Kenyans getting ready for Stella Mwangi (aka STL) in support of the Mau Forest

Kenyan rap princess Stella Mwangi aka STL will be performing at Thika Municipal Stadium on Sunday, August 23rd, 2009 to raise awareness and funds for the Mau Forest. The concert will involve Stella Mwangi as the Headliner, K-Nel (Kenyan hip-hop artist based in Germany), DJ Wesley, DJ Leo (Capital FM), Jimmie Gait and Abbas among other popular Kenya artists. Stella Mwangi will be joined by her girl Michelle (from the song Take It Back). The Green Belt Movement and Wangari Maathai are also expected to take part in the event.

Stella Mwangi aka STL is a young, Kenya-born MC inspired by Queen Latifah and others. She has shared stages with Public Enemy and Angelique Kidjo. She is making great inroads into the international scene and currently working on a second album which hopefully will be taken up by a major label.

Personally, I am not into rap at all, but I love Stella Mwangi's music anyway. Great lyrics with some kind of message, a groovy sound and funky moves - that's what I need and she got all of them! You can see how she is (w)rapping herself in Rafiki Kenya's soft avatar flag on the picture. Nice of her, isn't it?

Here are three of Stella Mwangi's best songs:

1. 'The Dreamer' (her second single from her debut album ‘Living For Music’ which was released on October 20th, 2008 in Scandinavia and Africa):



2. 'Makelele' (about the post-election situation and disharmony in Kenya):



3. 'Take It Back' (her first single, it was a kind of a hit song in Africa and in Scandinavia; #1 on the East African charts in 2008)



The lyrics of the last one 'Take It Back' are so inspiring and so true:

Heshima kwa huyu dada, Jamani ametoka far Tunawakilisha and We're taking it back just taking it back Rumblin’s beat -we're on fire, STL, Michelle aha Tunawakilisha and, We're taking it back just taking it back
I'm on my way back home Already packed my bags can't wait to get home Clear everything else away Don't wanna do nothing else but walk my way, I’m going Back to Kenya, back to the fine weather Back to grandma, ain't nothing else I'd rather Sit on the porch and drink grandma's porridge Talk to my elder, listen while they speak knowledge Next morning be on my way to Nairobi Do another song bet now they all know me And magazine can write all kinds of bullshit But let me tell you this, STL will always do this Lift your hands swing them around like a million buck Make sure everybody here knows what’s up It's been a while now finally I'm coming home With the perfect beat, go a head and shake it all
I been around, seen a few things learned a couple new things Been through good and bad things Learned about how things - GO! When you got a big dream, can't let - GO! I'm holding with a good grip I rap to get close to everything I'm chasing Do all there is, history in a making Some call it good work, some call it time wasting Some wish me good luck, some would like to see me fade But on my way back home I don't wanna stress I just wanna lay down and watch the sunset Hang around with my cousins, we be chilling man Turn the volume up on this we be cruising man STL baby knew this time would come That I would take this, back to where I'm from Through your fist in the air if you feel this People here show love, cause this the place
Unahisi hii ngoma vinoma From the shagz to the city let me see you if you real with it -Unahisi hii ngoma vinoma Nomatter young and grown get your grove on go and get with it Unahisi hii ngoma vinoma I'm saying je unahisi hi ngoma vinoma una hisi hi ngoma vinoma I give you who I am, applaud to this one Thank you!
Stella Mwangi's album 'Living For Music' can be downloaded from Amazon:



For the concert on Sunday, transport arrangements will be made to ferry people from Nairobi to Thika (free transport from Nairobi to Thika and back will be provided). Tickets (Ksh 300/- only) will be sold at the gate and at the KENCOM bus stage in Nairobi.Source URL: https://pussyhotnaked.blogspot.com/search/label/Wangari%20Maathai
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For walkers, cyclists, joggers and picnicers: Nairobi gets its forest back

Source: www.kenyakidz.com (reproduced here without permission, I hope it is fine, since the announcement is a bit urgent)

A high-powered alliance of environmentalists, diplomats and parastatals will this week deliver Karura Forest back to Nairobi: safe, beautiful and ready for family rambling and picnics.

The Karura Forest, which spans from the Old Kiambu Road to Limuru Road on the western side of the city, is venue for a grand opening this Saturday 16th May at 10am, to unveil a 4km nature trail, now cleared, staffed, and ready for walkers, joggers and cyclists.

At the instigation of Kenya Forest Service, and with the support of the Friends of Karura, led by the British High Commissioner’s wife Alice Macaire and William Wambuga of the Nairobi Arboretum, the project to restore the forest to use has also drawn on the advice of Kenya’s Nobel prize-winning environmentalist Prof. Wangari Maathai.

Sited alongside the Kitathuru River, the trail had been closed for many years, with no-one going there, said Alice. But it has now been cleared and made safe, and permanently staffed by forest guards. “It’s incredibly beautiful and amazing.”

Transport and guides will also be available for people exploring the deeper forest - the 50 foot waterfall, the famous "Father of Trees", Mau-Mau caves, 50 kms of nature trails through a forest filled with wildlife, a marshland perfect for bird watching, a bamboo jungle, three rivers, a camp site, a historical church hidden deep in a clearing in the wood and many stunning places to picnic.

“We want people to come, see the amazing scenery and fall in love with it so that we can work together to make it safe for all Nairobi kids,” said Alice.

After the grand opening, it is only the 4km trail that will be open to visit at any time. Exploring the caves, water falls, and other nature trails will require bookings to get Forest guards. The Friends of Karura are however working hard to get the forest to the point where it will be safe throughout. “This (the opening of the trail) is our first step,” said Alice.

‘We want to make it safe so that in the future kids can go to the camp site and stay there and learn about the forest.”

There are caves in the forest where people used to go and pray but the pastor of Karura says they have not been there for the last five years.

As the rehabilitation of the forest continues, “we are incredibly lucky to have professional people including the British High commission, UNEP, William of Arboretum, and people who have seen how it’s successfully done, and we shall also include the local community,” said Alice.

“We want people to be able to wake up on a lovely Saturday morning, go up and have a picnic and let the kids run around safely.”

Those attending the grand opening will meet at the Old Kiambu Road Entrance to the Karura Forest, for short inauguration speeches from the Minister for Forestry and Wildlife, Dr. Noah Wekesa, The British High Commissioner, The Director of Kenya Forest Service and the Pastor of Karura.


"It will be wonderful because we shall also have kids of Karura Primary, a school that is inside the forest singing for the people,” said Alice.

Alice encourages all to come and discover the trail: “you will love it”.

Written by Rose Muragu for African LaughterSource URL: https://pussyhotnaked.blogspot.com/search/label/Wangari%20Maathai
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The Challenge for Africa

In her new book "The Challenge for Africa", Wangari Maathai offers a refreshing perspective on the challenges facing Africa. She calls for a moral revolution among Africans themselves, who, she argues, are culturally deracinated, adrift between worlds. She sheds light the complex and dynamic nature of the continent, and offers “hardheaded hope” and “realistic options” for change and improvement. She analyzes some of the most critical bottlenecks to development in Africa occurring at the international, national, and individual levels (including cultural upheaval and enduring poverty) and describes what Africans can and need to do for themselves using culture, nature and self-belief, while also stressing responsibility and accountability. Ultimately what Africa needs is a revolution in leadership, but this cannot be ushered in by western governments, well-meaning NGOs - or even Bono and Sharon Stone - it must happen within African societies and individuals themselves: "At both the top and the bottom, all Africans must believe in themselves again; that they are capable of walking their own path and forging their own identity, that they have a right to be governed with justice, accountability and transparency, that they can honor and practice their cultures and make them relevant to today's needs, and that they no longer need to be indebted—financially, intellectually, and spiritually—to those who once governed them. They must rise up and walk." I really enjoyed reading Wangari Maathai's autobiography "Unbowed", so this new one is now on top of my reading list.



Also note that on April 15th, 18th, 19th and 20th, CNN International will present a special programme entitled "Revealed: Wangari Maathai". Click here for more information & local times where you are. It can also be seen in full on the CNN Revealed website from April 15th. A short promo is available now.Source URL: https://pussyhotnaked.blogspot.com/search/label/Wangari%20Maathai
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