Diing Magot

NAIROBI -  Soap Stone Carver , Erick Mirieri Mogunde has displayed his main source of income for sixteen years  at malls , galleries, markets and shops in Nairobi for tourists and Kenyans to purchase his pieces. The soapstone is found in Kisii Town , Tabaka hills in Western Kenya.It is mined 30 km away from the town. After it is mined, they start the carving process. Also known as a steatite, it is a talc-schist, a type of metamorphic rock which is soft and very easy to carve and manipulate. Mogunde said , "I started  my business  after  I  visited my sister who lives in Nairobi. We went to Maasai market to buy some gifts for her friends. When we  were at the market  we came across my friends  who were working there  ", he said. He added , "After a few days I came back to the market to talk to one of my friends who convinced me to start the carving business". Mogunde looked for capital of  up to  K...

Nairobi -  Jimmy Curtis Wamalawa  is an art instructor and mentor who sketches every  detail of his surrounding and also beautiful and unique traits of people from different cultural backgrounds. The 29-year-old artist who is artistically known as Jimmy Curtis IV, creates images that are captivating. He discovered  his talent at a tender age. "At first I didn’t really know it was a talent. I was too young to understand , but as I grew older I began to realize that apparently not everyone was as good at it as I was".he said. The young and gifted artist  describes his personality as an artistic enigma , even to himself , however,  he expresses himself through art. Jimmy Curtis IV added , "I love life and the wonderful things in life. I love challenges that challenge my creativity into breaking personal limitations". His work revolves around the creative spectrum; from fine arts, writing, fashion, modelling and currently trying to break in...

South Sudanese people  are hoping as this month comes to an end, peace will still be on the agenda for 2018. Member of Federal Democratic Party of South Sudan Rebel Forces, and Secretary of Information , Mr. Changkuoth Bichiok Reth says that the peace revitalization process which will be held in adis ababa aims for national dialogue in the country. "I think South Sudan really needs peace, the leaders  should really focus on working on how we can bring back peace. I wish that  2018 will be a year of peace for the country".He said. The second phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum by t he Intergovernmental Authority on Development  (IGAD)  will take place in the first week of February 2018. The first phase of the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) also held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18 - 22 December, 2017  called for violators of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement to be held accountable IGAD  also called on the parties to par...

    Julian Abul Oyay painting on a wall in Juba South Sudan. SOUTH SUDAN -  Young artists from South Sudan have become peace activists , expressing their daily struggles through art in Juba. They are saying Anataban . The movement has also created a platform for young people to voice their opinions. Speaking during an interview in Nairobi, artist, Julian Abul Oyay said the #AnataBan Campaign was established because they were tired of oppression."AnataBan means I am tired in Arabic, we saw many things that were happening such as economic poverty and inequality , but people were quiet about it", she said. The campaign was developed in a work shop in Lake Elementaita, Kenya, by Pawa 254 and 20 South Sudanese artists.The location that they chose was significant because it is the same location where the 2005 peace agreement was signed. According to Oyay the group of Musicians, Actors, Poets, Fashion designers, Graffiti Art...

Without food we cannot survive, have energy or even a good mood. We work hard everyday so that we can fill our bellies with food.It also gives us so much pleasure because it is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and has a beautiful aroma that our taste buds cannot resist. Each culture has their own special delicacies and different ways of preparing their meals.This is what makes human beings so interesting.It is very interesting the way we combine different flavors to create a distinct taste. Cooking is all about people.Food is maybe  the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together.No matter what culture, everywhere around the world , people get together to eat. SEDA / Guy Fieri I have assembled a few dishes that I  have come across in Kenya. ​ ​  You cant help but salivate when you see golden brown chicken grilled. It does not usually have a lot of spices, this leaves the taste natural and juicy.The ...

NAIROBI - Senior Manager, Andrew Bam and  Business Advisor , Lucas Kgopa  who are experts from the small enterprise development agency (SEDA)    believe that Every crisis presents an opportunity. They are from an organisation  based in Pretoria, South Africa, that help develop  micro enterprises  from all sectors  by providing a non-financial support. According to Kgopa, Seda’s mission is to develop, support and promote small enterprises throughout the country, ensuring their growth and sustainability  from a start-up level  to a mature and flourishing business. "Every small business owner that you meet is likely to say to you, I need money, only to realize that there are other avenues that this owner could exhaust in order to get their business to the other level and elevate it.Finance is not always  the main problem".he said. One of the advantages of  SEDA agency is that they have their own in house busines...

NAIROBI - Meet the duo who want to introduce you to akdenizrack  warehouse and storage system.They are based in Turkey with thirty years of experience in rack and storage systems. Board member, Saniye kurt , said  during the food and beverage exhibition that they are in Nairobi to expand their business and look for potential business partners.   "We are  the manufacturers of  akdenizrack and storage systems, we are mainly based in Turkey and we are excited to showcase our business in Nairobi.". The akdenizrack company has exported their goods with 85 different countries.They have also established their name in the African continent with countries such as Tanzania, Algeria, Senegal and Nigeria. They are hoping to add Kenya to their list. She also said that customers and manufactures need the rack and storage system so that they can maximise  their land , their  prices are also customer friendly.  The  akdenizrack and storage syst...

NAIROBI- Exhibitors  showcased their products , services and equipment, Tuesday , at the East Africa food and beverage exhibition , an event meant to  connect  dignitaries, sponsors, partners and visitors.     Muhammad Humair from Pakistan, representative for Ismail Industries Limited The event that took place at the  Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC)   was organised by I nforma Life Sciences Exhibitions.More than 120 business owners from both regional and international companies are expected at attend the exhibition.     Representatives for Skvyrskyi grain processing factory, export department from Ukrain  Director of Life Sciences Group Africa , Ryan Sanderson said in a statement written in a  catalog ,  the three day show (23-25 ) , will bring in over 3000 attendees looking to display the latest Food  and beverage solutions and build partnerships at the exhibition.   ...

Zia Jepkemei Bett during a fashion shoot KENYA - Zia Jepkemei Bett  is an ambitious young woman  who started her clothing line  through the help of social media. Zia collections Kenya was created when two sisters used their creativity to reach out to a younger audience. Zia collections was established  in 2013, when Zia and her sister discovered that they can purchase and ship in clothes from Australia  and then  put them up for sell in Nairobi. “I realized that clothes in Australia are affordable, so I saw this as an opportunity to sell clothes here in Kenya”. She said. Zia  used social media to get the attention of young people on Facebook and Instagram.She posted pictures of the clothes online and the feedback was positive. The clothes which are up-to-the-minute are for young women , 18 -35. Zia’s aim was to attract the youth with unique and affordable clothes. The online business was challenging in the beginning because some ...

    Chol Garang Kuol  23-year-old South Sudanese who is multi talented with skills such as being a  filmmaker, actor,writer, producer and video director is taking East Africa by storm with One Pound Entertainment which has produced several video productions.  Chol Garang Kuol who is pursuing a degree in information technology got his inspiration from local Afro-Nigerian movies.  I would see people like Ramsey Nouah, Majid Micheal acting and making great movies and wanted to be like them, I enjoyed Nollywood movies and could not believe that the movies were acted", he said. As a child he was called  the comedian in school which made him popular.At the same time his grandmother used to ask him to make her laugh. Kuol said, "I began my acting career when I was in primary/elementary school in drama club.People said that I was the best  at my craft and they always encouraged me to...

 Washington Shamela Bityenyi at a studio in Nairobi KENYA - Changez salon and spa  has been designed to cater for beauty services for both male and female. If you have messy hair, damaged skin or feel like having your feet and hands pampered, the exquisite salon which is located in Athi river, Daystar University will take care of you. The classy and affordable beauty parlor is managed by 26-year- old Washington Shamela Bityenyi a graduate  from Kenyatta University (KU). It is unusual to meet a young man who is in the salon business which is dominated by women. I asked him how he started his business. He said that his mother used to manage a salon when he was young, so he became interested in hair and beauty. He grew up in a household where he did not lack basic needs.When life got tough his mother decided to look for a job by opening a grocery store and  that's when the business spirit was instilled into the family. "I used to come home i...

MS. Mutuku photocopying papers for students KENYA - Photocopying is one of the best ways to generate an income. Patricia Mwende Mutuku who has a family in Athi River, works for EBN creations which is also known as Document Centre. EBN creations photocopying service acquires income from around 100 hundred students who photocopy their notes daily. The business which is in Daystar University near the lecture rooms , is booming because students photocopy their course outlines, class notes and old exam papers. Although notes can be sent through email which is a digital way of accessing notes , other lecturers prefer the analogue way which is to leave their notes for students to photocopy. Ms. Mutuku started working at EBN fifteen years ago due to its business opportunity. “There is good income and I enjoy working here because I interact with many people”, she said. The income that she generates from her job not only caters for her transport to Daystar ...