Turned 24 and my life was like “These are your monkeys .”😂💀(I know, I know… okay, that was funny in my head. You get it, right? “Not my monkey, not my circus” No? you know what nvm anyways?) I’m not sure this is what they call adulting but… yeah ,Tems was right.Crazy things really be happening
Is it grammatically correct to put tags on a title? (In case I’m not a warthog then I guess 😭😭 lol, but sometimes I tend to forget, to be referenced kama nimewrong 😅). But in high school, the word going round ni only poets were allowed to break the rules so today I’m a poet, lol. (All this just to defend my title)! **[Attach reaction photos]**
Okay, enough with the story za jaba. A hello from Naeku and I suddenly want to be 14 again. *Shivers* High school was somehow depressing. **Deep sigh**.
When I was 14 and “holier than I am now”, that’s when I first met Diana. She vowed to be friends with me to the grave… yeah… we even pinkie swore and had it all on paper.
I would always write, draw, and hate on someone in high school. Lol. It explains why I never had any of my notes. In primary, it was the diagrams that were missing. “I really think about Robin sometimes… ooh and his best friend too… two funny boys those ones. I wonder if they can still make me laugh if I ever bump into them. I wrote about drugs and used, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,’ in my writing to add spice to it.” Me, myself, and I, that was the title… I was going to publish it, but someone stole my book, and I was too lazy to ever rewrite.
I wrote about loss, alcohol, cigarettes, parties, their consequences, the devil’s workshop… and Diana left a comment. She literally commented below and I didn’t have to ask her to!?!. The first time someone that wasn’t my English or Swahili teacher left a comment after my creative writing ‘hobby’ endeavors. The first time someone wanted to be friends with me because my writing “touched her”. I know, cause she said she felt sorry for me after reading it. Well, she didn’t have to, it wasn’t based on a true story…
I didn’t know when I’ll last see her, but I was glad to have unstrangered her the way I did. It’s her choice of words that spread into my memory forever, like, for example, the teacher that said with every inch a snail covers, it grows. The stranger that said “ile unaona ni green unaeeza fwata upate imepakwa rangi.” In my head, it translates to the grass is greener where you are. My mind wanders to the man I once spied on from Kiongozi’s rooftop, who’s never been outside for more than a decade. My guess is he has a million questions. I wonder if I’ll ever see him again.
At 24, I rarely write for fun now. I want to be paid to take shots, and my most curious encounter with a stranger now is when they voice something I don’t know or shy from acknowledging, especially about myself. Strangers are uniquely placed to do this, it’s never their similarity we find compelling, but their differences.
To take a break from my own melancholy, I took a break from writing, but I love Diana and I remember how she’d always be there to help me solve my math problems. I really hated those Sunday morning papers. She made school bearable. If only I could live life in reverse and rewind to all the moments we shared together 😂😂 lol dozing through our agriculture class. But life has no rewind button, and I’m stuck in the present.
I want to be 14 so I can write from my imagination. I don’t like writing like this cause it feels a little bit too honest.
Baada ya dhiki faraja, those were the words she left for me to find. These past years have redefined me, my desires, goals,I have a change of heart. I can feel it, the perception I have of myself, everything has changed but those words still give me hope more now than they did then.
We can change how we deal with our emotions and thoughts, but we can never change the inherent feeling we get left with after, like happens. Feelings of anger, insecurity, pride, and jealousy.
Three years down the line and I’m still haunted by the unpleasant truth that love is meant to hurt. This is probably why love tokens in the shape of teddy bears, hearts, chocolates, and roses are also the things you give sick people recovering in hospitals.
Baada ya dhiki faraja, the words that keep me sane. A promise for a better tomorrow, a life free from the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with our 20s. Recently, I watched a video about anxiety on TikTok, and one of the remedies was to be decisive, so I have decided to be honest. If you’ve watched Triangle of Sadness, then you know how bad the storm was and everyone was sick in their stomach. That’s how I feel when I have to write, should I write about this, would they read it and perceive me? I write my heart out and now have been cruising in the dark.
My twenties have humbled me quite gracefully. I had so many plans of everything I thought I would have been. Plans for my future, I thought I knew what I wanted out of life. I don’t have it in me to fight, I can’t fully connect to anyone. I can only love the things I know are constant in the sky. I lost myself along the way and weirdly that’s when I felt more liberated. I love dogs now.
My twenties were meant to be fun, but instead, I’m unearthing traumas and unlearning everything I thought was the truth. I have learned to be patient not only in traffic but also with myself. At the same time, I feel like life’s spiraling down. It’s the confusion about what’s about to happen next and how to make it make sense.
At this very moment, I have my doubts on how much more I can really handle. I also don’t like the person I am now. I’ve turned to those people that compare themselves with their peers. I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing. But from my point of view, everyone is getting whatever it is that they want and I’m just here. I’m tired of the wait and I want to get my faraja already. I work hard, I’m a good person, but at this point in my life, it feels like nothing is ever going to go right! Very pessimistic, but hey?! It’s darkest before dawn, I suppose.
I have gone through so much, but again, I feel like I haven’t lived enough, laughed enough, and loved enough. I am unfulfilled and haunted by some of the choices I make.
I want to reclaim my true self. I yearn to feel the same boundless love and joy I once did. I want to love without hesitation and be the loyal friend my friends deserve. To those I’ve unintentionally distanced, I hope they understand that I’m grappling with my own battles, and I need to confront them alone. Despite the hardships and uncertainties, I cling to the hope that a brighter tomorrow awaits. I strive to live, laugh, and love with a newfound sense of purpose, determined to break free from the shadows of doubt and regret that haunt me. Here’s to embracing authenticity, finding solace in self-discovery, and adulthood, I guess.
Did you know shoes can tell stories?if you don’t believe me ,uliza,H_art the band….
Shoes.
Shoes tell tales too,the unseen stories, tales of where they’ve been,stories of what ,only, the owner has heard and seen.
Whispers.
Muted tones,Local whispers, a silent proclamation,proclamations of new beginnings,silent memorials,subtle advertisements. Look up and listen.
Allegories.
A symbol ,symbol of transformation, remembrance, unspoken assurance. A clash ,clashing clouds on the horizon.
Shoes on power lines.
Shoes dangling gracefully from power lines.how they get up there is still a wonder,did the owner get a new pair,did they just decide to walk barefoot, leaving their footprints behind? I wonder how it feels like to literally walk on clouds.
.Kicks in the sky.
Throwing shoes over power lines ,a now ordinary occurrence in my neighbourhood, has varied origins and has been observed in different cultures and regions. The reasons behind this act (depending on the locality)are diverse, ranging from celebratory rites to unspeakable activities.
In the 20th century, particularly in the U.S.,throwing shoes over power lines became associated with moments of celebration , rites of passage, or simply as a form of teenage mischief. It was a way for young people to mark significant life events.In my neighbourhood, it’s a possible symbol of a fresh start,”kureform,” a retired thug.Imagine losing a pair of shoes everytime we toast to new beginnings.
In some urban areas, throwing shoes over power lines has been linked to gangs marking their territories. Shoes on power lines serve as territorial markers, signals, indicating a specific area is controlled by a particular gang.where I’m from it’s a tribute to their long lost ‘friend ‘ (backstory;sometime last week I boldly walked to the nduthi gang and boldly asked about the orange sneakers dangling gracefully from the power lines above them ,”ooh hizo ?”as he pointed to the pair in question,”hizo ni za morio wetualituwacha,” which basically translets to ‘that’s a tribute to their friend,’ a way to keep their memories alive.
Shoes over power lines was sometimes used as a symbolic act of protest and rebellion against established norms.the confidants in my area suggest it’s an unspoken assurance, it’s secretly screaming there’s a plug in this proximity, a branding strategy loud enough for its target but silent enough not to blow their cover.
A Language .
Silent language ,a language of symbols, whispered narrative that echo in our midst.
What is your Essence? This is one of those questions my film teacher asked as he explained something about caricature as a form of art,my mind was glued to the concept of essence ,it itched my brain ,I was captivated by its significance,have always known that I’m a tall girl with a big nose ,quite noticeable features but I wanted to know more ,what energy do I give,I wanted to see me from another’s perspective.
My Essence? For me to find my Essence I had to know who I am, I had to find myself first ,my lecturer said Essence is what makes you ,you.so I embarked on a never-ending journey of self exploration.Self-reflection as a regular practice has not only helped me align my choices with my authentic self but also fostered a deeper understanding of the essence I wish to project to the world.I have always been passionate about literature and deeply in love with the arts.
A cinematographer, that has been my dream for a while now, but my mother begs to differ,Every time I’m about to leave the house she has something to say about my choice of clothes, she says something like, do you even know how beautiful you are? you could pass for a really good model ,you only have to fix your eyes. I don’t like how your spectacls sit on your face ,must you dress like a small boy?I hate that you love dad jeans,why don’t you get ladylike clothes that aren’t too baggy? If only you could lose those glasses for contact lenses, then everyone would mistake you for Miss universe, I’m flattered that she thinks I’m beautiful but disappointed that she doesn’t find my style artsy like a random stranger from the other day ,I was delighted that he labelled me as artistic just by looking at me ,I have always hoped that I gave of artistic vibes,but the struggle to articulate my passion for literature as a valid art form led me to emphasize my love for photography ,the more he asked about my artistic journey,I couldn’t escape the feeling that only by working as a Director of Photography would I proudly and unequivocally proclaim, “I am an artist.”
A teacher ,you must be, says my dad ,have seen you with kids and you are really good with them,I hate to confess but I’m really not a fan of little humans, kids love me but I really don’t fancy them I don’t mind being around them ,Maybe I just have one of those warm and approachable personalities, my cousin said ,I would make a great mother if I ever had children, but why would my dad want to convince me that I’m a teacher and not an artist? so ,I ran to my grandfather for help I want him to help me tell my dad that I can’t be a teacher but instead he takes his side and talks about teaching being a calling and how lucky I am to have an organization tu educate others ,he goes on on how I could start one of those organisations that deal with children preferably girls after winning a beauty pungent, he even calls my grandmother in to back him up into convincing me that I could easily pass for Miss Kenya, Don’t they get it? I don’t enjoy being in the spotlight, I’m not that good at public speaking. Do they know how anxious I get when people look at me?Hello…, don’t they see how shy I get around people have just met ?I guess they weren’t so keen the last time I had to make a speech during one of those family functions, my voice was shaky and I just wanted to be done with it.Ever seen a shy teacher? ,I can’t even walk in a straight line. How am I supposed to win a beauty pungent? I’m not made for the spotlight. I belong behind the scenes.
An airhostess, that’s the job for you says my aunt as she sends me endless applications for the job ,your smile is vibran and your height is just perfect for the job,my other aunt calls my Mother to give a list of modeling agencies I should join ,So I seek my brother’s opinion he’s only a preteen but I should be able to trust his judgement, so I ask ,”nakaakufanyakazigani?” And without hesitation, he says,”kwa nini usikuwe Airhostess?” I look at him for a while and ask “mbonanikuweAirhostess?” he answered.”Si hiyo tu ndiokazi inakukaa.“I was a bit offended. Why don’t they think I could work in the film industry? Anyways I don’t think I’ll make a good Airhostess besides I’m short sighted and some random site on the Internet said my eyes should perfectly work,Ihave never seen an Airhostess with their seeings glasses on but I’ll give it a try I guess maybe the know me better ,I didn’t tell them that the last time I was in for an interview,(one of the requirements for the Airhostess job was experience in customer service), so I applied for a call agent position, after the interview the interviewer said my articulation was fit for the job but I don’t know how to verbally express myself,Maybe when my eyes don’t need glasses to see and my words could fluently fly out of my mouth and not on paper then maybe then I’ll meet their expectations but for now I want to express myself through my art ,I want my work to speak for me ,I can’t wait for the time I’ll stop doubting my abilities and finally put myself out there.
A wedding and three weekends around my family members, that’s what it took for me to finally understand if not uncover my essence, Having growing up surrounded by a polygamous family with intermarried relatives from diverse backgrounds,My Essence is a beautiful fusion of their unique traits, beliefs and personalities,embracing diversity from an early age ,their influence has shaped my beliefs, values and artistic vision. Growing up I would observe and listen to their stories I didn’t care that I didn’t understand everything then but thanks to my exceptional memory and adult knowledge that I’m gaining a deeper understanding of their experiences and some traditions, The sense of diversity from my family has given me a richer appreciation of life,it fuels my desire to capture and showcase stories on the silver screen .I aim to capture the subtle nuances of the world and present them with captivating visual narratives.
An artist ,I believe I am ,an artist who strives to bring beauty and understanding to the world through cinematography, I aim to use my artistic skills to open the eyes of others to the beauty that lies beyond the surface, just as it does within me,sucks that people around me don’t see me beyond the physical, I am more than what meets the eye,An ‘artist’ with an artistic vision.
If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?
Cruella De Vil,I have watched the movie Cruella so many times, and every time I want to be more and more like her.I love her style .she’s bold and daringly unapologetic In her style she always stood out.If I didn’t get anxious when people stared at me I too would have a sense of style that would have everyone turn their necks.I have been planning to get myself red lipstick for years now if I get the right shade,I’ll wear it everyday just to feel powerful.
I think she’s smart,I wish I was smart ,I love smart minds ,I wish I could get back at every man that broke my heart,I want a mind like hers.i want to be ahead of my enemies always,not that i have any,okay I have imaginary haters ,I would want to make sure I have them watch as I take them down, I love how calculative she is and how she knows what her enemies are afraid of and used their fears to get to them .
I love her personality, she’s a go getter, Diamond platinumz too would love her ,whatever she wants she gets,She’s very manipulative and it got things done for her,I want to control minds like she can.I love how she doesn’t care about anyone else but herself. A master manipulator that’s what I love most about her,she was always a step ahead of her opponents, I love how she doesn’t care about what could happen if things don’t go as planned its like fear is non existence in her world,I want to be fearless and cunning.
Her confidence?!one to die for you can tell she’s a force,I can bet her presence is felt in every room,she was so sure of herself, she knows who she is and what she stands for she’s not afraid to be herself, she doesn’t doubt her talents and I think thats what makes her a great designer, she faces her fears and deals with them in ways that please her and not everyone around her.
I love her how her brain works .she’s super talented she’s good at her work,her work speaks for her,how she uses her style to express herself that’s something I would love,I want a creative mind that speaks for me I want my ideas to talk on my behalf . I just want to be her .
She’s everything I’m not,I just have to break out of this shell then I’ll be more and more like her,I’m tired of being nice,I want to be bad,I’m obsessed with bad girls ,I want to embrace the boldness and edginess of a good girl gone bad, Like Rihanna.
I would probably be a photographer.I love photography, Photography stole my heart. I would definitely become an architectural photographer.I enjoy taking photos of the buildings in Nairobi ,my town is so photogenic.There’s something about the patterns,lines, and textures of every building that gives me life. I enjoy taking photos of all kinds of buildings from the modern to ancient designs, Every house as a unique structure which showcases how people are differently gifted when it comes to creativity,I always try and guess what might have inspired different designs.
Street photography is my second love I enjoy taking photos of people most times without their knowledge,I just love capturing the raw emotions and the different interactions in the streets, I love how busy Nairobi can get and how every town or even different parts of Nairobi have a different feel. Capturing people in their natural state makes me happy.I walk around taking pictures with my phone some times I’m afraid to loose my phone on those days I’m left with deep regrets.If only I could screenshot with my eyes .
That lane karibu na Jamia mosque was on my way to buy some mabuyu I don’t know the name of this street but the street where City market is on.My stage is right outside imenti took this from the window of the matatu I was in ,they take forever to fill up at midday .Home I can’t remember the name of this street Outside City Market on Valentines day Opposite posta Huduma center. Nairobi from KICCMombasa. Hola ,Tana River.
What Olympic sports do you enjoy watching the most?
I’m not really into sports,most people don’t believe me when I tell them how I’m uninterested when it comes to sports, maybe it’s because my dad is a sports man,my teachers in Highschool would force me to join the basketball team cause of my height and in campus I joined the swim team because I thought it would be fun.
I love the water. I enjoy swimming as a hobby and not as a sport the swimming trainings used to kill me, the endless kicking and pulling was no joke,swimming is only fun when you do it your own way ,my idea of swimming was Deeping my feet in water and basking in the sun in my swimsuit and maybe walk around in the water as I submerge myself and maybe float for a minute.
My crazy swimming training sessions escalated my respect and love for synchronized swimmers,they amaze me with their acts ,I love how they trust the water and they’re able to work as a team to make beautiful patterns, how they are able to breathe under water for a long period of time and most times they do it when upside down, its mind blowing to me because I can barely hold my breath for a few seconds without gasping for air and they are able to do it so effortlessly.
Every time I watch synchronized swimmers I’m left in awe ,I think so highly of them, I mean they are able to dance in water?!while I can’t even dance on the dance floor?I get excited every time I spot those sarakasi dancers now watching it happen in a pool mind blowing!! How can one be so talented? How are they so flexible?did they just do a flip ?it’s such a mind-blowing sport. I can’t even explain you just have to watch them spin, do those lifts, and flip to understand how interesting it is .the patterns are so beautiful.My love for art might be the reason why I’m so drawn to this particular sport .It has an artistic feel to it, and I don’t think anyone could get bored watching .Dedication and a lot of thought is obviously put in their performance. How do they play out the song and the facial expressions to match? I mean, everything about the sport drives me crazy.I love it!
Love is a mystical and yet powerful force. it has you dancing on sunshine and when the music stops, you’ll be crumbling down with no one to hold you, you have to be strong enough to pick yourself up and mend all your broken parts. But that shouldn’t stop you from falling in love, I don’t know about you but to me, love has to be the most beautiful and exhilarating experience. when I’m in love I feel alive, I’m whole and complete when I’m in love.
Today I’m in love, with my ‘lover’, I feel lost and found, I have no better words to describe what I feel, I know I’m in love but this time I’m uncertain, I’m not familiar with what I feel towards him. Ever felt at home away from home? I feel safe but still afraid, afraid of both the known and unknown.
I was excited to see him again, I could feel his energy around me, and every time our eyes meet I get weak to my knees, I try to ignore his presence, but his masculine energy is so enticing, His presence?! a feeling I can never forget.
His voice calms my soul, when he speaks I find myself staring at his lips, memories of the night we first kissed cross my mind, I love the command his voice has even when saying the sweetest things. And when he says my name and his Adam’s apple moves, I lose it, I just love everything about the way he speaks, the day he told me about his other lover I wished for a mute button, and I wanted him to stop.his words have never pierced through my heart as they did on that day.
I knew he was bad for me but that didn’t turn off my burning desire for him. The other woman existing stained my love with fear and uncertainty a never-ending conflict between my emotions and the voices in my head became a part of me. I would have internal debates with my morals, I wanted to fit social norms. unfortunately, or was it, fortunately? I hadn’t recovered from the drowsiness I got when I hit my head falling for him, there wasn’t a way I could make sane decisions not when I’m stupid in love.
He tried to warn me but It was too late, no one could save me, I didn’t want to be saved, Forgetting that love was a dangerous game, I played the game without the rules in mind, I don’t even know when it stops, I’m not even sure if my intentions are winning, losing or am I playing just for the thrill of it.
I didn’t want to dive this deep in love with him, what I thought was a little crush grew bigger than the ocean and now I feel like a scuba diver that can’t swim back to the surface. I’m lost but yet I feel found.
I love the smell of weed on him, it smells so divine mixed with his perfume and a hint of sweat. I love how he is with me, the way he would ask to hold my hand on the road, how he sometimes puts his hand around my waist as we walk, I put his hand away most times but I like it when he holds me, I can barely control my breathing when he is close to me. I love everything about him, but mostly his crooked cheeky smile. He gives me life. He’s everything I live for.
I want to know, I want to know if ‘my lover’ feels the same when I’m around him, I have so many questions I could ask, why does he have a helmet hanging by his door? Why does he still have his 2021 calendar? What’s so special about 2020? Does he want me to compete with women that were already in his life? I want to know about his girlfriend, I want to know what he thinks of her, I want to know everything but what’s the point while he’s not mine to keep?
I wanted him all for myself, I should have asked him earlier but I wasn’t sure if he felt the Same, is it too late cause he met another that he loves more. the one he’s bound to spend the rest of his life with.
I want to have him forever, our love is a secret we both need to keep . I find myself smiling when he calls, my words fail me every time but I’m happy when he calls, I want to call him always but what if it’s not safe to call, I want to spend the weekend at his but I don’t think that’s a great idea either.
I love him but I don’t belong in the shadows, I want to be loved loudly, and at the same time I want to experience his love forever, for him I don’t mind when I’m kept secret. sometimes I want him to take me places, I want to be with him around his friends, outside the four walls of his room. I want to be part of him.
All I need is love, I want to be free with him, I want to be loved by no one else but him, despite my doubts and fear I still fall deeper for him daily, I want to know when is it safe to confess my love to him, I don’t want to ruin what we share, I guess its only safe if I bottle my feelings, he doesn’t have to know, besides what change will it make? He’s found his better half that’s not me.
I finally feel loved and safe, although our love should be kept hidden, despite the obstacles and challenges that come with my love for him, I finally feel like I belong, his love feels like home, and I feel like I’m where I’m meant to be. wrapped around his arms on a lazy Sunday evening.
Love is confusing, love no longer feels safe, I pray for guidance, I don’t know what to do next, and I know I won’t regret when things don’t work out between us.our love is messy, complicated and challenging, love is a choice, love needs perseverance, I guess that’s the beauty of love. I just have to focus on the good.
I know we are not good for each other but I’m already addicted to his touch, I need to find myself before I get lost in his eyes again, I know he’s not mine to keep but I can’t help it, not all bad things are bad for us.
I know I might be emotionally damaged neither am I good at being affectionate but I want to put my guard down ,I want to experience love,the kind they sing about,I wish my love life was like in the movies.For how long should I wait for my ‘Prince Charming?!’
Kibera.The city under the sun,the heart of our very own Nairobi,a fusion of different cultures with a sense of communism, home to thousands of families since pre-colonialsm.a place full of hope and despire.
Kibera.A discord of children crying, laughing and singing,all in perplexing melodiousness.the non stop buzz from the vendors on the street, a town filled with hustle and bustle during the day and dull silent nights filled with dreams ,dreams of a better tomorrow,faded dreams and lived dreams ,A town full of silent cries and loud laughs
Kibera.A vibrant community full of talent and gifts, the undying zest and motivation, a place where you have to press your creative buttons and find a way out of the pits of poverty. A place where you have to keep watch of your valuables or you might easily lose them to that one person with the sticky hands,a community full of heroes and villains.
Kibera,A blend of beauty and chaos,but roses have thorns too they say,the daily resilience and never ending strength to fight against poverty is what keeps everyone going, the enemy is and has always been poverty, a place where communities are built In the face of adversity.a place where love and kindness is found in the most unexpected places, a place where the good outlooks the bad .
Kibera.A place of contrast ,a place where the struggles are real but humanity prevails,a place where dreams are valid.
Another day another blog about myself and I kid you not this is harder than I thought,maybe if I took time to self reflect and just try and interact more with myself this would have been easier ,if you only see me shouting out one of my favourite lines by nyashiski “nimeconfirm mi najijua!!”turns out out hakuna kujiajua najijua but Today things are about to change ..so here are 20 facts about me if I don’t make it to twenty then just assume sinanga mambo mingi,so I here goes nothing.
.I’m 5’9 tall.yes I’m a tall girl.
. I love blueberry cakes
.I’m an ambivert
.I enjoy watching vlogs on YouTube
.I’m always dreaming and thinking of the beach
. my favourite artist at the moment is Rum gold
.I love South African shows.
.I want to be rich and successful.
. when I’m sad I watch sitcoms
.I’m shortsighted.
.sunny days make me happy
.I have 2 cats
.I’m nice
.I love all my friends
.I can’t sing
I can’t dance
.smokie buns are my favourite snack.
.I love and enjoy Accostic music
.I can’t wait to get to the 20th fact about myself
.I ran out of facts .
That was a hard one ,whole time I’m thinking of reasons why a stranger would want to read random facts about me.