Glossary

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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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Form One Entrants

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Form One entrants and monolisation

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Hot dry season
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

The Kenyan school year starts in January. New students entering Form One of secondary school (usually aged 14 or over), register in January and start classes at the beginning of February.

This is a very big step for a Kenyan student. Form One entry, in modern Kenya, functions as the equivalent of circumcision, i.e. entry into adulthood. People may or may not practice circumcision or other rites of passage -- either way, initial research has found that the transition between primary school and secondary school has come to resemble these older practices. This is expressed by massive parties (so-called “bashes”) held by the youth, largely without adult supervision, as well as by the short-term victimisation (so-called “monolisation”) of the new Form One students by their predecessors. Sometimes, things can go wrong (see article below).

The end of primary school is achieved by a national examination, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). Only about 50 percent of students passing this examination find places in secondary schools -- the other 50 percent dropping out either because they have not achieved the necessary points for the limited number of places, or because they cannot raise the necessary fees.

While primary education (eight years, from age 6 to age 14 or over) is now free of charge in Kenya, secondary education is subsidised but fee-paying. Many bright students, who cannot find a scholarship or a sponsor, drop out at this stage, even though they might have had the points to enter a recognised secondary school.

Bahati High School, in Kayole, Nairobi, being run by volunteers, is able to provide education at low cost, and can therefore offer places to the children of the community without being selective as regards points. This school started the Bamboochas Haiku Poetry Club at the start of 2006. Now, one year later, is the first time that the Bamboochas have welcomed new Form One entrants.

This coincides with the exciting moment when the school is building a corrugated iron laboratory as its contribution to recognition as an exam centre for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) from the end of 2007.

Secondary school involves many changes for the new entrants. The style of the uniform changes (dresses are replaced by skirts, shorts by trousers, checked cloth is out while plain colours are in, both girls and boys wear ties), many new subjects appear (history, geography, the sciences), English becomes the language of instruction for all, and this may be the first time that the students meet classmates from other parts of the country, speaking a different mother tongue.

All the haiku collected below were written by the Form One entrants themselves -- brand new haijin. They convey the atmosphere so well -- please enjoy reading their work!


Bahati High School

Text and photo : © Isabelle Prondzynski

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School where boys have to be 'men'
Daily Nation, 15 February 2007
By: PATRICK MUTHURI and MUCHEMI WACHIRA

The excitement that comes with joining Form One was evident on the faces of the young students as they were guided by their parents through the gates of Kiriani Boys Secondary School in Meru South District last week. They were excited to be joining secondary school and many of the parents had toiled hard to meet the many expenses that come with sending children to high school.

The usual words of advise for the students to take their studies seriously could be heard as the parents bid their children goodbye and left them behind.

But 25 of the parents could not believe their eyes when three days later, their children arrived home, carrying all their belongings and a letter from the principal, Mr Ngaruthi Kithinji, saying they could not be allowed in the school because they were not circumcised. They were lost for words.

Even if they were to take their sons to be circumcised, it would take no less than a month for them to heal enough to resume studies. Meanwhile, other students would be going on with learning.

But Mr Kithinji said the presence of the uncircumcised boys in the school could lead to unrest. "There was a lot of screaming and disturbances when your son was discovered to be the way he is. Just like you cannot keep your elder son who is uncircumcised in the same room with your younger son, this also applies in the dorms," Mr Kithinji said. He told the parents of the affected children to have them circumcised in two weeks and take them back to school when they get well.

The parents are now appealing to the Government to intervene.

Trouble started on their first night in school. The older boys ordered the newcomers to strip naked so that they could be inspected. Those who were not circumcised spent the whole night going through all manner of torture and insults. Says one of the boys: "The first night was very bad. We were never given a chance to rest or sleep even after the long journey. They started shouting and asking us silly questions like are you a man or a woman?"

The following day, they reported the matter to the principal, who instead of assisting them, sent them home.

The Meru South district commissioner, Mr William Kiprono, ordered the immediate reinstatement of the students, saying it was wrong to take such a discriminative action. "Circumcision is a cultural thing not accepted in some societies. It's wrong to chase students from a public school because it is not government policy," said Mr Kiprono, while apologising to the students and their parents. "The bullies were the ones to be sent off and not the other way round," he said.

But even as Education minister George Saitoti was condemning the action by the headteacher, the students demonstrated in his support yesterday afternoon.
... //www.nationmedia.com/

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

By Patrick Wafula
Patron of the Bamboocha Haiku Club, Bahati High School

The New Bamboochas, who number about 40, have been taking their first lesson in haiku this week. First, it was Form One West, then Form One East. On Ash Wednesday (21 February 2007), I spent the lunch hour with Form One West, giving them their first haiku lesson. It was a great joy and experience. We wrote the first haiku together as a class; the rest were written individually.

Form One East took their lesson three days later. The new haijin have been writing about the new school year and their experiences in Bahati High School. They are such a bundle of joy! Some of their experiences are hilarious, others are pitious, but each of these experiences are true.

Fasting and Prayer day (Wednesday 21/02/07)

The Form One West had their first prayer and fasting experience and they wrote about it in their very first haiku the next day :

Mr. Wafula
taking photos of
the new lab

in the school kitchen --
Sharon happily biting
a huge chapati

from the kitchen,
delicious scent of chapati --
a rumbling stomach

a student
giving a testimony...
hymns are sung

Mr. Wafula
praying for sponsorships...
moment of silence

Mr. Wafula
taking photos --
students praying

~ Class


Patrick Wafula Sensei with his camera
Photo (c) Isabelle Prondzynski


in the kitchen --
people eat chapati
revenging for Wed

~ Timothy Wambugu

(On Thursday, students were eating chapati to compensate for what they missed to eat the previous day during the fasting and prayer)


first year in Bahati
prayers and fasting --
my grumbling stomach

~ Josephat Mwangi

students making noise --
their cries as Mr. Macharia
beats them

students dozing
during History lesson --
the teacher's shouts

~ Steven Nzomo


a teacher with a sad face
going back to the staffroom...
what stupid students

~ Shadrack Masai Mwengi

in the sitting room --
we happily take breakfast
with my family

~ Mercy Karanin

Mr. Ogembo writing
on the blackboard --
students laughing

last lesson to lunch...
bored students wait to go
for lunch

students laugh
as Mr. Ogembo says gaii...
geography lesson

~ Samuel Ndung'u

Mr. Macharia in class...
students sleeping on the desk
and they get strokes

~ Gerald Kariuki

students rejoice
around the new laboratory --
praise for Isabelle

~ Caren Cheptoo

students laugh
and cheer up --
last lesson to break

~ Vivian Adhiambo

in class
Beatrice cries like a baby --
corporal punishment

~ Jonah Kamande


at the school kitchen
people carry plates and spoons --
chapati in hand

at home --
my brother happily runs
to me for a kiss

at the shop --
a long queue of people
waiting to buy goods

everybody quietly settled,
writing and reading stories --
library lesson

~ Anne Wairimu


Constructing the new laboratory
Photo (c) Patrick Wafula



NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAIKU (Form One East)

new different
school rules…
Discipline Prefects

smell of my
new school ID…
smell of sewage

~ Christine Minae

first time
to wear trousers…
my new uniform

in the school kitchen,
big transparent chapatis…
smell of food

~ Peter Mwangi

new school lab --
teacher lights the Bunsen burner,
for students doing experiments

many students
of different tribes --
Bahati High School

many rules to keep --
if you break one,
punishment

~ Dorothy Nthenya


first day
in Bahati High School --
different daily menu

meeting
and making new friends…
first day in Bahati

~ Brian Mwangi


school kitchen --
much tasteless
rice

first day in Bahati --
smell of new
textbooks

first time
to wear a tie --
Bahati High

~ Rose Mwikali


many tribes of students --
my first day in
Bahati High School

first time to
own school ID --
Bahati High school

first time
to meet Discipline Prefects …
Bahati High School

in the lab,
Rose holding a gas jar …
first Chemistry Lesson

~ Eunice Mwema


first time in school kitchen --
many students enjoying
different menu

first day in Bahati --
many new classrooms
with different arrangements

first day in Bahati --
students in the lab,
smell of chemicals

~ Truphosah .I. Osendi

many different subjects…
first time in Bahati
High School

many new students
confused like lost
sheep in a forest

greedy Form Four
students in the kitchen --
first day in High School

~ Michael Bwoga

confused like a maggot
in a demolished toilet --
first day in High School

~ Sheillah Shikawa

many tribes of students --
communication problems
between Luo, Kikuyu, Kamba and Luhya

~ Rhodah Ndindah

smell of my
new uniforms --
first day in Form One

first day
in High School --
meeting different tribes

in Bahati School,
talking nicely to students --
Discipline Prefects

seventh week
in Bahati School --
new lab built

first time
to carry student ID --
Bahati School

~ Maxiwell Omondi

black water
flowing down along Soweto --
smell of sewage

many new faces,
different languages --
first time at Bahati

many new
scaring subjects --
biology, geography

~ Catherine Wanjiku


hardworking teachers,
teaching all the subjects --
students nodding

~ Jane Mumbua

students struggle
to keep school rules --
speaking English all the time

~ Nelius Muthoni

time keeper
ringing the bell --
lesson after lesson

~ Alice Wambui

ndengu and chapati,
ndengu and chapati for lunch --
rumble of my stomach

first time
to see black water --
sewage river

~ Patrick

time keeper
ringing the bell --
change of lessons

in our class,
calculations --
first Maths lesson

first time to see
scientific calculator --
first Math lesson

Discipline Prefects
in Bahati School --
many rules to keep

~ George Onyango

James holding
a ruled exercise book --
second Math lesson

~ Ashitwa Douglas

in Bahati School,
Discipline Prefects --
respect

new black
and blue uniforms --
rule of smartness

different daily menu --
day after day
in the kitchen

first day in
Bahati High School --
miss my primary friends

new school,
new faces --
curious feelings

~ Alice Nyambura


Fasting and praying -- the Bahati students
Photo (c) Patrick Wafula

cooks serving
too little food --
sulky faces

first day
in High School --
equipped lab

many students
with different talents --
karate team

~ Raphael

on the assembly
the school is attentive --
raising the flag

in the kitchen --
students queue at the door
waiting to be served

ringing of the bell
by the time keeper…
change of lessons

~ Risper

black skirt blue blouse
blue tie black shoes white socks --
my new uniforms

~ Joyce Atolwa

first time
to learn Biology --
smell of my new uniform

smell of new books --
rules to follow
and keep

~ Caroline Ndegwa

hardworking teachers
of Bahati High School—
no idle lesson

new classroom
arrangements --
first day in Bahati

~ Lagat Amos

in the school office --
Mr. Wafula give us five five
for noise-making

Kamba, Luo, Luhya
and Kikuyu all meet --
Bahati School

~ George Ngamau

first time
to see Luhyas --
Bahati School

in school kitchen --
the chef gives me soup
without chapati

first time
to see a microscope --
school lab

senior students
steal form one books --
monolisation

~ Steven Nzomo


first time to see
many discipline prefects --
Bahati school

~ Mary Wangari

many students
with different talents --
the volleyball team

so many rules
to remember and keep --
discipline

~ Cynthia Adhiambo

girls wearing skirts
and boys wearing trousers --
new uniforms

~ Nancy Kamene

school kitchen --
meat stew tasting
delicious in my mouth

~ Moses Makule

many students
with different talents --
the football team

~ Muhia

in the lab
our teacher mixing chemicals --
first chem. practical

school kitchen,
watery rice with no fat --
rumble of my stomach

~ Joseph Mumo


the good feel and smell
of my new student ID --
first year in Bahati

~ Anonymous

first time to cross
the sewage river by bridge --
way to Bahati High

rice and cabbage
rice and cabbage for lunch…
rumble of my stomach

~ Grace Ruguru

second day --
welcomed with strokes (from Mr. Wafula)
for noise-making

new subjects,
harsh teachers,
and kind students

in the kitchen—
tasteless rice without
fat and spoon

~ Serah Wanjiku

first time
to join a drama club --
Bahati High

first time
to have school ID --
Bahati school

first time to wear
a skirt, blouse and tie --
Bahati uniform

~ Serah Mbuthi

bad smell of sewage,
but Christian students --
first day in Bahati High

smell of new books,
discipline prefects
and hardworking teachers

many different rules to keep --
different toilets,
different daily menu

~ Rachael Wangechi

many surprising…
subjects keep me reading
all the time

first time to mix
with students of many tribes --
learning in Bahati

first time
to be photographed --
school ID

~ Winnie Wairimu

Kamau holding
a test tube --
new laboratory

~ Robert Foro

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Related words

***** Start of School Year, School Year starts (Kenya)

***** School exams KCSE / KCPE (Kenya)

***** Ash Wednesday


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Demolitions

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Demolitions in Patanisho

***** Location: Kayole, Nairobi (Kenya)
***** Season: Non-seasonal Haiku Topic
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

In the night from 23 to 24 November 2006, the houses that bordered Jacaranda and Patanisho in Kayole were demolished, leaving hundreds of families homeless.

The land where these demolitions took place, has an interesting and chequered history. Taken from the local people by the British colonialists; sold by them before Independence (1963) to a group of Kiambu Dandora Farmers; one smaller section hived off and allocated to a prominent businessman politician; fought over by the farmers, the politician’s widow and a further politician from a different party; finally grabbed by a gang of youths and sold by them to innocent and rather less innocent outsiders -- there is sufficient stuff here for a full-length novel.

The politician’s widow eventually went to court and won her case. She started to develop the empty section of her land, but wanted access also to those other parts which had been occupied and sold off by the gang. After giving the residents notice four times unsuccessfully, she asked for help from the forces of law and order.

It is thus that the police and the bulldozers arrived in the night of 23 October 2006, ordering people leave the houses immediately, and starting to demolish the structures on the land in question. The gangs turned up very soon, and they were armed. A fierce battle ensued, and one of the policemen was shot and severely injured and taken to Kenyatta National Hospital.


Photo : Patrick Wafula

The people who lost their houses include some of the young gang members and grabbers, and some of the cheated buyers, who had purchased the land innocently (but had failed to insist on title deeds). All of them suffered in the demolitions, particularly as a result of the violence caused by the gang members, and some of them suffered severe financial loss.

At the end of the story, the rule of law has prevailed, but at a cost. If it makes their business more difficult for the gang members and land grabbers, some of the price may have been worth paying... However, as the haibun and haiku below will show, innocent people suffered, and those who saw them were moved to write down their observations and their words of sympathy.

Isabelle Prondzynski.

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HAIBUN

It was on Thursday night and all was quiet. The frogs were singing their last chorus and gave humanity a chance to enjoy the rest of the night. Suddenly after midnight :

bullets crack -
the night withers
dreams disappear

Only the families that were being affected knew what was happening. For the rest of us :

fear of unknown
with soundless prayers
lay trembling

As I woke up in the morning, hoping to find the fruits of the more than four hours of gunshot, I was amazed just to see men in blue (the police) and two bulldozers. As I watched the act of the machine,

the fork went up
the houses come down
tears for breakfast

This reminded me of fifteens years ago, when living in Kangemi,

fifteen years
the ghost still alive
making desolate

when our homes were demolished. The unfolding of the painful experience made tears to flow down my eyes and so were those of everybody else around me who imagined what was about to become a painful experience.

tears water --
the muddy green land
curses all over

Kiambu is the famous name given to the particular area that was demolished (it is very different from Kiambu district). This took place after one tycoon’s widow won the case over the land dispute and now she wants to put up housing estates. Young men and women from Soweto slums had occupied some of the land.

As I write this report, the former occupants have being told to clear up, before all that is within the zone is declared as belonging to the private developer. I hope I have shed some light on the whole issue. On behalf of our parents, brothers and sisters that were affected I say thanks for your concern and prayers.

© Antony Njoroge, 2006

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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

pick-ups full of
house-holds leave Patanisho...
new refugees

bulldozers pile
rubble onto lorries...
desperate screams

mothers and children
drenched in downpour...
houses gone

fires in the open
as mothers prepare supper...
cries of hungry children

ruthless policemen
shoot in the air...
fleeing residents

on the roadside,
refugees sit with luggage...
helplessness


Photo : Patrick Wafula

a woman screams,
trying to stop the bulldozer...
police drag her away

Patrick Wafula

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tearful eyes ..
houses demolished
leaving many homeless

Duncan (Butterfly Haiku Club)

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houses and property
destroyed by bulldozers...
houseless tenants

Jasper Ratemo (Butterfly Haiku Club)

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people crying
their building is brought down
people crowded

building down
as men hit the walls
stones everywhere

Adelaide Luvandale

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Related words

***** Jamhuri Day

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

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Meeting November 2006

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Meeting of the Haiku Clubs of Nairobi
November 2006

Objective

The four Haiku Clubs of the Kayole secondary schools had their second big meeting on Saturday, 4 November 2006. At the invitation of the local community’s Tujisaidie Self-Help Group, the meeting took place in the Community Centre, where the Tujisaidie Nursery School is also based.

The first meeting had been a festive gathering and ginkoo, with participation from invited guests, including the Japanese Cultural Centre. This second meeting was an internal affair, called above all to present the computer students with encouragement and small prizes, and also to have a discussion on haiku writing among ourselves.


Photo : Patrick Wafula

Background

During the previous week, I had visited the Bamboochas of Bahati Community Centre taking their computer classes. I had also been invited to the Peacocks of St Mathew Secondary School, to discuss their Ramadhan haiku with them and gather information for the Ramadhan kigo page. The next week would take me to the Falcons of Lorna Waddington High School. I had been received with a lot of cheer, welcome and enthusiasm in each of these schools, and was looking forward to meeting the haijin together once more.

Patrons’ meeting

The students, with great enthusiasm, arrived early at the Tujisaidie Community Centre. They were made very welcome by the youth of Tumaini African Foundation and were entertained with music and a mini-ginkoo while the Patrons held their own meeting.

Each of the schools was represented by the Haiku Club Patrons :

Bamboochas : Mr Patrick Wafula
..................Mr James Macharia
Falcons : Mr Ngugi
Peacocks : Ms Ann Nechesa
................ Ms Adelaide Amadade Luvandale
Oaks : Mr Jumah (Principal)
Computer teacher : Mr David Kimani
Haiku Committee of the community : Ms Lucy Irungu
.................................................... Mr Anthony Njoroge

The Patrons discussed a number of issues concerning them all, regarding computing, communications and haiku.

We looked together at how each school contributes to the Kenya Saijiki discussion forum, and how this in turn contributes to the Worldkigo Database. Haiku writing was leading to haiku discussion -- and to be able to discuss at international level, we need to communicate by e-mail and the internet. Hence, the link between haiku and computing. This led to a discussion of the computing budget necessary to make communication possible.

On haiku, we agreed that the two most important aspects to keep in mind when guiding the students during the coming months, were :

* the use of observation,
* the use of kigo (season words).

We also discussed giving feed-back to the students. Ideally, the students would send their haiku to Kenya Saijiki, receive feed-back, discuss this in their clubs and devote some effort to revising their haiku. In the same way, they should be open to giving feed-back by e-mail to others, so that we could have a discussion together and hone our poetry and our skills.

Haiku Clubs’ arrival

By the time the Patrons had finished their meeting, the students had happily arrived (some after difficulties finding the place -- they were eagerly welcomed), taken some snacks, enjoyed the company of their Tumaini hosts, danced to the music, and written some haiku. These haiku, here assembled, show the joyful and inspired spirit of the day :

all Falcons group
looking all round Soweto
oh... we are lost

haiku members
smiling at each other --
meeting up again

wow! two boys bringing
radios so that we can
dance on the floor

Tujisaidie Community --
full of haiku fans
enjoying music

Oscar is very
happy because of the
reggae music


Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski

haiku members
in a jovial mood as they
eat bread and sodas

welcoming focus
talking as they share jokes
ready to begin

everybody is happy
really to write best haiku --
how wonderful day is it?

Peacocks winning
all the top prizes --
haiku meeting

is this haiku?
why not?
syllables uncountable

this is the day
to share our feelings with mum
before going back

students listening
Madame Isabella speaking
everyone clapping

When the meeting was opened, we sang several choruses, praising God, who had brought us this far in our endeavours, and expressing our joy to be together again.

Computing meeting

The first part of the meeting was to recognise the effort the students had made in order to learn computing and encourage them to continue their studies for the final test early next year.

The top 7 computer students, who had passed all modules of their tests, were called forward by the teacher, David Kimani, and congratulated, with small prizes to choose from :

David Caleb Mutua (Peacock)
Omombo Christine (Peacock)
Nyakado Christine (Peacock)
Gideon Gichamba Wangui (Peacock)
Gladys Kathini (Peacock)
Catherine Njeri Maina (Bamboocha)

This brought the Peacocks a round of applause, as they had done exceptionally well. And while I was busy with the prizes, I did not even notice that we were being photographed by Patrick Sensei -- to whom many thanks!


Photo : Patrick Wafula

Another 17 computer students passed all but one of their modules and were called forward to collect their prizes :

Raymond Otieno (Bamboocha)
Anderson Mwendwa (Falcon)
Boniface Mutua (Falcon)
Ian Kamau (Falcon)
David Wandera (Bamboocha)
Rebecca Mbithe (Oak)
Khadija Rajab (Peacock)
Seline Onguto (Falcon)
Leonard Juma (Falcon
Otieno Walter (Bamboocha)
James Omwimwa (Peacock)
Stephen Kimanthi (Peacock)
Zaccheuas Ogoji (Peacock)
Jacinta Minoo (Peacock)
Ashraf Baraza (Falcon)
Agnes Adwambo (Peacock)
Patrick Gahuo (Falcon)

The computer classes will continue until the beginning of 2007 and will end with a final test, including a practical element. Best wishes to all the students -- and keep up the good work!

Haiku meeting

There followed an open discussion on very many aspects of haiku.

How many syllables, and how to count them?

Can one write about dreams?

How about newspaper or television reports?

What are the kigo of the current season?

Can one write about other seasons?

The importance of observation was emphasised -- concentrating on what is right there, and can be heard, seen, touched, smelled and tasted.

The importance of learning, and of receiving feed-back, was also pointed out. The students proposed that, from time to time, they would send in unsigned haiku, to request and receive feed-back. This was welcomed by everyone as a good idea.

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Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski

The day, which had started cool and overcast, had meanwhile became hot and sunny, and the time came to close the meeting and for everyone to walk home.

Many of us stayed for another while, to chat and exchange questions, answers and news, before starting on our way back.

Isabelle Prondzynski, November 2006

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A thank-you message to Kenya Saijiki in the evening

Dear Gabi, dear Patrons, dear teachers and haijin,

Thank you most sincerely for the wonderful meeting we had today. You gave generously of your time, and we had a great discussion and enjoyed being together.

Great thanks go to Lucy Irungu and Tujisaidie for the welcome they gave to us and for letting us use the community buildings, where we felt so much at home. Apart from the discussions, we enjoyed music and a light lunch as well as an unexpected mini-ginkoo!

It is hard to express how very much I appreciated the presence and the encouragement by the Haiku Patrons and teachers. I know you are very busy people, particularly at this time of exams, and it is not a given that you can take a whole afternoon out of your schools. Your commitment is wonderful, and the students appreciate it as much as I do! Please receive my gratitude and know that I shall do my utmost to co-operate with you to make the haiku venture a success for all.

You have given the students a wonderful chance! Looking at them today, listening to their eager questions, it is easy to forget that, a year ago, none of them had ever heard of haiku or practised computing and very few had had any contacts with their colleagues in the other schools. This has been a wonderful co-operative success, and the haijin have written so much that is beautiful, inspiring and touching. Dear haijin, if you continue to make progress at this pace, Kenya will soon become one of those countries known internationally to have excellent haiku!

Here are a few of the many haiku written during the day -- thank you, haijin, for the shower of haiku reflecting the day and the season.

my sister is back
with muddy shoes and socks --
my gumboots

Agnes Adhiambo (Peacock)


wet school uniforms
spend days on the line --
students miss school

David Caleb Mutua (Peacock)


children chasing
running everywhere in mud --
looking dirty

Anonymous


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

Paul Brown


raindrops cling on grass
catch the sunbeams sending
lights that dazzle eyes

Raymond Otieno (Bamboocha)


graphic and drawings
stuck on the wall --
hey! they are beautiful!

Anonymous (Falcon)

Greetings to you all, and profound thanks,

Isabelle.


Feed-back from the Director of WHC Worldkigo

Dear Friends from Kenya,
whow, this is such a good news indeed!
I forwarded it to all my haiku friends and I will start my day today with a big happy smile !

Thanks to all who help to spread the word of Haiku in Kenya. Dear old Basho and Issa will be pleased to receive this message in their haiku heaven !

With best wishes and may all your plans come true!
GABI


Feed-back from India and the USA

Gabi sensei, our Director in Japan, had sent my message to her haiku friends in other parts of the world, and some of them responded to send in congratulations.

This is from one of our great haijin friends in India, Kala Ramesh :

Truly what giant progress in such a short while!
It clearly underlines the effort and selfless love that you've shown
for promoting this art form.

My heartfelt wishes for a grand haiku future in Kenya!
Warmly,
kala


And this is from William Higginson (we have two of his books!) in the USA :

Quite a decent selection of first results for a new group of haiku recruits! I look forward to seeing more from these and other young Kenyans. Perhaps Dag Hammarskjold's favorite short-poem form will become as much of an ambassador for inter-human understanding as he himself was, or moreso.

I had to particularly smile at the rubber boots poem, watching my two grandsons and Penny's granddaughter and grandson at work and play. (I am an only child, so never had the pleasure (?) of my sibling borrowing my footwear.)

Some of these wouldn't look at all out of place in our magazines.

Congratulations to all involved, including you!

Well done!
Isabelle.

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Related words

BAHATI Haiku Club, Kenya
FALCON Haiku Club, Kenya
OAKS Haiku Club, Kenya
PEACOCK Haiku Club, Kenya
SPIDER Haiku Club, Kenya


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Ramadan in Kenya

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Ramadan in Kenya

***** Location: Kenya
***** Season: Varies from year to year (Muslim calendar)
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Kenya’s Muslim population is distributed unevenly throughout the country and is by far the most numerous in Mombasa and along the Indian Ocean coast. In Nairobi, Muslims constitute some 10 percent of the population, many of whom (particularly those with Somali roots) are concentrated in Eastleigh, while others (with roots in Pakistan) live in Pangani and others again are scattered throughout the city.

The introduction following below was drafted and compiled by the Peacocks Haiku Club of St Mathew Secondary School, Kayole (Nairobi), and was orally presented as a haibun on 3 November 2006. It has been only slightly edited by me for this kigo page.

A big THANK YOU to the Peacocks!

Isabelle Prondzynski



Photo by Patrick Wafula, 2006

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What is Ramadhan?
It is the holy month in which Muslims worldwide fast for normally thirty days. The days of fasting start and end with the sighting of the crescent moon by the Imams.

The action of fasting is called saumu. Muslims wish each other saumu makbol, happy feasting, or successful fasting.

saumu makbol --
muslims in white robes
whisper to each other
Ann Nechesa

Expectations during the month of Ramadhan

Muslims are supposed to fast from dawn to dusk. They are not to take anything, not even by swallowing excess saliva :

men and women
with dry lips and full of silence --
scent of delicious meals
Husseini Haji

However, there is a group exempted from the fast and allowed to eat. This includes those seriously sick, women having their monthly periods, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and babies.

smell of garlic
pregnant sister throws up --
her face is wrinkled
Loise Wangechi

Muslims try not to engage in any sinful activities whatsoever.

They do much praying as they believe that Ramadhan is the month of seeking forgiveness.

allah akbar --
sound the horn speakers,
dawn and noon prayers
Jelidah Kerubo

The time they start fasting each morning is called Suhur and the time they stop fasting each evening is called Iftar. These times depend on sunrise and sunset in the relevant place and are given each day in the Press and on television following the news bulletins. Even within Kenya, each location has its own Ramadhan timetable.

wake up! wake up!
it is time for daku
mum calls at night
Khadija Rajab

(daku is a meal served at 4.00 am -- it is a heavy meal)



Married couples are not supposed to indulge in sexual activities during the day, as the act is considered sinful.

Ramadhan in Kayole and Soweto

During Ramadhan, the Peacocks observe the following things in their own environment :

(1) Markets are full
This is caused by the Muslims who go shopping for their foodstuffs to cook at night.

all day fasting --
shopping in the evening,
food aromas at night
Alex Murage

(2) Prices of foodstuffs increase
Sellers increase their prices due to the increase in customers (Muslims).

having meals together
and being kind to all people --
it is Ramadhan again
Husseini Haji

(3) Much spitting of saliva
As Muslims are not allowed to swallow the excess saliva, they have to spit it out.

(4) Shying away from work
Although during Ramadhan Muslims are expected to work, some shy away from work and remain passive through the day.

(5) Multitudes visit the Mosque
The number of Muslims visiting the Mosque tends to rise abruptly.

allah akbar --
sound the horn speakers,
dawn and noon prayers
Jelidah Kerubo

The Mosque programme changes as follows :

5.00 am Fajir (two rakaats)
1.00 pm Dhuhur (four rakaats)
4.00 pm Asir (four rakaats)
6.00 pm Magharib (three rakaats)
8.00 pm Isha (four rakaats)

Rakaats : These are the number of times that the worshipper bows down. The rakaats are compulsory and the above are the minimum times per visit.

Taraweh : This is the longest prayer, prayed at 8.00 pm during Ramadhan only and comprising of 21 rakaats. It is not compulsory.

Tahajud : This is a prayer consisting of 8 rakaats, of which one rakaat can take twenty minutes. Prayed only during Ramadhan.

bending in mosques
obeying rules of fasting --
it is Al-Ramadhan again
Beth Mwangi

(6) Men, women and children shine
During the holy month, men put on kanzus (white gowns), women put on buibuis (black wrappers) and diras, and children also are kept smart looking.

men in robes and turbans
whispering to each other --
evening shopping
Beth Mwangi

(7) Distribution of food to the less fortunate
Muslims visit rehabilitation centres and homes of destitute children and donate things like foodstuffs, clothes, stationery and many other things during the month of Ramadhan.

women in black wrappers
serving street kids with food --
Ramadhan karim
Peris Wanjiru


These are some of the observations, there are many other minor ones.

How does the holy month end?

Idd-ul-Fittr is the next day after the last day of fasting. Fasting ends when the new moon is sighted anywhere in the world. Once it has been seen, the Imams (Muslim leaders) communicate and announce the end of fasting.

Ramadhan is gone
it’s time for feast after fasting --
the new moon appears
Winnie Wairimu

First, Muslims go to the Mosque and sing Idd-ul-Takbir. Idd-ul-Takbir is sung to mark the end of fasting and the beginning of celebrations. Idd-ul-Fittr is celebrated in many ways, including cooking in the Mosques (pilau -- cooked rice with added ingredients and spices), going out to visit, and sharing with less fortunate families to make sure that everyone has celebrated.

Idd-ul-Fittr is a public holiday in Kenya and has its own kigo entry.


http://www.eastandard.net/images/wednesday/hmpg241006.jpg
Pic by Jacob Otieno
Master Mohammed Yunus (right) and his brother look up as their father and other Muslim faithful pray to mark the end of Ramadhan at Sir Ali Muslim Grounds in Nairobi, yesterday.

Ramadhan may be followed by Sitah, which is the prolonged fasting for six days following Ramadhan. It is not compulsory, but one day of Sitah represents 100 days of fasting.


Why the Peacocks consider that Ramadhan is a season

Ramadhan is celebrated annually and is a holy month. Also, Ramadhan is an activity and takes a long time (30 days). Even though some of us are not Muslims, Ramadhan affects all of us in one way or another and we feel it should not be ignored.

David Caleb Mutua, Peacocks’ Chairman,
St Mathew Secondary School, Form 3.


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Another view from Kayole

I feel a lot of respect for the Muslims in Ramadhan. In the first place, there is a mosque across from our residence and we hear more frequent Allah akbar Allah akbar than on normal days. The most notable aspect of it are the numerous pairs of shoes at the doorstep of the mosque at noon, and of course the very new humble and kind attitude of the Muslims...
To me the most notable thing about the Ramadhan is the 5am prayer alert which makes me wake with a start and remain sleepless till day break. This kind of Allah akbar is so shrill since dawn is very still and sound travels low at night...

numerous pairs of shoes
at the mosque door steps-
Ramadan prayers

Patrick Wafula (Patron Bamboochas)

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More information here :
http://www.iqra.net/articles/Ramadhan/ramadhan1.htm


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Worldwide use

Ramadan and Haiku Worldwide

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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

Peacocks

Ramadhan time --
very obedient and humble
muslims all over the country

Anges Adhiambo


muslims walk around
full of Oriental aromas --
noon prayers

Beth Mwangi


Allahu akbar
at crack of dawn in Mosques --
God is really great

Jacinta Minoo

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Bamboochas

in front of Rashid
is a cross-legged Salim-
Qurans in hand

the Muslim community
congregate in Mosques-
Ramadhan is here again

late evening,
outside Soweto Mosque-
delicious pilau

suhur and iftar-
Ramadhan timetable
is here again

busy helping
the poor and needy-
mission for all Muslims

~ Catherine Njeri


fatigued faces
ready to fill hungry stomachs
and thirsty throats

~ Depporah Mocheche


it's Ramadhan again-
Muslims clad in white robs,
fasting all day long

no food all day long-
the ninth month of their year,
fasting and praying

Nairobi streets,
flowing with Muslims
going to Mosque to pray

~ Cyprian Awino


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August moon-
the first fajr adhan
in to Ramadhan

FAJR- one of the prayers of Muslims which is done early in the morning
ADHAN- a call for Muslims to pray

Hussein Haji

. . . . .

endless yawning
with strong saum-
Ramadhan

SAUM- the act of fasting during the month of Ramadhan


adhan-
Muslims rushing to the mosque
swallah time

SWALLAH- Muslims prayer (another word to mean prayer)

Khadijah Rajab


MORE : Ramadan Haiku 2010


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From the Shiki Monthly Kukai August 2010


Ramadan -
she washes her feet under
August moonlight

~ Bamboocha


young August moon -
the Ramadan timetable
in the dailies

~ Patrick Wafula

. Kenya Saijiki Forum


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Related words

***** Ramadan
..... Ramazan, Berat Kandil Turkey 　 Leylatul Berat, Laylatul Barat
..... Ramadan ends (Idd ul Fitr) Kenya


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Ramadan and religious kigo
Discussion about this subject


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Maize, Green Maize

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Green Maize

***** Location: Kenya and neighbouring countries
***** Season: Cool dry season, hot dry season
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Maize harvested before it is quite ripe, while it is still fairly soft, is called Green Maize. This food is greatly enjoyed, as it is the first output of the staple grain during the season, and it can sometimes be the first harvested food after a period of hunger, even famine.

The maize cobs are sold in street markets, still covered by their inner leaves. They may also be sold freshly boiled or grilled, for immediate consumption on the spot.

Green maize is particularly appreciated for making soft mûkimû or gîtheri suitable for elderly people who may have lost some of their teeth. However, it is not suited for storage -- which means that the maize eaten for most of the year consists of the ripe grains, decobbed, sundried and stored in a safe place until needed.

The main page for maize, covering further maize related kigo in Kenya, may be found here :
Maize / Corn

Isabelle Prondzynski.

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Here is a delicious plate of gîtheri -- enjoy!


http://img1.travelblog.org/Photos/12529/67575/f/405255-githeri--my-favourite-food-0.jpg

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Worldwide use

The Kenyan Green Maize is equivalent to the yellow maize eaten as sweetcorn or corn on the cob in many other countries. The main difference is the maize variety -- Kenya maize being white rather than yellow, and therefore less sweet and more savoury in flavour.

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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

fresh grain of maize
on the dry Kayole street --
sharp eyes of the hen

~ Isabelle Prondzynski

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From Bahati Haiku Poetry Club (The Bamboochas) :

a swarm of houseflies
on cobs and leftovers--
green maize

~ David Wandera

蝿の群れ 青唐黍の 屑の上
hae no mure ao tookibi no kuzu no ue
Translation by Nakamura Sakuo


boiled maize --
jaws move up and down
chewing hard

~ Depporah Mocheche


a man
with his customer by his side
roasting maize

~ Walter Ochola


Green maize roaster, January 2005
Photo : Isabelle Prondzynski


at Soweto Market--
men unloading maize
from a blue lorry

~ Raymond Otieno

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at the fireside --
happy kids telling stories
as they roast maize

~ Kevin Safari

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early morning
kids chase weaverbirds
from their green maize

~ Patrick Wafula

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From Falcons Haiku Poetry Club (Lorna Waddington) :

maize in the garden
standing still on the farm
Kadima enjoys the taste

~ Susan


elephants enjoying
the villagers chasing them
beating drums

~ Simon


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warm steam from
the boiled maize sufuria--
evening showers

Hussein Haji


Sufuria cooking pot


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Related words

***** Maize / Corn as a kigo


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Oranges

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Oranges and Mandarin Oranges

***** Location: Kenya, other areas
***** Season: various, see below
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

In Kenya, oranges (Swahili : Mchungwa)
are a kigo for the cool dry season.

While imported oranges are nowadays available all year round, the Kenya grown oranges are ripe in the cool dry season and are the most popular oranges in Kenya..

Kenya does not have an ideal climate to grow oranges, since it lacks a sufficiently cold season. Oranges are less beautiful to behold than those grown in more temperate climates, with slightly rough skins, staying on the yellow-green side. They are therefore not exported, and the entire orange harvest is available to the Kenyan population.

Oranges are popular in Kenya, and are sold at roadside stalls, usually in piles of 4 or 5 fruit, at very affordable prices. Passers-by who have bought them, may decide to consume one immediately, sucking the flesh and the juice from the fruit quartered by the hawker.



As the fruit are slightly bitter, they are also well suited to making marmalade, which is cooked in many larger households and in small businesses in the country and is both popular and tasty.

Orange juice, orange squash, orange pop and orange flavoured sweets are also much enjoyed in Kenya, but have only the name in common with the orange fruit. A friend of mine, who once learnt how to produce orange squash for sale, was shocked to realise that this contained only chemicals and water -- and asked her children never to drink it again!

Other citrus fruit which grow well in Kenya, are the lemon, the lime and the tangerine. The lemon is juicy and full of flavour, while the lime is delicious, and is used for fresh drinks, as well as in several fish recipes.

Isabelle Prondzynski

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Citrus sinensis -- Orange tree

Exotic, native to southern China, Vietnam

Local names : Mchungwa (Swahili), Muchungwa (Luganda)

A shrub or small tree, growing 4-6 m in height; it is widespread in regions with tropical and temperate climates.

Bark : Grey-brown; branches greenish brown, armed with spines.
Leaves : Simple; alternate; spicily aromatic when crushed.
Flowers : Small; regular; 5 white petals; free; scented; attract bees.
Fruit : A hesperidium (as in all citrus); green to orange when ripe.
Uses : The family Rutaceae includes the orange (citrus sinensis), lemon (citrus limon), tangerine (citrus reticulata), grapefruit (citrus paradisi) and lime (citrus aurantifolia). All citrus fruits are juicy, full of Vitamin C, and used to make jams, jellies, marmalade and fruit squash. Wood is used as firewood. Flowers, leaves and peel produce aromatic oil.

Najma Dharani
Field Guide to common trees and shrubs of East Africa, Cape Town 2002.


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Worldwide use


Florida (USA)
oranges (the fruit)
kigo for winter

orange blossoms are around in February.


evening stroll
the scent of orange trees
lingering

Judith Gorgone
WKD Facebook, November 2009


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Japan


mikan 蜜柑 (みかん) tangerine, oranges, grapefruit
Mikan, mandarin orange with more kigo
Kankitsu, kankitsurui かんきつるい (柑橘類) citrus fruit
かんきつ類



samaa orenji サマーオレンジ summer orange
kigo for early summer


Orange juice, Orange squash,
orenji sukasshu オレンジスカッシュ
kigo for all summer

A cold drink, usually with ice cubes.

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Turkey

kigo for winter

Traditionally oranges and tangerines are december fruits in Turkish markets.
Isa
WKD : Turkey Saijiki


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Things found on the way

Kenya

During the national referendum on the proposed new Constitution in 2005, the symbols allocated to the “yes” and “no” campaigns, were the banana and the orange, respectively. Several political groupings got together under the orange banner, and adopted the name of the Orange Democratic Movement. Having won the referendum, they continued their joint activities and are currently in the process of becoming a new political party.

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The colour orange is very popular in Kenyan textiles, particularly among the Kikuyus and Maasais. Traditional wraparound cloths, called kanga, often use yellow and orange patters in the ever changing designs.


Bahati Secondary School students in a drama performance

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Mchungwa can also be a term of endearment by a boy for the girl of his love. In the mid 1990s, a series of highly popular Kikuyu stories and songs about a girl named Gachûngwa (“little orange”) delighted the country, stayed at the top of the pops for many weeks and was played all over the matatus (minibuses) and village homes.

Text and photo : Isabelle Prondzynski

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HAIKU

sunrise
in the orange grove --
heart singing in prayer

Isabelle Prondzynski

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mummy and daddy
sucking fresh orange juice
sharing a happy moment

Susan Wangui (Bamboocha)


I suck the juice sac
from the sweet fleshy orange --
flies buzz past my face

Cyprian Awino (Bamboocha)


orange in a market
crowded by students shouting
yellowish one is mine

Solomon (Falcon)


ODM at a rally
a crowd gather cheering as
they throw oranges

Beatrice (Falcon)


my grandfather's beard
stained with orange juice --
his sticky lips

Catherine Njeri (Bamboochas)


juicy finger tips,
sucking lips --
orange peels in the compound

Hisseini Haji (Peacock)


jovial faces
sticky fingers and mouths --
orange snacks

Beth Mwangi (Peacock)


sharp thumb nail
cuts the yellow orange peel-
juice flows down the elbow

Anne Nechesa (Patron, Peacocks)


choked by thistles as
Tom carries a basket of oranges
down a tree

Patrick Wafula (Patron, Bamboochas)


a plate of food on one hand
an orange on the other --
what a meal

Anthony Njoroge


my brother comes in
with an orange in his hand --
how selfish he looks!

Agnes Adhiambo (Peacock)


Soweto market-
a big orange attracts me
to the stall

Brian Mulando in August 2012


More ORANGES HAIKU from Kenya are here !

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tiny sour oranges--
a kabuki actor
with bleached hair

© Fay Aoyagi - Roadrunner Magazine

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winter picnic
another orange peel
hits the compost

oranges and sunshine
he runs his bare toes
through the grass

orange alert
children surround the bowl
of tangerines

Copyright © 2000-2005 by Heather Madrone .

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Related words

***** Mandarin Oranges, mikan　みかん、蜜柑

blossoms of the mandarin oranges, mikan no hana
蜜柑の花
flowering mikan, hana mikan 花蜜柑
kigo for early summer


I remember driving through some islands of the Inland Sea of Japan, famous for its mikan plantations on the steep hills, where the smell of the mikan flowers was so strong in the air ! The flowers are rather small and hardly to be seen, but the nose was enchanted !
Gabi Greve

ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo


mandarin orange, the fruit, mikan　蜜柑
Mikan, mandarin orange (kigo list)
kigo for all winter
the fruit of Citrus reticulata, eaten almost on a daily basis in Japan.

Click HERE for some photos


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Winners May 2006

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Winners of the Ginkoo in Kayole, Nairobi (Kenya)

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Short Biographies


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Miriam Nyambura (Bamboochas)

Miriam is a girl aged 20. She is in Form 4 at Bahati Community Centre Secondary school in the outskirts of Nairobi City, on the brink where upcountry begins.

Miriam writes:
"I joined Bahati Community Centre in January 2006 because I heard that there was Poetry in this school. I was very impressed and fascinated by Haiku and therefore, I joined Haiku club. I am very social and it took me a very short time to make friends with haiku poets in the club, and learn how haiku is written. Haiku has expanded my creativity, enhanced my character, and sharpened my senses of observation and hearing and recording what I see.

I wrote this poem about goats and cows and it emerged the 3rd best during the ginkoo on May 27th:

cows and goats
scatered all over the place
grazing up and down

I wrote this poem because I saw cows and goats grazing harmoniuosly together without harming each other, so to me, they portrayed a loving character to each other. Even though they were cows and goats, I could see they have a very good fellowship even when they are scattered all over the place. At that moment I wished I could be a goat.

All in all, haiku has influenced many students to write it in their schools.

"My ambition is to become the most famous poet in the whole world. My career is to become a policewoman. My hobbies and interests are volleyball and football. I would like to get penpals from Japan, Germany, USA, UK and Mexico."

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Cyprian Awino

Age: 19
Class: Form 3
Sex: female
School: Bahati Community Centre Secondary School

I have always been interested in poetry. But since there was no Poetry Club in the school, I couldn’t express my ambition. When Haiku Poetry Club was introduced in the school in January 2006, it was a God-sent opportunity. I joined the club and learned how to write haiku and I was later appointed the assistant secretary of our club.

I love haiku because of its importance to nature and how it promotes and enhances youth talents and environment conservation. I strongly believe I have the potential of a poetess.

The situation in which I was when I was writing the haiku during the ginkoo on May 27th was that I was in a very exuberant and peaceful mood with nature. At that time, I saw a child eating a fleshy avocado and that made me feel very hungry because I had not eaten anything since morning. That child was a little girl and the way she was eating the avocado was so natural and very harmonious with the surrounding.

I have gained a great deal since I started writing haiku. First, my attitude towards the environment changed completely. I have become very friendly to the environment. I have gained a lot of experience in poetry through interaction with other poets. I have also gained technologically through computer training. Hitherto, I had never set my eyes on computer, but now I have an e-mail address and can surf on the Internet.

My ambition in haiku is to expose more people to environmental conservation and how to appreciate nature. I would like to become a great poetess. Lastly, I appreciate Isabelle san for her great concern about us. I wish her a long long and prosperous life. Indeed she has made me who I am.

My favourite subject is English literature. I would like to become a doctor. I would love to get in touch with penpals from Japan, UK, USA, Germany and South Africa.

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Debborah Mocheche

Age: 15
Sex: Female
School: Bahati Community Centre Secondary School
Class: Form 2

I joined Bahati when I came from upcountry to live with my aunt. I joined Bahati Haiku Poetry Club in January 2006. At first, I didn’t know much about haiku, but after Mr. Wafula taught us and then Isabelle san came and gave us more tips, I felt confident enough to try writing haiku. After several trials, I became used to putting down small but interesting observations about nature in haiku form. Now haiku is to me like the oxygen I breathe.

When I was writing the haiku during the May 27th extravaganza I was feeling that all my senses were watchful and I was very close to nature.

Haiku has helped me to know how to observe seasons. I have also known how to write and speak English. I have learned different types of seasons and what happens during these seasons.

My ambition is to become a nurse. I would like penpals from Japan, UK, USA and Germany.

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Raymond Otieno

Age: 24
Sex: Male
Schoool: Bahati Community Centre Secondary School
Class: From 2

I joined Bahati Haiku Poetry Club in January 2006. I have risen from a naïve poet to a coordinator in this club. Haiku has promoted me academically, socially and environmentally. I have developed a positive attitude towards nature and its seasons. Secondly, I had never used a computer before but through haiku I now know how to operate a computer. I now speak haiku, eat haiku and think haiku and I have become a man of few words since I can speak a whole novel in just three lines.

My greatest experience in this club is the unforgettable day of May 27th 2006. It was the day of my greatest haiku poem :

rain has ended
footprints remain dry on paths
kids stumble and fall

That day I was in a haiku mood. I was feeling jovial and flamboyant. I felt that I should write about anything that come across my sight including my situation. And just before I could close my notebook, a small boy stumbled and fell and cried bitterly. This made me to study keenly the cause of the fall, only to find a footprint. Why was it there? I asked myself. Answer : this ground was once wet and muddy from the previous rain. That is how I came up with this haiku.

I look forward to becoming the greatest poet of all time and to use poetry to change people’s attitude towards the environment particularly here in Soweto where people are oblivious of environmental conservation.

I would like pen friends from Japan, USA and any other part of the world.

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Jeremiah Osewe

Age: 18
Sex: Male
School: Bahati Community Centre Secondary School
Class: Form 3

I joined Bhatai Haiku Poetry Club in February 2006. I had been longing to be in a Poetry Club but there had been none until BHPC came into existence. Haiku is fun and it enhances one’s sense of creativity and environmental consciousness.

When I was writing that haiku on that day of the ginkoo, I was extremely hungry and the weather was too hot and not favourable for a walk.

I would like to get in touch with penpals from any country in the world. My interests are poetry, football and music (Gospel).

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o

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!!! BACK to the Ginkoo in Kayole
http://kenyasaijiki.blogspot.com/2005/02/bahati-060527.html

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THE KENYA SAIJIKI
Please send your contributions to
Gabi Greve / Isabelle Prondzynski
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Bahati 060527

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Ginkoo in Kayole, Nairobi (Kenya)
Bahati Community Secondary School, 27 May 2006


Education is Treasure

On 9 January 2006, when the Bahati Haiku Poetry Club (nickname : The Bamboochas) was born, the members were immediately eager to advance and progress in haiku themselves, and to do this together with their colleagues in neighbouring schools. That very first day, the idea was born to host a Ginkoo (吟行) in May 2006 and to invite other schools to participate.

During the following weeks, the Bamboochas studied and practised haiku under their teacher, Patrick Wafula (Patrick Sensei) and enjoyed themselves thoroughly -- as their name implies. Once they reached the mid-term break, they set out to present the art of haiku to the neighbouring schools, all of which liked the idea and decided to set up their own haiku clubs :

Embakazi Secondary School - The Oaks
Brookfield Secondary School - The Spiders
St Matthew’s Secondary School - The Peacocks
Lorna Waddington High School - The Falcons

Each of these clubs chose a patron among the teachers and started writing haiku. During April and May 2006, they organised a series of mini-ginkoo, one by one, and invited representatives of the other haiku clubs to join them.


Photo 1 : Welcome sign at the Bahati tent.

They also made contact with the Japan Information & Culture Centre of the Embassy of Japan in Kenya and invited the Director, Mr Shinya Machida, to be Guest of Honour at the forthcoming Ginkoo. Mr Kiruri Gachie of the Japanese Department, Kenyatta University, was also invited, as were the Japanese community members resident in Kenya.



Photo 2 : Mr Shinyo Machida (Director of the Japan Information and Culture Centre), Mr Kiruri Gachie (Japanese Department of Kenyatta University), Ms Yooko Enomoto (Co-ordinator of the Japanese Association of Kenya).

A committee was formed in the local community, to take charge of the organisation and planning for the ginkoo, and the scouts were mobilised to contribute to the occasion. Almost 250 participants and guests were invited, including the local Chief and Sub District Officer as well as the Officer in Charge of the Police Post.

Finally, the day dawned to warm sunshine and great activity at Bahati School, as the tent was erected in front of the building and the haiku club members arrived in very good time, paper and pen in hand. Soon, many of the students were going through final rehearsals for their presentations, planned for the afternoon. I too was there early, enjoying the festive mood and the anticipation keenly felt by all.

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The gathering started soon after 11.00 hrs, with the Kenyan and Japanese flags raised together by the Kenya Scouts, and the Kenyan National Anthem sung.

Photo 3 : Kenya and Japanese flags being raised by the Kenya Scouts

(Unfortunately we can not add all the photos here. Please click on the LINK to see the photos in the Bahati Club Photo Album. )

The Patrons introduced their respective haiku clubs -- and we finally heard why they had chosen their meaningful nicknames :

the Peacocks for the instant readiness of the bird, as well as its beauty,
the Oaks for the strength and durability of the tree,
the Falcons for the keen vision of the bird,
and the Bamboochas for the refreshment which their haiku would bring.



Photo 4 : The haiku clubs ready for action

There was a lot of cheering. Everyone was happy to be there, and to join with the members of the other clubs -- they had already become friends through sharing in the mini-ginkoo. This was the first time that the four schools had come together for an event, the first time that Bahati had hosted an event for the wider community, the first haiku ginkoo ever in Kenya (as far as we know!) -- and we even believe it may have been the biggest haiku event in the world on 27 May 2006. There was great joy in Bahati!

Photo 5 : Eager Falcons listening to the opening speeches

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Mr Machida spoke to the gathering about the tradition of haiku in Japan, the history underlying it, and how it had continued into the present day, since it was grounded in the seasons and in nature. Even as it moved beyond Japan and into new territories, it was this link with nature and the seasons which made it adaptable to any culture and any country. Mr Machida was happy to see this first blossoming of haiku in Kenya, and wished the haiku clubs every success as they continued to learn and to practise.

As the Moderator of Kenya Saijiki, I then sent the students out to start their ginkoo. Observe keenly, and write no more than three haiku. The kigo (if used) could be from either the long rains, or from the cool dry season, as we were right between the two. The students then set out and, very soon, they had scattered in a 500 m radius around the school, heading off in different directions, often in small groups.

Bahati School is situated right next to Kayole River, which at this time was showing the effects of the long rains, with a lot of rubbish (including signs of sewage) washed up on the banks around the school. Several students devoted their attention to the river and its banks, all observing different aspects and drawing different conclusions. Thus, some of the poets observed the dirt and the smell, while others noticed how the deposits were helping nearby maize and bananas to grow!


Photo 6 : Falcon deeply focused on Kayole River

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After an hour, the students returned, and there was great excitement and a feeling of achievement. Everyone then selected their very best haiku of the day, writing it on a piece of colourful origami paper, and handing it over to the jury. Names were not included, only the haiku clubs were identified.

Photo 7 : Haiku submissions

While the jury retired to the cool courtyard of the school, the haiku clubs entertained the guests with lively presentations of poetry and drama, which they had rehearsed for the event. Sodas were enjoyed, bread and biscuits consumed, and much fun was had by all, while anticipation mounted.

Photo 8 : The jury in action

The jury needed quite some time to reach its conclusions on the winners -- luckily, we had a cool space within the school, where we deliberated and grouped the individual haiku entries with weights of water bottles, stones, spectacles and anything else that came to hand!

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Before starting on the prize giving as such, Kiruri Gachie congratulated all the young poets on their work and the beautiful haiku they had written, and encouraged them to keep learning and practising. Being in touch with Kenya Saijiki and Worldkigo by internet would help them to exchange with poets in other countries, as well as learning from today’s masters.

The prize giving started with places 11 to 18 (in no particular order), followed by places 4 to 10 (again, in no particular order, with each poet receiving a Japanese cup). Then, the winners so far posed for a photograph :


Photo 9 : The winners of places 4 to 18

Finally, special prizes to the winners of places 3, 2 and 1 : a haiku notebook from Japan sent by Dr Gabi Greve, the Director of the World Haiku Club’s Worldkigo. A book or a painting went to each of the top three, as well as a Japanese cup and a book on Japan from Mr Machida. The winner of the first prize received a beautiful Ikebana calendar from the "Japanese Cultural Centre".


Photo 10 : The first three prizewinners, Grace Wanjau, Oseme Jeremiah and Miriam Nyambura

The atmosphere was wonderful -- more words of thanks were conveyed and received, and no one wanted to leave. Conversations continued, more photos were taken, but finally, the tent was dismantled and the students went home. There will certainly be more events -- the next one will most likely be a learning event, hosted by the Japanese Cultural Centre.

It was a beautiful day, and an unforgettable memory for most of us. The good wishes of Kenya Saijiki and Worldkigo were passed on and savoured, and we enjoyed being part of a world wide movement and being upheld by world wide good wishes.

Congratulations to everyone -- Bamboochas, Falcons, Oaks and Peacocks, as well as the organising committee -- and we look forward to welcoming the Spiders with us next time!

Isabelle Prondzynski


!!! Please click here to read the greetings from Gabi Greve and Sakuo Nakamura !!!

. Read short biographies of the winners of this contest .


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HAIKU

The prize winning haiku were as follows :

（Japanese by Nakamura Sakuo）


1.
strong and healthy maize
due to sewage nutrients --
very green colour

-- Grace Wanjau (Falcons)

唐黍や汚水で育つ青々と
tookibi ya osui de sodatsu aoao to


Photo 11 : Haiku student observing Kayole River


2.
a green insect
crawling in green grasses
sucking green sap

-- Oseme Jeremiah (Bamboochas)

青虫や　青葉を這って　青汁チュウ
aomushi ya aoba o hatte aojiru chu~



3.
goats and cows
scattered all over the place
grazing up and down

-- Miriam Nyambura (Bamboochas)

山羊羊　散りて草食み　上下へ
yagi to ushi chirite kusa hami ue shita e



4. - 10. (in alphabetical order of author name)

happy looking child
eats fleshy avocado --
no hunger at last

-- Cyprian Awino (Bamboochas)

幸せな 子　アボガド食べる 飢えは無し
shiawase na ko abocado taberu ue wa nashi


along the river bank
always green butterflies pounce
happily on cool grass

-- Gideon Gichamba (Peacocks)


cool, calm afternoon --
group of students crouch over
the grass for a bed

-- Kennedy Odhiambo (Bamboochas)


steps up and down
up the hills down the valleys
trying to observe

-- Olande E. Nancy (Oaks)

Photo 12 : Haiku students observing and writing


young African girl
looking confused
cutting kales

-- Ouko Hellen (Falcons)


rain has ended
footprints remain dry on the paths
kids stumble and fall

-- Raymond Otieno (Bamboochas)

Photo 13 : Children stuck in a dried rut (picture taken same day)


Kayole river
flooded with sewage
ugh! bad odour

-- Samuel Mwangi (Falcons)


11. - 18. (in alphabetical order of author name)

coloured petals
sprung like mushrooms
Njeri get decoration

-- Bonface Mutua (Falcons)


green turns to grey
crops mature as plants shed
as sun shines

-- David Wandera (Bamboochas)


dried up lips
thirsty throats in hotels
babies barefooted

-- Deborah Mocheche (Bamboochas)


bidens pilosa
growing taller and taller
shining everywhere

-- Felix Muyao (Bamboochas)


under the shade
people are squeezed
loosening their clothes

-- Lameck Odhiambo (Bamboochas)


"ten, ten, jeans!"
a man selling pants
they are so big

-- Mercy Keago (Falcons)


dust on shoes
as people walk down and up
along Soweto slum

-- Sammy Opagala (Bamboochas)


healthy bananas
using sewage manure --
very attractive

-- Samson Munga (Falcons)



Photo 14 : Closing the Ginkoo

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Related Entries

***** Bahati Haiku Poetry Club

BAHATI HAIKU POETRY CLUB, Records of all Haiku Collections

Look at the Bahati Haiku Poetry Club Photo Album

*****************************
THE KENYA SAIJIKI

Please send your contributions to
Gabi Greve / Isabelle Prondzynski
worldkigo .....

Back to the WHC Worldkigo Index