Celebrating Kenya's Success

Kenya Sun 03-02-2008

Celebrating Kenya's Success
By GenerationKenya45

An innovative project to celebrate Kenyan success has taken on a new relevance and urgency in the light of continuing troubles caused by the 2007 disputed elections.

GenerationKenya 45, which will document outstanding contributions by a nominated selection of Kenyans, will ensure it takes into account the needs of national healing and reconciliation necessary to resolve the current crisis.

Dr Wambui Mwangi and Members of Generation 45 team having a meeting
at one of the hotels in Nairobi city.

“Leadership and expertise is something we Kenyans need to think deeply and seriously about,” said Project Director Dr Wambui Mwangi, who conceived the project with fine art photographer Jerry Riley. “Never before has it seemed so urgent to document a Kenya we can be proud of: A Kenya of hope; A Kenya of achievement,” she added.

GenerationKenya 45 plans to profile, in fine art photographic portraits and superbly written text, the lives and accomplishments of Kenyans born in the last 45 years - since 1963, the year of Independence.

“Those of us for whom our parents’ ethnic prejudices and dislikes seemed impenetrable, archaic —this is GenerationKenya 45. We who today fall in love with, and fight with, and plan with, and work with other Kenyans, - this too is GenerationKenya 45,” explained Dr Mwangi.

A nation-wide hunt using print, broadcast media and the internet, aims to shortlist a series of outstanding Kenyans; and a panel of judges will select the finalists, in a series of nine categories covering arts and entertainment, environment, and conservation, business, information technology, media and communications, science, human rights and governance, sports, social justice, gender equality, architecture and planning.

“The project will showcase our achievements, our aspirations, our struggles, our challenges: and, always, our triumphs. It is about our stories: told by our images: seen by ourselves,” said Dr Wambui Mwangi. “It is We Kenyans: for us, by us.”

Artist Kaigwa working on one of his sculptures

Artist Kaigwa, working on one of his sculptures.

In addition to a photographic exhibition which will visit major Kenyan cities in 2008, a website showcasing the portraits and biographies will open the project to a worldwide audience. DVDs, publications and 45 trees planted in honour of nominees will complete the series of events planned for this year, after which the exhibition will be placed in the Kenya National Archives.

Added Dr Mwangi “We believe that those of us born since 1963, those of us born into the independent republic of Kenya, have shared destiny, a collective promise, to that extent, GenerationKenya 45 proposes to celebrate the achievements of those who wear the badge of “Kenyan” proudly, and who in turn have made us proud. Through this we will show the benefits of this Kenyan-ness -whilst encouraging a showcasing of our diversity.”

GenerationKenya 45. Our Stories. Our Selves.

Posted By: Diana Achieng

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