#60: Ngartia on Art, Activism and the early risings of this bird

The Busy Being Born Podcast

Prolific Kenyan poet and performing artist Ngartia sits with Kamande and Kigondu for a most engaging and candid conversation. Starting on a high that was a low for him; the conversation moves from Kendrick in Kigali and the could have beens, campus chronicles and the should have beens, to strides in agency and professional engagements that actually became. From his first encounter with propaganda and the spine-chilling experiences in high school, this grandchild of the MauMau reflects on the Nairobi Half Life esq experiences in the big city and on his career path so far - with a profound perspective that gives even his most dumbfounding experiences a spot in helping align him to purpose. Highlighting national traumas, pivotal personal transition points, Damascus moments that never became and so on - the episode joins a few dots to building Ngartia’s fascination with history, language and art. From Timau to Uganda, dropping bars to being behind others, the original #OccupyNairobi to the July 2024 season, epigenetics to literature; the trio note reflections, inflections and observations that could help build better Kenyan stories, working systems and hopefully history not repeating itself in the case of repressive systems and governance. The episode is really about authentic storytelling, finding the self in the clutter of life, evolution, revolution, planting seasons, community and ultimately - a better Kenya.

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Episode brought to you by Prevail Presents.

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LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

• A perspective on power transitions in Kenya 1978-2002 (written pre 2010 constitution)
• Kibaki’s response to his quote on Kanu and cutting down the ‘tree’ with a razorblade
• Humor even in pain and protest
• Too Early for birds original story contributor and source
• A perspective on police being used for wrong
• Police transgressions during protests documented
• StoryZetu
• David Mulwa
• Storymoja Hay festival