KRAFT Magazine by MVOI

EDITOR’S NOTE EDITORIAL & DESIGN Editor-in-Chief Mvoi Kigondu Editor Alex Wakinyanjui Art Director Alphaziz Kabakizz Desk Editor Nina Khroda Concept TisaTisa, Nairobi Designer Sponyo Bella Photo Editor Jackie Ndinguri Contributors Pie Alpha , Captain Alex Blaine 29 , Bella Awange

The Future is

Jackie Ndinguri, Brian Olago Nina Khroda, Uncle Mvoi

PUBLISHER Chief Executive Bella Awange Executive Creative Director Jackie Ndinguri Chief Operating Officer Victoria Thuo Publishing Director Brian Olagoz Production Manager Nina Khroda Production Controller Kinyanjui Kariuki

Kraft-magazine.co.ke EDITION 99 | JUNE 2021

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MVOI KIGONDU

kraft magazine | June 2021

The Journey ...so far

Alex, the Captain Alex Kinyanjui

Mvoi Kigondu

Becoming Blaine Victoria Thuo

14 Constantly Evolving Beldine Awange

CONTENTS 2

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20 18

A Student & a Mum Jackline Ndinguri

A Slice of Pie_Alpha Paul Kalerwa

22 A Legend in the Making Nina Khroda

26 Raised by a Single Mother Brian Olago

kraft magazine | June 2021

The Journey

...so far

Dubbed African design’s rising star, MVOI KIGONDU sheds light on his creative journey so far with KRAFT giving us a bit of insight into the humble giants history.

o me, writing about oneself is one of the hardest and most unpleasant tasks you could ever ask of someone. It is asking them to summarize millions of seconds spent in a wide array of experiences in textual format which you shall then proceed to consciously or subconsciously judge as either interesting or lackluster. It is unfair to subject anyone to this, inhumane if you ask me. Naturally most of these experiences are meant to fade away with time, our memory letting us store only a fragment. We are wired to store pivotal experiences-‘one of a kinds’. It is impossible to limit someone’s entire existence to a few sentences. This is why I harbor my strong views. However, we don’t live in the version of the universe I consider ideal. So here I am. Mvoi Kigondu’s birth was not a phenomenon, sadly. Though I would have expected it to be. The cloudy Aberdare skies should have parted that cold June to let the sun shine brighter than it has ever and a magnificent double rainbow should have appeared to frame Mount Kenya. World peace should have been attained that Friday and the ravages of global warming reversed. Instead, it was a quiet evening that added to President Moi’s census tally and a second son to Mr. & Mrs. Kigondu. The pre-school years of my life were very happy years, at least what I remember of them. My preschool was a Montessori meaning we had a lot of freedom to explore our curiosities before the shackles of 8-4-4. We had colourful plastic seats, colourful charts on the wall, lovely teachers, a big double-sided slide, a grassy playground with a big loquat tree in the middle and we napped in the afternoon. School was less than 5 minutes from home

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and owned by my aunt. I also had a ‘girlfriend’. She had a nice name. She was baptised my girlfriend by my aunt (my headmistress) and my mum because I always talked about her. They still tease me about this matter to date. I wish I could meet her again. Hopefully the glow has been kind to her as it has been generously to me. Maybe I still have the charms, maybe better who knows? Early childhood is the purest form of life. This was my favourite level of education. I must have fallen in love with art in preschool but my mother strongly suggests that her father’s high skilled craftsmanship in carpentry was the strong influence passed on to me when she bestowed unto me his name. Who am I to disagree? My pre-teen and early teenage years were a confusing rollercoaster. To strip me away from the pleasures of colouring and making things to sitting on a desk for long hours was cruel. I loved primary school though because of my friends. But I hated those long wooden desks you had to share with someone who 9/10 times was a stubborn girl who wanted you to recite an enchantment to let you pass kwanza if your desk was against a wall and I liked sitting kwa wall. Eventually I graduated to my own lockable desk in class 6. But our school had metal chairs which were as cold as Nairobi girls’ hearts and our class 6 classes were on the top floor of a three-storey block of classes. I don’t know whose genius idea that was to have primary school classes go that high up and then put the most adolescent age group on the top floors. Instructed by a malicious contingent of teachers. On cold metallic chairs. With huge grillless windows. And small uneven stairs to stampede down precariously during breaks. High school was but a blink of an eye to me. Contrary to

popular opinion, I could relive those years as long as similar conditions and people (except one or two members of staff for human rights reasons) were maintained. I tried my hand at sports seriously for the first time in my life and it worked out fine because it resulted in me not being in school on a good number of the weekends. I went to a boys’ school. Now, there are things you can only witness and/or experience in a boys’ school. Young men in their purest form. I know of a guy who was caught watching a rather interesting film on a smartboard by himself in an audio-visual room. He chose to completely ignore the CCTV camera to satisfy his love for the cinematic experience. A true film connoisseur. My love for design was sparked in high school. My high school art teacher exposed me to the professional world of design and I was almost immediately love-struck. I interned at an ad agency during my school holidays for two years. That was a pivotal experience in my life because I learnt that I prefer committing to a life where I get to work in jeans and come in at a time dependent on the work I need to do than an 8 to 5. My workmate once came to work with her hair dyed a turquoise blue and once or twice, in shorts. She was in the client service department meaning she was part of the team that went out to meet the agencies clients and make pitches. That was cool. Plus, she listened to Arctic Monkeys. So she was double cool to me. So this quest for the designer life ends up with me landing in KU where I currently suffer optimistically the life I chose. All I can say is that I’m grateful for every step of the journey. So far, so not that bad.

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Alex the Captain Sit back relax and enjoy. Sounds cliché, right? I mean we’ve heard so many story starters like this from around the world. One thing I’m also sure about is that we’ve heard stories about families that sacrifice their all to make sure that their kids never lack or feel inferior to the rest. Mine is typically the same story, same plot, different characters and let’s face it, if you’re reading till this point means you’ve shown some interest. Now that I have your attention, let’s get to it.

kraft magazine | June 2021

Lenana School (High school tuliwachia Alliance na Starehe) where my art skills greatly improved under the stewardship of Mr. Mutindah, my art teacher. It was there that I was molded into an all-round person living up to the school motto ‘Nothing but the Best’. At Lenana School I was once more fortunate enough to meet another set of greatly talented artists namely; Peter ‘Vuggu’ Karanu and Sammy ‘Samido’ Ng’ang’a all of whom are at the Kenyatta University Fine Art department.

y name is Alex Kinyanjui aka Captain Alex (name borrowed from the Ugandan action- comedy film ‘Who killed Captain Alex?’ in Wakaliwood). I’m from a family of four, my dad and mum Samuel Kariuki and Roselyne Wanjiru and my brother Ian Murakaru one of the most hardworking people I know. Professing the Catholic Faith, my brother and I have both been raised in a Christian home. I’ve seen my parents struggle throughout my life, sacrificing a lot just so my brother and I could neither lack anything nor feel disadvantaged. My parents are very strict in terms of studies and discipline. One of the most important life lessons I have learned from them is always being humble, being respective to everybody, being kind and always lending a helping hand I.e. service to others. 8

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After completing my high school studies, I joined the Fine Art department at Kenyatta University. I love it here. I can describe my style in art as one which seeks to tell an African story. Color is one element that has influenced my craft the most for my art without color is plain and boring. At the fine art department I major in graphic design. I also take painting and multimedia design. My love for art started way back in primary school. I attended Le Pic primary school, in Nairobi. I knew I was gifted in art when I started doing human figure drawings and cartoons. I was also a member of the wildlife club, there my patron Mr. Macua gave us tasks of drawing different wild animals, and this also greatly improved my skill. This is also the main reason I’m in love with nature. My parents were very supportive encouraging me and supporting me by buying the needed materials at the time, must say art is expensive because every new idea requires a fresh set of materials. It was also in primary school that I met two very talented artists: Paul ‘Pie-Alpha’ Kalerwa and Ian ‘Uncle’ Mvoi all who are my classmates now. For my secondary school education, I was fortunate enough to join a school that offers art as an elective. I attended the prestigious

I am grateful for the friends I met along the way, some of whom became family and also for the constant support from my parents and for believing in my art. The experience was new but had a positive impact on me, which challenged me to go beyond what I knew to embrace and unleash new things. Creativity and art is wide and wild. So as artists we are the advantaged minority and we should take this opportunity to go all out in our crafts. Whether it is painting, body art, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, animation, fashion or even interior design. Art is not necessarily beautiful in fact if everybody loves your work then you are probably playing it a little bit too safe, you need people not liking your work, then you’ll know you’re probably on to something. Finally, always do what makes you happy!

“

Art is not necessarily beautiful in fact if everybody loves your work then you are probably playing it a little bit too safe

”

kraft magazine | June 2021

Becoming

‘’Art is what you make it,’’ that’s the motto I came up with 8 years ago when I decided to pursue art professionally. It’s the Genesis to who I became today, BLAINE 29, cool right? The name didn’t just come into existence, as Martin Luther king once said, “we are not makers of History, we are made by history.” Here’s my story. 10

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he year was 1995 on June 29th, I was born in a small town called Gatitu based in Nyeri. It was my mother’s greatest desire to have a baby girl, she termed the experience, Victorious! Hence the name Victoria. My parents gave me 4 names, they barely fit in my ID, Victoria J. Nyambura Thuo, sounds like a whole sentence, right? I rarely use them all. I was raised alongside two brothers who are slightly older than me, being raised with them had its pros and cons, literally. One, they love you to death, and I mean bullying you, every chance they get! among other things brothers are they best, because they protect you with the same intensity and more.

I was a playful child, getting into trouble from time to time with my playmates from the neighborhood. My mother truly believed in not sparing the rod, so I paid for my sins heavily, some would say it was our way of bonding at the time. At the age of 11, I discovered my love for art, and I was curious enough to pursue it. My parents encouraged the journey by getting art supplies and sketchbooks to work with.

the school not having an artistic platform,I was happy that I managed to create art every chance I got. Narumoru Girls is the High School I I joined after I completed my primary education. The school felt like a military base, from the waters shortages to fetching water in a river, the food that felt like 90% of it was water the large cabbage cuttings by the angry-looking cooks drenched in smoke in brown stained outfits that still had patches of their original color, “white,” and so much more, I managed to withstand the tough conditions and 2014 I joined the University.

Kenyatta University was never my first choice, but it caught my interest because it offered an Artistic course. I pursued my Diploma and graduated in 2016, during this period I discovered graffiti and became stationed at the Dust-Depo artist’s studio. It was once located at the Railways Museum. During this period and practicing and learning about graffiti, I changed my name to Blaine 29; Blaine was adapted from a character that I came across who was passionate in music, this would be evident in his performances, the 29 is from my date of birth. It’s within this same period that I worked under the supervision of Patrick

During my school days especially in primary school art got me into so much trouble with specific teachers, to be fair most of the time I dedicated to drawing even during class time, this seemed rebellious to some but to me it was passion for the craft, I enjoyed every bit. Despite the hinderance from authority at the time I still created Art plus the support of my mother and siblings, this boosted my “umph” in pushing my passion. I joined art clubs and took part in Art competitions. My high school didn’t involve art as much, since it didn’t have an artistic platform, however I always got a chance to do calligraphy for school events and fellow classmates. Despite

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Mukabi, a renown Kenyan Visual artist, his work is characterized by the exaggeration of women’s body parts and themes of activities like; market scenes. Through him I was introduced to exhibitions and I managed to showcase my work in spaces, this boosted my work and my style started developing. The very first showcase I took part in was held at Alliance Francaise, it also marked the period that I had my very first Tv interview. When I’m not exploring art, I enjoy taking part in both indoor and outdoor activities, like; Bike Riding, Game nights with friends, reading, watching documentaries and vlogs, Exploring and visiting new places, listening to Podcasts among others. Finally becoming Blaine led to doing different projects, from cooperate murals on different spaces; restaurants, events, offices e.t.c Doing murals for Television commercials like Always Ultra, KCB and leasing artworks for film sets with companies like Ginger Ink and Netflix. Art is a powerful tool that depends on how the artists uses it communicate. With time my style grew adaptively towards color and it became more graphical. Through my work I’ve managed to build a brand that deals with apparel that consists of my own custom-made prints. In 2019 and 2020 I was nominated for the UNKUT HipHop awards under the category best graffiti artist of the year, however I didn’t win but the opportunity of being on such a listing challenged my work to grow and improve. My artistic journey has been one of ups and downs but in everything that I face I choose to grow and learn from it. Art is the one field that taught me the most in life and has shaped me to who I am today, BLAINE 29

kraft magazine | June 2021

“

Art is the one field that taught me the most in life and has shaped me to who I am today, BLAINE 29

”

kraft magazine | June 2021

Dubbed African design’s rising star, BELLA AWANGE sheds light on her creative journey with KRAFT giving us a bit of insight into the humble giants history.

i, my name is Bella which is short for Beldine, a name that’s just but one of many others. Among which is my surname Awange and the Luo name Achieng, given to a female born at mid-day. I was born on July 7th in the millennial era of 1998, hence I am 23 years old. My family’s original home is in Siaya, Alego but I was born and raised in Nairobi. I am the third born in a family of 4 siblings, three sisters and one brother. One of my sisters is a step sibling from my father’s first marriage. I’m an imposing 5 foot 10 hence I played basketball for part of my high school life. Besides basketball, I enjoy a great deal of swimming, painting, graphic designing, make up artistry, writing small plays, travelling and going out to socialize among others because I keep discovering new talents and hobbies. I consider myself as a ‘hustler’ because I’m always finding ways to make money and not be broke and that means I’m constantly trying to learn new innovative ways to create income with what I do or what I see could really thrive. I started using my art skills for money in high school to calligraph people’s names on letters we sent to different schools. In university I sold stickers that I made on my computer and the business was good. I also helped my mom’s business by marketing it and giving ideas on what to create because she was a seamstress and a fashion designer. I have done many other jobs just for the experience, the feel of independently earning for myself and just the urge to learn. I currently free-lance graphic design, painting and sell sun glasses and it’s going pretty well for me. kraft magazine | June 2021

I was also really smart and excelled in most subjects especially in Math’s and Science except Kiswahili. I guess I took after my father whom was a really canny man and also could not speak Kiswahili to save his life. Despite my interest in art, I dreamt of taking after my father and being a doctor like he was.

I grew up moving a few times but from my earliest clear memory in 2005 I remember I stayed and grew up in Langata. I started schooling in Langata Kindergarten which was an awesome experience because all we did was play eat, sleep and barely any reading. I was somewhat a silent bully which basically means I was introverted but still bullied other kids after school or when the teacher was not looking. The bullying phase was long forgotten as soon as I joined Langata Junior School for my Primary education. I enjoyed Primary school the most and it was the highlight of my school years. I remember in Class four I discovered I had interest in art when we had our first art class and the teacher put a bowl of fruits in front of the class and told us to draw it. My still life 16

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I bypassed my four years of high school at Huruma Girls in Makadara swiftly after adapting to the unruly lifestyle, bad food, unnecessary punishments and the survival for the fittest life. An example of unnecessary punishments was that I was once suspended for a week for reporting a day late when schools opened. School functions made my school experience fun and participating in music and drama festivals. I would also use my free time for imaginative drawing and writing short stories and plays. I also became a computer nerd because it was the closest subject to art that seemed interesting to me since they did not offer art.

Despite my short-comings and life’s obstacles, I see positive growth in every aspect of my life. I choose to live my life expecting the unexpected as it is part of life drawing turned out the best and everyone wanted me to show them how I drew my fruits with such prowess. Primary was the place I thrived in my studies and was a constantly happy child. I discovered that this was because I was happy at home for, I had everything I needed; peace, joy, my parents and the basic needs. I could say a happy home creates a happy life.

I later joined university a year after in 2017 at Technical University of Kenya after effortlessly looking for a place to study art with no quality portfolio and experience in art. That was after I bridged art under the same university but in an art, studio named Dust Depo that was owned by a Famous Kenyan Artist named Patrick Mukabi. That was where I gained experience in art and got a good portfolio to help me carry forward in my dreams of being an artist. I enjoyed creating in an environment of other artists and under amazing art mentors like Panye (Patrick Mukabi) and Allan Kioko who is known as Will Not Think. My stay at Technical University of Kenya was short lived due to uncontrolled circumstances and later joined Kenyatta University the following year to pursue a degree in Fine Art and Design.

The year 2020 was a tragic year in my life because that was when I lost my parents. My mom passed on February 8th 2020 from an unknown illness. She fell ill around the beginning of December 2019 and on 25th December she was hospitalized she stayed there for the next month until she passed on. Her death was sudden and unexpected and affected my father the most. He later succumbed 5 months after. He was not physically ill but really depressed and still mourning my mother. The tragedy took a toll on him and on July 22nd, he had a heart attack and passed on. Today, I am lucky enough to get through school because of the legacy my father left behind. His prowess in Dentistry coupled with being a Senior Lecturer in the University of Nairobi’s School of Dentistry where he headed the division of oral pathology and medicine for many years brought in many well-wishers. His colleagues chipped in generously to ensure my siblings and I finish school up to university. I have since grown up intellectually and emotionally after going through life in different ways and I’m constantly discovering myself and my passions and it’s quite exciting. I plan to be a graphic designer and continue learning new skills and things as they come. I’ve gotten to hike two mountains so far despite my dreadful fear of heights and I find myself doing things I didn’t think I was capable of. Despite my short-comings and life’s obstacles, I see positive growth in every aspect of my life. I choose to live my life expecting the unexpected as it is part of life and as Heraclitus once said, “If you don’t expect the unexpected, you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail.” kraft magazine | June 2021

“

The thought of having a baby as a student years back was the scariest thing ever, but now, when I look into her eyes and see my mini-me, it’s the most beautiful and sweetest feeling ever.

”

kraft magazine | June 2021

Dubbed African design’s rising star, JACKIE NDINGURI sheds light on her creative journey so far with KRAFT giving us a bit of insight into the humble giants history.

’m Jackie. I’m the eldest sister and a second born in a family of four. An alumnus of the Kenya High School and currently, a student at Kenyatta University. When I got to campus in 2017, I always envisioned myself graduating in December 2021 but along the way, I gained something else, a baby. Her name is Taiana. She was born last January. The thought of having a baby as a student years back was the scariest thing ever, but now, when I look into her eyes and see my minime, it’s the most beautiful and sweetest feeling ever. I have had struggles along the way. It hasn’t been easy per se but my major challenge was before getting everything ready for her. It was during the April holiday when I realized that I was going to be a mom. I knew my dad was going to be super crazy if he did find out. So, I had to come up with a something. I lied to them that I had a friend who got me a job in town. And since we had 5 more months at home, it was reasonable for me to go work instead of just idling around. Make no mistake, the job story was a lie. So, I had to go office to office looking for a job as a graphic designer. Crazy right? Remember I had just finished my second-year level where I barely knew how to use some of the design applications. Fortunately, I got a job, worked as an attaché. For me it was something since I was still getting paid at the end of the month. The first month was easy since my dad was still taking care of my expenses as we waited for the first month’s salary. It was

after two weeks of the second month that I realized that the money was not enough. The transport rates were high especially in the morning and in the evening and this drained me a lot. Lunch for me was a bit expensive since I could not eat French fries like my workmates did. I was pregnant and of course I had to take nutritious food. Which for me, such kienyeji food in town was very expensive with the already budgeted money. At the end of the month, I decided not to work anymore. For me it was not worth it if it meant working with no proper lunch and supper for my baby. By supper I mean, the take out I used to buy from work. I always had a very exhausting day that all I had to do when I got home, was just to eat, take a shower and sleep. I never had time for myself. The truth is, I really hated the pattern. All this time, my parents knew nothing. The final month was finally here and I had to say something. I waited till I was two weeks due and texted them both, then later switched off my phone. I later turned it on after eight hours and to my shock, they were the most excited grandparents ever. Most students face social media, television and other things as distractions while doing their homework. My distraction is a cute little baby crawling over my laptop, adding her own special messages to my assignments. And when I say “special messages,” I mean a lot of gibberish. Taiana’s tendency to do this, while adorable, inevitably takes away my time to complete assignments.

my days pretty much happen like this: 1. Wake up to a slap in the face, or slobbery kisses. 2. Change Taiana, play with her, feed her, get her dressed (there seems to be a reoccurring pattern here). 3. Make it to class. Repeat step two. Attempt homework – which is unsuccessful 90 percent of the time. Being productive while raising a small child is tricky. Mostly, I find myself always exhausted, sometimes to the point where I can’t fall asleep even if I wanted to. Most of the time I have much to accomplish aside from being a mother. Now, I wake up every day with a to-do list. But to be completely honest, there never seems to be enough hours in the day. I told myself I would become more organized when Taiana was born, but here we are, one and a half years later, and I’m still a major procrastinator – I guess some things never change. Becoming a mother has had a large impact on every aspect of my life – my social life included. What about the parties? Well, let’s just say I haven’t been to a party since March, 2019. Partying is something I miss at times, but I’m used to it not being a part of my life anymore. As I play with Taiana, I don’t find myself sitting at home swimming in resentment.. Though I miss some aspects of my “old life,” I’m content with my new one. The sleepless nights, throw up stains on my clothes and ripped pages in my textbooks are all worth it at the end of the day.

After a very short night of sleep, kraft magazine | June 2021

“A professional artist was once an amateur and a picture is worth a poem full of words”. Well those are the words the phenomenal PIE_ALPHA lives by, also known as the Crème de la crème of art in the heart of Nairobi city.

o be succinct with you guys, actually Pie_alpha is just but his stage name. From a family of three, his real name is Paul Kalerwa Kisuche. His older brothers Luttah Ian and Ivor Wanjala formed a skeleton for his character and laid a foundation for his ambitions, goals and dreams. They were the closest thing he had to a father figure as the late Kisuche Paul Kalerwa ascended to glory not more than six years after his birth. Alpha first saw light on the 6th of March 1999 in the land of fish, I mean Kisumu, in Jalaram Hospital not too far from where they resided in the lakeside city. He was raised partly in Kisumu but his father moved a lot because of work hence he got to briefly

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experience the ambience of places like Lodwar, Nanyuki, the Mara and soon after, Kisuche senior got posted to Vet-labs in Nairobi. Alpha consequently started his educational trek at Visa Oshwal Academy which was somehow his bedrock leave alone the foundation of the million dollar talent his possesses. It was definitely a memorable experience that only he, can put into words. He got to interact with kids from different cultures and backgrounds being a school with diverse religions and races. Talk about living outside the normal curve. He attained his primary school certificate there and it was time to move and grow.

Alpha thereafter joined the reputable Booker Academy which was just but a coincidence he studied with fast rising musicians and a magnificent artists. Well Tryon Lannister said, “A great man dines with great men”. Wait, before I continue, an enormous shout-out to all Game of Thrones fans out there. Not too long after being in this fruitful atmosphere, Alpha made a life changing decision to pursue art as a career for the rest of his life. Being in the academy helped him realize his full potential, topping art competitions and acing exams from start to finish. It didn’t take too many conversations with Ng’inja Jessinta [his art teacher] for him to realize that this was the right path for him. His Kraft was the love of his life. As expected, he had to work towards his dreams and make steps in the right path. He soon after sat for his high school certificate exams, and without a doubt you could guess his best performed subject. Alpha is currently pursuing his undergraduate degreeBachelor of Fine Art and Design-at Kenyatta University. A GOAT if you ask me but to be pragmatic, you guys can’t expect an exceptional man, myth, legend like Pie_alpha only to be rooted to art stuff, right? Alpha also has a niche for photography, videography and editing which is a selftaught skill that he has nurtured for a couple of years now. We all know that a delicate thing such as photography needs a Messi in order to capture the best memories and bring out the best aesthetics. Alpha may not be Messi as such as because he’s a Red Devil who is convinced that CR7 is the better of the two. Hehe, but Alpha is still no rookie, if you know you know. He is famous for his style of digital illustrations that he has

practiced for under two years as well as mural paintings in various locations in the country including Kilifi, Mount Kenya Academy in Nyeri, Regis school in Runda and various locations in Thika. He has practiced various artistic styles and has even hosted a challenge for artists on social media that happens every December called #dreadheaddecember that’s inspired by the beauty of dreadlocks and melanin. Those were his baby steps in his art genesis. While in Kenyatta University he connected with super talents: Mvoi Kigondu, Karanu Peter and Kirika Njoroge. These four are now in the primary stage of a Billion Dollar Franchise that is MIA NANE-a creative. All four men are exceptionally talented and their brand is all about art: murals, interiors and exteriors, illustration and innovation. Alpha also has an astronomical passion for music. This isn’t a surprise because by now, we’ve accepted that he is a Jack of all trades. Alpha is a part-time rapper and drummer. Being in a digital world, Pie_ alpha isn’t left behind for he has commendable works on Soundcloud, you could listen

to his cover of Justin Beiber’s Sorry and Gucci Gang by Lil Pump. Hopefully he will soon find a balance between all these faculties that he is interested in. His music career will kick start once his first mix tape drops early next year so keep tabs on this young legend in the making. To know more about Pie_alpha head on to his socials his socials: Twitter: Pie_alpha, Instagram: @Pie_alpha and art page @art_kisuche and articles available on word-press by Bv the Blogger.

kraft magazine | June 2021

One of my favourite quotes by American novelist Sherman Anderwood that I wholeheartedly endorse states that, ‘the point of being artists is that we may live, and live fully. For to practice any craft no matter how well or how badly is to make our souls grow’.

A Legend in the Making

Nina, by Nina

kraft magazine | June 2021

f you asked me to describe myself in one word, I would say that, I do not know a single word that encompasses the entirety of who I am. I believe I am a lot of things. My name is Nina Krhoda and it’s a name I carry with great pride. My parents thought of naming me Hannah, and little did I know that the universe was already working in my favour, because I certainly prefer Nina. The name has Hebrew and Russian roots, meaning ‘favor and grace’ and ‘of inestimable worth’; a name thought fit for the Babylonian ocean goddess, and the Incan goddess of fire. I certainly feel like the descriptions are very much on brand- sounds like the name of a legend in the making.

and from my father I have learnt how to work hard and go after what I want so that I can play hard. He’s shown me how to be effortlessly badass, how to let go of Ls and jump back up, how to meditate inward, and how to live a life that feels like a celebration. Because of all this, I would describe myself as a committed, honest student of my own life, livingness and evolution; someone who is constantly increasing her awareness of her choices, focussed deeply on her wellbeing, and committed to living a rich, profoundly soulful, magically sensual, vivacious life. Currently, that looks like healthy, delicious food; it looks like working out four times a week; it looks like years of yoga

and meditation. It looks like climbing mountains and being at the beach and jumping off a plane or visiting the depths of the sea to watch whales. It looks like growing my mind, being knowledgeable, taking every opportunity life presents me to learn, whether it’s from nature or from others or from my pasts and my regrets. It looks like going for events and festivals and being out dancing all night (before lockdown and curfew that is. I would rather break the law in ways more rewarding than being outdoors illegally and dealing with the terrorists that are Kenyan police. It looks like celebrating myself, and others and life, and being the friend who yells, “You guys, si we take another shot?”

The name Krhoda is like the preface to my originality, simply for its rarity. In Luoland ‘K’ can mean ‘son of’ when put in front of your mother’s name. In my case, my father’s mother was called Rhoda, and from there, my father decided he wanted to create his own clan, separate from others’ so that it wouldn’t have to conform to anything other than its own rules. It’s not just beautiful and innovative, it’s iconic, that’s why the first three pages on Google (if you search ‘Krhoda’) are all about the members of my household. Consider that a brag, us Luos aren’t raised to be very humble. I’m grateful to say that my parents didn’t just give me a beautiful name, they also gave me a beautiful life full of love and abundance, and it’s not just because I was raised with maximum leniency and liberation as the last born of the house, a.k.a, vile inafaa, thank you very much. The experiences they have given us, the knowledge they continue to share with us and the culture they pass down to us is unpriceable. From my mother I have found my truest friend, kraft magazine | June 2021

My education began at Consolata Nursery school, after which I followed straight to Consolata Primary, where I proceeded to be bullied like that nerd in all the cliche high school movies: doing someone’s homework, their exams, giving up my food and money and nice things. I always say that being called ‘frog eyes’ (because obviously, my face hadn’t grown into them) is one thing, but being abused for being dark makes you feel like it’s a curse just to be as you are. Even then, I always find myself looking back nostalgically on the days when life was easy (in hindsight) and filled with beautiful moments amidst the angst and drama of puberty. After that, it was high school at Kianda School- a six minute car ride away from home, which made it convenient. This experience, I would characterize as hellish; in fact, zero stars, would not recommend. It wasn’t just the cult-like norms, it was the obsession with creating women who apparently don’t stretch in public, run, eat without fifteen rows of cutlery, shout, have African hair, wear pants or talk to boys. After four years of receiving detention slip after detention slip for one unladylike thing or another, I wish every woman who suffered through it the best. And to the ones who are there now, I keep them in my prayers. Everyday, I am grateful to exist exactly as I am and to be living the life I live. I thank God that I am an unapologetic, self-respecting, majestic dark skinned black woman. I love that I am artistic in my essence, full in my presence and rich in my sense of self.

kraft magazine | June 2021

I am grateful to be a creative, who deeply values the beauty and aesthetics of this world, and is easily aroused by art and music and language and poetry and nature and good food, obviously. I believe that art is essential for the human spirit, not just because it feels good, but because it makes us think, and feel, and look. It is an expression that is ultimately unquantifiable, limitless in its very existence, and a form of healing, that’s why art therapy exists. I don’t feel like I decided to be an artist, I think I simply knew, innately, that I was one. The artist, and the art. As a ceramist, a printmaker, and a graphic designer, I have an intrinsic, wholehearted belief in the beautiful things I will create during my lifetime. I know that my craft lies in designing and creating beautiful, magical concepts that make people feel, and my vision of my legacy inspires me. One of my favourite quotes by American novelist Sherman Anderwood that I wholeheartedly endorse states that, ‘the point of being artists is that we may live, and live fully. For to practice any craft no matter how well or how badly is to make our souls grow’.

kraft magazine | June 2021

Raised by a Single Mother A lot has happeaned to me in the recent past which I never thought I would have to experience at just the age of 21. My mind wanders through still memories and flashbacks on how life has been, being raised by a single mother. I have lived the most part of my career as a Fine artist inclined to impressionism. Yes I’m an impressionist and this article is going to be an impressionistic view of a boy being raised from nothing. -Brian Olago

kraft magazine | June 2021

t’s 8.00 pm, Kogony Village, Kisumu. Everything seems obscure, except the sound of crickets and whistling of the tall tree behind our grass thatched round hut. We stare in the dark clueless of where our mother could be. My sister and I are seated on a round stone holding onto each other like a tick stuck to a goat’s skin. I will remember this stone 18 years later, where my mum had me sit as she scratched my back with a piece cut from a maize sack which we used as a bath sponge. Situated to the left hand side of the Late Sylvester Okeyo’s home was our house, the only thing left behind by my late father beside other household items. Death had swept the homestead during the early and late 90s like wind blowing away chaff blowing away almost everyone including my dad, leaving only one son of the six . My mother had been in her early 20s when she got married to my father. A young girl straight from high school. You see, she never had the capability of flourishing and making her dreams come true before getting married .Her chances of pursuing tertiary education were close to nil. Now she had to get married to a teacher from a clan producing the most eloquent educated men. Being a teacher in the mid-80s and 90s was a career to hold on to. Teachers were celebrated in song or they were believed to be bright and well educated. It was the most admired occupation by most girls in the village. As of today, no career woman with prospects and visions dare belittle herself to getting married to a Pp1 teacher. It was however a mere coincidence that my mum got married to a teacher because later on she would take on the art of teaching after his death.

My mother comes from a village with practiced the traditional setup of the Luo culture where women’s strength and capabilities were looked down upon and not nurtured. A woman’s success in such a space was undermined by many factors that would mark her dreams and efforts to get it all together futile. British education had not been embraced well those days and only few would consider education a key to unlocking their dreams. The little education my mother had acquired would later on make her standout amongst many and expose many infinite possibilities. My mother is the third born in a family of about 9. My late grandmother sired many children and give birth to all of them all by herself. My mother always talked about her strength. This was a true African woman who knew how to take care of her family. As many African communities believe that a woman is a source of wealth and power Kaluo village in Alego wasn’t an exemption.

Now the ultimate desperation came short after my mother completed high school. This was my mom’s agent cause of worry. She was qualified to continue studying but there was no way she was going to continue with her education. A lot was happening in her life. A lot might have been swirling around her head. She was now in pursuance of what she didn’t know. She had presumed a good life after education, but this was not to be due to lack of adequate finances. But somehow she had something to count on and with which she would later further her education with. My dad had lived the better part of his life in the countryside .He had been posted by the Teacher’s Service Commission to teach in Siaya Township Primary School. My dad had tried his hand in marriage for a long time without much success. He was that type who would spill all his rage on a woman after a number of cups of local brew...

My mother only managed to get education because of her agility and her determination to make evens out of odds and pros out of cons. My grandfather believed in only educating boys just as any other rural African man would. My grandfather would be faced with the dilemma of choosing whether to educate one daughter or two. My mother was very fortunate to have been taken to the best girls’ boarding school at that time. kraft magazine | June 2021

kraft magazine | June 2021

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