The USA-Kisumu Dream

US President J F Kennedy
had this to say
in Ottawa Canada in 1962:
“Geography has made us neighbours.
History has made us friends.
We have shared common values.
The past aspiration for the future
Our future and
The future of all mankind.”
The American corner has made us neighbours.
And American corner has made us friends.
Through American corner,
We have shared common values
And common aspirations

“Writing like all representation is never innocent To write about anything is explicitly or implicitly, to delimit, uphold, expand or challenge how it is perceived and constituted. Never is writing ever natural. We write from a particular position, inhabit particular discourse, which the very act of writing itself seeks to validate.”

The Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild (Kenya) was founded to facilitate the training
of stakeholders in the film industry and equip them with professional skills in scripting and production film in a channel for the promotion marketing and distribution of films from the region. Lastly to identify, preserve and promote filming sites within the region

Our vision is to make Lake Region a centre of excellence in film making. Our mission is to produce competent professionals capable of producing films that match International standards.

I here quote the 6th American President John Quincy Adams. He stated that “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader”

The creation of American Corner has inspired our children. It has prompted us to dream more, to learn more. The American Corner has made reading exciting, enjoyable and pleasurable for the children, learning through audio-visuals has promoted active reading for the children. “What an investment for the children?”

The Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild(Kenya) and the Kisumu Area Library signed a memorandum of understanding to manage resources at the American Corner related to artistic cultural and film making. As a result of the M.O.U the American Corner Management Board was established. The Board seeks to create a forum where noble ideas and talents are recognised and be rewarded The 1st Regional Film /Theatre Awards is planned for the December, 2010.

The Film Guild came into being during the 1st International film workshop in September, 2009 coordinated and sponsored by the US. Embassy and the Kenya Film Commission. We are also today celebrating the birth of the Film Guild and the American Corner Management Board. It has been a long journey. Thanks to the American Embassy.

THE AMERICAN CORNER MANAGEMENT BOARD.
The Board comprises of the seven personalities drawn from a diverse background, mainly, from the Maseno University, Kenya National Library Services and the Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild (Kenya) members are:
1. Mr. Moses Imbayi (Chairman) KNLS
2. Mr. Tobias Odhiambo Oganda (Vice Chairman) KNLS
3. Mr. Akech Obat Masira(Coordinator)The Guild
4. Mr. David Onyango Ondiek (Secretary) the Guild
5. Prof John Midega member (Maseno University)
6. Mr. P. Gitau member (KNLS)
7. Mr. Adams Anyona member (The GUILD)

ARTS AND THE AMERICAN CORNER

Art will play a critical role and generate community participation in the Library’s affairs bringing people to the library for serious public discourse through the medium of public talks, story telling, poetry, workshop ,festivals and exhibitions.

Arts are integral to life of the traditional African society, giving worth to individual and community and therefore reinforcing their identity within their communities. Arts as opposed to the other medium have profound bearing on all aspects of our lives, from spiritual to mundane.

Arts, have since time immemorial have been related to the sustainability of society in its various manifestations. Education, access to it and its practice are vital components of any working society. Education is a vehicle that allows for the development of society and it’s enhancement in various ways.

The Film Guild and the Board seek to promote good writing criteria known as the four C’s- CLEAR, CONCISE, COMPLETE and COURTEOUS. EDUCATION plays an important role in the transfer and transformation of cultural values and practices and Paulo Freire stated Literacy therefore........ is to understand what one reads and to write what one understand”
The film form will be utilised in the transfer and transformation of education and cultures in our countries.

Then what is film?
A film is a story that comprises of two critical issues that is the DESIRE and the DANGER, what then is desire? Desire is human kind’s yearning for happiness, while the danger is something that threatens life. And emotion is actually the inner driving force that powers action. Thus, the drive of desire is life’s blood of every film and the danger the heartbeat.

THE BOARD strives to promote film industry as new form of employment creation for the youth. This industry needs support of the well wishers. For the films to have effectiveness, they must have freshness, dramatic implications and emotions. We would want to tell our stories candidly and authoritatively of the stories not told before. Films enabling us to learn more and we will do more.

We are happy today as we are celebrate the 1st Anniversary of the American Corner, the American Embassy has inspired us and have made us to dream more. The former president John Adams Quincy stated before. The regional film industry no longer is a daunting task, now that American Embassy has come to our aid. We need to harness the local talents. The new industry is now going to be realisable.

The region is endowed with unique and spectacular filming sites. The Board needs documentation facilities to realise its vision and mission. Film and theatre have become major forces in the education and development. The industry will go along way in empowering the people with critical information, opportunities and chance to examine attitudes through active learning methods. “The art provide a whole range of feelings and its knowledge is as a culture bound as language.”

CHILDREN AND STORYTELLING CULTURE
American corner has created a forum where children could tell stories more often than not. Stories have an amazing ability to stimulate our imagination. Through stories we travel to distant places and see strange and wonderful sites.
“We take part in adventures and feel the joys and sorrows that are a part of them.”
Story telling includes fables, fairy tales, folk tales, myths and legends.
The story is one of the oldest human inventions.

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE READING SKILLS
The American Corner Management Board seeks to improve reading skills among children through criteria known as reading efficiency index (R.E.I) we intend to work on the rate and comprehension

INTERNATIONAL FILM WORKSHOP

The FILM GUILD and the Management Board express their sincere appreciation to the American Embassy for having coordinated and facilitated the two international film workshops last year the local film makers in the region. Maseno University was also a beneficiary of the workshop. We yearn for more stimulating workshops. The workshops will enhance our skills in film making points with pictures instead of struggling vainly to translate images into verbiage.

Our American film facilitator’s last year were Prof. M.K. Asante, Mr. Scott Galloway, Madam Erin Persley and lastly, Mr. Giancalos Esposito.

Drama, like all other arts forms is ideological, conveys values which either questions or support those prevailing in the society, more than that, drama is not only a product of society but created to influence that very society “asserted Prof. C.J. Odhiambo.”

The FILM GUILD and the Board will utilise effectively the four powers of human communication namely, reading, listening, writing and speaking. The film industry will thrive through quality scripting and new film productions.

PROPOSED PROGRAMMES
The Board and the GUILD have lined up programmes for the American corner. These activities are planned for both children and adults as from October to December 2010

THE MAGAZINE
Their is need to establish a new magazine to promote creative expressions. It will act as a vehicle for written exchange between counties and international artistes, film makers, children demonstrating and encouraging regional tourism.

THE WORKSHOP
TOPICS
v The children’s literature: The gender question
v The role of media in the promotion of reading culture among children
v Film scripting and production

THE FESTIVALS
v Children’s festivals of reading and creativity
v Regional drama festivals
v Story telling and poetry festivals

THE PUBLIC TALKS
v Monthly public talks on topical issues to promote awareness on good governance, gender equity and development.

FILM/THEATRE AWARDS
v To recognize and reward local film makers for their exemplary works in creativity and film making.

THE EXHIBITION
v To host photo and arts exhibitions to a wider public

THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE
v The Film Guild and the Board seeks to explore means and ways of establishing cultural exchange programmes with other stakeholders nationally and internationally - A forum for exchange of styles and techniques.

THE CONCLUSION
In conclusion I here quote a famous Japanese philosopher who stated that “The creative mind will do wonderful thing but unless the public attaches value to what has been created, they will always be reduced to toys and jokes. It’s important for those who create ideas, products and unique services, to ensure that the people see value in their creation .This calls marketing and publicity to be realised so that what we do are not reduced to toys and jokes

We are also confident that through the American Embassy our creation will not be reduced to toys and jokes. The film Guild and the Board would like to utilise the power of persuasion and words to promote book culture in Kisumu city and beyond by making the library not only as place of borrowing and reading but also a place for cultural and artistic expressions - A place where discussion, discourse and exchange of views thrives.

The Board will host bi-monthly meetings to review and assess creativity and cultural development. We hope our partnership will flourish and yield sweet fruits for the counties.

Lastly, I would also like to quote the 44th American president Barrack Obama in is speech he presented to the Chicago Council of Global Affairs on the 23rd April, 2007 and he stated that “This was the time when we brought opportunity to those forgotten corners of the world. And this was the time when we renewed the America that has led generations of weary travellers from all over the world to find opportunity and liberty and hope and hope on our doorstep “We the Guild and the Board states here that the American Embassy has bought opportunity and hope on our door step through the creation of the American Corner.

Mahtma Gandhi is a great philosopher once said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world. “ The American corner is the new change from illiteracy to literacy makes the library a living museum a new city where residents value books and cultural expressions. This is the Kisumu we yearned for - the Kisumu we want. We are a new family. As a family we must stand firmly. Let us light up the new American – Kisumu dream.

By Akech Obat Masira

The Chairman
Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild (Kenya)

The Coordinator
American Corner Management Board
Presented during the 1st Anniversary of the American Corner at the Kisumu Area Library on the 29th September, 2010

Contact:
Email: obatmasira@yahoo.com
Tel. +254726164954

Knowledge and cultural transformation in Kenyan counties

FOSTERING LOCAL TALENTS

We salute the first Anniversary
Of a public utility we all admire
The American Corner - fit for celebration
By enthusiastic junior and adult readers

We salute the American Embassy
For refurbishing the junior readers section
Of the Kenya National Library Services - Kisumu Branch
To make reading and writing smooth

We salute the American Embassy
And the Kenya Film Commission
For having mooted a great idea-
A film Industry in the region
The Lake Victoria Basin Film Makers Guild (Kenya)

We salute the American Embassy
To avail a great intellectual opportunity
To Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley Provinces
To turn the Lake Region into a centre of excellence
Specifically in the area of film making
To maintain international film making standards

We salute the American Embassy
For coming to our assistance readily
We thank you for having provided
Training services in film making
Plus according the American corner with
Certain vital facilities
The Film Guild signed an M.O.U with the
Kisumu Area Library
To make possible the American Corner
Management Board
This has made us very proud.

We can now smile for a thing well done
The pride to read and write
The pride of a living, vibrant museum
That could offer boundless open windows

For a region endowed with talents
Alongside picturesque filming locations
As recipes for a vibrant film industry
Which is on spot and ripe for development

But who can assist us to mine this gold?
Gold in vast untapped, potential human talent?
If not our major benefactor-the American Embassy
Who will provide us with skills, and
Who will give us professional equipment?
Besides those who have all along mentored us?

We salute the American Embassy
For its magnanimity and her big heart
In all the assistance it has accorded us
And we wish to affirm our cooperation
To make our great dreams a reality
Thanks to Michael Rennanbeger, The American
Ambassador,
Madam Ellen the Cultural Attaché
And our friends in film making and cultural development.
Who foster the extension of our cooperation?

We thank the America Embassy
For fostering this cross-generational endeavour
To open window for talents development
To accord us a grand stand in excellence
That we can compete internationally
To highlight vital aspects of our society
The new America -Kisumu dream

Kudos Madam Ellen.
Kudos the American Embassy
Kudos the new American –Kisumu dream.

By Akech Obat Masira

The Epitome of Love: A screen play

Misango Arts Ensemble is looking for partners to help us produce a play based on male circumcision. A number of Kenyan ethnic groups do not circumcise their sons. However, recent drive by the Government of Kenya to encourage circumcision as one of the methods of reducing the risks of HIV/AIDS transmission has let to a dilemma among communities who do not circumscise and yet experience the effects of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this play is to encourage public engagement in (preventive) public health through play.

Synopsis

Change of attitude is a major challenge in communities faced with the idea of change outside the general cultural mainstream. The Luo Nation of Kenya has not been an exception especially with respect to male circumcision which is currently in vogue. Diehard traditionalists still find it hard to come to terms with a practice that has, belatedly been proven to be insulation against the pandemic HIV and AIDS as well as sexually transmitted infections.

The understanding is still wavering, caught between tradition and the remedy to a palpable healthcare, whereby families, couples and communities at large find themselves caught on the horn of a dilemma. Medical science in its unyielding efforts to salvage mankind from the jaws of disaster and catastrophe has come up with research findings that offer practical solutions to health and sex issues that continuously affect many people.

This is where science and arts meet at a tangent, mingling and jostling each other to creatively emerge with a solution that is likely to help address an issue that continues to boggle the mind. Gender in general comes into sharp focus in the promotion of male circumcision as an important measure in the reduction of STI, HIV and AIDS in society, the vulnerable, especially the youth in society, couples, family and the broader society, can therefore be sensitized on this important medical research to alleviate problem.

To project this in the public domain, the employment of drama as an aspect of mobilization, sensitization to create awareness and attitudinal change on male circumcision in the general wider context.

In this context herewith, is the “EPITOME OF LOVE” of a screen play focusing on the important of embracing this scientifically and medically tested and proven antidote. How do the vulnerable float with flux –

What does the mould hold? Two lovers exploring power of male circumcision (cut), alongside the dangers of HIV and AIDS.
BERTHA: Is a developmental coordinator, youthful and energetic, dealing with issues of HIV and AIDS.
BENJA: Is an ardent football fan, and a staunch Jaluo cultural traditionalist still unpurged from the practice of male circumcision.
But will BERTHA succeed in convincing BENJA on the importance of the male cut?

By Aketch Obat-Masira
Kisumu, Kenya
September 28, 2010

Greetings from Obat Masira

Welcome ... Karibu ... Machiegni

Henry Awuor Imbo: Tribute to a Noble Man of Nyakach

Today we mourn a man with unique history
Henry Awuor the son of Ibrahim Imbo
And Mama Anyango Kalara
Of kokwanyo, Mawego, Rachuonyo
We mourn the grandson of Nyaji
The son of Olela – his great grandfather

We mourn an orphan of long ago
Whose parents were taken by slavers
We mourn a great husband of Mama Kalara
Whose parents were murdered by cattle rustlers

We mourn Henry Awuor Imbo a unique person
The 8th in a family of ten and born in Nyakach
And now survived by his sister Magdale Akeyo,
To care for a homestead now left bare.

Who did not know Mzee Awuor of Nyakach kadianga?
The single individual who named Got Bolo
The place where he has left his indelible mark

A disciplined healthy man of good deeds
A man who cherishes his prayers
A man who supports church activities and catholism
A man who had a big heart for the needy
A man who developed infrastructure in Got Bolo
He build children’s nurseries and initiated road grading and building bridges
A man who generously donated his land
For Bolo – complex – for a multi –purpose mission
A man who was generous with wise counsel
On all human - interest issues
He sired intelligent off springs who are a boon to Kenyan society

A tree bedecked with twinkle stars
Each contributing its light to sturdy core
This eminent pioneer catechist
Is the legendary family tree
Whose blossoms will continue to delighted many
Emerging generations for whom he has given hope
Those numerous project he initiated

This great son of Got Bolo had a vision
Jolly Awuor Mbuta was an icon
Pioneering sugarcane and pineapple cultivation
As a pilot project in an entire region
Long ,long before we saw independence
He had a vision for growth and progress

Mogwedhi Awuor Imbo was a luminary
Who was crowned with a State award
And became a Nyakach’s Councillor
With a host of influential friends
Who does not know Sir Henry?
Who does not know the winner of Presidential award?
The renowned agriculturalist of Nyakach
Who does not know the husband of Mama Kristina Orawo of Pap Rombe?

This is one man whose wisdom stands upright
Talk about farming as a living occupation
He was there to testify that it worked
As a substitute to white collar jobs
That had increasingly become very scarce

Who does not know Chief Zablon Akach?
That illustrious son of Nyakach
Who does not know Aloys Lajre of Kajimbo?
Brigitta Nyar Kabodho and Omolo Rafael?
These were his inspirational friends
With whom he shared common vision

Awuor Mbita had a vision and a mission
He had a dream for a golden Church bell,
That could be heard as far as Kisumu
That would adorn his dream Church
That Church already stands as a testimony,here
To his great Spirit of sacrifice in Got Bolo
The Church in which his spirit lives

We mourn Mzee Henry Awuor Imbo a shinning star
Whose song is sung by the birds of Got Bolo
Even the numerous orphans , widows and less fortunate members of Got Bolo salute him
We mourn him with our flocks , drums and hymns

We mourn a man with unique and memorable legacy
A man of selfless nature, mature in everything
We mourn a man of culture and good nurture
A man who has left behind much to cherish
For Mzee Henry Awuor Imbo the founder of Got Bolo
Wuon Got Bolo – Go well
Dhi gi kwe wuod Nyakach Kadinga
Ywe mos wuod Nyakach, nyakwar Nyaji, nyakwar Olela

May the almighty Lord
Keep the soul of wuod kadianga
In eternal peace..Mos wuod Mama kalera
Wuoth maber gi Ruoth
Got Bolo will not be the same again
As we mourn our
Brother, father and grandfather.
This is for Henry Awuor Imbo:The founder of Got Bolo
For Mzee Henry Awuor Imbo: The Noble Man of Nyakach.

- Akech Obat Masira
Got Bolo, Nyakach
September 11, 2010

From our archives: The decade that was...

From our archives...