January-March | ISSUE 2
MELLENIN THE SHE VOICES OF AFRICA
THROUGH THE LENS
In the name of Love; The struggles & triumph of Uganda’s Kasha Nabagesere
A Boss Lady Thogori Karago, LinkedIn ProFinder Senior Product Manager
1 her | P way a g eup Teaching Nyambura‟s 30+ year journey in schooling and mentoring young girls
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Boss Lady,
9 Boss Lady Meet Thogori, the Linkeidn boss
Thogori Karago, LinkedIn ProFinder Senior Product Manager, one of the women changing culture, industry and the face of tech.
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Clicking To Grandeur I like to think that photography chose me. I have been a hobbyist ever since I can remember. I think it‟s the need to freeze moments for eternity that gives me the love for photography.
Our picks 14. Feature: Kasha Nabagesera My Kind Of Love
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20. Natural Hair Looks Shane Engedi shows us how
Different Kind of Love Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera is a law enforcement and the LGBT communities rights defender in Uganda
25. Exclusive: Kayte Gichuru A lady photographer 36. Pauline Gatonye The woman without Limits 41. Into the SA Lands The Road Trip Diary
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45. AFRICAN CUISINE Uganda’s matoke delicacy
Teaching is in My Blood The 35yr journey of a humble school teacher making impact on young girls‟ lives in Kenya.
ON THE COVER Kayte Wangui bares all on an exclusive interview with Wangari Gatonye on how she‟s made it in a male dominated industry. Cover photo model‟s own. 3|Page
We wish to thank everyone who made it possible for the success of this magazine. A big thank you to Shane Engedi, Kayte Gichuru and Nyambura Gatonye who took their time and agreed to share their inspiring stories with other black women of Africa. Kindly note that this issue is for online viewing only. No part of this issue should be printed or sold by any means. th
We are now accepting editorials for our March-April Issue. Send in your submissions by February 28 2019 or sooner. Send us your feedback at
melleninvoices@gmail.com info@melleninvoices.com melleninvoices.wordpress.com Also follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @melleninmagazine
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To the fallen heroes, We shall remember you, In our hearts you live again To the lives lost at the #DusitTerrorAttack #RIP
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EDITOR’S
NOTE
OF BLACK WOMEN WINNING & GETTING THEIR GROOVE BACK
H
appy New Year good people. Oh how days fly.
Once again,we are glad that you are here and getting ready to read on our African queens making it big in their own rights.
It‟s my hope you have been keeping up with away with the list altogether? No? your new year set goals. Maybe made up a Either way, we hope that this year will treat list and faithfully sticking to it. Or, maybe you well. We have spruced up some good decided to change things this year and do pieces for you. And we hope you like them. Gichuru,
her consistent drive in changing lives and her quest for achieving her targets at 55!
Relax and enjoy our second issue. Give us a like, follow us and share with friends and family. Stay positive, work hard and rebuild those broken bonds. Live, laugh love! Enjoy life, make memories. Above all else, LOVE In around Africa, we explore on the hushed YOURSELF. Do you Boo. I leave you with topic of homosexuality. An act that‟s both these words by Tyra Banks, “Stop saying these taboo and punishable by law in 99% of our negative things about yourself. Don't save bold African nations. But Kasha Nagabesere from lashes and red lips for nighttime - do it in the day! Uganda, is fighting a lone battle. Read on Self-love has very little to do with how you feel her struggle in the journey for the LGBT about your outer self. Smiles come naturally to On the cover, we feature a woman activist, rights. me, but I started thinking of them as an art form who‟s also a business woman and a goat my command.” getter. She‟s worked hard to be where she is Pauline Gatonye is our wonder woman of today and she gives us a sneak peak of Yours Truly, what this entails in a career predorminantly the month. She has nurtured many young girls in her 32 years career. She‟s a woman male dominated. This is one Wangui whose talents are un-matched. We follow Black women all over the world are getting their groove back and taking their sits in the conference rooms. They are making big strides in the male dominated fields and we are proud, they are winning and getting their grooves back! Don‟t you just love to see it? We are always humbled every time we get them to speak of their achievements.
We also feature the story of a boss lady making it in the IT field who‟s making big steps in the international market. This is the story of Karago.
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MELLENIN MAG | ISSUE 2 2019
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AFRICA’S YOUNG ACHIEVERS
Thogori Karago,is the LinkedIn ProFinder Senior Product Manager
technical topics. Lifelong learning will be essential for staying competitive and thriving in your career.
Thogori was recently recognised as one of the women changing culture, industry and the face of tech. She was among a prestigious panel of speakers and mentors at the 2018 Girlboss Rally.
By Thogori Karago We're living in a golden age of entrepreneurship. More individuals are aspiring to be their own boss and turning this dream into a reality by saying farewell to the traditional 9-5 job. And why wouldn't they? The numbers show there has never been a better time to strike out on your own. In fact, four out of every 10 working-age adults believe there are ample opportunities for starting a business in their area, according to the 2016/2017 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report. More than half of respondents to a recent LinkedIn ProFinder survey confirmed they'll never return to more traditional, full-time employment. And freelancers are expected to make up nearly half of the workforce by 2020, according to a study conducted by Intuit. With today being National Boss Day, it's the perfect time to dive into how you, too, can pursue the professional dream of being your own boss. Here are a few ways you can make it happen:
Always be learning. Being your own boss requires continual learning and professional development. According to LinkedIn data, the average shelf life of a professional skill is less than five years so, for many of us, the skills we learned in college don't cover the technology and in-demand skills of today. Consider registering for online courses offered by Skillshare, Udemy or LinkedIn Learning to learn a wide range of capabilities across business, creative and
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Photo credit Thogori Karago Facebook LinkedIn ProFinder Senior Product Manager
“Be in the know on the industries that are booming.” If you want to be your own boss, make sure you're privy to where customer demand exists. For instance, LinkedIn ProFinder found if you work in fields like marketing and branding, design and software, offering your services to small businesses is a good route to consider. Or, if resume writing, interview prep and leadership training are more your lines of expertise, keep in mind that career coaching is a hot growth area for independent professionals. With the world of work changing at an unprecedented rate, employees today are navigating ever more complex career paths and, as such, turn to career coaches and mentors to assist them with these sorts of jobs.
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pursue jobs based on your passions and interests.
Leverage the power of your network. In addition to joining relevant industry groups across Twitter and Meetup or reaching out to other experts via sites like Quora, turn to your existing professional connections to help you land your next career opportunity. Industries like animation, computer networking or semiconductors, as found by LinkedIn, are three fields most likely to hire from within an existing professional network. Being your own boss comes with a variety of perks: the most obvious, maintaining control and calling the shots. It's no surprise it's continually named the top motivation for professionals who decide to go solo. The flexibility that comes with this lifestyle allows you to set your own schedule, work from a variety of environments and
You can also enjoy the financial benefits associated with freelancing. It's not unheard of to make six figures or more from your freelance work -- in fact, 20 percent of professionals shared in the LinkedIn ProFinder study that they expect to make at least this much. Overall, professionals are opting out of the traditional workplace to enjoy any number of these benefits. Whether you're seeking professional independence, looking to fill your inner most passions or seeking a higher income, the benefits of the freelance way of life are fruitful. Whether it happens today, tomorrow or the next National Boss Day, if you keep some of these tips in mind and jump into the independent career track with a plan, there's no limit to the success you can achieve on your own.
I would like to see more African women and girls join the tech space. Mentorship is the tool I am using to achieve this change. During my masters I wrote a dissertation on how to scale up the numbers of women and girls and technology. It’s been 10 years since I started giving talks to schools around the world to mentor girls and encourage them to pursue science technology, engineering and mathematics careers. I will be starting a YouTube channel on women and technology later in the year.
Thogori Karago
during the 2018 Girlboss Rally
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APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH Autism spectrum disorder, commonly known as ASD, affects how people communicate and interact with others. It affects how they make sense of the world. Autism is a developmental condition that is typically life-long. People with ASD experience difficulties with communication, social interaction and restricted/repetitive interests and behaviours. These are often accompanied by sensory issues, such an oversensitivity or undersensitivity to sounds, smells or touch. All of these difficulties may lead to behavioural challenges in some individuals. "On World Autism Awareness Day, we speak out against discrimination, celebrate the diversity of our global community and strengthen our commitment to the full inclusion and participation of people with autism. Supporting them to achieve their full potential is a vital part of our efforts to uphold the core promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: to leave no one behind." Secretary-General António Guterres
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THE STORY OF A DARING UGANDAN WOMAN
MY FREEDOM TO LOVE
AGAINST THE AFRICAN CULTURE AND LAWS
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The gay agenda in Kenya is another issue all together. The Lesbians, Gays, Transgender and Bisexuals are often stigmatized, discriminated and subjected to attacks because of their sexual orientation. When two consenting partners are found to be having same-sex relations, they can face up to 14 years in prison. They can also be jailed for seven years maximum for just attempting to have such sexual relations. „The stories of In the wee hours of the night, young revelers in Nairobi streets can be seen hopping from one night club to another. Holding hands, kissing, throwing beer bottles and laughing. A short distance away, men in make-up coil away from the frenzy; and when you stop to look, they quickly cat-walk away,(their signature walk giving them away) before attracting an ugly scene. They know where the gay clubs are located, in posh areas where few frequent. This is where the men meet to have a “good time”. This is their haven, where no one judges them.
homosexual cruelty are not a new thing in Africa. Many homosexuals have been persecuted for just being, well, “queer”. They have been lynched, they have been stripped naked, they have been murdered by their own people. But they still exist. Meeting in small groups, hushed and hurled together in their own “freedom”.,
In Enters Kasha Nabagesera Little may be known of Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera. But among the law enforcement and the LGBT communities in Uganda, Kasha is not a foreign name. An accountant by profession, she has excelled in human rights advocacy and has a certificate in human rights law. She‟s an
In many parts (if not all)of Africa, polygamy is legal
activist who has made it her life's course
and men have the unlimited choice of marrying
to fighting for the rights of Uganda's
whomever they want. Politicians and powerful men
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
have in their course for sexual pleasures and
(LGBT) community.
satisfaction, impregnated school going girls, got them killed but with no dire consequence of their actions.
tesy on McCutcheon
She is currently one of the most courageous and outspoken human rights activists in Africa. Operating within a hostile and repressive environment,
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Nabagesera has shed light on human
On 26 January 2011 one of her colleagues, gay
rights violations, and has successfully used
activist David Kato, was murdered. David and
the judicial system to advance LGBTI
Kasha were among three activists who sued the
rights.
Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone, after it published pictures and contact details of 100 gay
At 38 years, she has overcome threats to campaign against repressive laws and uses a range of creative and innovative tools to continue breaking myths and stereotypes surrounding LGBTI people in Uganda and
men and women including David under the headline “”Hang Them”.” David was known both internationally and in Uganda for campaigning against the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill that had been before the Ugandan parliament since October 2009. The new law proposed to criminalize all homosexuality, making it punishable by a fine and life imprisonment. HIV-positive people, and people convicted a second time would be subject to the death penalty. The proposed bill also stated that anyone knowing someone who is a gay man or
elsewhere. Due to this, she has endured
lesbian would be mandated to report them to the
alot of discrimination as a human. She
police within 24 hours, or face imprisonment
once said that even using public transport
themselves.
is a problem in her own country. In 2007 she was brutally harassed at the World Social Forum in Nairobi after she spoke in front of 60,000 people about the
Homosexuality Bill “Life imprisonment and death or the HIV positive ”
respect and tolerance of homosexuals in the world. The World Social Forum, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya for the first
When Kasha Nabagesera landed the cover of TIME
time in Africa, was supposed to be a
magazine‟s Europe edition in June, she viewed it
forum for the voices of the grassroots. But
not only as a personal achievement, but as a way
despite the diversity of voices at the event,
to garner attention for LGBT rights. “It feels great
not everyone was equally represented.
and incredible, but also for me it‟s more than just
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me being on the cover,” she said. “It‟s more of
of the Constitution adds that: The State shall not
putting the visibility of the LGBT struggle around
discriminate directly or indirectly against any
the world or the movement, because as much as
person on any ground, including race, sex,
they said it‟s out of Africa, it carries stories from very many people around the world.” Kasha has been joining the meetings of the Salzburg Global LGBT Forum since 2013 and shared her perspectives in many of the conversations at the third gathering of the Forum in June 2015. In November 2015, Kasha received Sweden's Right Livelihood Award, the “Alternative Nobel Prize” which recognizes those who do inspiring or courageous work to combat social
“Even just knowing that people around the world are following your struggle and they're supportive is also something that really motivates me. issues. Since its inception 35 years ago, there have been 162 recipients from 67 countries.
pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth. Although sexual orientation is not included in Article 27 (4) of the constitution, this does not
Throughout the last decade, Kasha has used the
mean it is okay to discriminate against a person
judicial system to fight institutionalized
because of his or her sexual orientation. In fact,
homophobia and discriminatory laws in Uganda.
Kenya‟s High Court has stated that it is unlawful to discriminate against a person because of
But to continue her fight against homophobia in Uganda, Nabagesera says it's a price worth paying. Kenya is Uganda‟s next door neighbor and according to Kenya‟s Article 27 of the constitution, every person is equal before the law. Article 27 (4)
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his/her sexual orientation. Binyavanga Wainaina, a Kenyan and an openly gay author, advocated for the inclusion of gay
people in the society. The Caine Prize winner, wrote in a confession subtitled “A Lost Chapter”, in the book One Day I Will Write About This
17 has |Page Place, “Nobody, nobody, ever in my life heard this, I am a homosexual, mum”.
NIGERIA
Binyavanga was set to marry his partner in South Africa; the only African country that advocates for
Nigeria has anti-gay law, enacted in 2014, it enforces 14 years imprisonment for gay marriages, 10 years for attending any gay marriage and 10 years
imprisonment for same-sex public
gay marriages. Even though many of the African laws have condemned and sentenced to death the LGBT community, people still claim to be born gay and are still coming out of the closet. Many are people caught up in heterosexual marriages for convenience because of fear of the society's judgment on them.
amorous show of affection. Homophobia is pervasive in Nigeria.
After asking him how‟s life in hiding from his parents, Crayon, an openly gay 25yr old, adds that,
SOUTH AFRICA
“It‟s hard to come out of the closet in Kenya because of stigmatization. I plan to tell my parents
South Africa's post-apartheid Constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and South Africa was the fifth country in the
world, and the first—and, to date, only—in Africa, to legalise same-sex marriage.
am gay once I board a plane to Gemany and be gone for good. If they accept me for who I am, I will appreciate. If not, I will not consider them as my parents”.
For many if not all heterosexual persons, we might never know so much about the struggle of wanting “ to belong “ or to love the same gender. But for Kasha, perhaps what will be remembered about her is the courage to stand alone and fight for the rights she and the LGBTIQ know too well, “The Right To Love”. For as one African proverb clearly states, “It‟s the wearer of the shoe who knows where it pinches most.” Kasha will be a
A 2010 copy of Rolling Stone in which the paper reveals the identity of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato (left). Photograph: Stringer/AP
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heroin in her own right! Some of us may just never know how.
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Shane, The “Naturalista” Hair Advocate
MOTIVATIONAL WOMEN
. You have been an advocate for the Black Woman Natural Hair... I encourage women to love their hair. I wouldn‟t wholly say I‟m an advocate for “Black Woman Natural Hair” because I don‟t know much about my own hair— I‟m still learning. But, I am enthusiastic about natural hair so I enjoy finding products that work for our hair— but I‟m not an advocate, per se. Do you work for any hair company? Thankfully, No. I know many brand ambassadors who have worked for brands/companies that have been exploited (taken advantaged of) by bigger companies and regretted it. However, I do love networking with them as sponsors but not work for them on a pay rate.
What made you take this natural hair-route? I have eczema (severe). I have experienced a lot of changes since I was a baby from having eczema. When I was younger, having a skin disease was not normal or something that people understood— which caused a lot of my bullying my entire childhood. I am fair skin so my skin would scar easily and I would get easily teased. Long story short... my scalp broke out really badly from putting chemicals (gels, perms, and dyes) in my
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hair so my hair fell out and I had to stop using chemical. I went natural by force. Do you do weaves? Occasionally I do wear them as protective styles. I stopped wearing them because my hair would grow so fast that I would waste a lot of money
My goal is to serve and help others— that‟s all. I have been blessed to work with natural hair sponsors and simply wanted to give back to my community in places that need it most. A lot of my natural hair/ self love events helped my guests network and get access to hair/ skin products. During my events a lot of women were able to meet their hair twin and
getting them installed.
Don't you think it's very hard to maintain African natural hair? No I don‟t. I was once told nothing in life is easy but we somehow make time and effort to accomplish it. Finding a routine and schedule is challenging at times. If naturally kinky hair was normalized in our society then we would not place so much emphasis on manipulating our natural hair to look a certain way— that‟s why we have
continue to have more meaningful
tooth brushes to “make” baby hairs. Changing or embracing what‟s natural is not easy but we make time and effort for what we want. My point is, it‟s only hard if you think it‟s hard— washing, conditioning, and moisturizing your hair isn‟t hard,
networking skills. I‟ve been able to network with a lot of people from hosting my own events.
but, manipulating it to look a certain way is challenging. When embracing our natural hair we must stay away from social media— I have to take
Finally, Your dream holiday destination
social media breaks as well. You have networked with a lot of beauty and natural hair sponsors that have donated hair products...and then volunteered to do a free natural hair and beauty event for women in your region. Tell us more about this
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Africa— I want to go to Africa! (I wanna go home— where to though? It‟s so full of beautiful countries)
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BOOKS BY AFRICAN AUTHORS
In The Maestro, The Magistrate & The Mathematician, the writer moved outward to the community of expatriate Zimbabweans living in Edinburgh but
waiting for the time to be right to return, triumphantly, home.
As he put it in an interview, “most of the novels I read about diasporas are about folks on a sort of upward trajectory and I kind of wanted to go in the opposite direction.” His cast is mostly very highly educated people, living and working in lowwage jobs while dreaming of home. He splits the story between three interlinked-but-detached perspectives—between the maestro, the magistrate, and the mathematician—but out of it produces a single “a book of illusions;” as he puts it, “though the narrators of all three novellas are reliable, they are still being lied to. “
For 100 days, Juliane Okot Bitek recorded the lingering nightmare of the Rwandan genocide in a poem—each poem recalling the senseless loss of life and of innocence. Okot Bitek draws on her own family’s experience of displacement under the regime of Idi Amin, pulling in fragments of the poetic traditions she encounters along the way: the Ugandan Acholi oral tradition of her father, the poet Okot p’Bitek; Anglican hymns; the rhythms and sounds of slave songs from the Americas; and the beat of spoken word and hip-hop.
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WOMEN IN ART
LIGHTS, CAMERA, CLICK! “I think it’s the need to freeze moments for eternity that gives me the love for photography...”
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“We capture for posterity’’ I want my work to outlive me and generations to come, I want it to be used to get history right, I want my work to be used to establish family trees, to reflect today‟s society to future generations, to give future generations a glimpse of the past. To give children of the future a face to the names of great men and women they were not able to meet. Tell us something about Lady Photographer? Lady Photographer is a lady who is passionate
That is why photography chose me.
about photography. My official name is Catherine
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Wangui Gichuru, depending on what circles we
My dad is my greatest inspiration. I am a daddy‟s girl
share, I go by any of the three names, well, except
through and through. I take up after him in more
for Catherine which has been shortened to KaYte, yes, with the Y, especially with the Y. I have no preference of either really, I just answer
than one way. Photography and the love for literature is just among the many traits I get from him.
You are a Journalism major graduate (with a
Ever since I was young, we have always had a camera
bias in Print?). Why did you choose to pursue
at home, those old school ones that use film, and
photography (which is usually male dominated?) that is where I started my very first capture lessons. It Yes, I have papers that say I am a writer.
was my daddy who bought me my first digital
Actually, I have had writing gigs here and there
camera, which I still have to date.
and been published a couple of times. I even used to run an online news blog for a couple years after I graduated but these days the only thing I am writing are long marketing posts, quotations and invoices I like to think that photography chose me. I have
I want my work to outlive me and generations to come
been a hobbyist ever since I can remember. I treasure memories, I have been accused of being a hoarder but I like keeping things for generations and I think it‟s the need to freeze moments for eternity that gives me the love for photography. Actually, the tagline for Lady Photographer™ is
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Of course I draw inspiration from other
rescue center for young mothers,
You have been involved in
people and places as well, and among
name stuck and I decide to run the
mentoring young girls through
these people are those who have
business side of it with the same name.
photography. Tell us about this
mastered photography as a business.
I mentor mostly young women, when I
They have made their passion their
say young, I mean teenage girls aged 15
main source of income and have been
and below. It was such a heart wrenching
inspiring project Lady Photographer™ was initially supposed to be an initiative to
consistent in it and even after making it moment to hear them tell their stories of demystify the myth that photography or videography for that matter is a big, they still remain true to their call. abuse and abandonment. I left that place reserve career for men. I wanted to These ones inspire me greatly. with a resolve to make an impact in the provide a platform for ladygirls‟ lives together with their children. I photographers to express themselves. brought together friends from a book You have described your camera as The girls are either fresh from high club I am in, and we are planning a visit Bae. Being with you every time and school or photography beginners. They showing you love when you are soon, I couldn‟t be happier. have a passion for photography but down. (hehehhe am I right?)Tell us have no idea where to begin from. I more about your love affair with How do you market yourself? guide them, advise and help out photography. Considering everyone considers whenever they need. The rest, and this My camera is more than my bae, it is themselves photographers in this era includes even male, reach me via inbox my shield. It is what I use as a front of Smart Phones. on social media platforms asking for and sometimes as an excuse not to Social Media is my main marketing guidance or advise which I am always work especially at family gatherings. platform. I let my work speak for me. glad to give. When people are getting down and Then there are referrals and word of dirty, I pick my bae up and we do the mouth . A camera, regardless what it‟s attached to does not make a stroll, we capture and eat in between photographer. The skills, the passion the clicks. and creativity is what makes a
What would you be if you weren't a photographer?
Hmmmm, maybe a writer, a journalist or Seriously though, my camera has gotten photographer. I have seen photos taken a film director, I don‟t know but I am sure it would be by a smart phones, so crisp, and me into places I would ordinarily not be creative they have been nominated for something artsy. able to get in, I have used the same awards and went ahead to scoop them. camera to meet the high and mighty, Then I have seen photos taken by the including the president, the first lady,
most expensive high end
Your favorite capture moments.
and many dignitaries. My camera has
cameras, not even a Photoshop
(Is it babies, couples, nature). Can
master could salvage them. At
tell how any of these makes you
the end of the day, it‟s the person
feel
given me a sight to all sides of life and I am truly humbled. I have used the same camera to create awareness on different
not the gadget.
I love capturing people in general,
courses and make impact to the society.
mostly children because of their
Just recently, I had been contracted to
innocence and care free approach to
cover some organisation‟s CSR projects
life. I came to realise what I really want
and amongst the places we visited was a
to capture is people in their most natural state, unawares, without poses
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or choreography. That is when you capture the most from a person. The emotions are real to the core, it is why I love working with zoom lenses. You get to capture a lot from afar with having to be on someone‟s face.
Advice for young girls who would like to venture in the business
Also, patience. In this industry, just like many others, there are high
Consistency is key! I have seen a lot of
without even a single gig. Then there are those days, you have to
people jumping into the photography
much work you outsource labour, pass on other jobs and some you
wagon only for them to disappear into
just let go. Professionalism is another thing you need to observe.
oblivion a short while later. I think
Carry yourself professionally, dress appropriately for the job, don‟t
because they do not really anticipate
be the center of attention at someone else‟s even and most
and low seasons and there are days you would go on and on
importantly, have people skills and always listen to your clients‟ for the workload and challenges in the job and when they do not make quick bucks as they had hoped for, they entirely give up.
needs. What's the future for Lady Photographer...Dreams/Aspirations? Definitely a foundation or art center to enhance and equip young
women with creative skills, not just photography. I want this bae of mine to be able to stand on its own feet without me having to be To succeed in this business, you must be multi-skilled and know how to run the business side of it as well as deliver and
there. I want Lady Photographer™ to be able to employ and sustain a permanent staff and improve livelihoods for individuals and families. That is the future for us.
live up to what you promised the client. If you find it hard to do this, you could
Favorite travel destination I am in love with South Africa. The people, the culture, the music,
always hire an admin to take care of the
the language, the struggle, everything. It is definitely in my short
side while you click away.
term goals.
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Follow Kayte Wangui Gichuru Facebook / Instagram : LadyPhotographer_Ke
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Tribeka Restaurant & Pub Banda Street (Off-kimathi street) Box 100773-00101, Nairobi, Kenya Phone: 0708 322 222 Email: info@tribeka.co.ke
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AGAINST ALL ODDS Nyambura’s journey in her 30+ yrs in teaching . BY WANGARI GATONYE
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When one hears the word, “teacher”, most of us tend to think canes, the punishment, boring Maths classes, maybe sometimes lots and lots of homework. Right? Rarely do we think about the teachers and the hard work
they put in. Imagine taking a 5yr old to school who cant read, cant write and expecting them to be literate? Hard work now, right.
This is the reason we sort to havea sitting with one teacher who has been in the business for over three decades. She does not want us to term it as a business. She calls it more of a calling and a passion.
I sat down with Nyambura Gatonye, and this is what she had to tell us.
Nyambura Gatonye is a woman on a mission. Her mission in
I have been in the teaching profession for 32 years now.
I would say the profession chose me at the beginning but as my hidden potential begun to sprout, I chose the profession and today it‟s like my second skin.
Being a teacher came as a career and later on as a passion. As I interacted with children, and their parents guiding and counseling emerged from within me naturally and I embraced it. I then decided to do counseling as a profession and did a Diploma.
Well a leader? I can say this one came as a surprise to me as I never believed I could ever lead
life is to impact young women and girls to be better persons
people. One day, my daughter gave me a present. It
in their societies.
was a book and on the cover she had written,
She has molded children from as young as 6 years of age for
“Dedicated to my mother because she‟s a leader…”. That‟s when I started to actually believe it. It
a period of 32 years in her teaching career.
triggered something deep within me. As the third
She lets us in on her journey of self-belief, passion,
born in a family of seven, it slowly dawned on me
perseverance and acquiring her degree at 55years.
the many responsibilities my siblings put on my shoulders. My parents would also count on me to
To this jovial, beautiful, African woman, the sky is the limit
convince my siblings on things they wanted
and age is just but a number.
approved.
She is many things. Modest, down to earth and passionate about her mission in life, being adamant to achieve whatever she sets her eyes onto.
My boss also realized the potential in me, recommending a vacant post for me. I was reluctant at first but with time, the leadership qualities became evident. I did get the position eventually,
much to my surprise. So yes, I now believe am a leader. (smiles)
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Am a mother as the society demands of me. Being an African parent, it‟s natural to raise
longer hold back, despite my age. Here I was, with children starting their careers. And yet, I
kids that aren‟t your own. I arose to the call and the mother in me took over my life. And funny enough, I enjoy being a mother by choice to all.
As a preacher, I developed a liking to God when I was a little girl. My mother would drag me to church and fellowships, crusades et al. The nature of God and having my prayers answered made me develop an interest in religion. I can thus say that all these talents were packed in me. Coming out naturally when tapped.
After high school, my passion was to
was going back to start mine.
This was teenage dream and I thank God that I finally succeeded. Where there‟s a will, there‟s a way. Every dream waits an appointed time. I also wanted to be encouragement to many girls and especially to my grandchildren and prove to them that education is always key! And of course, age shouldn‟t be a limiting factor!
You are also a mentor?
further my studies. I joined college and was
Yes, that‟s true; I have mentored many young adults and
immediately employed at a very young age. I
children alike. There‟s one that changed my way of
would say the excitement of earning a salary at
seeing things in life too. I had a talk with her after failing
a very young age somehow cut off the dream
in her national exams. She decided to follow my advice
of furthering my studies.
and re-took her exams the following year. Thank God she
The dream was still alive in me though. Even
did as she qualified to join a public university. This really
after marriage and being blessed with three
made me proud. And I saw how counseling can
biological children, I still had hope that one day
transform someone‟s life.
I would go back to school and get that Degree. The dream pestered me and I could no
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What Next? My next step is to open a counseling center. It will be a center for all and it has to be free as so many people undergo depression because they 38 | P a g e
cannot afford a counselor. I will do it till such a time that I can be able to do it full time.
Which is of-course after retirement!
Right now, it‟s my hope to continue impacting as many children as I possibly can. To better themselves and be useful in the society.
My greatest inspiration of course is seeing people‟s lives transform for the better. Little children that come with runny noses and who cannot even tie their own shoe laces, it‟s always a pleasure to see them grow up and be good, able people in the society. That‟s my greatest inspiration and satisfaction.
If I wasn’t a teacher… Well, I would be a full-time counselor and a preacher of God‟s word!
My advice to young girls and women is, “There are no limits out there. You are your own Limitation!”
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INTO THE AFRICAN LANDS CAPE TOWN/ SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO CREDIT: NJUGI KARIUKI
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Our Cameraman decided to take a trip to heaven and we followed him all the way to Cape Town South Africa, and boy, were’nt we impressed. The sights were spectacular and to die for. What he never revealed to us is if he finally popped the BIG question here‌
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For anyone willing to propose or just get away from the fuss of it all, this is the place to be. TIA and it don’t get no Wakanda better than this!
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AFRICAN CUISINES Country of origin: Uganda
MATOKE
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Ingredients
10 Matoke small green bananas 125 g salted butter or vegan butter 2 tsp cumin seeds 2 large onions chopped 8 cloves garlic 2 green chillies 1 tin chopped tomatoes 300g 1 tbsp concentrated tomato purée 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp chopped coriander 2 tsp ground black pepper Chapos East African Layered Chapattis, to serve
Instructions 1. In a large, non-stick pan, melt the butter. Add the cumin seeds and chopped onions. Sauté the onions over a medium heat until lightly golden, about 8 minutes. 2. Add the garlic, chillies and concentrated tomatoe purée and cook for a further 2 minutes. 3. Next, add the chopped tomatoes. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes. 4. Top and tail the Matoke. Cut each one in half and slit the skin of each half lengthways. Pop these into a pressure cooker and fill with 500ml water. Pressure cook for 3 whistles and then switch off the heat. If you don‟t have a pressure cooker you‟ll need to boil the Matoke in a big pan of water with a lid until tender, about 30 minutes. 5. Allow the Matoke to cool until you can just about handle them. They need to be hot. This is really important. If you let them cool down too much they will become super starchy and be hard to mash, leaving you with a lumpy finish. Peel the Matoke and mash them with a potato masher until smooth. 6. Add the mashed Matoke to the tomato and onion mixture and cook on a medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring all the time. The butter should start to separate from the Matoke at the sides of the pan. Now add the cinnamon, salt, lemon juice, black pepper and chopped coriander and mix thoroughly. 7. Serve immediately with hot Chapos (chapattis).
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East African Highland bananas are triploid banana cultivars originating from the African Great Lakes region. They are a staple food crop in Uganda, Tanzania and other Great Lakes countries, and are used to make matoke. East African Highland bananas are also known as the Mutika/Lujugira subgroup.
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