KWELI: WAY OUTTA THE BOX by Under the Baobab Productions Ltd.

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E N T E R TA I N E D

AUG - OCT 2012 FREE.99

WAY

OUTTA

BOX the

T H E O N L I N E M A G A Z I N E t h a t c e l e b r a t e s a f r i c a’ s E V E R Y D AY H E R O E S

For updates on positive entertainment, events, stories, discussions, music, video, and photos in Kenya and beyond.

www.KWELImedia.com

NERVE CENTER

THE BLUEPRINT

Published by THE KWELI MEDIA NETWORK watscrackin@KWELImedia.com

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Management • Articles • Video

say that because as you read this, you’re taking part in something monumental. But before we explain, how about some background information?

Ring Leader | Okwi Okoh | @okwiokoh

Art Direction • Design & Layout

Design Jockey | Vikki Keingati | @vikkivix

Photography

Sharp Shooter | Mwangi Kirubi | @mwarv

Video • Editing

INFRADIG | Joshua Werema | @weremajoshua

Articles

Quicksilver | Wamuyu Kiragu | @wamuyuk

CONTRIBUTORS Beverly Lwenya Seth Muriithi Buddha Blaze Pendo La Mama Joram Mwinamo

SPECIAL THANKS GOD MELISSA OGUR SOSEVIA ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

our cover

DIGITAL ART BY DESIGN JOCKEY | VIKKI KEINGATI

Some of you may already know our story, for those of you who don’t, here’s a quick recap. We started KWELI in 2009 to help shine a spotlight on as many ordinary #afriCANs who are doing amazing things as possible. These individuals are usually simple, unassuming and fervent people - which means their kind of story is a hard-sell for most mainstream media organizations. Our first offering was a printed magazine that featured several inspiring stories of people who were giving their time, money and creativity to help others in difficult circumstances. The debut editions also gave our beloved readers their first tastes of the stunning photography and worldclass graphic design that KWELI is now widely known for. But despite the popularity of our first two issues, getting in the funds needed to print, cover stories, buy equipment and diversify our media products was/ is proving difficult to come by. At the same time, we also felt that a printed magazine wasn’t giving us the kind of reach, integrated media platform and involvement on the cutting-edge that we were after. Print isn’t dead, it just can’t house all our stuff.

So we began referring to ourselves as the KWELI Media Network and moving our activities primarily online. Four years down the line, we feel like we’re still scratching the surface. The Worldwide Web is a very, very big place. The internet has allowed us to be quicker, leaner and meaner. That’s why we’re always asking ourselves “how can we do this better?” Our +1 Concept is the result of one of those soulsearching sessions. There’s so much going on around us, that holding on to content for weeks, as we first compile the entire publication: clogs hard-drives, you guys have moved on, and reveals how many ISPs operate like pyramid schemes - you’ll never experience the hairstraightening internet speeds they promise. We’ll upload a multimedia story [text, photos & video] every week. We’re borrowing a leaf from the world of TV and calling them ‘magisodes’. At the end of the “season”, you’ll find that each story was actually part of something bigger. We’re just trying to have fun and do something different. Let us know what you think?

God Bless

got WHAT WE’VE

+VIDEO

+ VIDEO ONE-ON-oNE

+VIDEO BE INSPIRED

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• BIZ UNUSUAL We profile entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to do things differently!

• Events OF THE QUARTER KWELI highlights some of the hottest events this quarter

Fashion Sense 14 Learn some great tips from Beverly

THE BEAT 8 Entertainment czar Buddha Blaze

Bet’cha Didn’t Know THIS about BINYAVANGA WAINAINA We hang out with Kenya’s literary heavyweight and ask him questions - KWELI style! #KWELIfied 12 Africa is blessed with lots of

seemingly ordinary people who are making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others. It’s our privilege to share some of their stories with you!

• World Changers Find out how some companies out there are using some of their profits for the common good. • ROAD TO 2013 Let’s get talking as Kenya’s date with the ballot box draws near.

Lwenya - our fashion expert & creator of theAfropolitanshop.com

COMMON CENTS 18 Tips & insight for entrepreneurs - the

brave catalysts & backbone of Africa’s growing economies.

gives his perspective on the rise & rise of African music.

• The Creative Corner KWELI’s best finds: books, websites, tweets...

• Health & Fitness The time to get healthy and fit is NOW and we’ve got easy tips to get you there!

• Deez by Deej Design Jockey sparks your creativity & helps train your eye to see things differently

• TECH SPECS Up your tech know-how with Seth Muriithi, the brains behind Faithcast and other innovations.

• CLICKS Sharp Shooter takes us along as he wanders through the world of lenses, pixels, lighting...

Pendo La Mama 22 Something mouth-watering’s

• Get Out! KWELI takes you off the beaten path on a journey of discovery. We’re surrounded by beauty - let’s enjoy it!

cooking...here’s your invite!

• Kidding Around We’ve all got kids in our lives, here’s what to do with ‘em!

Under the Baobab Productions Ltd.

0719 803 203

letsmeet@underthebaobab.net

BE INSPIRED

Bet’cha Didn’t

Know about THIS

B I N YAVA N G

Wainaina

QUICKSILVER | WAMUYU KIRAGU WROTE IT

Binyavanga Wainaina’s (@ BinyavangaW) latest book, a memoir titled

‘One Day I Will Write About This Place’ is a hit. It’s been chosen as ‘Book of the Week’ for Oprah’s Book Club and also been selected as one The New York Times ‘100 Most Notable Books of 2011’ - among other accolades:

ANSWER & WIN What was the young Binyavanga’s favourite book series? Send your answer to: watscrackin@KWELImedia.com to WIN Binyavanga Wainaina’s latest book, ‘One Day I Will Write About This Place’!

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

“This is Africa from the African Point of View, a vibrant celebration of “normal human beings doing normal things.” - The Sunday Times.

Binyavanga launched the book in Kenya on June 2, 2012. Check out the pics on our facebook page. #KWELItv caught up with him a few days after the launch, not for your usual ‘What Inspires Your Work?’ interview, but a candid chat with the man behind the writing.

Find out about Binyavanga’s love for “dirty soul music”, where he would go if he could “time-travel” and what he “loves and hates most about his fellow Kenyans” by heading on to the ‘KWELIMedia’ YouTube channel right away OR why not take the scenic route and scan the handy QR code to the below?

CLICK OR SCAN TO WATCH KWELI TV Part 1 & 2 of KWELI’s one-on-one interview with Binyavanga

OKWI OKOH SNAPPED IT

VIKKI KEINGATI RETOUCHED IT

ISSUE 14 | 2012 | @kwelimedia

I N G B AS E BE NESRPTA I RI N EE DD TO T HU E CBH E AT BE E NI T

MUS WHO’S

STYLE IS IT?

BUDDHA BLAZE WROTE IT

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

SIC

However there’s a concern that the acts getting international interest seem to have a certain level of conformity to music styles from the West with much focus on cars, bling, skinny chics and extravagant lifestyles. If you look at the video for ‘Chop My Money’ by Nigerian act P Square and Akon it makes you wonder if this is the best that Africa can offer. With all the talent, stories, culture and creativity that Africa possesses, do we have to ape the ugly bling-bling, skimpily dressed women and cheap champagne lifestyle of our urban counterparts in the West? Don’t get me wrong, it is a global village. Music is starting to sound the same and talent is everywhere but there’s a thought that Africa needs to be presenting itself on the international stage with creativity that is both tangible at home and away. The aping of international styles is very good for entry into the market but

Is the western music culture dictating to Africa how its artists must conduct themselves?

The audience is eagerly awaiting. You can see the void on the Kenyan dance floors and DJs are ever hungry for a local sound.

The

African music industry has come of age and lately the whole world is finally starting to take notice of its potential. looking closer it’s a short-term strategy. It is unsustainable because as much as the home markets are happy for their artists to be breaking ground and entering international markets, the reality on the ground is very different. African youth are not bling-blinging and riding in Cadillacs. It is an exaggerated representation of

wise? There are acts that are definitely taking Africa to that next stage of international attention but bring an edge that’s unique to them. Take for example D’Banj and his worldwide smash – ‘Oliver Twist’. You have to commend him for a uniquely prepared song that will captivate both international and local audiences. The song and video are woven tightly together to send a message that Africa is here. Another clever combination is Ghanaian duo Wanluv and Mensah. Their wit and

LEFT TO RIGHT: D’Banj, P Square & Akon, Wanluv & Mensah

creativity - in Africa or anywhere else for that matter. Can African music be welcome on the international stage without the imitation? Let’s get closer back home, are local African music fans appreciating music that’s creatively intriguing? By creatively intriguing I mean is the music taking a different angle topically, cinematically and content-

musical wisdom is evidence that African acts don’t have to imitate the uncreative styles of the west. In Kenya there’s seems to be an unannounced code that every music video must have cars and a group of dancing chics. It makes me wonder where the creative energy of the artists has gone. Is the western music culture dictating to Africa how its artists must conduct themselves? We must chart a path >

ISSUE 14 | 2012 | @kwelimedia

I N G B AS E BE NESRPTA I RI N EE DD TO T HU E CBH E AT BE E NI T

Africa has a lot of culture, a lot of cultural references that need to be exploited...

FAR LEFT: Just A Band perform at the launch of Kudishnyao in Nairobi LEFT, TOP TO BOTTOM: Balla et ses Balladins, Makmende, Franco BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Trey Songz, Khaligraph

for our own unique international entry into the market. The time is now for selling global stories told from our own unique African eyes and minds. African artists are too preoccupied telling an African story with a western perspective; it won’t work. The winning formula is to be able to tell an international story from an African perspective. Point in case is Just A Band’s video for ‘Ha he’ that went viral because of their uniquely crafted story board around the character ‘Makmende’ . It all comes down to creativity and how serious an artist is. An artist who thinks audiences will be amazed by another badly done video with him riding in hired cars and a background of hired starving chics is just being lazy and it shows. The people have never seen you ball like

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

CLICK OR SCAN TO WATCH

that, so you are selling lies. If the story board is not convincing, the audience will switch off completely as they’re not interested. Africa has a lot of culture, a lot of cultural Watch some of our favorite live references that need to be exploited performances why should we tell the same club scene story? I watched the video for MIA ‘Bad Girls’ with her in an Arabian desert having a ball with some Bedouins. That story board makes anyone want to see the video again and The winning formula play that song over and over. is to be able to tell an It‘s unique, international story from gutsy and highly creative to say an African perspective. the least. The biggest challenge of Kenyan

KWELI TV

That story board makes anyone want to see the video again and play that song over and over. It‘s unique, gutsy and highly creative to say the least. THE WRITER urban music is finding a unique sound that captures the prevailing background music of Kenya. You can tell that there is indeed a major opportunity to have an urban sound that blends the local Mugithi, Benga or Chakacha into the fray of commercially successful sounds, but this has been unable to happen. Producers seem to be having a hard time turning their studios into African sound making machines? Is there a lack of creativity or a pure lack of interest? Or maybe it may be an economic thing; why spend so much time creating a sound that may work when they can spend less time creating a sound that already works. The first Kenyan producer to successfully merge a traditional sound with an urban sound will make loads of waves internationally. The audience is eagerly awaiting. You can see the void on the Kenyan dance floors and DJs are ever hungry for a local sound. The international market is hungry for an international African sound and you can hear the hunger on the massive hit song such as ‘Can’t Get Enough’ by J Cole featuring Trey

Songz where they sample the song ‘Paulette’ by the Guinean orchestra Balla et ses Balladins. The sound though Hip Hop - is uniquely African, giving it an edge that African artists need to embrace. If an American artist is embracing an African sound why aren’t the Africans doing the same to that same degree? It is the African continent’s creativity that suffers when we don’t expose our own. There’s nothing wrong with fusing styles as long as we morph into our own thing. Recently, Kenyan rapper Khaligraph refixed the late Franco’s hit song ‘Mario’ and put a clever Hip Hop twist to it but we need to see more embracement of the local sound. This is the kind of creativity and innovation that may just find us going in the right direction. With all the studios in Kenya there is a need for producers and artists to have a convention that will seek to revive this local sound that can be embraced by both the old and new generation. This will be by bridging the old sound with the new exciting sounds of Hip Hop, house ragga, R&B and even electro. Once this becomes a norm, creativity will have no other choice but to grow due to competition. Make it funky, international yet local. It’s all about creativity are you ready? It is wide open – who is going in first? ☐

Buddha Blaze is an entertainment journalist, activist and artist manager. As a journalist he was Editor of East Africa’s first entertainment magazine PHAT! He has contributed for Pulse Magazine, Tribe Magazine, Adam, Baobab Connection, AfricaHip-Hop. com, Kenyan HipHop.com, Africa Unsigned, Nairobi Up Magazine and many more. He has interviewed a long list of artists local and international - Lucky Dube, Brenda Fassie, Alpha Blondy, Shaggy just to name a few. His work laid a foundation for African entertainment reporting. As an arts activist, artist manager and event manager he has delivered many successful events such as WAPI all over Africa. Emcee Africa under Spark Africa. His many years in the music business have placed him in the position of a vital authority on all things musical. He is currently co lecturer of contemporary African History the African hip hop section of Trinity College, Connecticut USA. Catch up with Buddha Blaze on his online links:

It is the African continent’s creativity that suffers when we don’t expose our own.

@itsBuddhaBlaze SparkAfrica buddhablazeworld

ISSUE 14 | 2012 | @kwelimedia

#KWELIfied CKW H I NEGL IB F AS I E DE BE B I NESIPNI R SP E IDR ETO D U#

#KWELIfied

#KWELIfied IS KWELIfied #KWELIfied There

are people living among us, right here on the third rock from the Sun, that seem to travel permanently on “the road less travelled”.

#KWELI They usually don’t even know who the Joneses are, and so don’t invest much effort in using them as pacesetters. They don’t wait for the government to form another commission that brings high-fives to a gunfight, or for an NGO to organize an auction of some celebrity’s sunglasses to solve their problems… We’re privileged at KWELI to regularly meet these people who seem blissfully unaware that they are just ONE person and that the problems around them are really, really big. The more time we’ve spent with “them”, the more the realization has sunk in that KWELI was created to help ensure that their stories are shared. We started the #KWELIfied series not just to thump our chests about the

incredible things ordinary #afriCANs are doing, but it also seems that they’ve found the antidote to the selfishness and apathy that’s infected us all. You would probably pass most of these guys on the street and not realize that you’ve just brushed shoulders with someone carrying a slingshot in their pocket. But don’t worry, it will all come back to you when you hear of the slaying of giants like unemployment, corruption, poor public health care… It’s a cynical, jaded world and we won’t bore you with cliches like “you can make a difference in the world.” Instead - every month or so - we’ll introduce you to one of these people. We’ll let them speak for themselves…and then it’s up to you.

KWELIfied

#KWELIfied

#KWELIfied CLICK OR SCAN TO WATCH KWELI TV

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

Find out why BEN KIRUTHI is KWELIfied

RING LEADER | OKWI OKOH WROTE IT & SHARP SHOOTER | MWANGI KIRUBI SNAPPED ‘EM

Ified

B EBIE NF OSRPM EE DD IN IR

TO UHCI O FAS H INN G S EBNAS S EE

Ways

Get

Crea

Clean Out the Closet! First and foremost, pick a day and take everything out and lay it on your bed. I mean everything! Make sure your closet, drawers, suitcase, wherever you store your clothes, is empty. Take a mental inventory of all your items. Then make sure clothes that have holes, are faded or have stains don’t make it back into the closet!

WITH YOUR

Replace,

Replace

While the clothes are still on the bed, take a look at clothes that are still wearable, but are more that four-years-old (that’s before Obama got elected). Anything older than Obama’s presidency is from another era and should be given away (since it is still wearable). Next, count the number of clothes you are giving away let’s say two pairs of jeans and four shirts. Next, make a note to replace them with two new pairs of jeans and four shirts. Give yourself a timeline to do so. This is an optional step, but it a great way to freshen up your look and even change your style.

Anything older than Obama’s presidency is from another era and should be given away... 14

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

ative

ook BEVERLY LWENYA WROTE IT

Accessorize! A great way to be creative with your look is through accessories. They can make a statement without being too loud. For women, I recommend earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets for this. If you don’t know what looks good, a general rule for jewelry is to complement your shirt. That’s it. But they should also complement each other. So an Afro-chic necklace doesn’t necessarily complement an “evening-wear” pair of pearl studs or chandelier earrings. Keep themes together. Men can accessorize too! My favorite way for men to accessorize is with hats. A good fedora for a dressy affair will do or beanie/cap for a casual day. Men can also accessorize very well with belts and leather bracelets and a cool leather, suede or canvas messenger bag. >

ISSUE 14 | 2012 | @kwelimedia

B EBIE NF OSRPM EE DD IN IR

TO UHCI O FAS H INN G S EBNAS S EE

Organized Less is more. When trying to get creative, sometimes organization is the answer. Do not take point 3 to the extreme, and over-accessorize or overdress. When getting ready, pick one item and build around it. Maybe you haven’t worn your favorite blue shirt in awhile. Take it out and lay it on the bed (I’m a big fan of building outfits on the bed). Next choose a pair of jeans - and if it’s cold something to wear over the shirt. Then, choose an accessory listed in point 3. When the outfit is complete, pick your shoes last. If getting ready in the morning looks like the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes, then this is an organized way of making sure you look your best as you step out of your door. It also allows for more creativity since you can see your outfit spread out as you would wear it.

Add

Color

A little known way of getting creative with your personal style is to start wearing a color that you don’t usually wear. You will notice right away that you get more compliments. So if you stick to blacks, browns and greys and are weary of bright colors, you can do solid white or a bright blue. If you are on the other end and are always multicolored (like me), wear black or brown. I have gotten compliments when I wear black, then I realized its because I never wear it! When you wear something out-of-theordinary for your style, it makes you stand out and look creative.

Death by

Matching

Please don’t match yourself to death. This is a serious fashion casualty! If you have a pink shirt, you don’t need to wear a pink bag, pink shoes and earrings! Your pink shirt can be paired with a black bag and black shoes, maybe keep the pink earrings. A good rule here is match two items of clothing ONLY! So blue shirt, blue earrings or belt or shoes. More than two and it looks like you are in uniform. If you really must match, the only two colors this works with really well is white and black. That’s why you can wear all black and all white from head to toe. Dressing in all yellow, head to toe? Not so much.

Neat

Feet

I am guilty of this one! Shoes succumb to wear and tear the most out of all our clothing, especially on our African roads. So it’s a good rule to replace shoes once they become stained with mud, misshapen (for dress shoes, this means where your toe line can be seen through the leather) or start looking worn out in general.

Rock What

You Got!

This is key! Many times creativity starts with what you have. A lot of people think you need to spend lots of money or time to be creative, but the truth is that true creativity starts with what you got! My favorite things about my clothes are the different combinations I can wear them in. I don’t always wear the same shirt with the same sweater, its more fun to switch it up! So rock what you got, with boldness and confidence. ☐

CLICK OR SCAN TO WATCH Ways to get creative with your look!

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

The Afropolitan Shop is an online boutique by Beverly Lwenya, a KenyanAmerican with a desire to tell an African Design Story. It began as a blog in 2007 called The Afropolitan Network, which highlighted stories and images of what black people from all the continents were doing in the Diaspora. The hobby grew into a passion and now a full-time pursuit. Beverly aims to celebrate African designers and artisans for their prolific and imaginative handiwork while giving them access to the global market. The Afropolitan Shop merges African products and creativity with the Afropolitan experience of Africans all over the globe. Afropolitan is a fusion of the words “African” and “Cosmopolitan”. It is a sensibility, a culture and a worldview. Shop Afropolitan and look Afro-Chic!

@afropolitanshop

KWELI TV

THE WRITER

theafropolitanshop www.theafropolitanshop.com

BE INFORMED

SID

COMMON CENTS

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KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

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JORAM MWINAMO WROTE IT

Are

you the kind of person that your friends refer to as a “side-hustler”?

One who is always in the know of what is currently the hottest thing to invest in and make a killing? This article might disappoint you a bit because you need to get rid of that “I need to invest in the next BIG THING!” mentality. Unless you have a gift of predicting the future with accuracy, that “next big thing” doesn’t exist. You are probably setting yourself up for failure and a miserable life if you keep pursuing get-rich-quick “side hustles”. Those opportunities which you believe will be your big break and make you instantly rich are unfortunately myths. However, many employees who I meet intending to invest in a side business seem to believe that the next big thing is out there, somewhere, and they are the ones built to find it

and prove that getting rich through enterprise is as easy as 1-2-3. The rule of the thumb is that, by the time the “next big thing” becomes a hot secret and the information reaches you, who is not an expert in that particular industry, the opportunity is already known to too many people who are pursuing it and this makes it less attractive and less lucrative. We have seen the trends in Kenya with greenhouse farming, property development, network marketing (particularly health products and cosmetics) amongst other opportunities. Granted, people have made a lot of money, but those people got in early. There is a cycle of misinformation that dupes people into chasing the next > ISSUE 14 | 2012 | @kwelimedia

BE INFORMED

COMMON CENTS

something else, this time importing Toyota Proboxes. Again, having gotten in early, they make a killing. The thing you don’t realise is that your friend is the type of entrepreneur who spots opportunities early and shares the spoils only when the cake is too small for you to also make a killing. By the time you are losing your money, they have moved into

supply of that product or service. Start small and test the market on a small scale, always ensuring you take note of the feedback and work out real costs of doing the business, particularly hidden costs. Reinvest all the money you make into building the business idea and build a system around it, hiring trusted people and installing systems that can help you track what is happening in the business without

by the time the “next big thing” becomes a hot secret and the information reaches you, who is not an expert in that particular industry, the opportunity is already known to too many people

big thing endlessly. It works like this. Someone gets into a business opportunity early, they invest a small amount of money into something (let’s say a network marketing cosmetics business), the industry takes off. They make a killing, having gotten in early, they then come and tell you the “secret” to being wealthy. The only problem is, by the time they are telling you the secret, the opportunity is already flooded with many other uninformed players like you, and you are probably part of their network, making them richer. And since you take it as gospel truth, you invest big money into it so that you can reap big from this tried-andtested business opportunity. You get in, you burn your fingers and meet another friend (or the same one) who just made some money off

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

something else and urge you to follow suit. Many people running side hustles make “profits”. But this is largely because of their low costs of operating the informal business in comparison to their counterparts who run the business on a full-time basis. They don’t pay themselves a salary because they are salaried, they probably don’t pay taxes, licences, office rent, employees, vigilante groups that offer protection fees and everyone else who believes your hard-earned money is theirs. The challenge with avoiding all these costs is that once your business takes off and you move to do it on a full-time basis, you get shocked by how fast your expenses increase overnight and make you instantly unprofitable and miserable. So if you are employed and want to run a side business successfully: Do proper research on the business idea and the potential size of the market and whether it will grow or has already reached saturation. A great business opportunity is one where there is a confirmed big need and very little

being present full-time. When the wheel starts turning faster prepare to jump out and run it full-time, keeping overhead costs low in the process. Alternatively you could also sell the business and pocket the cash, if you are not particularly interested in running it, and invest the money in something else.

Beware of loosely defined business partnerships where

sharing of the responsibilities and sharing of the spoils (and losses as well) is not clear from the beginning. Side hustles can be a great source of extra income if managed well. They could also provide your future career or early retirement opportunity if they steadily grow to offer more income than your employment. However, it will never be easy and will require hard work and all the risks that come with running a business. Therefore, invest wisely. ☐

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he Fast

- that’s how things move these days. We used to wait for days to receive correspondence by mail. When you left the house in the morning, you didn’t communicate with, or see your spouse till you got home in the evening.

we pack more things into our day and find we have no time for simple things like a home cooked meal 22

KWELI | ISSUE 14 | 2012 | www.kwelimedia.com

When they travelled, you didn’t expect them to check in at every transit point to let you know all was well, you waited patiently for them to arrive and find a phone at some point to call you, and that’s if you had a phone at home. We sent telegrams when we wanted things fast - and that was rare. Today we have an abundant selection of all things instant, and we expect instant service everywhere we go. Have you ever sent an email and waited three minutes for a response, then when it didn’t come you sent a WhatsApp message to the recipient to tell them to check their email? If they didn’t respond within 30 seconds you called them! And if they didn’t answer their phone, you probably called their desk mate, or someone you knew might be around them to relay the message.

Oh the perils of an instant life! We are on the move even when we’re asleep, and some of us are addicted. You know that guy that still ‘overlaps’ even when traffic is at a stand still? Yeah, he’s addicted! The thing with fast, is we pack more things into our day and find we have no time for simple things like a home cooked meal, and we default to fast food. Not good! While we’re on the way home my husband often asks me if there are leftovers in the fridge - that means he wants something fast and is not willing to wait. When there aren’t any leftovers he immediately detours to a place where he can get something fast. It’s not good for him, but he doesn’t think much about it. It has pushed me to come up with ways to make good food fast; here is what I have so far:

BE INFORMED

PENDO LA MAMA

Making it

quick

keeping it

ealthy

PENDO LA MAMA WROTE IT & SNAPPED ‘EM

Identify the things that cook fast and store them in the portions you need for a meal.

Leafy vegetables can be washed, cut, blanched and stored in the freezer. I do this with sukuma, spinach and mchicha. It seems tedious at first but it saves a lot of time later. I keep portions of pre-cooked beans and green grams in the freezer at all times. I’ve recently started doing the same with maize and peas. For meat, I keep chicken breast (cut into bite-sized portions), ground beef and fish. Marinate some of the portions and keep frozen in the marinade. For starches I have rice and roots. Yes, potatoes, sweet potatoes and

Relax, have fun!

nduma (arrowroot). Nduma can be peeled and stored in the fridge (keeps for a week). I don’t use the roots as the main starch for the meal, they are just for flavour or texture so I cut them into small one-centimeter cubes, and use only one or two large ones. This way they don’t take a lot of time to prepare. The big key here, especially for the things stored in the freezer, is the size of the portions. If you buy a kilogram of ground beef, don’t store it as one portion. It will take longer to defrost and chances are you will not use all of it at once unless it’s a party! When storing for quick meals I keep cup-sized portions. In the morning, before you leave for the day, pull out what you want to cook for dinner, by the time you get home it’ll be ready to go.

Be adventurous with your combinations. Think about the flavours you like and combine them in interesting ways. Of late, I’ve been experimenting with easy rice combinations. Here are a couple to get you started.

Planning the meals ahead.

Know what you’re making for dinner before you leave in the morning. Pull the things that need to be defrosted out of the freezer. Stay away from stews.

When it’s time to cook, start with the items that take the longest to cook and learn to multitask.

For example, if the starch is rice, start boiling the water first. By the time you cut a couple of onions and tomatoes, the water will be boiling and ready for the rice, etc.

Cook with the next day’s meals in mind

Make a little more. For example, if you have time to make chapatis today, make a little extra for tomorrow if you know you’ll be busy to save time.

These recipes will feed two people generously and there are two great things about them:

RECIPES FOR QUICK

MEALS

They use ingredients that are easily available in out-oftown markets, things we grow locally. Because I like cooking I’ve spent quite a bit of time watching cooking shows of some of the major chefs on TV. They often have tips for making quick meals but sometimes they use ingredients that are foreign to our markets, which makes them very expensive. They are adaptable. You can easily substitute the ingredients to suite the flavours you prefer. How? Well…

Variation/Tip:

Instead of sweet potatoes you could use, regular potatoes or butternut squash. Instead of chicken you could use a cup of minced beef or bite-sized cuts of fish fillet (sear the fish separately so that it holds its shape). Instead of peas or maize, you can use beans, and there are such a large variety of beans in our markets. Chopped carrots, chopped zucchini or chives would make a great addition. Just think about all the different ingredients you like to use to flavour your food, the possible combinations are endless! While you seek out that instant career, instant perfect body, instant fame and instant wealth, do yourself a huge favour and eat well.

RICE, PEAS AND SWEET POTATOES ½ cup rice 1 sweet potato 1 onion

3 cloves of garlic 1 cup of peas (raw) some dhania (corriander)

1. Start boiling the water for the rice. 2. Grate the garlic and chop the onions. Put them in a pot with a little bit of oil so they can start cooking. Use low fire. 3. Peel and cut the sweet potato into small pieces, roughly one centimeter cubes and rinse (remember to stir the garlic and onions). 4. By this time the water or the rice is boiling, add the rice (don’t forget salt and a bit of cooking oil) stir and continue to cook as usual. 5. Rinse the sweet potatoes and peas and add to the onions and stir. 6. Add some salt, stir. Add a cup of water, cover and increase the fire a little bit

1 grated carrot black pepper paprika

(don’t go all the way up to medium). The water will evaporate quickly and in that time the sweet potatoes and peas will cook. Keep close watch so it doesn’t burn, no stirring needed. 7. By the time the sweet potatoes are cooked (water is evaporated and it starts to sizzle, don’t let it start to burn) the rice should also be cooked, or almost done. Reduce the fire back to low on the sweet potatoes and spoon in the rice. Don’t do it all at once, do it bit by bit, and stir till the mix is balanced. 8. Then add the dhania, a sprinkle of black pepper and a sprinkle of paprika. Fold in. 9. Serve and top with the grated carrot.

Tip: You can add your choice of herbs and spices with the potatoes to give it an extra kick.

TRY THIS

BE INFORMED

PENDO LA MAMA

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THE WRITER

CHICKEN RICE AND MAIZE MIX ½ cup rice 1 chicken breast 4 cloves of garlic ½ a green or red capsicum

1. Same as the first recipe, start with water for the rice. 2. Grate the garlic and put in a pot with a bit of oil, on low fire. 3. Cut the chicken to bite-sized pieces and add to the pot, stir and cover 4. By this time the water for the rice should be ready, add the rice. 5. Cut the green or red capsicum into small pieces and prepare the maize. 6. Stir the chicken. Breast meat cooks quickly, break one piece to check, if the flesh is no longer raw on the inside, add salt, capsicum and maize.

1 cup of pre-cooked maize rind of 1 lemon 2 tomatoes

Pendolamama. co.ke is a food blog featuring recipes that I make up, learned from my mother or learned from family. Some are given to me by friends, found online and in print. It’s a blend of random styles and true to what home cooking is all about — serving up love on every plate! I am not a chef, just enthusiastic about food and making it for family. It often overflows to friends, and once in a while, strangers. Sharing an appreciation for good home cooking as an expression of love!

7. Continue to cook uncovered, allow all the moisture to evaporate, stirring often. Once it’s gone, allow it to sear a little bit and get some colour. Grate a lemon for the rind in between stirs. 8. When the rice is ready, spoon it in bit by bit and mix till you get a nice even mix. 9. Add the lemon rind and fold it in. 10. Serve with slices of fresh tomato.

@pendolamama Pendo La Mama jikoni@pendolamama.co.ke

www.pendolamama.co.ke

ISSUE 14 | 2012 | @kwelimedia

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