Sikiliza

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DSC04308 Originally uploaded by sikiliza Their Playground....

DSC04271 Originally uploaded by sikiliza I have his cell number for those who asked.... ~Siki~

DSC04268 Originally uploaded by sikiliza Hehehehehe ~Siki~

I recently decided to make a trip that I might have considered very routine….I did a Safari in my home town game park called Lake Nakuru National Park…you must understand that having been born and brought up in the small town…I know this park nooks and crannies like the back of my hand but never tire of it….my every childhood holiday was spent with a climax (or otherwise) visit to the park and picnic at the baboon cliff. A good friend of mine started this amazing concept of a personalized package tour safari and I decided to indulge myself in a treat for my trip to the park www.storrysafaris.org it was awesome to say the least…… Let’s set the scene now…. I am a small town country girl…Born and brought up in Nakuru…..My bedroom as a child, overlooked the view of the lake and the lolling hills of Maasai land where my dad for a while attempted to grow wheat….During school holidays sometimes I would be dragged along to Ole Nguruone with my dad and stay in Mzee Tumanga’s land a tall Maasai ...

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Originally uploaded by sikiliza I first ran away from home when I was six. After some tiff with my mum on eating my veggies (cauliflowers), I left in a huff and said that I will never come back. But who takes little girls seriously; my mum was used to my endless tantrums and thought that I would be back after a bit of a sulk. But I was done sulking. I had other ideas. I packed my school backpack with two tomatoes (don't ask, some sick fetish and the only veggie I actually ate, but that is another story I guess) my dolls head (only liked the hair, was more of a toy car sort of girl) and a poncho. Rode on my bike and headed to Nairobi. It was a 160 km away that's at least two hours by car… Needless to say my parents got an anxious call from a friend of the family saying they spotted me on the highway with a bike and that they should chuck me before the cops got involved or worse. The fact that I covered about 4Kms went unnoticed what with all the trouble I was in….I got to Nairo...

Originally uploaded by sikiliza I am a true African woman standing strong in the face of conflict, deprivation and pestilence My heart pumps with fear and ardor each time I set my eyes upon the horizon My hands calloused yet gentle to the touch and soothing to the cherished My ever present smile is an enigma, riddled with despair filled with hope for more tomorrows. I am a bona fide African woman making the most of what I can My child sucks from my breast giving him life that gradually ebbs away from me My child's emancipation from this madness is my only obsession My tears never stop to roll for my lover and my brothers who fight against each other My fears take a toll one my weak body as I contemplate the crumbling future My last breath a prayer for peace for those I leave behind on the motherland

To the so called "Kenyan-Knight-in-Shining-Armor" stalking the streets of Nairobi with a suspect preconditioned Toyota sports (originally stolen in Japan) and a prefab "top of the range" handset. Lots of foreign football league stickers and paraphernalia all over the car.... Don't mind me, sorry my smile carries some cynicism. Because I know for a fact that the Tusker you're buying is following the advance you applied for which I approved. I saw you smile faltering a little when you caught my eye. I am sure it's not because of the length of my skirt and fine legs or the fact that you can only really impress the under 18's you hang out with. May be, and this is just a thought… your smile faltered when you quickly thought of the fact that your rent is late and you're not sure how soon the hide-and-seek routine with the land lord will go on. Each night you get home and you turn your key successfully at the front door you breath with a sigh of relie...

DSC03685 Originally uploaded by sikiliza Circles…. There is something about circles that fascinates me….we live in this great big orb that’s round like …no beginning no end kind of thing ….then we live in these endless cycles…we chase dreams….dreams chase people not interested in the dreams….we chase people not interested in us…they chase others not interested in them…and we go round and round and round till we die then let whatever the circle of life needs to do take us through the next…you guessed it…. Cycle!

DSC02709 Originally uploaded by sikiliza Mkenya Pata Msimamo! Mwananchi, pole sana retrenched from your job? Now your a hawker? (Definition:An Honest open-air entrepreneur who cant afford the rent rates in buildings in Nairobi city) Why are the Police running after you gunning you down like a thief? Did you tell them that all you want is a decent living for you and your 4 kids? Did you explain... perhaps implore them that even though primary school education is free the children can’t go to school naked or hungry? Did you say that the last thing you recall as you left the house was the sound of your children crying for food, clothes, books and a life? May I ask a tthis point, how many of the Mwanasiasa’s kids are in the free education programme? Did you tell the Mheshimiwa that you need to sell sukumawiki, nyanya, kitunguu and the second hand shoes that Kenyans walk in because bus fare went up after the tax hike in June and the real workers must eat? Are you sure he knows that as the ...

DSC03684 Originally uploaded by sikiliza A tribute to my Wagging tongue… Never run along corridors. This is a lesson I learnt rather painfully when I was about 10 years old. I ignored my parent’s pleas not to run and jump off chairs and doing tumble turns on the carpets….and I was actually quite good at it… They’d go “Don’t do this don’t do that!” “Act like a lady!”…or “that’s going to end up in tears and don’t come crying to me when you hurt yourself!” It was like a song. But, I had speed and I was young I felt indestructible. The last thing I needed was someone telling me what I shouldn’t be doing…. So one wettish evening we were holed up in the house horribly bored. The rain messed up our play time outside so we were all bursting with hyperactive energy….my mum called out to me while I was in the kitchen making mischief. I shouted back “Cooooming” and promptly zoomed off towards her bedroom. Then she called out again and this time I realized that she was in fact not in her room but...

ponder Originally uploaded by sikiliza My mother got sick while she discovered that she was pregnant with me…..what people like to diplomatically call a “beautiful accident” after a six year gap between me and my sister…..the doctors verdict was ominous and serious…they strongly recommended that she terminate the pregnancy to be able to fight for her life….she balked at the idea and opted to keep me …she had a gentle but stubborn streak. I cannot remember ever seeing her in a raving tantrum to have her way…she never raised her voice or bark orders…but she had a steely look and tone that sent us all obeying her without much question… She was wonderful, exotic, beautiful and artisty…She was a loner not only because she was not from my country of birth but also because she enjoyed being her own company…that is one thing I could say I owe to her…I learnt never to get bored being on my own….. She was difficult to understand but hard to be angry with for very long …An argument was always re...

DSC03251 Originally uploaded by sikiliza Run as far as the land meets sky, reach your hand out and grab You might find the things you so fervently chase Endlessly like chasing the wind Feeling like you ought to escape the weary’s of endless days of languishing You dream of lavishing your body and soul with affluent delicacies ‘Tis a pity most of us die trying……..

Cold showers, frost bite and daily dinners of maize and weevil-infested beans are the memories that make me shudder when I recall boarding school while in high school Its not so much that I simply feel nauseous when I recall my domestic science teacher …she had a perpetual sneer and I remember her pasty vanishing cream on her face like a circle round the face and red lipstick bottom lip only (she had a unique foul sense of fashion). I remember her prancing around looking at our stitches and cooking with disdain. I still have night mares about her. Well, truth be told, there were truly precious moments in high school. I remember our cook Maina. He was a sunny man with an impish smile and never gave more than three pieces of meat On Monday and Friday lunch…not a piece less or more..matter how enticing..err or not you were. That was the rule, three bits of dodgy meat a piece… it was the highlight our dreary days in school. And who could forget sausage on Sunday, to this d...

stainedglass Originally uploaded by sikiliza Mama I can still feel your gentle embrace I can still hear your loving voice I can still feel your warmth Kissing my troubles away Even after this long separation And each time I see a mother embrace her child I appreciate the little time I had with you to recieve my embraces And Although I miss you terribly Mama And I wish you were here with us today I know your in a much painless place ~Sikiliza~

Going through a myriad of fashion eras in my modest age, I commend my mother now when she banned make up (among many other things but that is another story) till we hit at least age 16. Even then, it was restricted to lip gloss, kohl (eye pencil) and a touch of tasteful lipstick if it's a very glamorous occasion... While in high school, I learnt several important lessons on what I didn't want in life. Among them was to steer clear of those Gwad awful fading creams. My domestic science teacher applied the stuff daily and she had this outline of chalky pastiness that just about missed the hairline. And for her lips, she used Irene lipstick , that green stick that turned plum red when applied on skin, it was used on her bottom lip (only). It was a gruesome sight that haunts me till today. I still have nightmares about it. So I slowly got into a life of little bits and pieces of sophistication, I at least knew what I could not be caught dead in. I grew up during the tim...

An inspired thought of kisses and caresses brings a smile to my face My body trembles at the thought of your lips and hands on my skin My mind goes wild with the fire burning inside of me As I look into your eyes and see true love as you take me Time stops and seems to float in the sea of your passion Miracles now seem possible ....

To the so called "Kenyan-Knight-in-Shining-Armor" stalking the streets of Nairobi with a suspect preconditioned Toyota sports (originally stolen in Japan) and a prefab "top of the range" handset. Lots of foreign football league stickers and paraphernalia all over the car.... Don't mind me, sorry my smile carries some cynicism. Because I know for a fact that the Tusker you're buying is following the advance you applied for which I approved. I saw you smile faltering a little when you caught my eye. I am sure it's not because of the length of my skirt and fine legs or the fact that you can only really impress the under 18's you hang out with. May be, and this is just a thought… your smile faltered when you quickly thought of the fact that your rent is late and you're not sure how soon the hide-and-seek routine with the land lord will go on. Each night you get home and you turn your key successfully at the front door you...