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Category: Articles
Travel Articles we’ve written
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Hippie on an Adventure: Land of a Thousand Hills
“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you.”
— Anthony Bourdain
Our Kigali Airbnb I hadn’t exactly planned a trip down to Rwanda until Sam mentioned that he’d wanted to head on there although I’d been in Kampala for a while at the time. I reached out to Lucy and in a couple of days they’d both arrived and ready to explore ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills.’
It only took us an overnight trip from Kampala to Kigali without any complications along the way.
Culinary Adventures
I got lucky to have been part of Lucy’s ‘A Foodies Collective‘ experiences which was new to me considering how I normally eat on-the-go without giving much thought to it whenever I travel. This time however, I had such a wide range of wholesome diets for my palate. I recall exclaiming that I’d probably gain a couples of kilograms by the time we were leaving.
Injora rooftop cafe
A favourite especially because of it’s location. It happened to be our first stop since we wanted to have breakfast before checking into our Airbnb. You would initially end up in a bookshop before getting to the cafe area with panoramic views of the city from Kyaciru. It’s simplicity and authentically minimal design made me fall in love with it. I was also really looking forward to having a taste of Rwandan coffee which surpassed my expectations.
View from cafe 
Injora Cafe outdoor-ish rooftop sitting area 
Coffee and Lemon verbana tea (in the background) photo by Sam 
Grilled Cheese Sandwich 
View from indoor Millenium Bar
If you’re familiar with ‘nyama choma locals‘ in Kenya then you’d love Millenium, only that it seemed fancier to me compared to the ones we have here. Which was a great thing for us, although it took a while before we got a patron who could speak English or Swahili. The service was quite impressive as were the brochettes really tasty.
Pili Pili Lounge
Sundowners are ideal for this location since you get to see the expanse of Kigali towards the CBD as well as the sunset with it gorgeous glows. We opted for the upstairs area since we could have some privacy and comfort with a better view. The downstairs is great if you’re a group of people. You also get a variety of meals from the menu.
Dusk at Pili Pili Bistro-Lounge Lake Kivu
The best part about being around Lake Kivu is you have access to fish whenever you’d like; Lucy had just the ideal place in mind. I never really expected it & I thought we’d head back to our hostel only to end up in the midst of fishmongers. She made the order and we witnessed it being prepared according to her preference.
Resident parrot 
Creative Scene in Kigali
We were lucky enough to be in Kigali during Ubumuntu Arts festival which is an annual event held in Kigali at the Genocide Memorial grounds.
The creative community in Kigali is quite active and you can always find events in different parts of the city depending on your preference.
Chris, a talented visual artist whom we got to hang out with at Meze Fresh. Pic by Sam 
Daily Life
The essence of hardwork was portrayed all around as we moved to different parts just by seeing how people went about their daily errands and interacted with each other.
Taxi Driver and Sam 
Gisenyi – Lake Kivu
Being a Pisces; I almost couldn’t tell the difference between the ocean and Lake Kivu, only that this time it’s fresh water and with little or no waves. Life in Gisenyi is quite different from that of Kigali. The people are so vibrant. We stayed at Discover Rwanda Gisenyi which seems to have been one of those colonial era mansions converted to a boutique hostel & with just a couple of meters from the sandy Gisenyi beach. Their accommodation package includes a sumptuous breakfast & the food from the menu is mostly from the Rwandese cuisine which was an advantage on my end as I was looking forward to having a taste of that.
The hues at sunrise and a cold swim at dawn is ideal as the sun warms your body as it rises with rays reflecting on the water with tiny ripples. You can’t miss a couple of people fetching water from the shores of collecting any litter that might be on Gisenyi’s white sandy beach.
In the evening the sunset is so beautiful, even made better by the swimmers from the jetty. It’s a whole mashup of activities showing the joys of being a local. Heck I wanted to move there just so I could always have fun and enjoy with friends by the lake in the evening.
Kigali Genocide memorial
The memorial was the most emotional part of my visit to Rwanda. Having learnt all about the genocide from primary school and seeing, reading and hearing stories from the archives of Kigali Genocide memorial really gave me a clear perspective of how it all happened and the effect as well as progression of the people who were victims. After taking the tour, we didn’t really talk to each other for close to thirty minutes since everyone had alot to process.
Picture by Sam
Travel has always had a direct impact on me and my initial point in life. At the time I was in Rwanda I was going through a huge shift in my life and having all these experiences really helped. The people I met along the journey have since become like family to me. I stared in awe at the beauty and abundance in the location and this brought gratitude and contentment. I live for spontaneous plans full of challenges and the eventual adventure in between full of peace, clarity, love and joy.
Things to note:
‘Motos’ – motorbikes are very convenient to get around Kigali.
It helps if you have links with a local if you’re from an English-speaking country and don’t understand Kinyarwanda or French.
There’s so much to Rwanda and a stay of more than one week is ideal to explore the country fully.
You have a lot of options for accommodation but Airbnb or a backpackers is preferred as opposed to staying at a hotel if you’re on a budget.
You can take a bus from Kigali to Gisenyi. There re several options available but I’d recommend ‘Ritco’ for convenience purposes.
Huge thanks to Nadine Ndayisaba for the link up and taking the time to ensure our stay in Rwanda was worthwhile.
Pictures taken using iPhone 6.
Have you been to Rwanda before? Be sure to share your experience with us.
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Baobab Media Visual Artist Feature: Viktart
“Find a beautiful piece of art…fall in love…admire it…and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less.” // Maya Angelou
Letting Go/Viktart Who are you?
My name is Viktart Mwangi. I am a fine artist.How do you represent yourself with your work?
I am a doer of things. From simple illustrations on paper to Murals.
A Rhino reimagined/Viktart How did you get in to visual art?
It’s something I’ve done since I was young by watching my dad draw. Later on I decided to make a career out of it.
Stepping out in Courage/Viktart What is/are your inspirations?
Beauty and emotions inspire me.
Crossroads/Viktart What do you get out of it?
A sense of self worth and purpose. I aspire to get to a level where my work changes/influences the way people define creativity.
The KCB Lion/Viktart What kind of challenges have you or do you face?
Perception. What people think I do versus what I think I do.
Tanscendence/Viktart What’s your day to day like?
I compress everything that needs my attention between 6am and 6pm. At night I shut off.
Letting Go/Viktart Any parting thoughts?
Do I need one, seeing that we’ll meet so many times…I just live, I don’t have a quote I live by.
King of the Jungle/Viktart What do you think of Fundi Vik’s work? Share with us your thoughts.
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Baobab Media Visual Artist Feature: Fardosa Hussein
“Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.”
— Jack KerouacHey! I am an independent Photojournalist focusing on Travel and Portrait photography.
Fardosa Hussein/Fardee How do you represent yourself with your work?
As an artist, I believe presentation matters; I feel obliged to share untold stories with my audience. When we let other people tell half baked stories about our culture and heritage we are partly responsible for it and that’s where my work as an artist plays a huge role; to tell authentic stories with a personal touch.
How did you get in to visual art?
I was going through a rough patch after I graduated last year. A friend suggested that I should try drawing and painting to pass time. Honestly, it didn’t work out for me. Around the same time my cousin gifted me an iPhone 7 Plus and that’s when I started experimenting with portraiture photography. With the help of my siblings who I use as subjects for my work, I got better at it.
Age/Fardee 
Lookout II Inspirations?
Again, representation is a key aspect that influences both my personal and artistic life. Creating and telling untold stories is what inspires me the most. More significantly, having the creative space to create (Like YouTube, websites and Social Media platforms) such content has been an added advantage for me as an artist.
Lamu Island/Fardee 
Takawiri Island/Fardee When I started out as a YouTuber, vloggers like Brian Kimani and Swahiligal were my go to people online for inspiration and ideas for my videos.
Kenyan Born photographer based in South Africa Cedric Nzaka has also inspired me to look at portraiture photography from a different perspective. His works has in a great way helped me improve how I express what I feel through my subjects.
Red Hat/Fardee What do you aspire to get to?
There is a lack of a stable ecosystem to nurture creative’s in Kenya, therefore I aspire to create a space for artists to get together and exhibit their work.
Thought process?
I tend to be more observant with what is happening around me. I draw my inspiration from my surrounding as well as the mood of my subjects (especially when shooting portraits). For my video content, I do research and then write a script which makes it easier for me when shooting and editing.
Power/Fardee 
Wakanda/Fardee What do you get out of it?
Wow! I get a lot of personal satisfaction. Having the freedom to create and curate stories from a personal perspective makes me happy. Also, interacting with people both online and offline who appreciate my work motivates me to keep going.
Red/Fardee 
Think/Fardee Do you have a quote you live by?
Oh yes! You want change; you gotta do it by yourself. You can’t wait for the leaders to make it better; we have to do it better! Never give up, never lose faith.
Cool/Fardee Challenges?
I constantly battle with the fear of…what if I succeed? Or achieve my goals in life; what do I have to give up? This has largely been contributed by my restricted upbringing that makes me want to look back out of fear
Fardosa/Fardee There is always room for everyone, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Go out there and do your thing. In the long run things work out.
Happy/Fardee Catch up with Fardee on the interwebs:
Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
We had a chat with Swahiligal; you can find it here.
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Hippie on an Adventure x KenyanBohemian – Vibrations of Tremors
“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it’s beauty.” ― Albert Einstein
Pack that bag, go on that adventure… the world has a lot to give.
Bend differently… behind that fear lies your greatest breakthrough.
The fire in you… ignited by love, passion, motivation, innovation, battles, it dies out if you don’t keep it burning.
Life is like math… add value to it, subtract the unnecessary, multiply the virtues and share the happiness.
Selfishness and selflessness… there are days that will call for you to be selfish, and there are days that will call for you to be selfless. Don’t get them mixed up.
Embrace the sunrise… it is a beautiful way to start your day.
The moon is a loyal companion… sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. It understands what it means to be human.
Long for perfect sunsets… they leave you untroubled and bring a little happy each time.
Watch the stars… there is no shortage of fault to be found amid our stars.
The Great Lake Elementaita called, and I had to go… I listened, took nothing but pictures, left nothing but footprints and gained a little healing for the world.
Words by The Kenyan Bohemian; follow her adventures on Twitter & blog.
Photos taken on iPhone 6.
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Jam Squad: Ciano Maimba
“What sells is what is actively and deliberately sold.”
Hello my lovely people 🙂 its another week and as you know we are featuring another artist. Our artist this week is Ciano Maimba. He is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music is aimed at uniting mankind by reminding us of our sameness. When I first heard Ciano sing I was electrified not only by his amazing vocal range but also by the ambiance set by his soulful music. I was extremely excited when I was given the opportunity to converse with him. He is simply amazing 😛
Courtesy of Derek Munene - How and when did your musical journey begin?
Well, I found out I could sing in nursery school but I didn’t really take it seriously until I was in Upperhill high school, when I joined an acapella group known as Voice In The Light which I was a part of for all of my high school life. Those guys shaped my voice and my ideas of harmony deeply. I am eternally grateful. However, going to Sauti Academy immediately after high school is what truly speared my career in music and properly kick-started my journey.
- How did your parents take it?
Haha! None of us knew how serious I’d be with my music when I started. I remember when I was in form 3 though, I was suddenly sure I wanted to be a full-time musician but I didn’t know what that would entail; so whenever I was asked about my career choices, I never mentioned music. But I kept doing shows with my acapella quartet and picked up the guitar in form four when I first started writing my own songs. I Then enrolled into Sauti Academy after high school , where I learnt a bit about how the music industry generally works and began to do my research on becoming a better musician and finding ways to get my message out there and make a living out of it. Now that’s when I became serious. I started doing solo shows and whatnot and my parents were quite supportive from the beginning. They bought me my first semi-acoustic guitar and paid the fees for Sauti Academy, even when they thought this would just be a phase I’d get over. They were initially worried about my wanting to just do music full time but slowly warmed up ( and are warming up) to the idea because they see how hard I work at it.
- What are your thoughts on Jamhuri Festival and What has your experience been so far?
I think Jamhuri Festival is a brilliant initiative because it has brought to the surface many golden voices of my generation that would have not been heard as quickly or listened to as attentively without such an opportunity. It has eased the plight of independent musicians in and around Nairobi and has proven to those that have watched the videos or attended the shows, that this crop of musicians in Kenya are capable of creating genuinely written and composed and high quality music. As you can tell, my experience with them has been eye-opening as much as it has been exhilarating.
- What are your thoughts on the music industry in Kenya? How do you plan to make an impact in the industry?
I honestly think the music industry in Kenya is rich with content and diversity. However, I feel as though there needs to be some more order in how things are run. From concerts to record deals and so on and so forth. That being said, things are progressively changing, so we will get there soon. I plan to make an impact by being consistently professional in everything that I do. From songwriting to performance while maintaining genuineness in my composition and lyricism, I also plan to make an impact by propagating fingerstyle guitar and live acoustic music in general to destroy two stereotypes:
1. That music is incomplete without a full-band
2. That the steel-string acoustic guitar should always be in the background of any piece of music.
Moreover, I plan to impact the industry by being a living example that independent musicians can earn a living in Kenya without compromising on their initial plans regarding image, musicality and general quality of content. I want to prove that you can be successful as an artist just by being yourself.
Courtesy of Derek Munene - What challenges do you face?
The aforementioned stereotypes are the major challenges not just to me but to all acoustic musicians. Also the recurring lack of professionalism in the industry (anything from shows that start late to a majority of sound engineers that are incompetent in as much as there are some who are really good at what they do).
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself having released two bodies of work; an E.P & a full-length album and running a regular festival.
- Which artists have you worked with so far and what was the experience like?
Haha! I’ve worked with a number of phenomenal artists, I have worked with the Coke Studio crew doing BGVs for Omawumi, I have also worked with Muthoni The Drummer Queen (MDQ) on BGVs and currently I’m working with Kato Change on a project and there are plans to also work with Eddie Grey and co write a song with Tetu Shani. I guess you’ll see how the experience was when the projects come into fruition. But let’s just say it’s all going to be magical!
- When do we expect an EP?
An E.P should be out by early next year,latest.
- Which producers are you working with on the EP?
I’m working with M-cubed for the E.P. And it’ll be a collaborative project.
- Any advice for all the upcoming musicians out there?
“Before anything else, work on your craft and your purpose for it.”
Courtesy of Derek Munene Ciano will be performing live at Nyamamama, Delta Towers at 7:30 pm. Watching him perform will be an experience like no other, that I assure you.
Enjoy his Cover of Leta Wimbo
You can get his music on:
Soundcloud – Ciano Maimba
Youtube – Ciano Maimba
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Jam Squad: Kendi Nkonge
“God is a good God”
Hello my lovely people, I hope your week is going well! I am really excited to tell you that I will be sharing pieces on the artists of the Jamhuri Festivals Jam Session Series 🙂 I feel like you guys should also let me know what you want to know about them that way we can make this fun!
Our featured artist this week is the beautiful, bubbly and outgoing soul, Kendi Nkonge. This amazing woman is a lover of God, good meat, good people and most of all music. “I am always ready to grab opportunities and create them where there’s none to be grabbed” She says.
I got a chance to have a conversation with her and it was an experience like no other.
Courtesy Quaint Photography - How do you get to convey who you are in your music?
I am a lover of music. Like legit!!! I LOVE to sing. I do it all the time. My music is from the heart! I tell stories, about me and about society. I preach change, positive impact and God’s Love. That’s what my music is, about healing and feeling! I can’t fit it into a genre yet but it sure is soulful and heavily vocal.
- How did you get into music?
Music for me started way back, I started singing from when I was about 5. I Sang in church, I sang in school for plays, at assembly, just jamming with friends and even for guests in school. Every chance I’d get I’d just SING!
Courtesy Quaint Photography - How did your parents take it?
My folks knew from the onset that music is my thing. (Laughs) I think what I respect the most is that they want the best for me, it’s not what youngins want to see first but that’s what it is. I have to say though, different parents do it differently but mine are all I’ve got and I’m grateful. We’re working the way up together.
- Do you think children/youth should be encouraged to pursue their dreams?
Yes! Yes! A Million times yes! We should throw away the era of pursuing our folks dreams. I believe that when it’s your dream, no one needs to push you; no one needs to keep rubbing it in your face that you need to take it seriously. Plus isn’t it liberating being able to thrive doing what you love? Though the flip side happens when people use this as an escape not to be ‘serious’ in life or fail to do something substantial with the gifts they have. While children in many places don’t know the meaning and the importance of pursuing their dreams, Or rather they have been made to believe that poverty or suffering is all they’re destined for which just isn’t true.
- What challenges do you face?
Lord! Balancing school with music is NOT easy! Well not Law school at least. So making sure that none of them suffers is quite a tough call but with God’s Grace I manage to do it. So I basically work to make sure that I miss NO classes and still work my way through rehearsal sessions and gigs.
- What/Who inspires you?
Hmm. I’m honestly just very passionate about singing. It’s how I best express what’s in my heart . There’s a high that it comes with that which makes me want to wake up every day and just do it and do it well. Music just makes me so happy! As for who, I’d have to say like-minded people. As well as a couple of artists who seemingly sing from that same point of passion. For instance: Lauryn Hill, Tori Kelly, and Cece Winans among many others.
- Are you seeing anyone?
The Lord is my personal Savior and I am happy and blessed!!(Laughs) Yes, I am.
- Have you done any collaboration?
I haven’t released any music yet. So the correct answer to that is no. I have however had the privilege of working with so many amazing artists performing live from Eric Wainaina, Atemi Oyungu, June Gachui, Shamsi Music, Rigga, Sage, David Hunter, Laura Karwirwa, Benjamin Webi, Elsaphan Njora, Noiz the Beatbox champion and the list is increasing!
Courtesy Quaint Photography - How has Jamhuri Festival changed your career?
It has for sure exposed me to more people, other singers in particular. I love that Jamhuri Festival is one of those platforms that breaks beyond what’s mainstream, breaks the silence and pushes artists that are not very well-known and are uber talented to the rest of Kenya. Not many people invest in younger talent and that’s where loads of the gold is. I’m glad I get to share my music through this platform and get to watch and learn from other artistes too! It’s a healthy environment at Jamhuri Festival.
- Any advise for the readers?
Terens! Terenssss! (This is my Wangari Maathai moment) I pray that we all find peace, healing and love through music and that all men will be drawn to their true calling in this life that we live. It sucks to sit and remember that there are people out there who are just out to put you down and spit on your success. But I always say, if it’s on a firm foundation then the spit will trickle right down like it never even happened. Be true to yourself. Please don’t live to please people, it’s tiring, it’s extremely draining. Just do you!
Courtesy Yves Didier Photography Don’t you love her already? Well I definitely do! Be sure to catch her performing live tonight at Nyama mama, Delta at 7:30 PM. 😀
In the meantime do enjoy her cover of Fire on the mountain ?
Keep up with Kendi and Jamhuri Festival:
Facebook – Kendi Nkonge, Jamhuri Festival
Instagram – @kendinkonge , @jamhurifestival
Twitter – Kendi Nkonge, Jamhuri Festival -
A Conversation with Thomas Olang’o
“Music is a mission. Not a competition.”
I was honored with the opportunity to converse with such a talented and brilliant soul.
Thomas Olang’o is a 25-year-old art and music enthusiast who is driven by the possibility of change in the arts and creative industry through youth empowerment. He is a man of many talents; He plays the guitar for a living (how cool is that?), scripting is also a huge part of his life. On top of all that he occasionally draws. Back in the day he used to be an amazing basketball player until he “stopped being awesome”.
Courtesy Humphrey Gateri aka Nairobiphoet ‘I think travelling is so refreshing, and I love peace and quiet’ says Tom. During our conversation, I was blessed with a few puns and I have to admit they helped ease the tension, this made it easier for me to pester him with my questions.
- What does your typical day involve?
A typical day involves devotion, work outs, Guitar practice, and more guitar practice with the band and a little more guitar before I sleep. Music is my life really.
- Did you always want to get into music?
When I was younger, I wanted to be a pilot. At another point in life I wanted to get into architecture because I really loved physics. However, I found a home in music from as far back as I can remember.
- Who or what inspires you?
I’d have to say Life, Love and the Human mind but most of all my big brother (Polycarp Otieno).
- What was your most challenging gig, why and what did you learn from it?
My most challenging gig weirdly turned out to be my best gig. I will give you 2 instances and both are Jamhuri Festival experiences.
The first one was from the launch. My first ever gig and I’m telling you I had scripted the entire show. I was the bass player and the event organiser. We had over 30 artists in the script and I really had to split myself to follow through on the vision. I had an amazing team with me then; Maggie, Wayne, Edu, Snyder, Chrispine, Keshie, the Watooz and Swizznet. A major S/O to this people! It would have been impossible without them. I love and appreciate you guys so much. It was insanely challenging due to the fact that I really had to work my brain for that show.
Courtesy Humphrey Gateri aka Nairobiphoet The second one was a few months later in Kariobangi South. What made this challenging was almost everyone in K South knew I was a musician because they always saw me walking around with a guitar but they never really got to hear me play up till the 25th of April 2016. I managed to play up till area that was my playing field while growing up. A majority of the people in attendance were people who had known me pretty much all my life and I have to admit it was scary but special at the same time.
Those 2 nights have to be the best nights of my life. They also taught me that charity does indeed begin at home and most importantly, team work makes the dream work.
- Have you worked with international artists? If so who are your top 3?
I have been fortunate to work with a number of international artists. Top of my list will have to be Alikiba. I was his music director for quite some time and I got to enjoy such good food while playing with him (laughs) you do know I love food! On the real though, playing with him gave me an extra confidence boost because it gave me the hope that my gift can reach as far and wide as possible. Second on list would be 2baba (2face) and Sautisol. Working with them was an amazing experience. I got to learn a lot and I did a script for their music video which happened to be my first script outside Jamhuri Festival. Oya come make we go is a beautifully written song with such a powerful message. I was honored to have scripted, cast and set directed the music video. Lastly, I played with Becca from Ghana. She gave me my first out-of-town gig. We played to a Maasai village audience in Narok as she was working on her documentary. It was humbling that an artist from that far considered and had me on her project.
- Do you feel like the government is doing its best to support local artists? If not, state what changes can be made.
I feel like it can definitely do better. Our education system is brilliant, it just doesn’t have that extra branch that isn’t really as extra as might seem. It doesn’t support the arts and the artists in the society. There’s no music, art and craft, woodwork, metal work and all the more practical and creative subjects anymore. Sometimes I wonder where I’d be if i got the chance to do music in school but they stopped offering it from when I was in class one/first grade. In addition, major festivals around the world have government backing but it’s really hard to get their attention here. The arts industry is an industry like any other. I don’t want to put all the blame on the government though because I feel like for us to actualize this, we’ll definitely need all other stakeholders to step up. From the artists to the consumers. It’s all connected really.
- Parting thought?
Love is all we need. Art and music is the vehicle I choose to propagate that love. I want to be a part of the generation that brought change to the society. That change is love. More love. We can all make it in this world! Let’s love another a bit more. Team work does indeed make the dream work.
Courtesy Humphrey Gateri aka Nairobiphoet This by far has to be one of my favorite interviews! Talking to him helped me understand the hard work that goes into a good performance as well as a successful show and also to appreciate his art. I do believe that we need to come together and support our local artists. Artists work tirelessly to deliver amazing content! Hence the need for us to support them as much as we do international artists. Thomas started Jamhuri with the intention to shine a light on undiscovered talent and I ask you not to be left behind! Join the movement and if you do have a talent you’d like to share, do not sit on it!!! Here is a platform for you to bless the world. Are you as eager as I am for Jamhuri Festival?
As we wait on it, you can join me and other music lovers for Jamhuri Jam Sessions every Wednesday at Nyama Mama, Delta at 7:30.
PS. He did not comment on his relationship status. I am sorry ladies but if you want to keep up with what Tom is up to, you need to follow @jamhurifestival on all social media platforms.
Thank me later – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYYjtJ0AV5Qh52cYvpbtNVg
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An Ode to Self Portraits: Ivy Gathii
“There is a magnificent, beautiful, wonderful painting in front of you! It is intricate, detailed, a painstaking labor of devotion and love! The colors are like no other, they swim and leap, they trickle and embellish! And yet you choose to fixate your eyes on the small fly which has landed on it! Why do you do such a thing?”
― C. JoyBell C.If you’ve been following along Ivy’s work on VSCO you might have noticed how beautiful she creates and curates her work; we had a conversation about it and this is what she shared with us:
Hey! My name’s Ivy Gathii. I’m a 22 year old photographer and art enthusiast.
What does self-portraiture mean to you?
Self-portraiture to me is a personal art form that expresses yourself at the time. It tells a story that you yourself want to tell which is what makes it so personal.
How did you end up in self-portraiture?
I started during a low period when I wanted to keep taking pictures of people but had too much anxiety to do that. I quite liked taking pictures so it became a bit inevitable to take pictures of myself at the time. It grew from working with myself to bring out my ideas to a way of teaching myself to be vulnerable in my art because it’s very important, and I’m a pretty closed up person. To help grow out of myself and be open with myself, with people and my art.
What/who is your source of inspiration?
For self-portraiture, I’d say that a lot of inspiration comes from me, as it’s me that I’m drawing from; my thoughts and these story-lines that I’ve created for myself and decided to capture in an image.
I’m also inspired by people who do the same, who teach this to me such as Teff . I love her work because she has this wild thing with her colors and composition. She creates this beautiful warm image that makes you want to be a part of it. Then she has these captions that lead you to feel like it is you in the image, you relate to it. The combination of this is surreal and beautiful. Another inspiration is Noemie Marguerite. She’s actually what made decide to start this at the beginning. I love how she composes herself in her pictures.
There’s also Wonoula Lawal who I actually got as a mentor a few months ago. She honestly taught me a lot, having done quite a bit of what I’d like to do, which is creating these lovely images that speak for herself and in that way, speaks for a lot of others as well.
How goes your thought process from creating to conceptualization
I start a lot by journaling about what’s going on around me/with me. I draw inspiration from the mood in that bit of text then on composition from things I’ve seen, online or offline. Then from that, I shoot with the mood in mind. I’m trying to get a lot into post processing in a way that fits into the theme I’m trying to create.
How do you shoot? (I especially noticed a couple of complex images)
I tend to have few props if any and as I said, try and capture a mood within the image. I usually shoot with natural light. I have a Nikon D5100 and a tripod so usually, I compose everything and get myself in front of my camera before it goes off (So yes, there’s a lot of frantic running :D). Then I go through and pick the pictures I’m satisfied with. So in a nutshell, it’s all about getting the mood right, getting a simple set up and getting in front of the camera. I usually have a pretty intimate set up during so I can get comfortable in channeling my thoughts.
What do you get from creating this form of art?
I get a lot of personal satisfaction. It just makes me happy to shoot and edit, I guess. Lately, it’s been helping with a bit of introspection plus it helps grow my other forms of art as I’m trying to be less closed up with this and myself, generally. Plus it makes me happy when people like it and relate too. 🙂
Anything you’d like to add on?
A little belief in yourself goes a long way. Love yourself like you bloody well should…All that nice stuff. ?
What inspires you from Ivy’s work? Share with us and don’t forget to check her out on VSCO, Instagram, & Twitter.
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Listen
To be a music critic, as I most recently learned, you have to be an active listener; which is far from what most of us do. The millennial generation use music as a background to daily activities, treating music as a statement wall holding holding a priceless piece of art. Though, both are important to the whole presentation, music takes the supporting role.
Diversity is also key, listen to the likes of Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Kenny weissberg, Kenny Rogers,Art Taylor (the drummer 1970’s), Prince, Maurice Ravel(orchestral) ,L.L. Cool J. (obsessed) just to name a few names in the different genres of music that rocked the charts ,waaay before I could say ‘legendary’. Challenge your taste, don’t be fooled though, I haven’t listened to all of them but I plan to sample their lyricism and rhythm.
Taio and Karun performing during EA Wave and friends. Copyright Felixie Laurens Rhythm and lyricism. This to me is the icing, rhythm is everything. Rhythm is physical, it is the difference between dabbing, tapping,jamming, or even slow dancing. Movement. Lyricism on the other hand is soul and emotions. It provokes love, happiness, sadness, or dé·jà vu. All these vital to daily human living given the fact that music is ‘key to the soul’ :corny as it sounds I believe.
So the next time you try to figure out if a record is good or not, for one, really listen, allow yourself to feel and understand the lyricism and lyricist.
Jazz Festival at Kasarani. Copyright Felixie Laurens -
An ode to self portraits: Maira Stephanie
“All my images are self-portraits, even when I’m not in them.”
― Nuno RoqueI’ve always been fascinated with self portraits but in fine art until I found some images by different creatives in digital form. After following along Maira’s work I managed to catch up with here and here’s what she has to say;
Hi! Ever wondered how people get into self portraiture? This is a look into how I, as a 23 year old dental surgery student, got into it and what I’m about as a self-portraiture enthusiast.
What is self portraiture?
I would define it as a form of art where one is free to express themselves however they like in the form of a picture.
How did i get into self portraiture?
It all happened by chance…or is it by fate? *shrugs* It started with a photograph I took of my hand reaching out into the light from the empty darkness. For me, that picture signified a sliver of hope in the dark situation that I was in.
From darkness into light Thus started my love affair with the art. From then on, self-portraits became a sort of safe space, a world where I could explore sides of me that I normally didn’t show out there in the ‘real world’.
What is my inspiration?
My inspiration comes from almost anything really. It can be from a line I heard in a song that touched me in a certain way.
Inspiration from Take Care – Drake ft Rihanna It can be from a particular mood or emotion I’m feeling. Be it missing someone, or craving a little affection or even finally gaining confidence in yourself and your body.
Mood: Missing a significant other 
Mood: Craving some affection 
Mood: What’s wrong with being confident? I also get inspiration from other photographers. I normally see amazing shots on Instagram that make me want to try something outside the box.
Through the looking glass. Inspiration comes from everyday experiences and events, from African leaders and even friends. There is literally no limit to the things that influence my ideas.
Thought process.
Now, I can’t say I have an actual thought process. Every idea is different, from its conception to its completion. But what I can say is that I definitely have to sit down and think of the ways I can take a photo without compromising my own beliefs. For example, I am not comfortable with nudity, so I find ways around that. I also try to make sure that the photograph is an extension of what I am feeling at that moment.
The eyes are the window to one’s soul. Shooting process
It is amazing what you can do with good natural light, a small space and a camera phone. Until recently, I had been using phone cameras to take all my self-portraits. I found it more convenient. I am however exploring taking self-portraits with a DSLR now and its working out pretty great. So far I’ve been using natural light only, I take advantage of rooms with large windows. It does, however, limit the time I can actually take the self-portraits. As for space, I don’t have an actual studio (fake it till you make it, ha-ha!) I use the spaces and rooms available to me. Add a few props depending on the theme and I’m good to go.
Good lighting is everything What do I get out of it?
All in all, I would say self-portraiture has helped me discover things I didn’t know I was capable of, it has opened me up to feel more and experience more, it has taught me a lot about photography and last but certainly not least, it has led to new friendships.
Nourishment. Parting short
Self-portraiture isn’t just about serious faces and deep thoughts. Have some fun while you’re at it. Smile! Happiness is an emotion too.
Let me know where you draw your inspiration for your self portraits (if any). You can see more of Maira’s work on Instagram, VSCO , Facebook & Twitter.
