Some People Wanna Fill the World (With Silly Love Songs)

So Monday was V Day, the most saccharine, annoying and down right nasty of all (non) holidays. There were wall to wall roses and a general sense of false euphoria enveloped the air. I would have been in a good mood had I not been dumped on Sunday. The boy I was seeing, for at the end of the day they are all boys Mannish or otherwise, told me in that I was simply to good for him and that I deserved much much more including being alone for the umpteenth time on Valentine's day and forever more.

Perhaps the irony was lost on him.

He was a nice enough fellow, as nice as you could hope a Nairobi guy to be. He nearly worshiped me and perhaps he idealized the idea of me a bit to much but nobody ever complained seriously of being given attention. Plus he was cute and intelligent and sufficient and sweet.

So he was adequate.

And these days adequate is a PLUS. Way better than mediocre. The thing is he always felt like I was going to leave him as soon as something better came along and perhaps this insecurity led him to cut his losses and head for the hills.

So that's TWO failed relationships in as many months. There appears to be one constant in this equation. So perhaps I should give up whatever it is I'm looking for. In the mean time I'll gather my posse and we'll talk about all those silly TV programmes with their unrealistic plot lines and expectations and the silly people who want to fill the world with silly love songs. Easy FM and Classic 105 I mean you! 

In the mean time, here's my New imaginary boyfriend:

Other Pretty Young Things can be found here

And here is Sir Paul McCartney & Wings

That Spells 'Mannish Boy'

Now Nairobi has no shortage of Pretty Boys or Pretty Young Things -more commonly referred to as Twinks-. I recently met one of those. I was feeling kinda lonely and old and so in a fit of desperation I put up a profile on (que drum roll) GAYDAR (facebook for fags as my friend puts it). Naturally I had reservations about the whole idea. For one I am really really genuinely paranoid - to much Crime and Investigation I think and two no Disney movie ever started with a pretty damsel logging on to a computer trawling for sex. Anyway I threw caution to the wind and a bunch of other silly analogies and in no time I found HIM. We exchanged numbers, became facebook friends and I was pleasantly surprised by his pictures. Yes he was HOT, a quality that Kenyan men are not particularly known for.

We soon met up, he was better looking n person and had a sort of rakish air around him that oozed confidence and some to the effect that 'I'm the shit'. Anyway our initial encounter was OK - no fireworks there. We talked about general stuff, friends we had in common, family, where we went to school. And before I forget he was slightly older than me, OK 5 years older. Anyway as time went on he became I begun to realise how little we had in common. For instance he liked the kind of music that came out of a computer, I liked anything made before 1975. In fact the more we talked the older I felt. My Knight in shinning armour begun to look like a little boy - a Mannish Boy.

What especially annoyed and fascinated me was his self-confidence. For instance here one phone conversation went like this:

ME: Your good looking chap
HIM: I know
ME: Do you want to rephrase that statement, maybe think about it a little?
HIM: Nope
ME: I'm going to hang up now!

And I did. The cheeky little shit! I couldn't believe the ego and the nerve on him. Anyway I soon lost my rose-coloured glasses and saw him for what he was, a selfish prick. And then the voice in my head screamed 'The writing's on the wall bitch!' And sure enough the signs were all there. He once kept me waiting for him at a popular Westie hangout for 2 freaking hours without a call or text until one of my Girl friends hit me on the head and said "This nigga aint coming. Ebu, where is your dignity?" And she had a point, that and she was looking to get hammered on the cheap. Later that week he came up with some lame excuse that went something like "Where were you that night?"

Anyway the point of all this is that looks and age can be deceiving. The Mannish Boy like the one in that Muddy Waters' song has grown up in a bubble. In this case this guy's looks rendered him into a state of permanent immaturity. It may be true to say that we didn't hit it off and that there were not mutual feelings of giddy romance -maybe lust- but I felt slightly mistreated and maybe just a tad used. Anyway Nairobi s full of theses Mannish Boys and many people are oblivious to it.

Muddy Waters, the original Mannish Boy

As a general rule of thumb, if a guy or gal dosen't call/ txt and stands you up without explanation then you best be running in the opposite direction!

Good God Y'All!

After consistent tardiness from church I decided to spend Sunday afternoon doing a few minor chores and trawling through my iTunes library. Under gospel I came across this little gem - 2009s "What Have You Done My Brother?" by Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens. This lovely mix of old school blues/ gospel had me nearly in tears with it's mournful lyrics of struggle and sorrow - like any good blues album it spoke of wisdom that came only through immense suffering while all the while letting us know (in the most reassuring maternal way) that there is a bright light ahead -  the authentic Negro Spiritual!

Favourite songs are 'I'll Take the Long Road', 'By Your Side' and a melancholic rendition of 'A Change is Gonna Come' a spiritual made famous by Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.

Me and Mrs. Jones

The sensational new album from Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. Their commitment to 1960s and 70s funk/ soul makes it hard to believe that this album came out in 2010 and one could be forgiven for hearing faint traces of Amy Winehouse for the Dap Kings worked extensively on her critically acclaimed album, Back to Black.

My two favourite tracks are 'Mama Don't Like My Man' and 'She Aint a Child No More'. Definitely something you want to play during a dinner party, it will have your guests tapping their feet while you can bask under their adoring gaze.

Best Bands of 2010

My music collection continued to grow by leaps and bounds through 2010... OK not really but here are some of my favourite albums thus far:

1.) BLK JKS

The South African band with a big sound reminiscent of Hendrix. Their performances are equally electrical live and their brassy Jozi style has garnered them many followers.

2.) 340ml

The Mozambican quartet that has now become a staple on the Southern African circuit. Their jazzy elcleticism makes for easy listening with some danceable numbers thrown in for good measure - like the early UB40. And no I am not obsessed with Mozambique!

3.) The Black Keys

And from the US we have the blues duo The Black Keys. This is a nice albums for sunday afternoon chilling,

Favourite Things: Old Maputo

Time Tunnel, Maputo, Mozambique

Late Christmas Present.

Here's some Old Hollywood glamour (read hotness) to brighten up your day - Paul Newman, the original Don Draper!

You can catch his smoldering stare as on 'Cat On a Hot Tin Roof' that airs often on TCM.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas for me has always been a standard affair. A trip to Cucu's and Neil Diamond wafting through my parent's house -it's been the same tape since I was a little tyke-

Despite coming from a relatively secular family, this season is a reflection and perhaps a thanksgiving for all the blessings of the year 2010 especially when everything could have easily gone horribly wrong. 

To all my (very few) readers, merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Peterus

Favourite Things: Tom Ford

Tom Ford is many things; fashion designer, style icon, sex icon (some might say) and now a successful movie director who brought us this years most critically acclaimed film (based on a novel).

A Single Man: For those with high brow inclinations and also for those who want to gape at Tom Ford's neurotic obsession with perfection, in a phrase - visually mind-numbing.

Favourite Things: Dada Masilo

Outside Kenya or rather in the more developed world dance is seen as an art form as complex and intricate as opera, classical music and even drama. South Africa is no exception. During this years National Arts Festival I was glad (giddy is more apt) to see that Dada Masilo, South Africa's most daring and controversial choreographer was bringing her latest work to the festival - Peter Iiyich Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. I had previously seen her sultry interpretation of Carmen the previous year and was exited to see what she would bring this year and boy did she bring it!

Of note was the fact that all the dancer, even the males wore tutus. One of the principal female roles was played by a man (in a tutu), a humorous crash coure in ballet (that shall haunt me forever) and the unabashed Africa aesthetic that is now iconic to her work. One scene was even titled Lobola which is widely translated in Southern Africa as bride price. Masilo's work is undoubtedly cheeky even coquettish but as Swan Lake came to its catastrophic climax (in a scene titled Swanicide) the whole dance took on a grave and ethereal feel that transcended space and feeling. No doubt many people came out with strong opinions of the piece like all good art should.

Despite the strong homosexual undertones (I liked it even more because of it) I liked Masilo's addictive perfectionism and the fluidity of the movements. The R30 I payed for a students ticket almost seemed criminal - I would gladly have payed more...

Favourite Things: Photography

Two of my favourite Blogers today are avid photographers. The frist a renown South African photographer (and dare I say artist) Andrew Brauteseche who authors the blog Guy With Camera and the second is Mutua Matheka of Mutua Matheka. I fell in love with Andrews quaint and nostalgic prints early this ear but Mutua's more experimental works frequently feature among my ever-changing desktop backgrounds. In fact many of my friends are converts and Mutua faithfully releases new backgrounds every Monday. Below are a few of my favourite shots taken throughout my travels this year. Unlike the professionals I use a pedestrian Sony Cybershot.

The Masonic, Grahamstown, South Africa

Of High Street, Grahamstown, South Africa

Eye over the Free State, Free State, South Africa

Favourite Things: Mad Men

The Fourth Season of Mad Men aired this year and once again we the audience were plunged headlong into the stifling world of 1960s advertising. This year among other things, we saw Don cry which flet like seeing my own father cry, absolutely gut-wrenching and touching at the same time. Don also started his own agency to mixed results and the 1960s swept us buy in cloud of smoke. Of intrest was the role of the show's women in the Cock Fest that was advertising back then. Peggy and Joan put up with a lot of bs this season.

As we gear up for the 5th Season, it has been announced that Season 6 will be the final season of the show. Much like other critically acclaimed shows (Lost and The Sopranos come to mind) seems a good place to stop. Meanwhile The Simpson ploughs on through its 23rd Season telling us it is possible to ruin a pretty solid formular for success.

Favourite Things: Skins

Skins is one of those shows like the Sopranos that you know are bad for you but you can't help yourself. The British drama now famous for its unabashed portrayal of Youth in Excess is now gearing up for it's 5th season. The show is also famous for changing up its cast every two seasons keeping the story lines fresh and perhaps a tad realistic,something their saccarine American counterparts (ahem One Tree Hill) can learn from. The show is also renown for the its large ensemble of young amateur writers which reinforces its relevance and Pop culture credentials.

Since I first watched skins I've seen the kids, for they are real kids, battle drugs, depression, homosexuality. drugs, sex, death and abortion with real human passion and feeling. Problems are not quickly solved with a text to Gossip Girl nor are petty rumours and that new dress integral to the show's plot. All in all, a good effort though the constant profanity and delinquency raise the PG rating of skins way above the PG-13 of most teenage dramedies. Plus the show has a cool indie Brit soundtrack.

Generation 1: The pioneer cast from Season 1 & 2.

Generation 2: The Cast from Season 3 & 4

On a sad note, an American remake of the show is in the offing. Needless to say it will be bland and tastelessly adapted for American television.

Favourite Things: Lost, The Final Season.

It's been 6 years, dozens of episodes and scores of arguments on philosophy and the Dharma Initiative but this year we said goodbye to one of the most enigmatica and iconic shows on television. 

Kwani? LitFest 2010

In case you didn't know the Kwani? Literary Festival is on this week. The festivities kicked of yesterday at the secluded Kifaru Gardens, Lavington. I dragged a friend of mine there and what a lovely afternoon it was. Speakers included Micere Mugo, Marjorie Oludhe as well as performances by a suprisingly dashing Mukoma wa Ngugi and Binyavanga Wainaina. The event was not complete without Atemi's husky sweetness wafting deletable carols across a cool Nairobi evening. The full programme, which ends on Saturday can be accessed here. Also on show yesterday was a slightly embarrassing and barely heated exchange between an inebriated Tony Mochama and Wambui Mwangi which got a bit to personal and for me, quite funny. All in all a day well spent in intellectual immersion. 


In an aside, I spotted the great and benevolent Ngugi wa Thiong'o in the audience and nearly passed out!