Going Off Topic in Nairobi

There I am again. Being quiet in the past days is not because there is nothing to report. It is actually because so much is going on there is hardly any time to catch one’s breath! Finally today, I had the day to myself and decided to just stay in my hotel apartment and do some writing and some editing.

Let me tell you about yesterday. We (Christine and I) went to both the Uhuru and Central parks in Nairobi do our first recording session together. The theme we had in mind was to record a message from the Kenyans to the Europeans. In The Netherlands, we had recorded a similar message from the Dutch to the Africans. So this was supposed to be a return message.

But as with all street, unscripted interviews, sometimes we go way off topic. The good thing about going off topic is that sometimes you get great materials for other future subjects and themes. So it was that people got talking for example about why Africa men/women prefer white men/women. We met and spoke with a Masai man who gave us some insight into the Masai culture. We met with some dancers of K-San airforce one and some school guys. Just like during last year’s visit, we saw the actors of Liquid Arts Entertainment rehearsing for an upcoming play. This time they were doing the rehearsing at the Central Park. Finally, we met this hilarious lady who shared what she considered the worst pick-up line currently being used by European men in Nairobi.

What came across in our chat with the Kenyans is the overwhelming sense of pride most of the people we spoke with had in their country. On the other hand, there were so many things one saw in the parks that showed how far the country still needs to go. We saw so many drunk and destitute children roaming about in the park begging for money to be able to buy more alcohol. In fact it was not so much begging as demanding that you gave them money. One has to wonder what lies in future for those kids.

However, all in all, it was a very fruitful and long day. The highlight of course was going about town with Christine (Africa Web TV Nairobi) and see her shine. So much so that Africa Web TV got some new recruits who wanted to help us grow in Kenya! Somethings are just the way they are meant to be. Tomorrow is another day on the road! First let me find a way to compress and (re)arrange all the appointments I have in the coming days.