Lit and Independence in Kenya

was the title of the seminar I did in Stockholm a couple of weeks ago, with fellow Kenyan poet, Ngwatilo Mawiyoo.

I was moved and impressed that the room was full, on a rainy windy Monday night. And delighted that among the audience were Kenyans based in Sweden, friends from Uppsala, as well as progressive Swedes recently returned from Kenya.

The seminar was video-taped by Okoth Osewe, whose Kenya Stockholm Blog is the go-to resource for all happenings Kenyan in Sweden. Thank you, Okoth - it was great to finally meet you in person!

Watch excerpts on Youtube:

Part I: Intro by Madeleine Grieve, director of the Stockholm International Poetry Festival, and Ngwatilo's rich, melodic poem on exile, identity, goat meat....

Part II: My performance of Offering

Part III: Discussion on the Kenya Crisis and post-election violence of 2007/2008

Passion for Words and Justice

is the theme of my radio interview with Katja Sussner of Berlin's House of World Cultures. We recorded it before my evening performance. Katja's terrific questions were a great mental warm-up!

We talked about climate justice, Copenhagen, Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice, the political situation in Kenya, capitalism, electoral reform, and how poetry, performance, and activism all come together.

It's 30 minutes long - listen to it here.

Photo credits: Sabine Bretz.