Director: Biyi Bandele Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle Year: 2013 Running time: 111 minutes Adapted from Chimamanda Adichie's book of the same name, Half of a Yellow Sun film is a tale of personal tribulations amid the changing times in a country. The story happens during the Nigerian-Biafran war of 1967-1970 but focuses on the private lives of different characters as they are transformed during and after the civil war. The story starts during Nigeria's declaration of independence from Britain, with soirée to celebrate the event, and then picks up on the...
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Half of a Yellow Sun Fails to Impress
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CBA Bank Golf Day at the Karen Country Club
The Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) sponsored a day long, well-attended Golf day at Karen Golf and Country club on Friday. On the greens was a field of 80 golfers who are both pros as well as clients of the Nairobi based bank. The surprise winner on the day was youngster Sky Pinto . After the exertions on the course everyone headed to the club house for drinks and the prize giving ceremony. Guests were met by the CBA team led by CEO Jeremy Gunze . In attendance were Attorney General Githu Muigai , Star managing editor Charles Kerich , auditor general Edward Oduor , Crown CEO Rakash Rao and...
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Kenya's smallest park is home to rare sitatunga
Western Kenya is unique; abounding in glorious green scenery, offering a warm and welcoming people, and yet remains one of the most unspoilt and least–known parts of the country offering tourists just as much, if not more, than many of other Kenya’s better known tourist areas. In the heart of Western Kenya lies the country’s smallest park, the Saiwa Swamp National Park which lies 27km North of Kitale on the Kitale-Lodwar road and 385km north-west of Nairobi. The park has atypical African wetland climate, ranging from warm to cool and humid to semi-arid. It receives annual rainfall falling in...
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Ethical fashion project transforms lives of Korogocho women
Muddy streets of Kenya's crowded Korogocho slums are a far cry from the fashion boutiques of Paris, Milan, New York or London. But beneath a tin roof, workers from some of the country's poorest communities sew buttons and stitch cloth for top international designers, part of a not-for-profit "ethical fashion" project. "Before Ethical Fashion, I couldn't educate my children," said Lucy, sitting in a circle of women, needles in hand as they deftly sew white seed beads to the surface of smooth, chocolate-coloured leather. "But now I can educate them, and provide for them anything they need,"...
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The handicapped character as a stylistic device
If roses Will arouse Then kisses Will caress -Khainga O’Okwemba I do not remember what exactly was going through my mind when I wrote the poem, “Love Missive,” where these lines appear at the beginning. What I do recall is that during the debate on the Constitution Referendum of 2005, I reflected a lot on the events of the day and wrote some poems as an escape, if only to capture that historical moment. The referendum reminded us of the elephant in the room. It exposed the hypocrisy that belies our gleeful muttering of such none consequential words as “my brother” at political rallies, and in...
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Graffiti artists champion rights of marginalised people
Boniface Mwangi (born 1983) is a Kenyan award-winning graffiti artist who challenges the status quo and politics. "You can do this with graffiti!" he says. A 30-metre tall mural 'My voice, our future' was painted on a wall near the city market in Nairobi. "We want to tell Kenyans that selling their votes is mortgaging our future," he said. Mwangi is confident that graffiti artists will succeed. "What can they (the establishment) do?" he says, "We are not afraid." Graffiti art, that evolved alongside hip hop culture and became associated with the anti-establishment, expresses underlying social...
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Does Kenyan theatre favour hype over substance?
My heartfelt sympathies go to the colleagues and family of Derrick Amunga, a long-time actor who last featured in the play Trapped on July 20. The show registered a full house at Alliance Française after public demand saw it extended from the previous weekend. Hundreds of Nairobians were drawn by posters that caricatured a man salivating amidst two skimpily dressed women. Promoters promised that “its physical over-the-top makes our last show, Dangerous Affairs, seem like a prayer meeting in comparison.” The visual menu did not disappoint. An actress appeared in cycling pants so tight-fitting...
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Where Does Media Intrusion Into Privacy Begin?
In August and December of each even year, the Bukusu sub-tribe of the Luhya community proudly comes out to turn its boys into men through open-air traditional circumcision ceremonies known as embalu. The fanfare, drama, tears, feasting, busaa-drinking, and the fright and flight of other communities that live in Bukusuland mark the unique age-old tradition. In their research paper ‘Traditional Male Circumcision and its Implications on the Socio-Economic and Psychological Life of the Bukusu Community in Kenya’ Florence Mbachi and Sara Likoko write that the youth are taught sacred things,...
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Will South Sudan Deal Bring Healing?
Eight months after all hell broke lose in Juba, the nation is sinking deeper and deeper into a humanitarian crisis abyss. Under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the warring sides have signed a cessation of hostilities agreement. This is the fourth since the conflict started; three previous ones were broken within hours. Igad has given the two rivals, President Salva Kirr and rebel leader Riek Machar, 45 days to forge a unity government, this time with some seemingly tough yet unsubstantiated threats. Ethiopia Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn is quoted saying...
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A Constitution For All, Not Politicians
This week marks the fourth anniversary of the promulgation of the new constitution. The significance of a country’s constitutional history cannot be overstated, for it is as a reminder of where the nation has come from and the lessons it has learnt. Kenyans could do worse than take some time to reflect on the process of constitution-making and the document produced. Much of the last quarter century of our collective history was spent trying to undo the original sin committed at independence. In that time, we have been trying to reverse the dismantling of the majimbo constitution,...
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U.S. backs off statement that Egypt, UAE were behind Libya air strikes
WASHINGTON The U.S. State Department on Tuesday backed off an earlier statement that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were behind air strikes on Islamist militants in Libya . At a regular State Department briefing, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "We understand there were air strikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt " in Libya . At the Pentagon , spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby also said the two countries were believed to be involved in the strikes but declined to give details. However, late on Tuesday the State Department issued a statement saying the comment on Libya was "...
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NTSA is wrong on highway signage
The National Transport Safety Authority has embarked on a campaign of having motorists stopped and fined cash bails of as much as Sh10,000 for allegedly breaching speed limits and other road signage communications. But the problem is that the signage is for the most part non-existent or in such bad repair it is indecipherable. NTSA claims here has been such a spate of vandalism that every other time they install signage, it is vandalised and, or stolen. There cannot be such a market for stolen signage as to cause such a vandalism and looting spree. NTSA has not done its job and has its...
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5 Minute Interview: I represented Uganda in Miss Asia Pacific World 2014
Nina Mirembe is a professional Ugandan model currently based in Nairobi and signed under Surazuri Modeling & Casting Agency. I’m good at...........making people love me, networking and being myself. I’m very bad at........confronting people and pretending. The last book I enjoyed reading is.........The Forbidden by FR Tallis. The most surprising thing that happened to me was..........when a kind waiter picked up my phone and ran to find me and gave it back. Common misconceptions of me is........when I'm giving people who've wronged me the silent treatment they think it's because I can’t...
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How Big Really Is Kenya Middle Class?
The Nobel Prize-winning economist, Paul Krugman, famously wrote that “All economic data are best viewed as a peculiarly boring genre of science fiction”. When I first read this assessment (in Krugman’s regular column in the New York Times) I was pleasantly surprised. For although I had long known that much “economic development” data about Kenya was pure nonsense, with little or no bearing on the economic realities of this country, I had no idea that much the same might apply to the rich industrialised nations. But that is exactly what Krugman was saying: that economic data on any country,...
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Faithful back me, says cleric
African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa Archbishop Amos Mathenge has said that the more than 3.5 million members are ready to protest against his harassment. He said the devotees are against the cases that have been filed against him by the church's former national chairman, Paul Watoro. Watoro wants Mathenge stopped from conducting masses or delivering any services at the church. Speaking in Thika town on Sunday, Mathenge said he and two bishops were thrown out of the AIPCA Church in Riruta Satellite that day. He said that the reason was that he had earlier been issued with a court...
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Woman held for hurting son
A woman who beat and seriously injured her nine-year-old son for breaking a plate has been arrested in Ruiru, Kiambu county. Ruiru police boss Isaac Thuranira said Nancy Wanjiru will face a charge of cruelty against Peter Kinyanjui. Thuranira said Kinyanjui was washing utensils at their home in Wataalam Estate when a plate accidentally fell down and broke. It is alleged that early this month, Wanjiru beat Kinyanjui using a belt and banged the boy’s head against the wall. A protruding nail cut his head inflicting a deep injury. Neighbours responded to the boy’s distress call, took the boy to...
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Case of slain Kerugoya trader set for October
A case in which seven people are accused of violently robbing a Kerugoya businessman did not commence after the court was told that the magistrate was on leave. Acting senior principal magistrate Fredrick Adai set another mention for October 6 when principal magistrate Kenneth Cheruiyot, who is handling the case, is expected to have resumed office. Peter Ndenge, John Thuku, Charles Mwangi, Amos Karani, Lydia Njoki, Bracious Gakuya, and Rachel Wambui are accused of robbing Cyrus Mwenje of a car and mobile phone on October 14, last year, and killing Johannes Muriithi, a night guard at the...
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Rift over herders in Ruiru
An MCA has called a security meeting of county chiefs and police to resolve tension at Mwalimu Farm, Ruiru, Kiambu, as herders from outside the area continue to bring in many animals. On Tuesday, Gatong'ora MCA George Gitau told journalists that the meeting, to be held on Saturday, was called because the area community has threatened to forcefully evict the outsiders. He said there is heightened tension over grazing areas and water points by area herders and outsiders. Kiambu county commissioner Esther Maina, her deputy Mercy Gatobu and area police boss Isaac Thuranira are expected to attend...
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Mututho lauds alcohol law
Nacada chairman John Mututho has lauded Nyandarua's alcohol law. He said he will ensure no unregulated liquor is sold. Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka Mwangi at his Ol Kalou town office yesterday, Mututho said the county's Alcohol Drinks Control Act that was launched last Tuesday, had strong provisions to stamp out killer brews. Mututho said Nyandarua has a huge potential in agriculture, especially potato farming, dairy and horticultural production, but the youth do not fully exploit their potential due to alcohol abuse. “Last December some seven...
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Kuppet official disrupts Nanyuki teachers' seminar
The ongoing Strengthening of Mathematics and Science in Secondary Schools programme at Nanyuki High School was on Tuesday disrupted by some union officials over poor accommodation for teachers. Laikipia branch Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers executive secretary Ndung'u Wangenye stormed the school and disrupted the one-week programme that was attended by more than 100 secondary school teachers from the county. Wangenye demanded that the exercise be halted, castigating the Ministry of Education for intimidating, threatening and compelling teachers to attend the training without...
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