Mstari Wa Nne

Real Fake

2011-03-11T17:46:00.000+03:00

it is a materialistic...hedonistic world that we live in

where you are deemed cool by the money in your wallet

by the clothes you wear and the places you hang out

by the company you keep..by the neighborhood you live in

you try REAL hard putting up appearances...you live your life FAKE

maintaining an expensive lifestyle...trying to keep up with the Jones'

constantly in rent arrears..lacking bus fare...can't pay the bills

but must be seen on the party scene...doing anything to fit in

dancing...not because you enjoy the music

but really out of the need to be seen

passing judgment on others yet you got your own flaws

with your many imperfections you think you are the epitome of perfection

you are not the sun...the world doesn't revolve around you

you see..unlike the sun you do not radiate warmth and light

you are cold and dark to those you say are not in your class

you've got class...acting class..where they teach you how to fake it

to put appearances..be pretentious...insincere...dishonest

take a long hard look at yourself...look at what you've become

manipulative...cold hearted...self centered

maybe if you humbled yourself...swallowed your pride

and got rid of your air of self importance and arrogance

got to see the world through the eyes of others

you would really say how you feel...

you would be open about your situation

you wouldn't go through the motions

you wouldn't be a REAL FAKE

Made in Eden

2011-03-08T08:48:00.001+03:00

The Master of the Universe could have chosen seeds,
petri dishes or even magic, but He chose the miracle of you.
He could have continued His creation, the sleeping and
removing of ribs, but He made His future in you.

He chose man for life and woman for the continuation of
that man's life. You are the challenge to be cherished forevermore.
How God's man could live without you or even say that he could
do without you is beyond me and all sense of time.

You cannot . . . we cannot . . . I cannot be replaced,
displaced or mistaken for something that I am not
when we were broken down into numbers, formulas,
figures and phenomenon in a place called Heaven.

Centuries prove that we are the ones who brought
us here to stay. Had it not been for bodies like yours and mine
Adam's seed would have died in Eden, and who knows
what God's next idea would have been. Who knows?

But you were chosen for life, and you have given back
to the universe what was proposed. You have bridged
a gap. You have opened a door. You have created
life; four little letters became ten little fingers and toes.

It is a shady destiny to fulfill not knowing what the end
will be. It's a giving back to the Giver in hopes and prayers
that He will touch souls and direct paths.
Life is a troubled thing to bear, and we have borne it.

It's a simple reflection in a so-called complex world, and
why? We have taken the simple things and built mountains
that keep us from pressing on. The four-letter word has
been complicated, mistaken, halted and reformed by men.

A candle was lit in Eden. A circle was formed there, and
we are the most important means to something that never ends.
We shed the light of love by bringing miracles to life each time
we cross that predestined threshold of motherhood.

Perhaps it's why we think of flowers, fresh fruit and sweet smelling scents
when we think of mothers of sons and daughters. It's a beautiful
thought, but I really think it was all about Adam waking up from
a deep sleep and seeing before him the continuation of life.

He saw you. He saw me. He saw us
with all the glory God could give the world in a woman, the continuation
of life. I hope that he told God thank you. I hope that he
recognized woman as God's purpose for the promise of life.

You were chosen to bear a burden that only you could bear.
And you were chosen to hear words and cries that only you,
as a mother, could hear and respond to with your touch, your telling
and your tenderness of heart. You were made in Eden to last forever.

Woman

2011-03-08T08:44:00.000+03:00

She is every ounce of
"strength, courage and wisdom"
in trace amounts of man
and -isms

She is the effervescence of life:
dignity, destiny, faith in our fathers,
love, light,
hope for tomorrows

She is the seed of prosperity
bringing forth virtuous fruit
faith, charity, resilience
and truth.

She is the dawn
of every tomorrow
she speaks peace
to every sorrow

She is woman
for God's man
She is the chosen
by His hand

Nitazidi kuongea

2011-02-28T19:15:00.000+03:00

nitazidi kuongea

kwa sababu nikiongea

mababu wangu huongea

wale washupavu walionitangulia

zile sauti zilizoshindwa kuongea

wazalendo wangu wanaongea

jamii yangu inaongea

wale niliowajua na wale sikuwajua

wale ambao ninaweza kuwafikiria

lakini cha mhimu

roho yangu inaongea

utu wangu unaongea

ndoto zangu zinaongea

sifa yangu inaongea

mambo mengi sana

kwa hivyo nitaendelea kuongea

nitazidi kuongea

Crying...

2011-02-25T16:46:00.000+03:00

Tired of all these wounds of love
that I inflicted on myself...holding on to you love
trying to make you see how much I love turned in to a war
I’ve never been one to let go…always believed in holding on
gaining my strength from trials, temptations and tribulations
being away from you my love…that’s too much for me
I no longer have a passion for the things I used to love
I’m gutted by thoughts of losing you
I'll be broken if I lose you
until time bring u home again
this is what I'll do
you see…when I’m alone…I sit in the house…all by myself

crying…these tears that I shed are the trail to bring you back to my heart
crying…they say a mans own tears can make him strong
crying…sitting around here…waiting for you to love me again

One Kenya

2011-02-18T09:35:00.001+03:00

Flashback: Feb 28 2008,BBC Reports " Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga have signed an agreement to end the country's post-election crisis."

Take me back

to that place where the sand meets the ocean

where the mountain touches the sky

where the rich cope with the poor

where the Kalenjin tolerate the Kikuyu

where the Kikuyu tolerate the Luo

where all people fuse as one

one country

one flag

one Kenya

take me back

to that place where boys and girls

have equal opportunity

in a working...harmonious community

far removed from disunity

free from impunity

a place where you and me can live in peace

in harmony,in symphony,in synchrony

appreciating our idiosynchrocies

a place where children have the right to education

,where women have the right to property,

where citizens are free from poverty

a place where you and me have different views

but do not condemn each other and abuse

on grounds of race,tribe or religion

let us embark on a mission

seek to attain our vision

proudly without inhibition

one Kenya our ambition

a place where there is tolerance of each other

respect for one another

tolerance is the answer to this cancer caused by violence

too many of our people are suffering in silence

why do we sit back and watch them die?

why do we believe in revenge..in an eye for an eye?

why cant we come together seek to touch the sky?

Take me back

to that place where the sand meets the ocean

where the mountain touches the sky

where all people fuse as one

one country

one flag

ONE KENYA

Ni Wewe Tu by Mstari Wa Nne's Mike Kwambo

2011-02-10T20:48:00.001+03:00

Find more artists like S.T.U.C.E at Myspace Music

Saul Williams: Coded Language

2010-12-27T14:09:00.001+03:00

Black Ice: Lone Soldier

2010-12-27T14:08:00.000+03:00

Demarco: True Friend

2010-12-27T13:59:00.000+03:00

Prostitution...My Constitution

2010-12-01T16:03:00.000+03:00

she told me

prostitution’s

my constitution

my retribution

his contribution

my damn reflection

my man’s rejection

of his erection

its ejaculation

no fall back

that’s why I lay back

for extras they smack

as I make me some cash

my dreams they are ash

my dreams they are ash

had plans

to join the institute

but now

I work the streets

I prostitute

lonely

I feel like a destitute

that I don’t dispute

that I don’t dispute

I need

resucitation

some facilitation

open invitation

help in integration

drastic intervention

hopeless situation

changes in dimension

because

prostitution’s

my constitution

my retribution

his contribution

my damn reflection

my man’s rejection

of his erection

need a solution

need a solution

Dilated Peoples: Worst comes to worst

2010-11-18T15:35:00.001+03:00

Church

2010-11-12T13:19:00.001+03:00

Supposed to be the conscience of the nation
But how do we explain rich pastors and poor congregations
These days’ church and bible have drifted apart
We place more value on entertainment, edification, vilification
We prefer fire and brimstone to saving the souls of men
Can I hear you all in the congregation say amen!

What happened to the sole purpose…giving the soul purpose
These days’ we’re so confused by all these divergent views
It’s like the pastor’s decree is more powerful than God’s word
God’s word that told him to tell us that he needs a million bucks
A million bucks to buy a car to drive around
Drive around…to spread the word…God’s word? Or his word?

Dutifully we make our way to the sanctuary at our time of appointing
Seeking the anointing…but these days’ the anointing is on sale
On sale in three levels…bronze,silver and gold
Being sold in three levels with promises of financial breakthrough
Rich pastor…poor congregations suffering spiritual malnutrition
Can I hear you all in the congregation say amen!

Can I hear you all in the congregation say amen!
Pastor has the ability to give husbands to single women
What happened to dating,courting and women’s intuition?
What happened to trusting and obeying the word of the Lord?
What happened to saving the souls of men and spreading the gospel?
I wonder if they stop to ask themselves “What would Jesus do?”
Can I hear you all in the congregation say amen!

She's only ten years old...

2010-11-08T09:50:00.000+03:00

she’s only ten years old
imagine…
she’s only ten years old
let’s call her Alice
young girl so full of promise
every day she makes her way home
from the village school
a young man..twenty two years old
has been eyeing her
so one day he stops her
and buys her plenty of goodies
shameless man…sinister plot on his mind
he wins her trust and in no time
he gets her to visit his house
all civility is thrown out of the window
young man forces himself on little Alice
raping her over and over and over again
now she is pregnant…thrown out of school
young man is nowhere to be seen
she’s only ten years old…
she should be out there playing
but now she is going to be a mother
robbed of her innocence…
deprived of her childhood
her perception of men is changed forever
she’s only ten years old…

Mstari Wa Nne © 2010

Forever

2010-11-05T09:03:00.000+03:00

I will love you daily…weekly
monthly..yearly…forever
you are the very purpose of
my existence
this is bliss…I can’t deny
find myself wrapped in
thoughts of loving you
this is a feeling
that only the heart can explain

been in love before
but never this deep
probably you touched
a special part of me
I hope and pray to God
that you feel the same way
I see the look in your eyes
the smile in your face
this is divine love

thinking of you
with every passing moment
thanking you for all the love
that you have given to me
filled my life with so much hope
loving you is so satisfying
I am so glad you feel the same way too
I will love you daily…weekly
monthly…yearly…forever

Mstari Wa Nne © 2010

Affluence and poverty

2010-11-05T08:58:00.001+03:00

affluence and poverty
the story of our society
humility and arrogance
the tragic circumstance
of life in this part of the world
the leaders line their pockets
forget about their people

humbly you came to us
seeking to be a leader
overwhelmingly we chose you
off you went…forgot about us
busy fighting your own wars
living large…amassing wealth
your people struggle to stay alive

you used to be so friendly to us
accomodating…receptive…helpful
but since you tasted power
you surround yourself with bodyguards
your goons manhandle the harmless people
coming to you in search of
much needed assistance

only concerned with looking after your own
your own friends…your own ego…your own interests
looking for ways of enlarging your powerbase
reluctant to speak out against social injustice
unwilling to empower your people and steer them
towards prosperity and progress..is it a surpirse
that affluence and poverty is the sad story of our society?
Mstari Wa Nne © 2010

Odyessy by Edwin Alubaka

2010-11-04T08:24:00.000+03:00

Pause for awhile,
think for a mimute,
move too first,
you might fall to your limit,
...life's a treasure,
you've got to plan with it,
up and down it takes you,
you've got to move with it,
your life........

Edwin Alubaka © 2010

I trust

2010-11-04T08:17:00.000+03:00

Thinking the unthinkable

Dreaming the undreamable

Reaching the unreachable

I trust…

I trust…looking forward to getting what I don’t have

Waiting for that occasion that is still yet to happen

For if I trust…I believe…I learn patience…gain confidence

I grow…I know…

And with my spoken word and unspoken thoughts

I deal with my daily fears and my future worries

I trust…

That today is better than yesterday…

That tomorrow brings a bright, sunny day

Lonely hearts pair up in love…warring parties lay down their arms

Heathens see the light…corrupt leaders embrace integrity

Slam poetry ceases being sham poetry…scam poetry

And becomes more diverse...

Much more than having to rhyme at the end of each and every verse

That poets give us pieces that last more than just a season

Pen down pieces that fuse rhyme with reason

I trust…

I trust that you, you and you will not be caught by crises of confidence

Moral dilemmas…between a rock and a hard place…

That you opt to do the right thing...every time…all the time

I trust

Michael Kwambo/Mstari Wa Nne © 2010

Big Ass Bed...

2010-11-03T11:38:00.003+03:00

Mstari Wa Nne's Mike Kwambo at Wamathai Spoken Word September 2010

Mstari Wa Nne live at the Rift Valley Festival -IDPs

2010-06-21T14:13:00.000+03:00

Mstari Wa Nne live at the Rift Valley Festival -Vision 2030

2010-06-21T14:01:00.001+03:00

A Singer, An Artist, A Poet..Friday 18th June 2010 Karen Country Lodge

2010-06-11T11:57:00.001+03:00

--
Michael Kwambo

Mstari Wa Nne at Daniel Pearl World Music Day

2009-10-24T00:46:00.004+03:00

The Mstari Wa Nne crew will be at the Daniel Pearl World Day of Music on Sunday 25 October 2009 at the Paa ya Paa Arts Center in Ridgeways.Sponsored by the United States Embassy.

TIME: 1.00pm

ENTRY : FREE

Directions...
Paa Ya Paa Arts Centre Paa Ya Paa Lane, Off Ridgeways Road (entering from Kiambu Road)
Daniel Pearl World Music Day (DPWMD) – Harmony for Humanity
Daniel Pearl World Music Days uses the power of music to promote cross cultural understanding and inspire hope for our global community.
DPWMD was created in response to the 2002 kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl, at the hands of terrorists in Pakistan.
Danny’s family and friends came together to work towards a more humane world and formed the Daniel Pearl Foundation whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, tolerance and dialogue.
Danny was also a talented musician who joined musical groups in every community in which he lived, leaving behind a long trail of musician-friends spanning the entire globe.
Since its inception DPWMD has brought together thousands of musicians from more than 77 countries using the language of music to work towards a hate-free world.

DPWMD at Paa Ya Paa will showcase original music, lyrics, poetry, stories, articles, art, and photography that reaffirm and intensify Daniel Pearl’s convictions that music, truth, honesty and dialogue can build bridges across cultural divides and help achieve international friendship.

Mstari Wa Nne trio at Ignite Poets Two Nations, One Flame Event on 7 Oct

2009-09-21T20:45:00.001+03:00

Mstari Wa Nne's Njeri Wangari, Grand Master Masese and Maik Kwambo join a talented group of musicians and poets, for the Ignite Poets: Two Nations, One Flame that will draw attention to important issues facing Kenyans today.

Funds will be donated to The Hawkers Market Girls Centre(located in the largest slum of Africa, Kibera), a school that offers vocational training for girls who are looking for a better way of life.

To find out more about the Centre, visit:

http://www.girlscentre.com/

Venue: Alliance Francaise, Nairobi
Charges: Kshs 300
Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm sharp.

The performance lineup includes:

Njeri Wangari,Maik Kwambo.Grandmaster Masese of Mstari Wa Nne..
Pepe Haze
Walter Keyombe
Muki Garang
The girls of the Hawkers Market Girls Centre

And much more!

All for a worthy cause...

News Update

2009-08-21T12:01:00.002+03:00

Mstari has been busy, what with our appearance on Chanuka Dada on Ghetto Radio 89.5FM on Sunday 9th August.
Imani Woomera graciously hosted Mstari's Leon Kiptum and Maik Kwambo among other great poets on the 11th of August at the Silverbird Poets Club at The Junction .
Friday 14th August saw Project Heshima's Rhythm and Spoken at the Dass Restaurant in Westlands come back alive after a month's break...eh...Mstari's favourite venue! Dennis inkwa killed it with his piece IDP "Initials Defining people". really, it died... Maik Kwambo went all dholuo on the patrons wooing She in another rendition of his piece "She", before he redid it in crisp Queens English and of course Leon Kiptum didn't fail to dazzle Dass with "Mahogany Misery", even the odieros needed a dictionary for this.
Saturday 15th August saw Mstari's Maik "Ja Wer" Kwambo team up with the very talented afro soul group Elani to intrigue the audience at the Angaza Concert with their new track "Nakupenda Lakini". The concert held at City Hall also featured great performances from Inka, Aziza and the seasoned Sauti Sol. The concert showcased the neo Kenyan culture that is slowly but surely taking root.
Elani and Mike teamed up again at Club Afrique on Thursday 20th August to curtain raise for Eric Wainaina and his Mapinduzi Band, who are nothing short of revolutionary!
We are still not done...
Mstari's Grandmaster Masese will be launching his album with his Ritungu Afrika Band on Sunday 6th September 2009, the same date he makes an appearance on Ghetto Radio 89.5FM from 12.00pm.
We have plenty more in store..we will keep you posted...
Stay tuned...baki kama umekatiwa...
Ps. Become a friend of Mstari wa Nne on facebook, you can read some of the pieces in the notes.

THE REVOLUTION

2009-04-17T12:31:00.001+03:00

I heard them say the revolution will not be televised
whoever said that oh..they were ill advised
this revolution will reach the masses
it is cutting across the classes
its time for us to be the leaders of the revolution
you see...
the revolution's here..no matter what they say
as we change the world..they cannot block the way
they will fight us..spite us...but we will carry the day
we are changing the world..they cannot stand in the way
like Luda says its time for them to "get out the way"

this is a revolution for the disillusioned youth
let down by leaders who are so uncouth
they specialize in lies..they are alien to the truth
that's why when they're faced with the truth
they cannot handle the truth

with extreme precision...they've mastered indecision
making incisions into our hearts without inhibition
selfishly in pursuit of their dreams and ambition
they are trying to mess up with our beautiful vision
but this revolution is coming to fruition

we are tired of the conniving and the contradiction
we long for the days when we were served with conviction
when honesty was such a sweet addiction
when systems worked in sync...without contradiction
when we mingled freely...without fear of eviction

this revolution is not only political
it should touch every part of our life...that is critical
because change starts within...let us not be hypocritical
if I can change...if you can change...the world would be less cynical
that's a true revolution...a revolution that's clinical

a revolution that preaches integrity...
a revolution that teaches us how to respect humanity
a revolution that says no to impish unity
impunity...disunity
a revolution that promotes a harmonious community

I heard them say the revolution will not be televised
but it don't have to...
the revolution is happening right here...right now

Fwd: DONT MISS THIS ACTION PACKED WEEKEND

2009-04-16T19:55:00.002+03:00

Tomorrow Night

IMANI INK & SPARK AFRICA

Present

The 7TH SLAM BATTLE

Slam Poetry Galore

LIVE @ Daas Restaurant,

Woodvale Grove 'Electric Avenue', Westlands, Nairobi

8pm Friday, April 17th, 2009. Entry: Ksh. 300

Tickets selling fast. For advance tickets call: 0721 219 564/ 0736 528 116

For media coverage call: 0721 219 564

ON Saturday Morning

PRESENTS

RENAISSANCE

MC: GRONGI

Performances by

Dynamax (Zulu Nation, USA), Maik Kwambo, Shamir, Eko Dydda, Italman,
Sharama, BlackSkillz, Pepe Haze & The Paramediks, Umoja One Movement &
Faya, DJ Joey and much more

LIVE @ British Council, Upper Hill Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi

Saturday, April 18th, 2009, 9am-4pm

OPEN MIC: 1pm

Free Entry

NEXT WAPI: SATURDAY MAY 23rd 2009: WAPI SHE ROCKS

Supported by US Embassy, Nairobi

Mstari News

2009-03-25T14:52:00.001+03:00

We have been a bit silent since our last performance at the Project
Heshima Rhythm and Spoken at Daas Ethiopian Restaurant on 13th March.

Individually, the group members keep Mstari's flame burning.

Grand Master Masese wowed the crowd during the official launch of the
2009 KCB East African Safari Rally on Friday 20th March 2009. The
Grand Master also featured on Ghetto Radio on Sunday 15th March 2009.

The lovely Njeri Wangari appeared on Ghetto Radio's Sunday Spoken Word
interview on 22nd March 2009 and she rocked...why lie!

The poetry of Maik Kwambo was featured in the March edition of WaPi
Times and he will be live on Ghetto Radio this coming Sunday 29th
March 2009 from 12.00pm

That's whats up with Mstari....

Thank you for believing in us....

Mstari at Rhythm and Spoken

2009-03-16T12:11:00.001+03:00

Mstari Wa Nne were at the Daas Ethiopian Restaurant this past weekend
for the Project Heshima Rhythm and Spoken Open Mic that was headlined
by songstress Nina Ogot.

It was a captivating performance from the group who kept the crowd
entertained with their hilarious, sometimes hard hitting poems.

Catch Mstari Wa Nne at a venue close to you soon.

Mstari News

2009-03-04T09:23:00.003+03:00

The US Embassy's Cultural Attache Ellen Bienstock ( second right) with Mstari Wa Nne's Njeri Wangari (left),Maik Kwambo ( second left) and Dennis Inkwa( extreme right) at the festivities to mark the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th US President. The function took place at the US Embassy in Nairobi on 20th January 2009.

Hi friends,

Thank you for your continued support. Mstari Wa Nne is growing from strength to strength courtesy of you. Leon Kiptum

Friday 27th February saw the group perform two pieces at the 17th Economic Symposium organized by the Institute of Certified Public Accoutants in Kenya (ICPAK) at the Nairobi Hilton.

Mstari shared the stage with among others, the Hon. Paul Muite,former MP for Kabete and Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary, Information and Communication.

The two pieces presented on the day "Vision 2030" and "Dont talk to me" by Mike Kwambo and Dennis Inkwa drew critical acclaim from the audience and prompted Dr. Ndemo to issue a 20 minute response on the merits of Vision 2030 and why the government is not to blame for all the ills affecting Kenya.

Mstari's female poet Njeri Wangare represented the group at the WAPI event held at the British High Commissioner's residence on Saturday 28th Feb, photos of this event can be found on her blog-

Tuesday 3rd March saw Grand Master Masese perform his piece "tujivunie kuwa wakenya" at the "unity through diversity" winners concert held at the Alliance Française de Nairobi. Masese was the overall winner of the competition organized by the United States Embassy to celebrate Kenya's diversity.

Grand Master Masese

Masese wowed the crowd, teaming up with neo soul crooner Anto to deliver a wicked tune that had the crowd yearning for more.

Mstari Wa Nne were scheduled to perform their pieces at the March Kwani? Open Mic on the same date but the "tight programme" kept them from doing so.

Mstari is represented in Kwani?05 part 1, the latest publication from the Kwani Trust through Mike Kwambo's poem "they stole my pocket radio". He will be among other featured poets reading their pieces at the Kwani? Sunday Super Saloon at Kengele's Lavington on Sunday 8th March 2009 from 7.00pm