The Stars That Twinkled Yesterday

Tribute Poem To Great Artistes We Have Lost

The Stars That Twinkled Yesterday

The stars that twinkled yesterday
Have dimmed into ashes of pain
The plain truth is the loss
Suffered in vain … loss of precious grain…
We pain for Joanes Midha Owaga the choreographer…..
The dancer and the counselor …a brother
We pain for Pamela Ombima an actress … a sister.

But why? Must fate be so cruel?
Yet they shone … born to be
But what is also must go … free
And that is nature beyond our ken

Great artistes are gone
Each on urn
Our smiles have been dimmed.
Our sorrows brimmed
But will new hopes be born?
That two vibrant souls return

Naked you came into this world
And naked you proceed out

Joanes Midha wuod Owaga
Ja got Ramogi
Your passing has created a void
And chasun too difficult to fill
And chaos in the sea of arts
When a dark shadow looms amongst us
As the sunset upon Jaramogi wuod Jane Nyar Yimbo

Where is our Pamela Ombima? Nyar Engineer Tito.
Who acted like a sparrow in the space?
Where is the smiling face of joy
That came naked into the world
And now naked must go out
As we mourn in the painful doubt.

You both lived amongst us as icons
With dignity full of understanding
Ever crisscrossing crisises:
Your virtues and value a glow
But what a blow to blooming talents
Even as we remember you in light
The songs … the dances … in theatrical arts.

Those monumental moments everywhere
In Uganda and in the home groomed.
Ever in pursuit of social transformation
To give society value, virtue and joy.
The little things in life that brightens the heart
The little things that make our world better.
You combined all to give life lustre and meaning

Naked you came into the world
And naked you must now go.
But Misango Arts Ensemble will never forget
The double tragedy we so much regret
Fare thee well sister Pamela Ombima
Fare the well brother Joanes Midha Owaga

Behold the doves of peace salute.
Even as death becomes absolute
Fare thee well brother
Fare thee well sister!
Till we meet again!

A tribute poem in memory of Joanes Midha Owaga and Pamela Ombima,

Akech Obat Masira
Director
Misango Arts Ensemble
Kisumu, Kenya
Tel no: +254 726.164.954.

July 25, 2009

MOURNING KENYA'S GREATEST CHOREOGRAPHER

Greetings and well wishes. The Misango Arts Ensemble mourns its greatest and unique choreographer - The late Joaness Midha, who passed away on July 15, 2009. He has been the choreographer for the Misango Arts Ensemble for 20 years. He was also a choreographer for various schools and performance groups in Nyanza Province. Through his choreography Misango excelled in performances both nationaly and internationaly including Memorable forum Uganda development theatre association festivals in Kampala, Uganda National theatre/Cultural centre, Bagamoyo Arts Festivals, Lake Victoria Arts Festivals in Kisumu (LAVIRECHA).

Joaness was the greatest artist asset to The Misango Arts Ensemble. How shall we mourn Kenya's Greatest Choreographer? He was articulate, resourceful and uniquely talented in the world of music and dance. The Kisumu Theatre fraternity will hold a fund raising for the Late Joaness Midha on July 23, 2009 at the YOUNG WOMEN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION HALL (YWCA) Kisumu at 2:30 p.m. to help meet funeral expenses.

Rest in peace Joaness

- Aketch Obat Masir
Director, Misango Arts Ensemble
Kisumu, Kenya
Phone: +254 726 164 954