involvement.damugeltd.co.ke

Category: Features

  • IF I DIE YOUNG

    IF I DIE YOUNG

    By Abdul Shaban

    [abdoolmtyro@gmail.com]

     

    Floating at the river

    Thousand poems of a believer

    Cigarettes burns the liver

    Held by demons none to deliver

     

    Here comes my lover

    Who blows up my cover

    White, red flowers of clover

    They are my favourite flowers

     

    Lie them on the grave

    Pour your tears of grief

    Tell my love I was brave

    “Yes whisper to my grave”

     

    I did not finish my race

    Too young to lose my face

    Ooh please grant me this grace

    Visit me forever in here my place

     

    Take my poems to archives

    Let them change millions lives

    Let them be your daily chives

    Do it to remember my lasting vibes

     

    Don’t come to my funeral

    Let it be for the world in general

    That I wasn’t your all in all

    Put my picture at the cathedral

     

    Don’t take my picture and post

    I’m still young to be lost

    I’m still young to die young

    But if I die young…keep this love

     

    Still young

     

  • Nature

    Nature

     

    By Abdul Shaban

    abdoolmtyro@gmail.com

     

    Hear the wind roar with its numbing sound,

    Nature lions roar as it shakes the ground.

     

    Nature is full of beauty and danger as well,

    From radiant meadows to the desert hell.

     

    The ice so cold it can freeze you to the core.

    Whilst beautiful snowflakes carpet the floor.

     

    We take nature for granted we see it each day,

    And it’s beauty is always on display.

     

    Why are we so  dismissive when trees and flowers bloom,

    We walk around in despair and gloom,

     

    Yet all around us fields of gold,

    Watching natures beauty unfold.

     

    As it creates patterns so exquisite so precise.

    Plants with such fragrant spice.

     

    Perfume that so intense.

    That surrounds every sense.

     

    We are surrounded its fragrance captures our soul,

    We are hypnotised we have lost control.

     

    As the clouds above pass us by,

    Do we look up at the sky?

     

    Do we notice nature at all!

    Do we hear it’s wondrous call?

     

    As leaves turn from green into red,

    Nature sleeping , it isn’t dead.

     

    Winter spring summer or fall,

    It is there , there for us all.

  • Feminism is not out to Fight the Male Gender

    Feminism is not out to Fight the Male Gender

    By Neema Oloo

    #I can do it myself # I don’t need a man #Miss Independent #I can pay my own bills and many more are some of the misused and misinterpreted phrases.

    Let us start with ladies, you know the ones with wigs past their wash date, heels that are past their feet-life, lipstick from the dark streets of Nairobi, and their phones filled with numerous unanswered texts asking if we are still on Friday.

    Woe unto you if you open the door for one and she gives you the lecture about how she can do it herself.

    These are just but a few misguided concepts on feminism. What exactly does it mean to be a feminist?

    Feminism according to Forbes is the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. It is embedded in the belief that both women and men should have equality.

    It does not advocate for sameness because ‘same’ does not mean equal. We cannot be the same because we have different physical and emotional capabilities attributed to how nature designed for us to be.

    Why then should we talk about feminism? Simply because it advocates for equal rights (a fair operating ground).

    From time immemorial women have suffered the injustice of inequality. Men were allowed to go to school, men get higher salaries as compared to their female colleagues doing the same job, many communities disregard the opinion of women because they view them as children or weak.

    Hue and cry by the boychild saying that women’s rights have been over-emphasized. It’s like a race that started and due to the patriarchal benefits the boychild has enjoyed over the centuries the girl child has to do much more to catch up.

    “Some people ask: Why the word feminist? Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?” Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general-but to choose the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific problem of gender. It would be pretending that it is not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

    Feminism does not presuppose any hidden matriarchal agenda; it is not out to fight the male gender. It is not a battle of power rather a move to lift the female gender up to the same pedestal as men.

  • Sunset Fantasy

    Sunset Fantasy

    By Chelangat Caren

     

    Breathtakingly view to stare at

    The sunset

    Beautiful flakes doting the sky

    The sun kissing the horizon

    The sun retires with an orange colour

    Casting its rays on the blue calm sea

    Beyond the horizon

    Light surrenders to darkness

    And the mysterious moon

    Takes it reign to cast the siphoned rays

    Craving so much

    Yet so little

    Imagine wildly

    With the imagination radiating

    Fantasize a life

    Where I sail to the Bahamas

    Where I get to go to Canada

    Where I immerse my soul deep into creativity

    My soul into fashion

    And art galleries  around the world

    Like I always wanted

    Tour the world

    Eiffel tower and among many

    Learn various languages

    Learn cultural values

    And spice it up a little

    With my bucket list ideas

    Love the kind of love

    Not fabricated

    By the notion of fairytale.

  • ONE PIECE HAS CEMENTED ITS PLACE AS AN ALL TIME CLASSIC.

    ONE PIECE HAS CEMENTED ITS PLACE AS AN ALL TIME CLASSIC.

    BY Ken Andrew
    kenakikenyi@gmail.com

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of mangaplus.shueisha.co.jp
    One Piece is a Japanese animated fiction television series (commonly known as anime), which is also available in a comic format (known as manga).

    As it is with most Japanese anime, the manga starts and runs for a while before the production of the anime. This explains why the One Piece manga started in 1997 and it debuted on television in 1999. The creator and writer of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, through the years has kept on wowing the audiences with brilliant story arcs and commendable character development that have helped in growing the already huge fan base.

    The series has withstood the test of time and even receives high ratings from critics to date. It is even considered amongst the “big four” anime which is like a Mt. Rushmore, but for anime. Bleach, Dragon Ball and Naruto round off the list. One Piece follows the adventure of Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who dreams of becoming the ‘Pirate King’ by finding the legendary treasure One Piece. Luffy, gathers a formidable crew, each playing a key role in helping him achieve his dreams and their own dreams also.

    The crew is named the Straw Hat pirates, a name they got from the symbolic Straw Hat that their captain Luffy wears. They travel the seas and become one of the most notorious pirate crews in the world hence amassing large bounties on their heads because of the trouble they cause the World Government and Celestial Dragons. Eiichiro Oda also uses this anime to address some social injustices present in the world at this time. In such cases, he uses Luffy and his crew (even though they are pirates) as the protagonists and the good guys who take down the oppressors. Crimes and injustices such as slavery, human trafficking, racism and drug abuse have been brought out in one way or another by Oda.

    This just goes to show the awareness and sense of justice of the writer. The genres in one piece are numerous but it is mostly full of comedy, action scenes and dramatic moments. The action blends well with the drama thus the availability of many iconic scenes that fans cannot get enough of. The availability of the different genres and the blending of the ideas have helped one piece become one of the most lucrative comic franchises.

     

    It even recently surpassed the Batman comics to become the second best-selling comic in the world, only behind the Superman comics. One Piece has also held its own against other Japanese anime/manga
    franchises be it the big four or the newer ones but with fellow big four heavyweights Bleach and Dragon Ball set to drop massive projects in coming months and year, will they overtake One Piece in the race to
    become the outright number one anime/manga of all time? We will see about that but what a time it will be for all anime fans!

    With still a lot of questions raised in the series yet to be answered, One Piece is set to continue for a couple of more years. Obviously we cannot get into those questions or dig deeper into the anime because of spoilers, but with the recent story arcs, the show has really picked up and fans are left buzzing after each episode, drooling for the next one to drop. To date, nine hundred and ninety one episodes have been released alongside one thousand and twenty six manga chapters. The show is definitely worth binging. Will Luffy find One Piece and become the Pirate King?

    Straw Hat Pirates crew members and roles and bounties*
    NAME ROLE BOUNTY**
    MONKEY D. LUFFY CAPTAIN 1,500,000,000B
    RORONOA ZORO FIRST MATE 320,000,000B
    USOPP SNIPER 200,000,000B
    NAMI NAVIGATOR 66,000,000B
    VINSMOKE SANJI COOK 330,000,000B
    CHOPPER DOCTOR 100B
    NICO ROBIN ARCHAELOGIST 130,000,000B
    FRANKY MECHANIC 44,000,000B
    BROOK MUSICIAN 83,000,000B
    JIMBE HELMSMAN 438,000,000B
    *CREW MEMBERS LISTED ARE ACCORDING TO THE RELEASED ANIME EPISODES.
    ** THE BOUNTIES ARE

     

  • LOVE IN THE TWENTY FIRST

    LOVE IN THE TWENTY FIRST

    BY ROZANNE NTHAMBI

    (rozannenthambi37@gmail.com) 

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of Deposit photos

    The twenty first century is being characterized by a lot of unfathomable things, love being one of them.

    Each passing day, love is turning out to be more and more extinct like a playa in the middle of the desert.

    One wonders how many people out there are actually experiencing it; good, honest and real love, even though the truth is no one wouldn’t want to love and be loved. As insane as it sounds, many young people prefer having everything else in this world other than love.

    They will give their all to get money, to earn a living, but will easily misuse, fall in and get out of love. They will change faster than a chameleon changes its colour. But should this really, be it?

    Truth is, even though it does make us vulnerable and most of the time people get hurt, love is really amazing when given and received by the right person and at the right time.

    Meanwhile, the extinction of this love is also coming in different forms and angles. I mean who hasn’t heard of the “epic” stories of the so-called sugar daddy and sugar mummy relationships.

    Then there are the stories of those who fell in love when they were ten years old and until now, they are together at a hundred years plus still enjoying time together.

    All in all, love is really a beautiful thing if given and received the right way. To just say that this is the person I want to be with for the rest of my life, and to give them every inch of oneself is really risky and frightening, but with time there is always a realization that indeed it was a risk worth taking.

    As they always say, whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, and every experience is a learning opportunity. Of course, there is always the fear factor, you will have second thoughts and doubts but it is also fair to say, trust the process.

    This is that moment where despite the negativities that come with it, you ought to close your eyes, let go of the fear and open up to love.

    So how about you always be positive and remind yourself that well, you might just have made the best decision of your life to fall in love.

    In any case it is not cast on stone that love will always be sour!

  • MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL WELL-BEING.

    MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL WELL-BEING.

    By Wangui Njau

    (njaucatherine@gmail.com)

    “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind… always.” These were words echoed by robin Williams on his struggle with mental illness. A struggle most if not all of us are familiar with either through ourselves or through those around us.

    On Thursday 23 September, a Mental Health Talk was held Daystar University in collaboration with the student government (DUSA) and Daystar University Peer Educators and Counselors Club (DUPEC).

    This was made possible by the recently appointed chairlady of DUPEC , Ms. Phoebe Mugo.

    “When I got to the club and I saw there is no much activity, I started thinking about what can we start doing?” [Sic], stated Ms. Mugo as she strongly echoed that September is the National suicide prevention month.

    The event was graced by a few members of Yunitok, the Nairobi campus secretary Mr. Brian Achoka, I choose Life – Africa (ICL) representative, our speaker for the day Mr. James Kagondu a counseling psychologist and members from the Kenya Scouts Association.

    The audience got introduced to Yunitok and their background. It was founded from ‘U-Report’ which is a well-known free social monitoring tool designed for young people to strengthen community led development and citizen engagement. It was first launched in Uganda in 2011.

    It was developed by UNICEF to improve citizen engagement, inform leaders and foster positive change and  is now used in more than 70 countries.

    However, in Kenya, the name U-Report had already been trademarked by a media company. Therefore it needed a new name before the tool could be launched here.

    In partnership with the State Department for Youth Affairs, National Youth Council, Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Kenya Scouts Association, Kenya Girl Guides Association and the Generation Unlimited Kenya Secretariat, UNICEF organized a two-week online naming challenge to identify potential names for the digital platform and that’s how the name Yunitok came to be.

    Yunitok is a platform where young people being the centre of any community can communicate their problems and have them addressed.

    The Mental Health talk was illuminating as they debunked the myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic. It was also a platform to network with various individuals present.

    The part of the talk that really weighed heavy was that statistics provided by the Taskforce on Mental Health under the Kenyan Ministry noted that men’s mental health cases are on the rise. This was attributed to lack of a safe space for men to talk about their problems or hardships without receiving harsh criticism and stigmatisation.

    As the speaker of the day was winding up he left us with the words of robin Williams where he said:

    “Depression is not a joke. It is a real illness that doesn’t discriminate. No amount of money or fame can fix it. The funniest man on earth couldn’t just think positive thoughts and be healed. Support those who are battling depression and other mental health issues. It takes lives!”

  • It Was All Pomp And Colour At Daystar Talanta

    It Was All Pomp And Colour At Daystar Talanta

    By Kenedy Mwololo

    (kenedymwololomuuo@gmail.com)

    In a week packed with endless assignments and group problems to tackle as lecturers desperately honor their end of semester, last-minute-rush, tradition to complete their remaining course works, I wouldn’t miss Daystar Talanta for anything.

    The amphitheater was prepped up for the event on July 22, and the podium beckoned for all who had been bitten by the showbiz bug to ascend it. Blue and yellow balloons adorned every pillar in the hall and some even made their way onto the stage where the stars would make their debuts.

    The flowing black background gave the stage a dignified look as cobalt blue and golden ribbons clung to it like stars in the night sky. The perfect arena for the perfect night!

    Sadly, the audience was a killjoy. I couldn’t help but pity the MCs who constantly screamed into their microphones to grab the stone crowd’s attention. Their reward was only one or two shouts from the female audience.

    It took an eternity for the performances to start and when they did, my adrenaline flowed in jets. The audience must have been experiencing the same since their enthusiastic roars, coupled with the Afro-beat music, kept me from hearing my own shrill.

    A dance group had slid its way into the stage and even my hard-to-impressed nature had to admit it was real talent. The next performance was spoken word which was performed in the most sophisticated voice my ears had ever had the pleasure of listening to. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of the piece but it touched my heartstrings so deeply I doubt I will sleep poorly again.

    Only three performances stood out for me the most. The screams from the audience seemed to judge the performance long before the actual judges gave their take on the performance. It was obvious even to the dumbest fellow who would take the day and it was going to be a queen. The first one that impressed me was the dance crew led by the happy-footed chap whose alias is Patrobus. As I remarked earlier, that was real talent!

    The second one was the spoken word by the lady of the sophisticated voice. As a future teacher of English, I was in utter disbelief. Such grammar and articulation obviously deserved a prize. The audience however willed it to someone else; which brings me to my third performance. Shirlene is her name. They went wild before she even set foot on the stage. Her melodious voice seemed to enchant them as they showered her with cheers and chanted her name. That damsel can sing!

    The excitement reached a crescendo when controversial superstar, Eric Omondi, made a surprise appearance on the podium. His fashion style I will not discuss since I am a fashion illiterate. One daring damsel even took to the stage to ask for a selfie with him. Before the icon left, he played philanthropist and donated about 65,000 shillings to support two upcoming bands. One can only pray they grab the opportunity to reach the stars since fortune knocks once.

    Deshcare International also got a presentation on stage and I must say I will join them for the sanitary pads drive at Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi this weekend. I can hardly wait! The next performances boasted male soloists singing to the tune of skilled guitarists. The refreshments arrived just as the clock struck 11 PM. After a few solo performances, Noah Distributors and Horis Delivery, two business start-ups by Daystar students, gave video presentations of their services and I must say, I was greatly intrigued to try them and promote homegrown businesses.

    Time didn’t seem to matter anymore even as midnight approached. My mind was still unchanged though but the rest of the audience had made up their mind. I am sure the judges had too. The eye witness I had left behind to watch the event till its completion later informed me what i already knew. The last dance crew had floored the rest of their competition to bag 30,000 shillings. I do rather apologize to you, dear reader, for failing to mention the names of the lion-hearted youths that awed us with raw talent this evening. I was unfortunately forced into the back of the amphitheater where I could hardly hear those wielding the microphones.

    I speak for the rest of the audience when I say ‘Daystar has talanta’.

  • DAYSTAR TALANTA EVENT; SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT.

    DAYSTAR TALANTA EVENT; SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT.

    By Wangui Njau

    (njaucatherine@gmail.com)

    As the NIV Bible 1Peter, 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

    Held on Wednesday, July 28 at the Nairobi Auditorium with the weather setting the mood; the show began. “Daystar Talanta is a platform that allows one to showcase their talents, skills, abilities, and brands that are morally acceptable,” said M.C. Cepha as he kicked off the event.

    The pompous event held vibrancy and warm shares by supporting your friends who are talented by simply being there and a good platform to showcase one’s talents, skills, passions, and even brands because that’s how you build as an individual. 

    There were several performances by those who had signed up as well as from those who were in the audience and felt they had something to showcase. There was dancing both solo and group performances in no particular order, including the special guest of the day, Flirty Carlos and his crew who gave a ground-shaking performance, and our very own Steve, G Tabby, and Rodgers.

    We heard poets exceptionally skilled in spoken word either as solo artists like Himelda Mugambi, Clay Otunga, or as the famed duo: Joel Mumo and Kevin Mulela. A Paulo and Paula story in the form of a spoken word, worship song by Oscar, a monologue by Abigael Mutheu, a comedy skit by Alimo Malinga, and freestyle rapping by Oti Major who got a push of support from the DUSA treasurer, Wambui Njoroge in aid of producing his music video. 

    Julie and Danto carried the Modelling show which was new to Nairobi as it hadn’t been present in the Athi- River event. They showcased different categories like official wear, casual wear, and the scoop of the day, the evening wear. 

    We had a representative, Tracy, from DeshCare International who informed us of the brand’s vision and mission and their latest initiative the sanitary towel drive in Kibera on Saturday the 31st of July 2021. Also present; were student representatives from Mount Kenya University (MKU), University of Nairobi (UoN), and our very own DUSA.

    As to any event, there are misses and hits. Some of the misses were: The event started late. It was set to begin at 1:30 but instead began at 2:40 pm (1 hour & 10 minutes later). There was a lot of noise from the audience. A small section of this audience was rowdy. The general mood was a bit mellow probably because of the weather and the day of the event. The sound systems were the struggle of the day and equally so presented a lot of delays.

    The event had triumphant hits such as The M.C. of the day was Cepha and he is good at it. He was engaging and had control of the crowd, thus ensuring order. The performances were the prize of the day as they were good, executed with confidence, and brought out a diverse set of talents. 

    The turnout overall was actually good. We had some students who would pass by after their classes and engage for a while before heading home. As a culture in most Daystar events, refreshments were served.

    All in all, God made us all different. That’s great because together, all of us make up the kingdom. God wants you to use your unique role in the body of Christ to glorify Him. So, if God made you an amazing singer, sing for Him. If your talent is a little less conventional—maybe you’re good with numbers or with writing code—then find a way to translate that into a job or volunteer work for a God-honouring company or ministry. Use your God-given abilities to reach those who don’t know Him—and give Him the credit for your talents.

     

  • Dark Chocolate Glazed Fluffy Pancakes.🥞

    Dark Chocolate Glazed Fluffy Pancakes.🥞

    By Wangui Njau.

    njaucatherine@gmail.com)

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of cafedelites.com

    What you will need

    :

    1. All-purpose flour.
    2. Baking Powder.
    3. Sugar.
    4. Dry Spices. (Cinamon etc.)
    5. Eggs.
    6. Milk.
    7. Liquid Flavouring. ( Essence etc.)
    8. Melted Butter or Oil.
    9. Dark Chocolate Compound.

    Measurements

    :

    Dry Ingredients.

    1. One and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour.
    2. 3-4 teaspoons of baking powder.
    3. 3-4 tablespoons of sugar.
    4. 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

    Wet Ingredients.

    1. 1 or 2 Eggs. (1 Egg = Lighter pancakes; Goes well with spreads, fruits, and chocolates & 2 Eggs = Heavier pancakes; Goes well with cheese, ham, etc.)
    2. 1 cup of milk. (Milk is what helps your batter achieve the right texture so the amount may vary.)
    3. 60g or 1/4 cup of melted butter OR 3-4 tablespoons of oil.
    4. 1-2 teaspoons of Essence. (Optional)
    • Sieve the flour, baking powder, sugar in a big enough bowl to avoid pouring over. (if the sugar is fine; If it’s coarse sugar don’t sieve, just add in after you’ve done sieving the rest of the dry ingredients.) Add a well-beaten egg(s), add the cup of milk followed by the butter or oil and the essence. (optional) Mix the ingredients by folding in the mixture until the desired consistency is achieved; Which should be a flowing consistency but thick. (If your batter is too runny then your pancakes won’t rise and be fluffy but will be more like crépes.)
    • IN CASE YOU WANT TO ADD FRESH FRUITS INTO YOUR PANCAKES; THIS IS THE STAGE YOU DO SO. YOU CAN ALSO ADD THEM BEFORE YOU SERVE THE DISH.
    • Cut the dark chocolate compound into sizeable pieces, like per box, into a cup. You can also add 3-4 teaspoons of water or milk into the cup if you would prefer a lighter glaze. (This is optional and the amount varies to preference.)
    • Boil some water in a sufuria and place the cup inside the sufuria and allow it to melt for the glaze. If you want to add spices to the glaze feel free to do so as it melts for even incorporation.

    The How-To

    :

    • Heat a pan on Medium-High or Medium-Low heat. (The best pans to use are cast iron or non-stick ALSO Medium-high is best for heavy pancakes while Medium-low is best for light pancakes.)
    • Spread the butter or oil by using a paper sheet or the back end of a spoon on the pan. ( minimize the oil or butter used because the batter already has oil or butter.)
    • Scoop a spoonful of batter and pour it lightly on the pan to achieve good circular shapes. (If you slump the batter on the pan, you will have funky shapes.)
    • Cook each side till even bronzing or browning is achieved. Alternatively, when you pour in the batter onto the pan, flip it when you see small porous holes forming. (It will somehow resemble a sponge) Let them bronze evenly.
    • Remove them from the pan as you stack them which allows them to retain the heat.
    • Add the glaze to the pancakes or your preferred topping(s) and you are ready to serve the dish.

    NOW YOU CAN ENJOY THE DISH TO YOUR FILLING!!🥞