Rooftop Recordings

Rooftop Recordings in Nariobi

 

Unfortunately, I think my push for the use of Rooftop Records to describe the production of the guys' track (on my roof) won't reach fulfillment (for many reasons additional to the fact that there's already a Rooftop Records in South Africa). So, for the fun of it, I've named this one Rooftop Recordings, largely because I just plain like it.

Khamunya (pictured), Njau, Frama and Deno were recording tracks at Lisa's place (pictured), and needed a better space to create a studio.











Naturally, the boom-boom family found a great spot. You see, a few weeks prior Khamunya and I had discovered a little niche behind the "roof of the roof", which we use to describe the area above the rooftop terrace.

He thought to himself, why can't we use that? After checking it out, realising it would be possible to isolate the mic from the wind and, finding an electrical socket, the guys decided to record the track on the roof of my apartment.

 



So one Saturday afternoon, they came over and set up shop!

                    

While some stood by and watched (including the mysterious appearance of Capitaine Haddock)

And others waited, bored, for those of us who were also meant to go to the bar but seem to be no good at moving in a timely fashion (notably, Lisa and I).

And then they recorded.

Until 4 in the morning.

In the cold

 

Using blankets for soundproofing

      

A lamp from my flat

           

And a big pot of coffee

They continued the next day, but this time in the closet of the downstairs bedroom (which seemed to provide better acoustics and a warmer space for those singing voices).

And then we all went home in anticipation of the new track... which isn't quite ready yet but will be posted here soon!

YES! to the ICC

Hello! From the ICC Demonstration

Yesterday, a group of Kenyans gathered together at Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park, Nairobi to demonstrate against MPs who have argued for the retreat of Kenya from the ICC (Rome Statute) and use of public funds to defend suspects.

For those of you who don't follow Kenyan politics, since the 2007/8 Post Election Violence (PEV), Kenya has decided that the best choice for pursuing those responsible for the violence, given the current status of Kenyan courts and the political climate, would be the International Criminal Court (ICC), which tries perpetrators of serious crimes such as crimes against humanity. Click the link for more on the ICC and Rome Statute

 

Last year, Luis Moreno Ocampo came to Kenya to begin the ICC inquiry into the PEV. As a result, a number of high profile Kenyans, including Ministers and other public servants, have been named by the Hague as suspects.

Here are some links to recent articles about the ongoing ICC cases:

• Kenya Can Bring Justice Home (The East African)
• ICC Judges Reject Ruto Case (Daily Nation)
• Ocampo Invites Three to the Hague (Daily Nation)

There has been a large amount of public criticism of the government recently for two reasons: first, parliament passed a motion that supports pulling Kenya out of the Rome Statute. And second, that the government has planned to pay the legal fees of those suspected of crimes against humanity in the Hague.

Here are a few recent (and slightly older) articles:

• Cabinet Yet to Agree on ICC Pullout- Kalonzo (Daily Nation)
• Decision Time for Kibaki and Raila (The Standard)
• Kenya MPs Vote to Leave ICC Over Poll Violence Claims (BBC)

And opinion pieces:

• Crimes Against Humanity Occured; Kenya Must Stay the Course of Justice (Daily Nation)
• State Support for Public Servants at ICC is Justified (The Standard)

So at this point, the pictures you've seen filing throughout may be starting to make sense. Yesterday a group of Kenyans got together on the opening day of Parliament to protest moves to withdraw Kenya from the ICC and to use public funds to defend suspects.

I found out about this demonstration through Masese's Facebook page (for those of you who don't know him, he's in the very first picture) and decided to show up and take some pictures. What I found is a group that's trying to get one million Kenyan signatures in defense of the ICC.

You can find the page (and the petition website) here:

• One Million Kenyan Citizens Say Yes to ICC (Facebook Group)
• Online Petition Supporting the ICC

And an article about the group:

• Group Seeks Signatures to Support ICC (The Standard)

Present at the event, among others, were Muthoni Wanyeki (below left), columnist with The East African (you can find her latest article here), and Ndungi Githuku (below right, first from left), a poet and actor.

Unfortunately, I was only able to stay for the beginning and end of the event (yep... missing the brunt of it was definitely a good move for adequately explaining what hapenned). But had fun! And by the time I came back, there were dancers

and a request to "please take a picture of my ganja"

because, "Obama in the white house, rasta in the state house!" (check out the cool Selassie lapel)

And of course, a whole lot of people who want an end to impunity in Kenya.

The Overseers Education Centre in Kangemi, Nairobi

Thanks to the generous contributions of many of our friends and families, the Overseers Education Centre has been able to complete construction of the new classroom building (above right and below)!
 

This has resulted in yet another expansion in the number of students, demonstrating the immense need for the provision of free education in Kangemi and other areas in and around Nairobi. Below are pictures of younger students in the old classroom building:

      

The older building consists of three classrooms: the first above, and below right,

the second above left, and third below (left and right).

And here are the older students, in the new building which has been constructed thanks to your contributions! 

 Above left: students recite a song about the flow of blood. 

Below: Dan and Wilson, a new teacher, welcome me into one of the two new classrooms.

 Below left: students recite a song about the flow of blood. 

 Below right: students recite a song about the respiratory system.

 

      

During the Fundraiser in November 2010, there were 110 registered students at the school. Today there are 155, with many more expected to come in the next few weeks.  

 During visits to the school, the students welcome guests with a parade and songs. 

These are some pictures from the generous welcome given to me during my latest visit to the school.

 

 

 

While we have raised enough money to build the new classrooms, the toilets for the school are still incomplete, and Dan and Benjamin need another KSH 10,000 (roughly €100 or $125) to complete the construction. On the left, you see the old toilets covered with corrugated iron and cardboard, and on the right you see the location of the same toilets, needing solid construction, near the new school building:

For those of you who aren't yet familiar with the Overseers Education Centre, Dan and Benjamin started the school for children in Kangemi who cannot afford to pay school fees. Most children are orphans or live in the street, some finding shelter in the clasrooms at night. Below, Dan during a  recent visit to the Overseers Education Centre (left) and Benjamin during the November Fundraiser (right).

 

And of course, Dan and Benjamin dancing during the November Fundraiser, below!

 

Since the children do not pay school fees, Dan and Benjamin support the school and rely on donations and community support to keep the school running. Below are some photos from the Fundraiser we held in November 2010 for the construction of the new school building.  

 

 

 

Above, students perform traditional dances during the November Fundraiser. 

 

 Below, Maono, a troupe of young acrobats from Dandora who volunteered their time to support the Overseers Education Centre by performing during the Fundraiser in November.

 

          

Above and below, the kids (and adults) having a ton of fun watching and participating in the festivities!

 

A number of local musicians and artists volunteered their time in support of the Overseers Education Centre and made the event a success.

These included Grandmaster Masese and Kenneth B (pictured below right), Brenda Kemunto and Ka (MC of the event), among others.  

 

If you would like to donate to the Overseers Education Centre so they can complete construction of the toilets, you can send MPESA to 0717911657 (Dan), contact Dan at the same number or contact me at mdelutz@gmail.com. If you would like to donate school supplies, please contact Dan at the number listed above.

 

And, last but in no way least, a BIG thanks to all those who contributed their time, energy and money to the Overseers Education Centre Fundraiser in November 2010, the new classrooms would not have been built without your dedication and support!

 To see more pictures of the Fundraiser and new classrooms, please visit:

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2463932&id=1822653&l=b7901d45fa

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2463936&id=1822653&l=b5aa43a1d7