4 minute read
Events
The Moipei Sisters Live
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From left – Moipei triplets Marta, Maggie, Edita Camm, Alec Davies (sponsor) and Mary The brilliant Moipei Sisters, returned to Kenya from the US, where they have been studying music, over Christmas and New Year, and gave a sensational Live concert at MCC for the first time in five years. They performed to a more-than-full house - the bookings being so overwhelming that the concert was relocated outside so as to accommodate a few more guests, ending up with an ecstatic audience of over 100. Their programme of music reflects their recent US influence, and as always contained something for every taste. Every piece is rearranged by the trio to suit their performance, and it never fails to enhance its beauty in a distinctive, ‘Moipei’ way. A glorious, uplifting musical evening.
COLONIALISM A MUSICAL ORAL HISTORY PERFORMANCE
The history of colonialism was given a new and original presentation by storyteller and children’s author Wangari Grace, together with fellow performer and musician Sven Kacirek.
From the stance that colonialism is a global occurrence usually told through textbooks and explained by outsiders, Sven and Wangari told the story of colonialism through ordinary people’s own stories and experiences and set them to music.
This unusual and enlightening performance, was enthusiastically received by a captivated audience.
Wangari Grace (centre in yellow) and Sven Kacirek (far right) with enthusiastic supporters of their new artform after their recent Musical Oral History Performance at the Club.
SCAT DOGS SAVING CHEETAHS
Cheetahs are found throughout Kenya in small populations but there may be fewer than 1,200 of them remaining in the wild. Trade in cheetahs is emerging as a leading threat to the wild cheetah population, making it essential to conserve them in their strongholds.
Pictured above - Action for Cheetahs K-9 Conservation Dog Handlers - Antony Oyugi & Edwin Kimutai with one of the trained cheetah dogs - Tassi. Action for Cheetahs uses dogs trained to locate cheetah fecal samples as a part of a wide range of studies on cheetah poulations. The Action for Cheetahs team, led by Mary Wykstra, gave a demonstration at the Club of the dogs’ ability to locate this ‘black gold,’ aka cheetah poop, and gave a fascinating talk on their methods of non-invasive studies to conserve cheetahs in their strongholds.
Nelson Mandela
Africa has the largest number of examples of Rock Art on the planet - and also the largest number under threat. Hundreds of thousands of such works are spread across the continent, including the oldest scientifically dated Rock Art in the world, dating back 77,000 years, but they are being destroyed at an unprecedented rate by unregulated development, vandalism and theft. Most Rock Art is unprotected and many governments are either ignorant or disinterested in this heritage.
A stunning photographic exhibition capturing some of the most striking examples of Africa’s remaining Rock Art by MCC Member David Coulson, founder of the Trust for African Rock Art (TARA), was held at the Club recently to create more awareness of this extraordinarily rich yet fragile art form, and its contribution to our understanding of Africa’s past.
The prints on show are now on sale to raise money to help TARA protect Africa’s Rock Art. Every sale will help protect Africa’s Rock Art legacy and work to stop more examples being destroyed.
TARA is the only organisation working to try to save Rock Art across Africa.
For more information go to https://trustfor-african-rocka-art.myshopify.com/
COMPETITION
Question: What is the original name of this street and where is it? And what is it called today?
Prize: The first correct entry that we receive will win dinner for two with a bottle of House Wine in either Pinks or the Club Dining Room. Please send your answers to communications@mcc.co.ke
Photos courtesy of David Bromham
Answer to our Dec 2021 - Feb 2022 Competition
QUESTION: Who is this woman and what was she doing in Kenya? ANSWER: Osa Johnson – on safari in Kenya filming with her husband Martin.
WINNER: Adeel Haq
DID YOU KNOW?
Martin and Osa Johnson were America adventurers and filmmakers, who in the early 20th century captured the American public's imagination through their films and books of adventure in exotic, faraway, unknown lands.
The Johnsons spent time in northern Kenya by a lake they named ‘Paradise’, at Mount Marsabit. The film Simba: King of the Beasts (1928) was made with footage of these trips. In 1932 the Johnsons learned to fly and they flew the length of Africa getting classic aerial scenes of large herds of game moving across the plains of Africa.
In January 1937 during a lecture tour of the States the Johnson’s flight bound for Las Vegas crashed in bad weather, killing Martin. Osa was severely injured but recovered and gave hundreds of lectures from a wheelchair including her observations of the lifestyles of the Maasai and other tribes.
