As the world changes, people, especially the youths, have decided to no longer shy away from issues that affect them. But have decided to approach them with sobriety, fearlessness and sometimes even confrontation.
One of the avenues through which the youth in Nairobi approach their issues is through art. They use poetry, music, and plays to confront their fears and in attempting to answer the questions that they grapple with in their everyday lives.
Sitawa Wafula underwent an abuse in her life. She says that she underwent such a strong depression. “I was raped by my boyfriend’s friend and that really destroyed my trust in people. But I discovered that there was no way I was going to get depressed for life”, she says.
As a poet, she has decided to always tell her story through poetry. “It keeps me alive. It ministers and heals my pains”, she says. Another example is Wario. She was raped as a young girl but has refused to keep it a secret.
“When he hurt me, my life changed. I was confused”, she says. But talking about it has kept her strong.
It’s because of this that a group of professionals led by Oduor Jagero (with Koa as a stage name) came up with the idea of starting up a platform where the youth can share issues of their hurts freely. Being the head of Drama at The All Saints Cathedral, he teamed up with other Drama members and started Poetry Spot.
Poetry Spot is a monthly poetry recital, reading, and narration that takes place at the complex within the church. “When we started Poetry Spot, we weren’t looking at it snowballing into such a huge movement and actually as the biggest poetry in Nairobi”, says Jagero.
“It was meant to be something basically for the church youth, but when we took it to Facebook, it got its magic touch”, he adds.
Poetry Spot hosts about 500 guests every month. The organizers decided to open up this event as a free event to attract the youth that mostly ignore such functions because they cannot afford the entry fees.
“We have no reason to charge people”, Jagero says. “The administration of the All Saints Complex has donated a free hall, free drinks and snacks. We therefore have no reason to charge these youths”.
Apart from Poetry Spot, Jagero and three friends have decided to form even a bigger group in order to offer a platform to the Kenyan youth.
Hosanna Paratroopers.
“As journalist, I have talked to so many youths and what I have realised during my conversation with them is that they lack a platform. This platform is not just to showcase their talents but to talk about who they are, the fears they face, and how to solve them”.
“So we decided to start Hosanna Paratroopers. Just like a paratrooper responds to needs, we decided to be a people that can respond to the needs of the heart, spirit and body. Making the youth realize who they are through what they can do”, Jagero says. Hosanna’s mission is to provide the youth with a platform to talk about issues affecting them even as they find what they can do in life. It offers mentorship and assists artists in realizing their potential.
Hosanna Team consists of Oduor Jagero, journalist Makoe Wabengo, a policy analyst with a consultancy firm, Valentine Ataka, a lawyer, Murage Dickson, a Geo-Spatial Engineer, and George Njuguna, a web specialist.
Confessions of a Harlot
Hosanna Paratroopers is staging a unique stage play this Easter. “Confessions of a Harlot” is the story of one young woman who runs away from an abusive father to Nairobi City. Unable to find a job, Jasmine decides to rethink about what she can do.
Jasmine decides to become a sex worker. Her area of showcasing is Koinage Street and lives in a fictitious flat codenamed Koinange Flats. She has a string of clientele – Ministers, mps, CEOs, managers. Life is good. But the bitterness against her father does not go away.
She finally confronts the bitterness and the guilt.
“This play is a true story with fictitious characters. It bares what goes on in this city”, says the playwright, Jagero. “The society needs to understand the issues behind immorality and perversion. It lies deeper than the superficial that people see and condemn. The societal issues, I believe must be judged on people’s upbringing”.
The play seeks to give some of the underlying issues in cases of self-degradation, bitterness, anger and unforgiving spirit.
Linda Shiku a student Goethe Institute, Nairobi, stars as the lead character (and harlot). She is supported by Angela, A TV host with KBC, Peter of Jicho Four Productions, and other formidable actors and actresses in Nairobi.
The play is written and produced by Jagero and directed by Ataka.
The show premiers at The Kenya National Theatre on Saturday the 3rd of April and climaxes on the Sunday the 4th. Tickets are available at Recordez music Studio Yaya and Nakumat UKAY, Discovery Restaurant along Koinange Street, and Kenya National Theatre.
The event has been officially sponsored by www.whive.com
