To be Kenyan

They came out in droves. From every corner of their little sandy town, they all came. Old men with shukas wrapped lazily around their waists. Middle-aged women with hardy hands. Children with mucus loosely hanging from their nostrils.

Features • Musings|

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7 Greatest Art Heists in Kenya’s History

From a sadistic point of view, a culture’s art comes of age when it is worth stealing. Some pilfer, some plunder, others loot, and yet others pluck artifacts from graves. 

Listicles|

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The Evolution of Kenyan Comedy: Why aren’t we Laughing?

A few years ago, I sat in a university auditorium during an inaugural TEDx event. One of the presentations was by Ayeyaa, the comedian who carries a signature briefcase and wears a newsboy’s cap.

Features|

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We Are Moving the Worms and the Bananas

Every once in a while when I can get off my lazy ass and finish the tens and tonnes of research snippets I have strewn all over, we sit by the camp fire and exchange stories of yore.

Musings • Quick Reads|

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7 Most Grandiose Projects by African Dictators

Here’s the thing: being a dictator is hard. Being an African despot is even harder – you have to keep the people wowed and scared of you at the same time. All that responsibility, every minute of every day, even while you sleep.

Listicles|

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7 Bravest Kenyan Whistleblowers

It takes bravery to expose the system, especially when it involves the powers that be. The problem is that there is no reaction beyond a mere grunt from the populace, with the occasional twitching of the conscience that is quickly covered up with layers and layers of political sycophancy and apathy.

Listicles|

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7 Kenyan Wild Animals that Became Global Celebrities

Animals can be celebrities too, all the while dressed in nothing but fur or a hide. There’s nothing like turning up on the red carpet with nothing but scales. 

Listicles|

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7 Most Badass Soldiers in the East Africa Campaigns

Badass has a face. One man taunted his enemy, the other was so badass no one thought he had survived a last stand. Another outlived his sides surrender, and then told Hitler to "go fuck himself." Even badass has a name, badass was in East Africa for the two World Wars.

Listicles|

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7 Kenyans who made it In Hollywood Before Lupita Nyongo (Part 2)

This list is partially built from the comments on Part 1. There are some stark omissions such as an exhaustive character list for Out of Africa and The Constant Gardener for obvious reasons (that you know them already).

Listicles|

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