Meat only sweetens whilst reaching the bone. This is what I would say of 2014 and my sojourn at Moi University.
Stepping on the thresholds of that accursed serene soil was like a dream come true. I could not deny this. Thence, living the reality of the dream was an uphill task. A must do, but hard to endure assignment. See? It would have been deferred were it not for the help, wise counsel, mentorship and support from humane souls therein and beyond. Gitungo Wa Wamere, Jimmy Obiero, Oyoo Mboya, Purity Chepkemoi, Salasya Chrispinus, Alvia Shikali, Elijah Mutai, Rogders Otieno, Victor Anangwe, Clive Olero, Simon Gichimu, Nancy Kabuchi, Allan Magomere, Jackie Nthenya, Ordinary Mind, Mike Wudz and Romi Swahili are just but a few. These, and many others, shall forever remain my heroes. They made me; they have made me; they will make me. Salute you all!
Obiero and I shared confusions, boredom and innocence whilst freshmen on the first day in campus. Then fate ensured that we become room-mates. It was then that we discovered that we were poets! He wrote in fine Swahili while I flourished in English. He was the first person to recognise and honour me as a very promising poet, then Lucas Ogalo, Allan Magomere, Clive Olero and the Literati family (our literature class). My poetry first went public after extensive publication in The Informer and The Legacy clubs in campus. This was courtsey of Allan Magomere and Victor Anangwe, editors-in-chief of the two media houses. Then Ordinary Mind came with the Eldoret Poets Association(EPA), and my art experienced massive growth.
Moreover, it was Obiero who shared and supported my idea of publishing a school magazine in 2011. Then we were mere sub-editors in The Informer, newly recruited. Together with Magomere, Briton Kithendu, and others, we saw the first ever magazine of the school of Education (since 1984) published in mid 2012 under the able leadership of Nancy Kabuchi, John Maliro, Jared Kumba and Elias Mugambi. Since then, Obiero remained a lifetime friend, brother, critic and admirer of my work. We even shared the stage together during the first Monthly Period Poetry Event on 4th Oct. 2014.
Though interested more in poetics, I wandered into politics due to influence from Gitungo Wa Wamere. I first shared my room with him whilst freshmen on our first day on campus. Perhaps none of us liked solitude; we behaved more like new chicken! Though a student of political science, I came to identify him as an ardent reader, staunch follower of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and a disciple of socialism. A school of thought I subscribe to. He was a good writer and analyst then. Before he drifted into intellectual uncertainties, political obscurity and started living someone else's life. A stooge.
I seriously participated in campus politics because of Wamere. A scholar, man with political brilliance and comrade, I rallied behind him in what I later termed as 'non-tribal allignment cause'. Something that earned me great hatred and criticism from my tribesmen. However, although we postponed victory, I live satisfied that I exercised some pure democracy.
It is true that we are all born with some innate endowments which only come forth via mentorship, exposure, learning and practice. Thus, my poetic genius would not have been sung anywhere were it not for the one Claudia Wasige,Ordinary Mind, Diana Rasugu, Oyoo Mboya, Steve Otieno,Mike Wudz,Metrine Bwisa, Barbara Mbati,Loyce Minayo,Rodgers Otieno,Simon Gichimu, and the whole EPA family. Claudia re-awakened the poetic spirit in me and carried my voice to worlds yonder. O.M founded EPA, a platform that has seen my poetry undergo numerous transformations. Wudz has been my critic, inspiration and supporter of our quest for relevance in poetry. Gichimu is my compatriot in the Nation of Poetry. He invited me to his art_show on MU FM and appreciated my works the more.
I first appeared on stage at the One-Night Stand Poetry in Eldoret-- courtsey of Mike Wudz, Oyatsi SO and the EPA family. This was my first time also to meet these great literatis and masters. Whatever I felt whilst on stage laid bare what they feel whilst doing what they do best. Chewing, eating and spitting poetry. See?
The desire and dream to develop and advance poetry compelled Oyoo Mboya and I to found the Monthly Period Poetry in Moi University Main Campus. I also delved into poetry critiquing and reviewing. I availed my works to the world and presented them for criticism to many a scholar, including my teachers Prof. C. J Odhiambo, John Masinde and Samuel N. Njogu. I collaborated with Oyoo Mboya in co-authoring 'Conscious Meditations: Selected Poems'-- an anthology bearing lively, freshly and carefully penned promising poems of our time.
A brother, friend, mentor and invaluable critic, Mboya informed my literary endeavours alot. We have shared a myriad of sentiments and strived, forever strived: to cultivate an ideal African poetic form, voice and model.
And we all believe that: ''the world may not know us but the narrow paths on which we have walked shall forever sing our names''.
2014 has been of great joy and transformations. I began to glorify my African name Wafula p'Khisa after developing interest in the African cosmology and desire to develop and advance my culture. I have shared the stage with great people like Romi Swahili, Mike Wudz, Ordinary Mind, Oyatsi SO, Oyoo Mboya, Eva Shirow Gathogo etc. I have shared thoughts with Eddy Ongili, Michael Mwangi Macharia, Kigo Jimmy, Stacy Njagi and Salasya Chrispinus etc etc etc. I am greatly indebted to Salasya, and I will owe my present literary self to him. He inspired, challenged and criticised me. Moreso, he challenged me to try prose; and this gave birth to my first novel 'Interdicted', two novellas 'Flowers of Fate' and 'Ticket to Hell' and an anthology of 15 short stories 'A Woman in Bed & Other Stories' and a couple of essays. I salute you, son of woman!
I have also tried to anthologize my poetry of six years( since I began writing seriously in English). So as I march to the exit of 2014, in my closet are three anthologies 'Songs of My Soul', 'Songs of My People' and 'Identity Riddles & Crises: Selected Poems' and three long long poems 'A Maiden's Lament', 'Tanzia ya Afrika' and 'Women in Combat'.
Dear compatriots, when 2015 comes, may the sun and moon shine brightly and the rain fall heavily. We could live better. Successful and prosperous.
Great thanks.
(c) Wafula p'Khisa
-lirango lienjofu-
Thigh of an Elephant.
Stepping on the thresholds of that accursed serene soil was like a dream come true. I could not deny this. Thence, living the reality of the dream was an uphill task. A must do, but hard to endure assignment. See? It would have been deferred were it not for the help, wise counsel, mentorship and support from humane souls therein and beyond. Gitungo Wa Wamere, Jimmy Obiero, Oyoo Mboya, Purity Chepkemoi, Salasya Chrispinus, Alvia Shikali, Elijah Mutai, Rogders Otieno, Victor Anangwe, Clive Olero, Simon Gichimu, Nancy Kabuchi, Allan Magomere, Jackie Nthenya, Ordinary Mind, Mike Wudz and Romi Swahili are just but a few. These, and many others, shall forever remain my heroes. They made me; they have made me; they will make me. Salute you all!
Obiero and I shared confusions, boredom and innocence whilst freshmen on the first day in campus. Then fate ensured that we become room-mates. It was then that we discovered that we were poets! He wrote in fine Swahili while I flourished in English. He was the first person to recognise and honour me as a very promising poet, then Lucas Ogalo, Allan Magomere, Clive Olero and the Literati family (our literature class). My poetry first went public after extensive publication in The Informer and The Legacy clubs in campus. This was courtsey of Allan Magomere and Victor Anangwe, editors-in-chief of the two media houses. Then Ordinary Mind came with the Eldoret Poets Association(EPA), and my art experienced massive growth.
Moreover, it was Obiero who shared and supported my idea of publishing a school magazine in 2011. Then we were mere sub-editors in The Informer, newly recruited. Together with Magomere, Briton Kithendu, and others, we saw the first ever magazine of the school of Education (since 1984) published in mid 2012 under the able leadership of Nancy Kabuchi, John Maliro, Jared Kumba and Elias Mugambi. Since then, Obiero remained a lifetime friend, brother, critic and admirer of my work. We even shared the stage together during the first Monthly Period Poetry Event on 4th Oct. 2014.
Though interested more in poetics, I wandered into politics due to influence from Gitungo Wa Wamere. I first shared my room with him whilst freshmen on our first day on campus. Perhaps none of us liked solitude; we behaved more like new chicken! Though a student of political science, I came to identify him as an ardent reader, staunch follower of Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and a disciple of socialism. A school of thought I subscribe to. He was a good writer and analyst then. Before he drifted into intellectual uncertainties, political obscurity and started living someone else's life. A stooge.
I seriously participated in campus politics because of Wamere. A scholar, man with political brilliance and comrade, I rallied behind him in what I later termed as 'non-tribal allignment cause'. Something that earned me great hatred and criticism from my tribesmen. However, although we postponed victory, I live satisfied that I exercised some pure democracy.
It is true that we are all born with some innate endowments which only come forth via mentorship, exposure, learning and practice. Thus, my poetic genius would not have been sung anywhere were it not for the one Claudia Wasige,Ordinary Mind, Diana Rasugu, Oyoo Mboya, Steve Otieno,Mike Wudz,Metrine Bwisa, Barbara Mbati,Loyce Minayo,Rodgers Otieno,Simon Gichimu, and the whole EPA family. Claudia re-awakened the poetic spirit in me and carried my voice to worlds yonder. O.M founded EPA, a platform that has seen my poetry undergo numerous transformations. Wudz has been my critic, inspiration and supporter of our quest for relevance in poetry. Gichimu is my compatriot in the Nation of Poetry. He invited me to his art_show on MU FM and appreciated my works the more.
I first appeared on stage at the One-Night Stand Poetry in Eldoret-- courtsey of Mike Wudz, Oyatsi SO and the EPA family. This was my first time also to meet these great literatis and masters. Whatever I felt whilst on stage laid bare what they feel whilst doing what they do best. Chewing, eating and spitting poetry. See?
The desire and dream to develop and advance poetry compelled Oyoo Mboya and I to found the Monthly Period Poetry in Moi University Main Campus. I also delved into poetry critiquing and reviewing. I availed my works to the world and presented them for criticism to many a scholar, including my teachers Prof. C. J Odhiambo, John Masinde and Samuel N. Njogu. I collaborated with Oyoo Mboya in co-authoring 'Conscious Meditations: Selected Poems'-- an anthology bearing lively, freshly and carefully penned promising poems of our time.
A brother, friend, mentor and invaluable critic, Mboya informed my literary endeavours alot. We have shared a myriad of sentiments and strived, forever strived: to cultivate an ideal African poetic form, voice and model.
And we all believe that: ''the world may not know us but the narrow paths on which we have walked shall forever sing our names''.
2014 has been of great joy and transformations. I began to glorify my African name Wafula p'Khisa after developing interest in the African cosmology and desire to develop and advance my culture. I have shared the stage with great people like Romi Swahili, Mike Wudz, Ordinary Mind, Oyatsi SO, Oyoo Mboya, Eva Shirow Gathogo etc. I have shared thoughts with Eddy Ongili, Michael Mwangi Macharia, Kigo Jimmy, Stacy Njagi and Salasya Chrispinus etc etc etc. I am greatly indebted to Salasya, and I will owe my present literary self to him. He inspired, challenged and criticised me. Moreso, he challenged me to try prose; and this gave birth to my first novel 'Interdicted', two novellas 'Flowers of Fate' and 'Ticket to Hell' and an anthology of 15 short stories 'A Woman in Bed & Other Stories' and a couple of essays. I salute you, son of woman!
I have also tried to anthologize my poetry of six years( since I began writing seriously in English). So as I march to the exit of 2014, in my closet are three anthologies 'Songs of My Soul', 'Songs of My People' and 'Identity Riddles & Crises: Selected Poems' and three long long poems 'A Maiden's Lament', 'Tanzia ya Afrika' and 'Women in Combat'.
Dear compatriots, when 2015 comes, may the sun and moon shine brightly and the rain fall heavily. We could live better. Successful and prosperous.
Great thanks.
(c) Wafula p'Khisa
-lirango lienjofu-
Thigh of an Elephant.
What an honour to be featured!! A great mind,going p!aces..
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