Explore your creativity

By Nelly Obadha

Anne Sophie Misiani, 24, Fashion Designer and second year Community Development student at Daystar University

Fashion is playing around with colours and different designs to come up with something amazing, unique and trendy.

My style is mixing the 1980s with modern and trendy fashion. It is vibrant and energetic, and will appeal to young women.

I am inspired by Liz Ogumbo of House of Imani and John Kaveke of Kaveke Fashions.

Designing women’s clothing is interesting unlike men’s clothing, which requires a lot of intricate detail.

I started designing in August 2008 by helping my cousin who is also a fashion designer. I was later inspired to come up with stuff and, although I am not fully established, I now have my own designs.

With part time classes at Daystar, either morning or evening, I am able to work and attend fashion shows during the day.

I have designed for some friends and even worked with Imani Models from House of Imani in Upperhill. I plan to start a fashion line, which I’ll call Achera.

I intend for my designs to suit different personalities because everyone is different and special in their own way.

It has not been easy as there are many challenges, the major one being lack of financial resources. I have had a lot of support from family and close friends but I am yet to get where I want to be.

Other challenges involve finding the right fabric for a specific design. Certain fabrics are not easy to use because they need a lot of work.

Not many people are open to local fashion and most settle for what is comfortable to their pockets. Kenyans can be quite conservative.

The Kenyan fashion industry is yet to develop especially among the young people. However, by wearing what I have designed, I market myself.

　

Pauline Kago, 19, graffiti artist and former student of Our Lady of Mercy Secondary school.

A first glance at Pauline Kago, famously known as Porshe in the graffiti world, shows a quiet laid back girl.

Porshe, however, has many talents like writing poetry and painting, but what stands out most is her love for graffiti. She is one of the few girls fully engrossed in Kenya’s fast growing graffiti scene.

"I started doing art from an early age in primary school and throughout high school at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School in South B," she says.

She got into graffiti two years ago after completing high school and even earns a little money from it.

"I was able to make friends with a few well-established graffiti artists like Smoky and Bankslave who helped me grow. I got support from a few other guys such as Jay Cello, Shajn, Nef and Essel."

It has not all been smooth for her though.

"The graffiti industry is mainly dominated by guys and it can be hard to blend in with them," she says.

Porshe says guys look down on graffiti chicks and think they are lazy. She has had to learn to talk and behave like them to cope.

"Graffiti is not all about picking up a can and spraying it on a surface. You have to be skilled," she says.

She has learned the bubble technique, use of stencils, illustrations and knowing how to play with highlights so as to bring out the effects and values. One has to also know the right surface.

Each spray costs Sh250 and many are needed to give the desired effect, hence making it expensive.

In western countries, graffiti is accepted. In Kenya, it is considered illegal and most artwork is done during the weird hours of the night.

However, through the Wapi Festival held every month at the Sarakasi Dome where artists are provided with space and spray paint, the art has been promoted.

"Graffiti should be appreciated as it is an expressive art that can be used to communicate with an audience," Porshe says.

　

Nancy Wanjiku Karanja, 23, actress and student at Dreamline College and Alliance FranÁaise.

Nancy Wanjiku Karanja, who plays the role of Tasha in the television series, Beba Beba, is a jovial and talented actor.

The 23-year-old actress with Heartstrings Kenya has a passion that pulls the attention of the audience from the beginning to the end. Heartstrings Kenya, based at Alliance FranÁaise in Nairobi, is an ensemble of talented young people. They are a crazy bunch of young guys who leave their audience in stitches with their humour and stunts.

"I am grateful to them for this is where I began my acting career," says Nancy, pointing at the stage where a rehearsal is taking place.

"I began professional acting in 2007. Professional because I had been on stage since nursery where I used to be the lead singer/actor."

Nancy says her parents encouraged her as they saw her talent early.

"Acting to me is inborn and my friends tell me I am myself on stage," she says, adding that this is how she earns a living.

She continues her French classes at Alliance FranÁaise as most performances are in the evenings and sometimes in the afternoons.

"Acting is not easy and it is yet to be established in the country. Young creative people are many out there but the resources do not allow everyone to show their talent," she says of the challenges facing the industry.

According to her, lack of professional manpower, including people skilled to handle equipment, and dedicated and professional producers also hinder people from venturing into acting.

　

Wanjeri Gakuru, 22, creative writer and Journalism Student at University of Nairobi

Poetry is a great avenue to speak out boldly. Through poetry, many express their love, happiness, anger and frustration, and spread peace.

At 22, Wanjeri Gakuru can passionately express herself through poetry. She tells her story:

"I started writing poetry and short stories in the journalism club at Kangaru Girls’ High School in Embu. I am inspired by the use of words to express emotions because it’s a free medium. It is an avenue to say what you want without anyone holding you back.

After a forum by Bantu Mwaura in 2007, I completely fell in love with poetry. I was later tricked into performing for the first time at the Kwani Open Mic festival and there was no turning back afterwards.

I have since performed at the Rhythm and Spoken Open Mic and been a guest on the Chanuka Dada show with Linda on Ghetto radio.

I have also received more training from Imani Woomera who initiated the Slam Africa project.

She held workshops on how to perform, use of expressions and projection. I also learned a lot from Story Moja’s Muthoni Garland who trained us on how to write short stories for young people.

The creative writing industry is not easy; it’s got lost of hurdles to overcome.

Acceptance by the audience is important. Every performer fears rejection.

Honesty is also important. Open mic performance is not all about standing up there and doing your thing, it requires a lot of honesty to get to the audience as they want to feel the emotions, the pain, happiness, and frustration.

I recently got an internship with UP, a local magazine. My life revolves around writing; from school, to work and even my personal life.