Parkie! In full, Parklands Baptist Church,
Westlands. Pen Adventures, a marketplace ministry under the Ministry
Identification and Leadership Development (MILD) Department. The morning is
chilly, but it will give way to bouts of sunshine. At the gate, I am directed
to the tent where the day’s event is taking place (in English too, which means
I need to be formally attired more. Or, perhaps, the spotless Oxfords were the
game changer.)
I am there on time, five minutes past 10am.
For an event slated to begin at 10am, I am five minutes late. In true Kenyan
fashion, though, I am early for the event. As often happens when I am early at
an event or meeting, which is most of the time, I think of time. As a resource…
of our (Kenyans’) relationship with it. Of the European’s relationship with
time. That, though we appear to be late, our time is full… work, business,
family, relations, shopping, handling an emergency… all bundled up in one
continuum of a specific time frame. There is even a name for this phenomenon
which I forget.
The European, meanwhile, neatly
compartmentalises his time… the phenomenon has a name, too, which I am too lazy
to look up. Anyhu, I have long since learned to carry a notebook to jot down
thoughts or write down lines or ideas for a poem, a song, a comedy sketch…
else, read a book on my smart phone… Really comporting myself (and
familiarising myself with the ‘stage’ – a carryover from my acting days) as I
wait for other arrivals. Again, advantageous when it comes to matters
networking. You should try it sometimes.
The set-up is now complete. More people
arrive. A quorum is now arrived at (in true peculiar Kenyan fashion, it seems
rather random as there is no set number of expected participants to the event,
or so, it seems… still, where two are three are gathered in His name…) The
chairs are arranged in an expanding circular theme, giving the event an
informality to it… something to be savoured leisurely. Tributes (to a doyen of
Kenyan Literature, the late Prof. Chris Wanjala), poetry readings, short story
readings… critique of the latter two. Soon enough, spirited debate.
Lunch is served. Ok, there was tea too… how
time does fly when you are enjoying yourself. More poetry recitals, a couple of
songs, sharing of literary events and opportunities, more networking… the sun
is now out and about, lending a feel good credence, a joviality, to the
happenings. 4pm comes swiftly and we have to depart.
Recall that I told you I was on time for
the event. So was another participant classified as a guest just like yours
truly. In true Kikuyu fashion, ‘Ciakorire Wacu mugunda itiamukorire toro.’
French for that saying about the early bird and the (unfortunate) early worm
caught. Anyway, there was consultation by important people and it was agreed
that we be rewarded with a copy of ‘Unfurling’ – a collection of 16 stories, 26
poems and five tributes… a vision realised that is a labour of love for Pen
Adventures.
Note to self: read and internalise that
parable about the virgins, their lamps and the wedding.
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