Yesterday was the last poetry nite for this year i.e. Kwani Open Mic that happens every first Tuesday of every month at Club Soundd. I am quite impressed with the way the literary street is growing in Kenya because i am a fan of literature and the written word. I however feel nothing for visual (that's why i watch my movies with sub-titles) yes i just got busted! Live with it. I would much rather read than listen and watch. The greatest movies i like are those with written creativity not necessarily the action. A movie/series maybe badly acted but well written, i will still love it.Take for example Entourage, i do not think the actors are brilliant but the series has serious punchlines (www.arigoldquotes.com).
Anyway i was saying, i attended the last open mic which was sort of a competition. The presentations were well better than any other time i have been there. The worst thing about this poetry nite, is that it is free style. I read a bit about poems and writing them and i have realized i may never be able to write a poem until i commit myself to studying how a poem should be written. And yes it is not easy.
One of the sites that offers reprieve is www.poetrymagic.co.uk, i find it quite resourceful. Most of those guys up there on stage, have probably never heard the word Etymology. Yet the beauty of literature is destroyed when language is used languidly without proper understanding the usage and meaning of the words.
However, it is a good starting point. I believe that the literary street will grow. I have with me a copy of Collections of East Africa poems published circa 1973, the poetry is beautiful. I was talking to my friend who did a degree in Literature, the saddest thing is she is now a banker and i wondered is it fair enough for our state to invest in such degrees if nobody uses them? Why do people study literature in Kenya?
By the numbers that show up every other month for Kwani Open Mic shows that there is indeed a hunger for Literature in Kenya, the number of books on sale i am sure is doing well. I am just really hoping somebody finds it in himself/herself to invest in this field.
So how was it? I've always wanted to attend the Kwani? events but somehow they always catch me at a bad time. I love literature, as a hobby though. Am amazed too at how the numbers of people who appreciate literature is increasing. Same thing goes for theatre lovers. It's simply overwhelming.
ReplyDelete