I have been making the point since my return that this is really an intense cultural exchange festival with poetry at its core. My much travelled doctor said prior to my travels that 'Kenya will change you' and I think he may have been right.
Q: This year also brings several countries to Kistrech for the first time?
Okemwa: Yes, and that is one of the things that makes this edition so exciting.
For the first time, we welcome a poet from Ireland, Bernadette Gallagher. We are grateful to Culture Ireland for awarding her a travel grant that has enabled her participation. We hope this will be the beginning of a continuing cultural and poetic exchange between Ireland and Kenya.
Three of my poems, 'Hanging #2', 'Funeral Games' & 'Today's Lesson' translated into Kiswahili
A table was overflowing with books published by Nsemia.com. I added to my collection, though not as many as I would like due to weight restrictions on my return journey. The books included novels, poetry, plays....I had already for many months prior to my journey been reading writing by African or people of African descent. I had already taken a loan of the incredible tome that is New Daughters of Africa from our own library in Macroom, County Cork. I was introduced to the writing of Yvonne Adiambo Owuor and was immediately drawn to her poetic prose. As I was reading these books and responding to some in my own writing of poetry I saw a call out for the 'Visible' Poetry Competition organsed by Kemi George-Simpson through the Cork City Library and the judge was the Ugandan poet, Nick Makoha. I was taken by Nick's work and wrote some more poems in response. Two of my poems were highly commended which was lovely as I was still in Kenya when the announcement of the winners was made.
The launch event took place over the whole day and ranged from readings by the guest poets, myself from Ireland, and other poets from Japan, Poland, Italy, Egypt, Syria and Galicia. Performers from the community and students from Kisii university presented their work in poetry, spoken word, song and dance.
I met so many wonderful people on the launch day and was sad that Prof. Joseph Muleka had to leave early to return to his school near the Ugandan border. I had read a very interesting essay he wrote on 'Centering the Peripheral: A Case for Poetry in Africa'. There is no doubt in my mind about poetry and Africa. It is everywhere...in a smile, a dance, a stance, a song, spoken and written word....poetry.
Tuesday 12th October saw us travel to the village of Bogiakumu where we were entertained by numerous groups of professionals and students of dance, plays, song, spoken word and poetry. Our arrival at the village was a very emotional event as the women were ululating and dancing. We were invited into their midst and we became one. I was given an Abagusii name, Kerubo.
The guest poets also read at the village event. In addition to the exchange of culture on the day we also were invited into the homes of three families. Each poet visiting different homes. I was warmly welcomed into the homes of Joyce Obwoge, Rose Nyamao and Moraa Kennedy (yep an Irish name!). Fredrick Ondande Imbaka, a volunteer with the festival, kindly translated two of my poems into Abagusii language and also translated between myself and some of the family members.
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Wednesday 14th Oct
We visited Dr. Margaret Kemunto Obago, Head of Culture, Arts, Sport & Social Science at Kisii County. I presented Dr. Obago with a copy of my poetry collection, The Risen Tree (Revival Press, 2024).
Later in the day we visited St. Mary's Boys' Boarding School during their Cultural Day. The theme throughout was of the neglected boy child. Fr. Doyle was the first headmaster from 1930 to 1936. The current head of the school Sr. Matilda Ntabo graciously received us and provided lunch.
Alongside this building is a primary school run by a retired local school teacher, my 'age mate' Priscilla.
The visit to this school and meeting the joyous children and teachers was one of the highlights of my visit to Kenya.
We donated books to the library and school. Some books (by African women writers) I ordered directly from Soma Nami Books (an all women run bookshop) in Nairobi. They provided an amazingly efficient service delivering the books practically the following day to Kisii university c/o Christopher so hopefully they will be delivered to the library in due course. I also brought a few copies of my poetry collection The Risen Tree and donated a copy to the library. I had approached John at Waterstones in Cork and he kindly donated my selection of Translations by Brian Friel. Brian, in Vibes & Scribes, Cork city donated another of my selections... The Bog of Cats by Marina Carr. The latter two books will first be read by Agnes, a teacher of English and Literature in Kisii. We had great conversations about these books and I look forward to our future chats on this and other themes. After Agnes has finished reading she will donate the books to the library. I just love how books travel all by themselves and talks to whoever opens the cover.
On our road trip to the library Matunda stopped at the Kebirigo Tea Sales Shop and kindly bought us all a bag of tea to bring home. Kebirigo is a farmers' cooperative so it was nice that we became aware of this collective that is in the hands of the Kenyan people.
We travelled on to Rusinga Lodge, a private restaurant with lodges for rent. They have private access onto Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world. This was the first 'tourist' offering. It was very nice to be by the lake and to have a little time to relax over lunch of ugali, veg and fish. Before we departed I saw the fishing boats lined up and later would see their lights in the dark as we drove back 'home'.
And next onto Masai Mara on Friday 16th Oct.
I get up at 2am to leave the hotel at 3am in order to arrive at Masai Mara at 6am...just before sunrise. It is a gruelling journey there and back in particular that evening when the rains came fast and furious and washed away a lot of the 'road'. We ended up in a ditch at one stage but the very experienced driver managed to get us out and back 'home' in one peace. The drive through Masai Mara is stunning, a massive desert with the odd tree, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, lion, monkey and other wild animals and birds of prey surviving on the dead that they or others killed. We stopped off at the only hotel/restaurant and revived ourselves before the return journey which at that stage we had no idea how rough it would be...probably just as well. We arrived back about 9pm and no I didn't sleep!
Sat 17th we rested early morning and had a nice relaxed lunch with Christopher at his home before we went to our final poetry reading at Humphreys Hotel and Museum. It was a grand finale. We were sad to leave on the following morning but also I was happy to bring back a small piece of Kenya and its people in my heart and I hope to someday return.
