bush

3. Pruning
After a continuous picking of tea for five (5) years, it’s most advisable to prune the tea bushes for the first time. The pruned tea bushes take three (3) months to sprout and be ready for picking. Then a cycle of pruning after every three (3) years is followed. This is done by laborers using special designed pangas. Pruning is done from 15th June to 15th August. This is the cold season when tea bushes aren’t productive.

a brown patch
on the vast green land---
pruned tea bushes

4. Weighing
The picked tea is then taken to weighting centres commonly known as Tea Buying centres. They are located at a central place for a given number of farmers. Approximately 200 farmers are served in one weighting centre. The farmers are issued with a receipt that indicates the day’s weight and the accumulated weight for the month.

5. Transportation
Tea leaves are transported using Lorries that have vertical bars that have hooks. The hook holds the airy-sisal tea bags. The lorries then take the tea-leaves to the factory.

6. Withering
Once the tea leaves are at the factory, they are weighed again. They are then spread on trays in the factory to allow withering. Fans are used to pump hot air under the trays. During rainy seasons, tea withering takes 10 hours and on normal occasions, it takes 6 to 8 hours.

I feel warmth
at my left ankle--
withering section

7. Shredding
The withered tea leaves are then passed through the shredding machine and reduced to the desired sizes. It’s in this stage that the factory can determine the kind of tea they are willing to produce. The common produce is the black cut-tear-curl -tea (black C.T.C tea). We also got Orthodox tea. This type requires the leaf to be as whole as possible.
Orthodox tea requires closely monitored rolling of the leaves. It’s important to note that, the bigger the tea particle the better the quality. Therefore, orthodox tea tops in terms of quality.

8. Fermentation
In the fermentation stage, the finely cut, teared and curled tea is slowly moved over conveyor belts over a period of 90 to 110 minutes. The enzymes in the tea leaves and the accumulated heat make the tea turn brown. This is as a result of reaction of enzymes and oxygen. This is what fermentation is all about.
Fanning is limited since it makes the tea’s flavor evaporate.

9. Drying
The fermented tea is the passed through hot chambers for drying. Most importan, the heat kills the enzymes, to avoid further fermentation. The tea also turns from brown to black. The drying reduces the moisture content of the tea to 3.25%

10. Sorting
The dry black tea is then passed through sieves and this hence results to different grades of tea. The larger particles are collected on top while the finest tea is collected on the bottom-most sieve.
The common grades are Black Pekoe- BP1 (Largest in size), PF1 (Second largest size) and Pekoe Dust-PD (Finest). The commonly consumed grade in Kenya is PF1. The most concentrated grade is PD which is mostly consumed by Arabs. This grade cannot be sieved using the home-used sieves since it’s dust-like.

11. Cupping
Cupping is done in the quality control department. It involves checking the liquor, the infusion and the make. Liquor helps test the briskness of tea, infusion tests the brightness of tea while the make is used to check the neatness of tea.
And there you go!! We got the final product. Tea!

From all this we can confidently derive the seasons in tea cultivation.
1. Tea planting – Long Rains.
2. Pruning – 15th June to 15th August – Cold season.
3. Peak Harvesting – May and October – Rainy season.
4. Production – May and October – Rainy season.

It is important to know that, if you want to avoid taking lot of caffeine, boil your water and milk if need be. When ready, you can then add tea leaves and stir as we always do when sugaring tea cups.Therefore avoid boiling tea leaves to reduce caffeine intake.
Now, won't you have another tea cup??
James Bundi

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Great introduction to tea growing and its history in Kenya :
http://www.batianpeakcoffee.com/about_kenya_tea.html


... and how it could become even more environmentally friendly :
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/41060/story.htm

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Valuable information here about the different grades of tea and the relevant abbreviations :
http://www.ktdateas.com/thetea.asp?pageid=2

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Kenya tea from Ketepa (Kenya Tea Packers) for sale by internet -- the first two items are the real thing, much loved in Kenya itself :

http://www.kenyateabags.com/categories.asp?cID=1

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Worldwide use

Black Tea worldwide


Ireland

My other home, Ireland, also comes into this picture...! Read more :


http://yositeru.com/40travel/10overseas/200508ireland/ireland_2.htm

The Irish Love Affair with Tea

by Pat Friend

What country has the highest per capita consumption of tea in the world? Do you think it's China where the use of tea leaves to make a hot stimulating beverage was discovered? No. Maybe Japan with its wonderful traditions of the Tea Ceremony? No again. That must mean that it's Ireland where the average daily consumption is six cups a tea, or 3.2 kg (7 lbs.) a year!

Ireland's close ties to tea have their roots in the country's history as a part of the British Empire. When it was first imported to Ireland in 1835 it was quite expensive and only within the reach of the most affluent. Eventually the price came down, though, and the drink's popularity spread. Tea houses opened around Ireland and loose tea was sold in local grocery stores as it became the fashionable drink for all occasions.

More here :
http://allaboutirish.com/library/foodbev/affairtea.shtm

Compiled by Isabelle Prondzynski


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Things found on the way

The word "tea"

The Chinese character for tea is 茶, but it is pronounced differently in the various Chinese dialects. Two pronunciations have made their way into other languages around the world. One is tê, which comes from the Amoy Min Nan dialect, spoken around the port of Xiamen (Amoy). This pronunciation is believed to come from the old words for tea 梌 (tú) or 荼 (tú). The other is chá, used by the Cantonese dialect spoken around the ports of Guangzhou (Canton), Hong Kong, Macau, and in overseas Chinese communities, as well as in the Mandarin dialect of northern China. This term was used in ancient times to describe the first flush harvest of tea. Yet another different pronunciation is zu, used in the Wu dialect spoken around Shanghai.

More here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea


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HAIKU

Almost all the following haiku were written for a contest, organised by Chajin in Paris in May 2007, on the theme of TEA :
http://www.chajin-online.com/



Here are the contest details :
http://www.chajin-online.com/haiku2007.php


sunday --
tea and a read
in silence

soft wind --
the barest stirring of the
young tea leaves

~ Isabelle Prondzynski
(7th prize in the English language section)

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hot tea
burns my throat --
cold morning

hot tea from sufuria
scalds my brother --
chilly morning

chilly morning --
hot tea flows down
my throat slowly

~ Anne Wairimu (Bamboocha)

in the hotel,
people happily sipping tea --
cold morning



child crying
for milky tea --
cold morning

in a wedding,
people sipping tea slowly --
rainy evening

in the funeral,
my sister preparing tea --
cold evening

happy looking
guys sipping tea in a hotel --
evening tea

my mother carrying
a huge packet of tea leaves --
rainy season

in the staffroom,
teachers sipping tea slowly --
rainy afternoon

my father picking
tea leaves in the garden --
chilly morning

my father slowly
sipping tea in the sitting room --
chilly evening

our family
sipping tea happily --
my birthday

~ Caren Cheptoo (Bamboocha)

abashment,
sodas limited --
strong tea supplements

slowly sipping
hot strong tea --
a cock crows

a large mug
of hot strong tea --
a cow lows

attractive
tea bags on a shelf --
a woman picks one

~ Catherine Maina (Bamboocha)





cold morning --
a child shivers holding
a cup of hot tea

happy mother
pours sweet scented tea --
drizzly morning

tired father --
longs for a cup of tea
after work

~ Cyprian Awino (Bamboocha)

drizzling morning --
cold hands shaking with
a cup of hot tea

~ Deborah Mocheche (Bamboocha)

hot tea
warms my stomach --
sweet flavour

~ Francis Mwangangi (Bamboocha)

cold morning --
student drinking
hot tea

cold evening --
a man drinks tea from
a huge mug

~ Irene Muthengi (Bamboocha)

cold morning,
child drinking hot tea --
scalded lips

cold morning --
a child struggles to drink
hot tea

sleepless night --
child struggles after
drinking black tea

child wets his bed
after drinking tea --
spanking

cold evening --
a child stealing hot tea
with fear

~ Irene Oketch (Bamboocha)

in the kitchen,
sweet smell of
milky tea

my mother
preparing tea --
birthday party

~ Jane (Bamboocha)

cold evening --
people buying tea
from hotel

cold breeze --
mother preparing tea
under the tree

rainy morning --
mother eating mandazi
with tea with zeal

~ Jane Mumbua (Bamboocha)

early morning --
tea cups on the table,
cockroach falls in

children eagerly
waiting for tea on stove --
no fuel

~ John Mwangi (Bamboocha)

rainy season --
a child cries for tea
due to cold

cold evening --
scent of tea from
the kitchen

cold morning --
teachers happily taking
tea in the staffroom

~ Michael Bwoga (Bamboocha)

breezy morning --
my brother takes
hot tea

rainy day --
my cries for
tea

sipping hot
black tea --
rainy day

cold morning --
cook serving teachers
hot tea

~ Moses Makila (Bamboocha)

guest happily
sipping hot tea --
wedding day

cold day --
people basking around
the fire drinking hot tea

~ Ruth Wanjiku (Bamboocha)

my brother drinking
hot tea burns his mouth --
cold morning

before bed --
walking to the kitchen
to have hot tea

rubbing my eyes --
I walk to the kitchen
to prepare tea

cool evening --
visitors happily drinking
strong tea

in the hotel --
people drinking tea with
huge mandazi

~ Samuel Ndung'u (Bamboocha)

cold morning --
women picking tea
in the field




sweat on my brother's
brow as drinks hot tea --
cold morning

cold morning --
men in a meeting
taking black tea

~ Sarah (Bamboocha)

at dawn,
mother preparing tea --
happy children

drizzling --
a beggar tightly clings to
a mug of hot tea

~Simon Magak (Bamboocha)

chilly morning --
teapickers picking
green leaves

cold morning --
students sipping hot tea
in the school kitchen

~ Stephen Nzomo (Bamboocha)

tea pickers
on a chilly morning --
rustling of fallen leaves

chilly morning --
happy shopkeepers
selling tea leaves

~ Susan Wangui (Bamboocha)

rainy day --
visitors happily sip
a cup of black tea

cold morning --
mother preparing a cup
of black tea

~ Truphosah Osendi (Bamboocha)

drizzly morning --
my sister and I quarrel
over too little tea

~ Vivian Adhiambo (Bamboocha)

clanking tea cups
in the café ready to be filled --
chilly morning

~ David Wandera (Bamboocha)

hard at work
picking tea leaves --
no more rest

children sing
waiting for tea --
cool evening

~ Jeremiah Osewe (Bamboocha)

hot tea --
my weary and tired mother
blows and sips

cloudy sky,
people sipping tea in a kiosk --
sweating on the nose


a white mug with
scratch marks at the bottom --
tea every morning

~ Raymond Otieno (Bamboocha)
(Placed within the top third of the English language entries)


chilly day --
hot tea taken
by everyone

any time you want
to have a cup of tea --
the thermos is full

the stove is off --
hot tea is served
in April rain

~ Mary Obwamo (Bamboocha)

cold morning --
my brother taking strong tea
at the fire place

cold afternoon --
women singing as they take
tea outside the house

~ Sarah Adero (Bamboocha)

chilly weather --
teachers around the table
taking tea

~ John Mwangi (Bamboocha)

watchman sipping
a cup of hot tea in a mug --
a cricket chirps

wednesday morning --
tea pickers queue for
payment

~ Walter Otieno (Bamboocha)

each family
gather in the morning
drinking more tea

cups filled
with tea waiting
for sweet bread

~ Kelvin Mukoselo (Peacock)

tea --
blackish bitter herbal
medicine

~ Caleb David Mutua (Peacock)

rainy season　--
farmers till land
to plant tea

~ Maurice Opondo (Peacock)

frothy tea
boiling in the kettle --
the lid rises

~ Gladys Kathini (Peacock)

cold morning --
smoke up the kitchen,
mother preparing tea

il est huit heures
je fais mes devoirs
je prends du thé

~ Elung'ata Barrack (Peacock)

adjourd’hui matin
je prends un grand gobelet
de thé

~ Kamau Muthoni (Peacock)

early morning
children take hot tea --
steam

~ Gladys Kathini (Peacock)

tea plantation --
green plants in rows
down the slope

~ Edward Mong'are (Peacock)

row upon row --
two fingers pluck
green tea

~ Mr Kasera (Peacock)

today is cold
what will I do
take tea

~ Sebastian (Peacock)

in the cafe
they use teabags to make
tea very sweet

at school
students having tea break
feeling active

~ Dorine Atieno (Peacock)

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cups on the table --
it's time to serve tea
for breakfast

~ Nechesa Anne (Patron, Peacocks)

preparing
for night studies --
black tea

tea stains
on my documents --
ten o'clock tea

dripping from rain,
I'm handed a cup of hot tea...
clap of thunder

taking tea under
the tree after work --
evening cool

our white porcelain
mugs stained brown --
strong tea

round brown rings on
white cafe table formica --
milky tea mugs

my neighbour
recuperating from illness --
cup of tea in hand

~ Patrick Wafula (Patron, Bamboochas)

green everywhere --
tea plantation ready
for harvesting

tea leaves plucked
by many ladies --
children on their back


© PHOTO Dave Blumenkrantz

I take tea --
very delicious
breakfast

~ Adelaide Luvandale

great moments
lively discussion
powered by tea

holding teacup
kissing it frequently
downloading content

~ Anthony Njoroge


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Related words

***** Tea, Black Tea worldwide

***** Iced Coffee, aisu-koohii (Japan) Hot Coffee

***** Sufuria cooking pot

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Back to the Worldkigo Index

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Tea, Black Tea

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Tea, Black Tea

***** Location: Worldwide
***** Season: Non-seasonal Topic
***** Category: Plant / Humanity

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Explanation

Today I found some black tea from Kenya in my small local Japanese village store!

kaori no mukoo ni Kenya no kaze

at the other side of the fragrance,
there is the wind of Kenya



実は、世界有数の紅茶生産国ケニア
ケニアにお茶の木の種が持ち込まれたのは１９０３年。イギリス企業によるプランテーションで紅茶の栽培が始まり、すでに一世紀の歴史を刻んでいます。そのマイルドな味わいから、世界中の紅茶にブレンドされて使われることも多く、生産量はいまや世界一と言われています。

紅茶に最適の気候のもとで無農薬栽培
標高１,１００～１，９００ｍの山麓は、日中でも気温１６～１９度と涼しいうえに、昼夜の寒暖の差が激しくおいしい紅茶の栽培に最適の気候になっています。この恵まれた自然環境を生かしながら、ひしわでは契約農家のご協力を得て無農薬紅茶を特別栽培しています。

ＣＴＣ製法によるまあるい茶葉
ダージリンのようによじって造られる茶葉と異なり、ＣＴＣ製法によって小さな球のようになっています。ひしわのケニア産無農薬紅茶はとくに良質の茶葉をＣＴＣ製法で加工していますので、おいしい香りと味がじっくり抽出されます。

Hishiwa, Tea from Kenya

Kenya is the world's largest tea exporter.

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Rich and robust, Kenyan tea take milk very well and is also quite nice when drunk plain. Try this tea with a heaping spoonful of sugar to have it "African style."

More Black Tea from Kenya

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Introduction To Tea Production In Kenya

Tea was introduced to Kenya as early as 1903, a european settler whose name was G.W. Caine was the first to grow tea in a shamba in Kenya, he had imported tea seedlings from India. Today Kenya is the oldest tea producer in Africa and scince 1995, has been the largest exporter of tea in the world. Tea production in Kenya has expanded dramatically in the last 10-12 years and it has replaced coffee as the highest foreign exchange earner.

Tea Production
Tea in Kenya is grown at 1500- 2700 metres above seal level. This conditions are evident in the Kenyan rift valley. The rift valley runs from north to south with the Mau escarpment which includes Mt Elgon, Kisii and Nandi hills in the west. The eastern part of the rift valley is defined by the Aberdare highlands.

Tropical climates and volcanic soils rich in nutrients give Kenya tea a unique flavour and character.

Planting
Tea bushes are cultivated by first obtaining cuttings from mature trees, they are then tended in special nurseries until they are 12- 15 mths.
The cuttings are then planted 1 metre to 1.5 metres apart in the fields. The tea is planted along the contours of the landscape, on special terraces which helps reduce soil errosion, and allows for Irrigation in low rainfall seasons or in cases of drought.

Tea Picking
Tea is picked manually by plucking the two leaves and the bud, this is then placed in a basket usually carried on the pickers back, after picking the tree bush takes another two weeks for it to grow fresh two leaves and a bud for picking.

Transportation To Factory
The next stage is transportation to the factory, the factories are co-op run, the co-op sends a truck to its members where the tea is weighed and the members given a chit indicating how much they have given to the co-op.
Care is taken while transporting the tea to the factory to ensure that wilting and bruising due to exposure to elements does not occur.

Withering
The tea is then placed in withering troughs at the factory or processing center. withering allows the leaves to become more pliable and easy to cut, this is a time consuming process and care has to be taken not to destroy the tea.

Maceration Or Shredding
This is done by using a rotovane and three crush, tear and curling(CTC )machines. The end result is a fine mush or drool.

Fermentation
In this stage the drool is placed in custom built fermentation rooms and fermented. Its during this stage that Kenya black tea acquires its strong flavours and makes it uniquely different from other teas.
A coppery colour and a feremented tea aroma which takes place after 45 min to 3 hours means or indicates that fermentation is complete.

Drying
The tea is then dried and prepared for tasting. Tea tasters asses smell colour and uniformity of the dried leaves. From here tea is transported to the port city of mombasa where there is the only tea auction in central and eastern Africa, auctions are held every Monday except on public holidays.

Tea production varies from month to month, total annual production of tea in Kenya is now over 300 million KGs.

© Batian Peak

Our Tea Farms



The pictures on this page are pictures taken of our Tea farm the surrounding villages and the local tea processing facility. Our farm is located about 60 km from the capital Nairobi, the main varities of Tea grown here are the Assam, clone 6/8 and 31/8.
© Batian Peak : Tea Farm with Photos

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Worldwide use

Egypt
Tea is the national drink in Egypt, it holds a special position that even coffee can't rival. Tea packed and sold in Egypt is almost exclusively imported from Kenya and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan
As in India, tea is popular all over Pakistan. During British Rule tea became so popular in the subcontinent that it is now a common breakfast and all-day drink. Most of the tea consumed in Pakistan is imported from Kenya.

Tea Culture
© Wikipedia

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TEA FROM INDIA

there are three popular tea varieties hailing from different regions of india, viz. Darjeeling (West Bengal), Assam, and from Nilgiri hills-blue mountains- (Kerala/Tamil Nadu region).
whereas they have their distinctive taste, aroma and colour, for a common user it is
sufficient to know that the darjeeling tea is the most delicate having a very subtle aroma, very dear to connoisseurs; it is difficult to prepare, by the way-
assam tea is known for its strong colour and the nilgiri has very distinctive taste. in north
India people mix darjeelig and assam to have the best of both.
South India generally prefers coffee to tea, though there may be found dozens of tea brands in their malls and departmental stores.

autumn morning-
a cup of assam tea
on my tea-bush table
( tea- bush is a sturdy plant having a very long life. a table made of a tea-bush is a prize possession since it is not easy to come by )

darjeeling tea-
now i can make
she loved to have

autumn variety-
grandpa dunks biscuit
to eat tea

winter rain:
blue mountain aroma rising
she pours tea

vishnu kapoor, India

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Light golden leaf tea
titillate the tongue
Darjeeling flavour.

© Aju Mukhopadhyay, 2006

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TEA FROM KENYA

Tea (Swahili : chai)

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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

cold winter day -
hot tea from Kenya
in my cup

Gabi Greve in Japan, November 2006

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drinking tea
from my bamboo cup -
bamboo cha fun !

Gabi Greve, January 2006


*****************************
Related words

***** Tea from Kenya (Swahili : chai)


***** Coffee from Kenya

KENYA "KARATINA"
This is a complex and aromatic coffee with zesty notes of orange and hints of coriander seeds. It has an outstanding acidity and a lingering sweetness.

Coffee From Kenya

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JAPAN

a cup of tea
in my small room -
insects of autumn


clear mind
viewing the garden
drinking tea

Gabi Greve .. Zen Garden ..


WKD : Tea Ceremony Saijiki 茶道の歳時記
Japan and the Way of Tea, Green Tea

..... New Year's Tea, Good Luck Tea, lucky tea (fukucha) Japan

*****************************
THE KENYA SAIJIKI
Please send your contributions to
Gabi Greve / Isabelle Prondzynski
worldkigo .....

Back to the Worldkigo Index

Stars and Night Sky

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Stars and Night Sky

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Heavens

*****************************
Explanation

It all started with a challenge from Alan Summers to the members of Kenya Saijiki on 2 March 2007 :

Can I ask something?

Can I in fact, challenge you?! ;-)

I don't know how much clear night sky you can see, because of city lights, but where I live, in Bradford on Avon, because I am near the country, there are fewer street and house lights and I can see the Milky Way, and Orion's Belt, very clearly, can you see them?

Do you have different words for stars and groups of stars?

I would love to get to see haiku that involve the stars, from very local names to regional names, maybe your own names for stars too.

I hope it is okay to set a challenge?

Your fresh haiku is very inspiring to me, and that is how every person who writes haiku should be, constantly inspired by their neighbour's haiku.

Thank you very much for allowing me to share in your haiku,

Alan

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Alan’s challenge was greeted enthusiastically, and the members of Kenya Saijiki set themselves a deadline of 30 March to submit their STARS and NIGHT SKY haiku, so that the best could be chosen and awarded prizes on 3 April 2007.

Submissions were sent to Kenya Saijiki anonymously, the identity of the students or adults only known to the authors, their Patrons and myself. Finally, all 142 haiku were handed over to Alan (backed by Gabi Greve in Japan and myself) for selection and evaluation.


The student prize winners of the Stars and Night Sky Challenge

The adults and students greeted the results at their meeting of 3 April 2007, and the happy prizewinners were cheered enthusiastically. It is encouraging that half the prizes were won by students in Form 1, who had been writing haiku for only two months or less. They have the benefit of support from their older schoolmates, who started last year, as well as from the experienced and dedicated Patrons of their haiku clubs. They are also making good use of their time in Form 1, before exam pressures begin to bite hard, particularly in Forms 3 and 4!

The prize winning haiku are to be found below -- enjoy!

Text and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski

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Total Eclipse of the Moon

While the Challenge was taking its course, many parts of the world were treated to a spectacular total ecliupse of the moon on 3 March 2007. News of this event reached Kenya too late, but those members of Kenya Saijiki who were at that time outside Kenya, enjoyed one of the most spectacular eclipses in years.

Isabelle Prondzynski


WKD : ECLIPSE and Haiku



Photo © Gerry Lynch
Eclipse and Haiku

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McNaught Comet

We also enjoyed information about the Comet McNaught, which had been visible in many parts of the world in January 2007 :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_McNaught

http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/comet/

The second URL takes a while to open -- it contains beautiful photos and haiku about McNaught sightings around the world.

Our no. 12 prizewinner, Walter Otieno, was one of those who saw the comet and admired its long tail -- see his haiku below.


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way

Alan was so enthusiastic about the first entries received, that he could not resist reading some of them at the Destination : World event at the University of the West of England on 16 March 2007!
University of the West of England


*****************************
HAIKU

The Prizewinners

Students :
-------------
With the comments of Alan Summers :

1.
----
story-telling
around the bonfire --
a shooting star

~ Anne Njoki (Bamboocha, Form 1)

Storytelling is such an important part of culture in any country, and here we have other strong words that carry so much weight, in "bonfire" and "shooting star". What a lovely atmosphere is evoked here, and that is a very important part of haiku, evoking (showing) not telling, not putting everything onto the page, yet it's all there to be read if you look for it.

2.
---
pointing at the full moon --
the baby stops crying
as she watches the moon

~ Catherine Njeri Maina (Bamboocha)

The other person doesn't need to be mentioned in any more words, because we can all imagine it is either our older brother or sister, an aunt, an uncle, or a parent, sharing the wonder of the moon with a child. Wonderful!

3.
---
a thief stealing
from our neighbour's shop --
moonlight

~ Caren Cheptoo (Bamboocha, Form 1)

This has a good allusion to a classic haiku, and I can imagine more than one meaning here. It could be a straight meaning of a thief stealing or trying to steal from a shop at night, or a thief "window shopping" at night and all he can steal is the moonlight. A good haiku is where readers can take different meanings from the poem and add a little of themselves, so a haiku is not only the shortest poem in the world, but when people share their own
meanings it also becomes the longest poem in the world!

4.
---
dark night --
people sleep
and snore

~ Felix Ogutu (Falcon)

This is packed with sounds and movement, and has that lovely sense of gentle humour that a haiku can have!

5.
---
starlit night
staring at the crescent moon
as I light the jiko

(jiko is Swahili for a brazier used for cooking and heating)

~ David Caleb Mutua (Peacock)

Ah, light on light! Wonderful. We have the starlight, and the author is about to "light" another light (the jiko) which also heats and cooks, and all the time, the author is also staring at the light of the moon!

6.
---
a woman's song --
over her garden stand
the Scorpion

~ Samuel Ndung’u (Bamboocha, Form 1)

Good simple haiku, with layers of meaning if you want to hunt for them. Of all the constellations, the author has chosen the Scorpion, intriguing, and using the great teasing serious humour that a haiku can hint at.

7.
---
late evening,
on the bumpy road --
stars in the side mirror

~ Irene Akoth (Bamboocha, Form 1)

This haiku has all the ingredients to make it a "micro novel"! The language is simple, it shows, rather than tells, which is a good thing to do with haiku, and all this without any verbs too. Remarkable!

I get sounds, smells, I'm jolted on a journey, and it reminds me of my time travelling through the Australian Bush in the Northern Territory!

8.
---
in a trough --
a moth flaps its wings
shaking the stars

~ Raymond Otieno (Bamboocha)

I love "shaking the stars"! This haiku contains an important part of haiku, and that is the life / death cycle, and what better choice than a moth, but not one burnt in a candle, but in water, flapping, and shaking the stars. Many levels to appreciate here on re-readings too!

9.
---
silent night --
no noise apart from light
from the moon

~ Joan Barasa (Peacock)

We may not really "hear" the moon, or even the stars in the night sky, but I love "no noise apart from light from the moon"! There is in fact a sound we can pick up by scientific means, but a poet always does the same without needing them!

10.
----
spread over the sky,
showing Abraham’s descendants --
uncountable

~ Leonard Imboyoka (Falcon)

This is quite a different style of haiku, and I like "Abraham's descendants", very original. After all, aren't we all one people, and as numerous as the stars? A very good original haiku.

11.
----
slowly, lovers
walking in the darkness --
a falling star

~ John Mwangi (Bamboocha, Form 1)

Good use of grammar. I am transported immediately, and feel an empathy, a sharing, of the experience.

12.
----
across the clear sky --
the long glowing tail
of a comet

~ Walter Otieno (Bamboocha)

What a wonderful image and sense of atmosphere this conjures up.

13.
----
dark-blue sky,
full of twinkling stars --
barking dogs

~ Anne (Falcon)

I like the fact that it is both a fact there are barking dogs, but that I could also think of the stars as barking dogs! Great metaphor, whether intended or not, it's something that occurs in a well written poem.

14.
----
children playing
outside without fear --
full moon

~ Mary Obwamo (Bamboocha, Form 1)

Very beautiful!

15.
----
the donkey braying
on the narrow path --
starry dawn

~ Vivian Adhiambo (Bamboocha, Form 1)

Very real!

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Adults :
-----------


Adult prizewinners of the Stars and Night Sky Challenge

1.
---
a twilight girl
running on the street --
glittering stars

~ James Macharia (Bahati)

I love the stunning "a twilight girl" which falls headlong into a great poem!

2.
---
moon and stars
the only witnesses --
two lovers eloping

~ Patrick Wafula (Patron, Bamboochas)

Very very atmospheric!

3.
---
clouds move
some stars are covered
it darkens

~ Adelaide Luvandale (Patron, Peacocks)

A very chilling, moody, atmospheric last line, I love it!

4.
---
clouds move slowly
unveiling a lone bright star
in the west

~ Anne Nechesa (Patron, Peacocks)

I really like that word choice of "unveiling" which extends the poem, an important technique in such a short poetry form as a haiku.


Congratulations to all!

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Other entries
------------------

Students :
--------------

pale dawn --
the Scorpion paving
way for the sun

my brother jumping
on the corridor,
clapping at Gemini

~ Anne Njoki (Bamboocha, Form 1)


comets around
shining moon --
wakes the crickets

twinkling stars --
fireflies glow around
full moon

~ Depporah Mocheche (Bamboocha)


under the flowers --
cry of crickets and
twinkling stars above

over our house --
round face of the moon
peering between clouds

~ Raymond Otieno (Bamboocha)


in the sky --
round face of the moon
among twinkling stars

the moon behind
dark clouds, few stars --
more darkness

dark-blue sky --
moon rising from
behind cypress trees

a young boy gazing
at the glittering stars --
full moon

a cold breeze
under the twinkling sky --
a shooting star

~ Catherine Njeri Maina (Bamboocha)


out at night,
looking towards heaven --
the Gemini

twinkling stars,
pattern in the sky --
the Orion

at night
over the shop
light of Scorpion

twinkle twinkle,
little star in the sky --
I wonder what you are

I see light,
no lamp around --
but the moon

what is that
above the sky --
shooting star

my brother talking
in his sleep -
ray of moonlight

Sabastian
opening the door at night --
moonlight

~ Samuel Ndung’u (Bamboocha, Form 1)


shooting star
across the dark-blue sky --
silent night

bright moon,
Orion blinking --
peaceful night

glowing stars
on a cloudless blue floor --
sound of crickets

bright night,
Orion sparkling --
sleeping dogs

~ Cyprian Awino (Bamboocha)


singing and playing
in the wheat field --
the southern cross

late from trip,
we yawn and laugh --
the crescent

warm bright night -
charm and splendour
from the stars

~ Irene Akoth (Bamboocha, Form 1)


in the lawn, parent giving
advice to her young ones --
a shooting star

streak of lightning,
cutting across the dark sky --
night rain

bats flap their wings
across the full moon --
children singing

~ Mary Obwamo (Bamboocha, Form 1)


a shooting star,
interrupting the dark night --
lighted faces

~ Francis Mwangangi (Bamboocha, Form 1)


an aeroplane
passing in the sky --
glittering stars

Sharon
washing cloths outside --
shooting star

a child crying
somewhere in the darkness --
glittering sky

Caren
looking up the sky --
a half moon

~ Caren Cheptoo (Bamboocha, Form 1)


story time --
children laugh at fireplace
as moon shines

jumping up and down,
children admiring the bright moon --
hour before dinner

~ Frederick Mwale (Bamboocha, Form 1)


beautiful sky --
glittering stars spreading
throughout the heavens

~ Caroline Wanjiru (Falcon)


a clear sky,
stars twinkle brightly --
morning star

the sky is blue
like still water in a lake --
glittering stars

~ Carolyne Wangui (Falcon)


up the sky --
stars twinkle and shine
forming beautiful patterns

~ Beatrice Wanjiku (Falcon)


a dull sky
with no moon -
dull night

~ Milly Wambui (Falcon)


the sky at night --
falling stars twinkle
brightly

~ Joseph Musombi (Falcon)


high stars shining,
round-shaped moon --
children playing outdoors

watchmen well armed,
light shining from the sky --
chilly night

~ Margret Wanjiru (Falcon)


bright blue sky,
studded with diamonds --
Venus

~ Joyce Ng’amure (Falcon)


cloudy sky,
stars not twinkling --
cold night breeze

~ Hillary Indako (Falcon)


blue sky,
stars twinkle high--
half moon

~ John Okwaro (Falcon)


shiny tiny dim lights,
scattered all over the blue sky --
play song of children

children cheering
at spectacular cluster of stars --
their play song

~ Boniface Mutua (Falcon)


a serene sky --
yells and screams break the silence,
waking Jane

bats gnash their teeth,
searching for their dinner
under the night sky

~ Patrick Gakuo (Falcon)


clouds in the sky,
storm is about to strike --
thunder bolt

~ Lucy Maina (Falcon)


in a bright sky,
moon hanging lonesomely --
serenity

~ Nancy Akinyi (Falcon)


stars twinkle
producing light
that shines in the sky

~ Hamza Shaban (Falcon)


the blue sky
glittering with stars --
silent night

when darkness knocks,
stars open and glitter --
night splendour

~ Rebecca Syokau (Falcon)


the moon
looking through blue eyes --
flashing diamonds

~ Jane Njeri (Bamboocha Form 1)


dark clouds
blocking the moonlight --
night drizzle

~ Mercy Wangui (Peacock)


at night --
the dog barks at
the shining moon

~ Josephine Wanjiku (Peacock)


husband and wife
arguing loudly --
starry night

~ Anne Wairimu (Peacock)


people chasing
cattle rustlers --
starry night

~ Stephen Nzomo (Peacock)


the watchman
lighting a fire --
full moon

Kioko bathing
in cold water at night…
the stars

~ Sarah Adero (Peacock)


stressed Grace
crying in her dark room --
bright stars

~ Irene Muthengi (Peacock)


in the morning,
my brother preparing to go to school --
morning star

at night
our young brother crying --
moonlight

~ Grace Nyambura (Peacock)


the bright moon
and few glittering stars
on a cloudy night

from the cardinal points
lays the dull sky with
very shiny stars

it is very silent
clouds seem to be moving
and the stars glitter

quietly the moon shines
as the stars glitter beautifully
making the sky wonderful

how wonderful
is the sky with millions
of glittering stars

the sky is clear
stars make it wonderful
as they glitter

meteorites shift
from point to point --
dim moom appears

cloudish sky --
stars glitter in the distance,
where is the moon

clear sky
with cloudish patterns --
beautiful stars glitter

the moon doesn't
appear its late but stars
still glitter silently

silence in the sky
stars glitter quietly making
the sky beautiful

~ Hussein Hajji (Peacock)


after the sunset
crickets make a lot of noise
welcome the bright sky

on the shiny stars
lighting up the whole village
business continues

attracting the eye
one in the midst of many
sharing to light up

~ Loise Wangeci (Peacock)


it is at night
moon shines brightly
a wonderful night

~ Jacinta Minoo (Peacock)


the twinkling stars
shining on a blue broaad sky
many stars shining

~ Barrack Elungata (Peacock)


silent bright sky
the night is beautiful
there is no rain

~ Anonymous (Peacock)


how cold is today
the cloud covering the sky
signs of rain

where are the stars
clouds hiding them
a lot of darkness

area with light
coming from stars
the light in the streets

how lightful is the moon
a lot of light from
it and stars

beautiful clouds
hiding the stars --
the moon shines

stars everywhere
shining and glittering --
stars are beautiful

how bright is the moon
glittering a lot of light --
moon is bright

~ Sebastian Kimeu (Peacock)


the night is bright
the stars are glittering all over
there is silence

the sky is bright
the moon and the stars are
glittering leaving a bright light

the sky is bright
because of the moon
and the glittering stars

the dark has covered
the sky leaving the dark all over --
no moon or stars

the sky is silent --
stars are glittering very brightly
and the moon is shining

bright sky --
light all over from
moon and stars

sky full of brightness --
the stars are glittering
and the moon shining

~ Joan Barasa (Peacock)


stars all over
in the blue beautiful sky
they are lovely

beautiful sky
stars shining all over
the night is bright

~ Kelvin Mukoselo (Peacock)


full moon
that is the Gods touch
mama tells me

sky-blue
countless stars shining overhead
God knows their name!

beautiful starry night
shooting stars burning bright
what a scene!

~ David Caleb Mutua (Peacock)


silence up there --
lonely moon shivers
as stars glitter quietly

as stars glitter
the moon appears late at nine --
silence up there

clear sky --
stars accompany
the lonely moon

lonely is the moon
and the sky with glittering stars --
the moon appears

lonely moon --
the stars scattered all over,
making it beautiful

stretching from
north to south pole, the dark sky
is seen with dim moon

~ Peris Wanjiru (Peacock)


the lonely stars
all the night --
glittering sky

uncountable stars
moving from one end,
making the sky beautiful

I see the stars
as they glitter
all night

I see the stars
randomly moving --
glittering hours

the bright stars
over the clouds,
as they glitter

~ Mary Sharon (Peacock)


moon in the sky
produce light at night while
the stars shine all over

how beautiful stars are
at night glittering and shining
while moon produces light

~ Peris Njeri (Peacock)


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vast dark-blue roof
studded with glittering lights --
night sky

~ Patrick Wafula (Patron, Bamboochas)


young people
dancing together --
kililimbi night

(kililimbi is Swahili for "flame" -- fire or liveliness)


shooting in the street,
a thief killed --
bright moon

~ James Macharia (Bahati)


stars shine
we have full moon
I see a passing star

on the horizon
I see stars and moon
it's very beautiful

it's very bright
though its midnight
I see full moon

~ Adelaide Luvandale (Patron Peacocks)


lighting the sky
little stars twinkle
in bright clusters

falling from the sky
the bright star shines
to unknown destination

~ Anne Nechesa (Patron Peacocks)


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Alan Summers, the originator of the Stars and Night Sky Challenge, also published our results in his own Blog, Area 17, thus opening them to a new readership :

http://area17.blogspot.com/



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Related words

***** .. .. .. .. MOON and its LINKS..

***** ..... Southern Cross

***** Leonid Meteor Shower .. .. Geminid Meteor Shower


Haiku Clubs of Nairobi


*****************************
THE KENYA SAIJIKI
Please send your contributions to
Gabi Greve / Isabelle Prondzynski
worldkigo .....

Back to the Worldkigo Index

SPIDER Haiku Club

nnnnnnnnnnnn TOP nnnnnnnnnnnnn

SPIDER Haiku Club

Dear Haiku friends,

We are a newly registered haiku group under the name Spider. We are located in the Soweto Slums of Nairobi and in the neighbourhood of Bahati Community Centre.
In fact, we are a sub-branch of the Bamboochas. Right now it is raining here in Nairobi and this is our introduction haiku about the long rain:

The Long Rain:

gray sky all day
spattering sounds on the roofs
umbrellas over heads

We are so delighted to be part and parcel of the haiku movemnet. We look forward to enjoying haiku adventures together with all of you.

Our school's name is Brookfield Secondary school and as we have already stated our nickname in Spiders.

Thank you all!



The Spiders.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenyasaijiki/message/99

SPIDER Haiku Club Records


........................................Brookfield Secondary School

nice looking students--
dressed in white and blue
smiling all the time

Patrick Wafula, April 2006

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THE SPIDERS HAIKU COLLECTION MARCH-APRIL 2006
KIGO: THE RAIN SEASON AND CHRISTMAS

Long Rains in Kenya.

people wear coats
gumboots and umbrellas
malaria is back

floods everywhere
houses are destroyed
emergency teams busy

cars are stuck
muddy clothes
laundries busy

Terry Lutivini


children play in puddles
muddy clothes
omo disappears from shops

*omo: detergent.

flowers blossom again
bougainvillea blooms pink
aromatic air

frogs emerge
termites flying in the drizzle
plenty of proteins

Lake Victoria is flooded
Ngege is back on our tables
Plenty of flies

*ngege: type of fish

soil erosion
flooded houses in Soweto
a woman drains her house

Patrick Wafula


Multi-coloured umbrellas
Floods all over the country
Mud all over

Fishermen happy
Plenty of fish in rivers
A lot flies all over

Farmers happy
Green vegetables in the garden
Healthy faces

Evening drizzle
Traffic jam on Jogoo Road
Mama Njeri is late

Enough water
No rationing of electricity
Heavy jackets


ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

CHRISTMAS IN KENYA

by Terry Lutivini

people are smart
new hairstyles new clothes
new clean shoes

new things
people go to church
dances everywhere

at Machakos bus station
all buses travel upcountry
congested buses

buses are full
many happy faces
music and dancing

people are drunk
music noise everywhere
a staggering drunk

full stomachs
domestic animals happy
dirty toilets

flurry of shoppers
cars all over the place
shops open

churches full
offerings and gifts in plenty
many smiling faces

too much traveling
accidents all over
traffic police busy

empty schools
empty offices
workers rest

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Meeting of the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
November 2006

*****************************
Related words

***** Bahati Haiku Club, Nairobi

*****************************
THE KENYA SAIJIKI
Please send your contributions to
Gabi Greve / Isabelle Prondzynski
worldkigo .....

Back to the Worldkigo Index

Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

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Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

***** Location: Trinidad & Tobago, Tropics, other locations
***** Season: Tropical rainy season, Autumn in cold climates
***** Category: Plant

*****************************
Explanation
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Family: Malvaceae (mallow family)
Common Names: Roselle, Florida cranberry, Indian sorrel, Jamaican sorrel


http://pharm1.pharmazie.uni-greifswald.de/

The Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) a perennial, has its origins in Tropical Africa; also called Florida Cranberry. The calyx of the Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a used to make a Christmas beverage here in Trinidad and Tobago. The calyx is burgandy coloured and the drink also is that colour. Around November (sometimes late October) sorrel is sold in the market. There has been recent research where the Sorrel is being investigated as a cure for some forms of cancer.

.. .. .. My Sorrel Recipe
3 lbs Sorrel
2 litres Water
3 cups Sugar
3 inch twist of Orange peel
15 grains of Clove
stick of Cinnamon
1 cup Rum (optional)
Pull calyx off seed pods, wash the Sorrel calyx. Put in a large pot. Add Spices and one cup of Sugar.
Add 2 liters or enough water to cover the amount of sorrel in the pot. Boil for about fifteen minutes.
Let cool, strain the coloured liquid into a large container. Add the remaining 2 cups of sugar or sweeten to taste. Add rum (optional). Bottle and Refrigerate.

Gillena Cox

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Sorell Kills Cancer Cells
We draw it, we dry it, we drink it and have even made chutney from it.
Now sorrel, Jamaica's favourite Christmas beverage could be in for bigger things.
Research at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville shows that sorrel, which is grown in three varieties in Jamaica, could be a treatment or cure for certain types of cancer.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20020323/lead/lead2.html


Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a seasonal plant indigenous to the Caribbean. When ripe (usually around Christmas time), the fleshy red calyx is used to make a refreshing beverage.
Look at a great picture here:
http://www.ttltt.com/culture/sorrel_steeping.php


Sorrel Beverages
http://www.christmas.com/pe/1222
http://www.christmas.com/pe/1487
http://www.christmas-world.freeservers.com/trinidad.html

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Read more about the Red Sorrel
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/kitchen/2003su_redsorrel.html

Originally Native To Tropical Africa also called Florida Cranberry.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/H/hibi_sab.cfm

A close relative of Roselle (Hibuscus canabinus L. - kenaf) is used for it's fibers, a raw material in the production of paper and paperboard products.
http://www.tropilab.com/roselle.html

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Things found on the way

*****************************
HAIKU

those burgandy mounds
sorrell in the market stalls
Christmas time is here

Gillena 2001

a nip in the air--
sorrel piled high
evening market

Gillena Cox, 2003

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wood sorrel
a bumblebee works
the last patch of sun

Robert Gilliland
http://www.nhi.clara.net/mg0123.htm

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first boyfriend—
she plucks him
wild sorrel

Anna TambourNew South Wales, Australia
http://www.worldhaikureview.org/3-2/treetops_h2.shtml

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Related words

***** Trinidad and Tobago Saijiki


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Silence

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Silence in Brussels
by Isabelle Prondzynski


what is it that makes
the night time fountain so still?
city life goes on...




One of my favourite haunts in Brussels is the large fountain at the Parliament side of the Royal Park. During the day time, families come to enjoy the jets of water, dogs swim in the basin, and this year a duck raised her young there (until the dogs saw their chance...).

At night time, the water ripples gently, the moon shines through the plane trees, bats dart and swoop. Many of the park benches are occupied by people sitting, meditating and appreciating the stillness. And all the while, just metres away, drivers hoot, the metro passes underground, and airplanes above -- but the fountain spreads its own inner peace and silence.

carless sunday --
tea and a read
in silence

For several years now, Belgians have enjoyed a carless Sunday in September. While many go out to join in street activities that day, others relish the clean air and stillness of their gardens.

fog in the city
the silence
of the closed airport

Brussels, 2005

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Carless Sunday in Brussels

. September 22 World Car Free Day. .



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Short Rains Season

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Short Rains

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Short Rains
***** Category: Season

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Explanation

The season of short rains is one of the four seasons of the year in Kenya. It takes place every year from mid-October to mid-December. The season is called “short rains” as opposed to “long rains”, not because of the amount of rain or the number of rainy hours each day, but because the season does not last as long as that of the long rains.

The season may have a lead-up period during which the occasional shower or drizzle falls. This is followed by the first rainfall, which is heavy, indeed usually torrential. A period of regular rain follows -- usually starting mid afternoon to early evening and continuing well into the night, rarely until the morning. There may be cloudy, or more often sunny, periods during daylight hours.

This again is followed by a period when the rains thin and peter out, until they are finally over by Christmas at the latest.

The short rains are the time to see Kenya at its best. Nairobi is bright with jacaranda and tipu tree blossom, as well as the occasional flamboyant tree at its most glorious. The temperature is pleasant, and the general atmosphere is optimistic and full of energy.

If the rainfall is too heavy, flooding results, with much damage and often, loss of life. If it is late, too light, or finishes early, drought results, with crop failures and hunger. Both these effects are currently exacerbated by the consequences of global warming.



The kigo associated with the short rains include the following :

(a) Those which are valid for both rainy seasons :

gumboots
Mud (Swahili : matope)
Umbrella
stagnant water
Mosquitoes in Kenya
bullfrogs
flooding
puddles
heavy clothing
Power failure, blackout

First rainfall, imminent rain
rain clouds
raindrops
break between the rains
drizzle
downpour
shower
Flooding in 2006


(b) Those which are specific to the short rains :

Advent
AIDS, World AIDS Day
Christmas
flamboyant tree blossom
Kenyatta Day
Jacaranda blossom
Moi Day
New Year
tipu tree blossom
School exams KCSE / KCPE


Text and photo : Isabelle Prondzynski

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Kenyan geranium in the rain

Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski

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Haigaonline,
in its December 2006 edition, published a beautiful haiga collection from the Nairobi haiku clubs :

SHORT RAINS
Isabelle Prondzynski and Students of the Kenya Haiku Clubs



Read the haiku here :
http://www.haigaonline.com/issue7-2/kenya/00.htm


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

Here is a taster of the Short Rains haiku from the Nairobi haiku clubs. More can be found in the relevant kigo pages (follow the links above), as well as here :

Short Rains, a Haiku Season in Kenyaxx

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people wearing
heavy jackets --
short rains

~ Danson Mwangi (Bamboochas)


dark rain clouds
hanging below the sky --
people buy umbrellas

~ Paul Brown (Bamboochas)


a student bends at
muddy stagnant water,
cleaning her shoes

~ Cyprian Awino (Bamboochas)


people striding to work
with umbrellas under armpits --
the short rain

~ Danson Oduory (Bamboochas)


wet clothes taking too long
on the hanging line --
the short rains

~ Catherine Njeri Maina (Bamboochas)


trees are swaying
birds and frogs migrating --
a sign of rain

~ Adisa (Falcons)


children in gumboots
jumping in the mud --
ouch! the legs stuck

~ Keago (Falcons)


clouds hang low
turn from grey to black
a heavy downpour

~ Leonard (Falcons)


the street --
dominated and coloured by
numerous umbrellas

Caleb David Mutua (Peacocks)

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early morning --
files of students and employees
jump puddle after puddle

~ Patrick Wafula (Patron, Bamboochas)


work pending
as black out rages --
dark office

~ Adelaide Luvandale (Patron, Peacocks)

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. First short rains - October 2010 　
Patrick Wafula


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Related words

***** Many specific short rains kigo can be reached by following the hyperlinks above in the kigo list.



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School Exams KCSE KCPE

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School exams KCSE / KCPE

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Short rains (October / November)
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

Every year at the end of October, Kenyan secondary schools close, so as not to disturb the senior students, who are taking the Kenya Certificate of Education (KCSE) exams. Tough national examinations they are -- test papers are written and transported in total secrecy (with occasional lapses, which become national front-page news and are major dramas for those affected). Exam classes are strictly invigilated by teachers from other schools.

Candidates are normally 18 to 20 years old. They take three compulsory subjects, English, Swahili and Mathematics, as well as around four others, chosen by them. Science papers include laboratory experiments, and it is justifiably a constant topic of argument whether this does not put the up-country or urban slum schools at a disadvantage.

Once the KCSE is over, the country immediately switches to the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education), taking place in the first half of November. Numbers of students participating have risen hugely, since the government introduced free primary education a couple of years ago, encouraging even adults to return to school. The KCPE takes only three days; the younger classes resume as soon as the exams are over. Subjects taken by the mostly 14 to 16-year-olds are English, Swahili, Mathematics, Insha (Swahili composition), Science, CRE (Christian Religious Education or its Muslim or Hindu equivalents), and a mix of history, geography, civics, environmental studies, etc.

Given the numbers involved (see details below), this double exercise is a major logistic success story and shows the priority which all post-Independence Kenyan governments have attached to education.

The exams are tremendously important to students and parents, as the marks obtained will determine whether a candidate may pass to the next higher level of learning. This photo shows the KCPE candidates from All Saints' Cathedral Primary School, Nairobi, being prayed for on 6 November 2005, one day before the KCPE started :



Text and photo (c) Isabelle Prondzynski

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The East African Standard (Nairobi)

November 6, 2005

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination gets underway tomorrow. Over 670,000 candidates will sit for the exams in some 18,000 centres countrywide. This morning, the candidates will be taken through a rehearsal session by the supervisors and invigilators.

Tomorrow, the candidates begin with Mathematics, English Language and Composition papers. On Wednesday, they will do Science, Kiswahili Language and Kiswahili Insha. On the last day, they will sit for Geography, History, Civics and Religious Education. The Kenya National Examinations Council secretary, Mr Paul Wasanga, cautioned examination officials against abetting cheating.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200511071132.html

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http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/Newins081105.jpg

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Prisoners and the elderly sit KCPE exams
Story by NATION Team

Publication Date: 9 November 2005

Millicent Jemtai could not be detered by her illness, as she tackles her Mathematics Paper of this year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) at Eldoret Hospital yesterday.
Photo by Jared Nyataya.


http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/Newsinsa91105.jpg

Death row inmates were among hundreds of thousands of candidates who started their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams countrywide yesterday.Ninety four adult education learners, most of old men and women, expressed optimism that they would pass as they started their exams at Nairobi's St Peter's Claver Primary School.

Mrs Dina Masila, 50, a surbodinate staff at the ministry of Health headquarters said: "I want to study up to the university and become a counsellor." Her daughter is also a candidate.


http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/images/news/Newsinsb091105.jpg

At Lang'ata Women's Prison, two death row convicts were among nine candidates who sat for the exam at the centre. Three of their colleagues who had registered did not turn up because they were released in August. Only one of them turned up. The acting officer in charge, Mrs Elizabeth Olaba, said the convicts were encouraged to sit their exams by the Government's commitment to abolish the death sentence.

And 30 inmates, 21 of them on death row, are sitting the exams at Naivasha Maximum Prison. Acting officer in charge of the Prison James Mwalo Kodieny said eight inmates who had registered for the exam had completed their jail terms. John Mwangi, 26, a death row inmate, said he was hopeful that the Government would commute his sentence.

Papers arrived early in most schools except in Nyatike division where most roads had been rendered impassable by heavy rains currently pounding the region. Heavy rains also pounded Narok District as 5,739 candidates started the exams. The papers were dispatched to the 246 centres on Monday to avoid vehicles getting stuck while delivering the papers.

Reported by Cyrus Kinyungu, Angwenyi Gichana, Elisha Otieno, Ben Amadala, John Ochieng, Macharia Mwangi, Muchiri Gitonga, Joseph Kimani, Sollo Kiragu, Geoffrey Rono and Dennis Odunga

http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=61093

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

Success Cards

As the Kenya Certificate for Primary Education(KCPE) and Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education(KCSE) approach, vendors start to sell success cards. Muthurwa Hawkers Market has now joined in, together with many other shops and markets.

Success cards have always been a big thing for any primary and secondary school candidate in Kenya. But apart from the encouraging messages they carry, success cards have been used for many other hidden agendas.

They are many different types for different recipients depending with the relationship between the sender and the recipient. There are those that have pictures of animal, nature and prominent people. Then there are those that are designed for lovers with two people cuddling or kissing. Those with sweet melodies and others with lighting words. The messages in them also vary but the central idea has always been to encourage candidates, give them hope and the much needed confidence during their exams.

In schools, pupils and students compete to see who receives many success cards before and during the exam period. There is nothing better to make your morning during an exam period than having your name called to collect a success card during assembly time. The competition gets tough and some students buy success cards and pretend that it is someone else who has sent them the cards, just to remain on top.

Then there are those senders who go an extra mile. Some put sugar particles in your success card to show their love, others enclose a love letter while others add money or gifts to accompany success cards.

It is also a time for embarrasement for those who repeat classes without informing their well wishers or who lie to their friends and relatives about their class levels. When a standard seven pupil, or form two or three student is called to pick up his or her success card, they remain the laughing stalk for the rest of the exam period.

Caleb Mutua



. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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HAIKU

invigilator
praying for the children --
pens scratch paper

this school uniform --
stained and torn and worn
one more time

Isabelle Prondzynski

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mother a wreck
nervous child shivers
with exam fever.

for mere marks
wasting hours
no learning life skills

shoma
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/happyhaiku/message/2351

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KCPE results
Wambui joins Moi Girls
Erick Starehe Boys

-- Patrick Wafula

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clipboards in hand-
KCSE candidates listen
to their supervisors

the shuffle of papers
the only sound in the room-
KCSE exams

Patrick Wafula, October 2006


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................................... Exam Haiku

Students in numbers
Despite repeated warnings
Leave their cell phones on

http://www.salocin.com/weblog/archives/000161.html

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The exam questions
A cat chases butterflies
never catching one

The exam finished
trying to go home I walk
up to a dead end

http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/~shiki/shiki.archive/html/9603/0118.html

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Related words

***** Exam results (kigo for the hot dry season)

KCPE results are published in January of the following year, leading to a frantic period of activity for secondary schools, as they analyse the results and set the cut-off mark. Students may apply for one school in each of three categories -- national schools (subsidised by the State and taking in the brightest and best of the youth), provincial schools (good secondary schools located within each of the provinces), and local schools. Even to get into a local school is a success, as only about half the KCPE examinees are offered secondary school places at all.

The results of the KCSE are published later. Students have to wait at least from November to September of the following year for their first chance to get into university. University places too are severely limited and highly desirable -- private universities are now springing up, and for students with access to funds or to sponsors, they are a welcome alternative. The children of wealthy families may also look abroad for third-level opportunities.

Isabelle Prondzynski

Read more here :
http://www.vk.co.ke/?no=2532&mk=comment

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Some sponsors have set up private secondary schools, which take in students who did not manage to obtain a place in one of the public schools. One of my favourite private secondary schools is Bahati Community Centre, situated in the slum of Kayole and founded by a small group of young students from Kayole (Nairobi) itself, who felt they had been lucky to get into secondary education, and wanted to share their good fortune with those young people who had not managed (either for lack of points, or for lack of funds to pay school fees).

Bahati is very largely run on a voluntary basis, but students pay a small fee so that teachers can work full-time. The school has no building (it rents an unfinished house), no electricity, no window panes, no water, but a pit latrine and a group of dedicated young teachers and hard-working students.

Read some of their stories here, and see the picture of the very first group of KCSE candidates (who had to sit the exam in a different school, as they were not yet recognised as an exam centre) :
http://www.bahatia.blogspot.com/



Text and photo (c) Isabelle Prondzynski


BCC's First Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Candidates (KCSE) 2005.
The first BCC Secondary School K.C.S.E (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education) candidates : This year, BCC Secondary School is among the Secondary Schools in Kenya that are hosting the Kenya Certificate Of Secondary Examination candidates. The exam commenced on 21st October and will end on 15th November.
To BCC, this is an auspicious and historical moment because these are the first such candidates since its inception 4 years ago. The 23 candidates are among the 260,000 candidates sitting this exam country wide.
http://www.bahatia.blogspot.com/


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KCSE results--
even the school guard joins
the celebrations

KCSE results--
his shaky finger run down
the index numbers

Caleb David Mutua
Kenya, March 2010


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she buys her child
a flowered success card -
KCSE exams

Duncan Omoto

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***** Graduation Ceremony in Kenya :
kigo for short rains


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