Monday, July 02, 2007

It Wasn't Impossible -free track

It Wasn't Impossible is a giveaway track from our upcoming blend album set for a July/Aug '07 release. Go here for more details.
This is a cinematic production resulting from reworking Shaggy's 'It Wasn't Me' mega hit then morphing it into our newly reworked instrumental version of Kanye West's 'Impossible' (the theme song he produced for the movie 'Mission Impossible III').
Click cover to hear & download a free copy of "It Wasn't Impossible"

Cover design: akiey5Gallery
I'm inviting 'out of the box' creative thinkers to work with on a bunch of projects. Our 3 imprints are capable of handling numerous design & production projects to satisfy your multimedia needs. Get in touch for best rates & samples of recently completed works.

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Friday, February 23, 2007

Obama: Speech Music

Reposted Feb 23:
On Feb 10, Barack H. Obama, the Democratic Senator from Illinois stood on the steps of the old Illinois Capitol in Springfield and gave a 21 min landmark discourse that culminated in the much anticipated official declaration of his run for US president in 2008.
Obama's values, worldview and principles have long struck a chord with many among us clamoring for sound, fair and responsible leadership on the homefront and one that places diplomacy at the core of it's international policy. For this reason akiey5media/The Niteshift immortalizes his speech in this original music production aptly titled "The Candidate" in honor of this great son of the 2 USAs: United States of America, and... Ugenya Siaya Alego.

Plz click cover below to listen to Obama's Speech Song
Cover design: akiey5Gallery

NB: Feel free to share this Obama Speech Music, The Niteshift will convert the track to fit your mp3 player, iPod, PSP and car/home stereo on request.

Credits:
All lead (speech) vocals : Barack Obama
All instrumentals & mastering: akiey

White House backdrop photo: akiey5Gallery files
Barack Obama image source:
here (original has both Barack & Michelle)

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Monday, January 15, 2007

I Have A Dream-remixed

Every Second Monday of January: Time to celebrate the birthday, works, life, sacrifices & contributions of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In honour of this great son of the US, Citizen of The World, Civil Rights Leader & 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Winner I share with you this musical rendition of his acclaimed 1963 "I Have A Dream" speech whose instrumentals and arrangement yours truly arranged & produced at dawn on Friday Jan 12, 2007 for the akiey5media/The Niteshift imprints.

To hear the 'Dream' part of the speech only, plz click image below to visit our e-home & click track one 'I Have A Dream' on the mp3 player.

Photo Courtesy 'Time' Magazine. Cover Design: akiey5Gallery
To hear the entire speech (highly recommended) plz
click here.

Feel free to request a downloadable mp3 and WMA version of this production for your non-commercial use. Will convert to fit your iPod, mp3 player, PSP, car & home stereo etc.
PS: Martin Luther 'The King' Jr would have turned 78 today. Let's celebrate and reflect on the teachings, values & principles of the Civil Rights Movement and search within & around us to see how (un)well we Keep The Dream Alive.

Happy Birthday Dr. King!
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NB: If you have a great, clear voice please get in touch soonest. There's interesting gigs awaiting you at our Niteshift imprint.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Obie Trice-Sopranos-Msanii

Obie-sopranos cover

Click cover to view video
Many thanks to Obie Trice for personally providing us "Cry Now" in June, some 2 months before his new album "Second Round's On Me" was released. The song "Cry Now" is a true to fact, confessional message depicting recent events in Obie's life, some of which made breaking news on both Tv & print media.
As long-time fans of Obie's work, the akiey5media/The Niteshift imprint made a studio video by carefully assembling different scenes from The Sopranos (HBO) series and digitally synchronized them with the song to bring to life the message in "Cry Now"...with a new twist that juxtaposes Toni Soprano's life in New Jersey with Obie's in Detroit.
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BNTS Nbi banner2

click banner to download BNTS Episode 6

Msanii_XL, the publisher of BNTS, whose loyal fans also know as the "music man extraordinaire" for his use of podcasting as a tool to make unique mixtapes offers 3 albums (yes, 3 whole albums with over 55 songs !!) for you to enjoy, to download and share...for free! as BNTS Episode 4, BNTS Episode 5* (broadcast on German Public Radio in Aug,06) & BNTS Episode 6.
He is no stranger to most of our readers for he's the first innovator we featured on our skyblog e-magazine. Msanii stands out from the crowd by fusing music from different continents, different genres and from both major and independent labels and broadcast it to a growing number of enlightened fans across the Diaspora who are now very familiar with trendsetters like Ukoo Flani MauMau, Shida Mingi, Jay Dilla (RIP), Lebo Mashile, Tumi and The Volume, Viktor Vaughn, K-Shaka, Infidel aka Seff (gifted lyricist who did the intro on BNTS 6 & appeared on BNTS 5)...the list is infinite.
BNTS 4-5 album cover bBNTS Episode 4 BNTS 4-5 album coverBNTS Episode 5
Click album covers above & download "BNTS Epsiode 4" & "BNTS Epsiode 5"

Alright, now to try & update Tafsiri, been a while...

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Things People Do

... while away from blogville and its environs include: burning the midnite oil balancing work (yes, I happen to 'work' at times,lol!), life and a bunch of audiovisual projects.
A couple positive changes have been made, several beneficial collaborations established and we're ready to get more stuff done. Have to keep working, praying hard & having fun while at it.

As we prepare a major comeback to blog, here's an invite to kick back & enjoy this slide show from yours truly. Peace!


Thursday, August 10, 2006

Still Got It


I've been offline & off everthing else as I make this move to the new house in the new city whose metropolitan area I know like the back of my hand. Have worked here, gone clubbing here countless times, been in concert with greats from Damian Marley to UB40, to Slum Village and Annie Lennox.

Still settling in, most things still boxed up but that mojo? Not to worry, I got it with me & it never left...

Lemme reply all pending comments on both Maarifa & Tafsiri some time this weekend.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

No Way, Jose!

If the pic looks familiar you're probably right. Click to find out...or just read along...

What bloggers block? Did I hear the word hiatus? hehe, No Way, Jose! The few KBWs with whom I'm in regular touch and are listed in my address book got hints of some stuff this blogger has been up to while away from blogville. A couple of days ago I moved some furniture around & renovated both Maarifa & Tafsiri, produced some kool new videos that I've already started hosting on both blogs... and there's more changes to come so make yourselves at home.

It's been an interesting few days. Yes, kept busy & still enjoyed the world's greatest sporting event thoroughly especially on the Spanish language channels where the amazingly animated commentators led by Fernando Fiore went Gooool! Gooool!! to mark every goal and just as I kooled off cheering I noticed TeeTee, who also caught the world cup bug was still excitedly bellowing the Latin American accented "G-o-o-o-o-o-o-l!!", sometimes making me think I'd missed another goal, lol!.

I rooted for France to the very end, even as Zidane had to walk away from what would have been one of his life's greatest achievements. Congrats Italia. You deserve the hard-fought win. Zidane, you rightfully earned The Golden Boot, Thierry & co....Vive Les Blues, Vive La France!

Ok good people, as we get back to normal programing I couldn't help laughing at/questioning some of these facts I found here:

  • It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs. (Is that why the bulls chase folks down the streets in Pamplona, Spain?)
  • Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes. (How come the population of Lamu isn't going down & they have more donkeys than planes in the city?)
  • Turtles can breathe through their butts. (So, basically they can't distinguish a fart from exhaling?)
  • Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants. (So, how do they know their way around? Well, most New Yorkers get lost in the huge city so worry not)
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Finally... Is it just me or is that real deal guy sound way happier than most folks you and I know?, huh?

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Block This Too!!

Just confirmed it! some things get done the way those pulling strings want them done around this here community...so get to shutting the door & hitting the locks on this one too, you know who you are, lol!

Don't know why I quickly opted to do a car pic for this 'packed' post but many kudos to sandman's post which probably indirectly stuck in my mind.

Legends, Icons & Revolutionaries


Finally came across this photo that for a long while I thought I had lost in my picture files.
Hard to believe that I've had it for over 4 years and I still can't find the source information. I thought I would have it as the first in a series of images I am working on that I labelled "Legends, Icons & Revolutionaries"
Am also planning on printing this image on a black or white t-shirt before the summer but I would first like to get the source right so that I could credit it both in print and on the web. I will greatly appreciate any input on this.
NB: I am currently working on "Legends, Icons & Revolutionaries II" . I'm thinking of putting 2 men & a woman on it. Any suggestions very much welcome!
119.20.051.26p

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Friends Like These!?


Won't waste space saying what I already know about this madd friendship that has stood the test of time and by now wiped off the thin line between friendship and family ties.

"Dis-moi qui te hante et je te dirais qui tu es "

-Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.

And whoever said this at 3.30am several moons ago needs to get their head checked:

"None of us would stoop so low as to harm and maim anyone that hurts one of us bcoz that would be too barbaric. It's best to cut them up & feed them to the dogs, stray dogs to be certain lol!

Thursday, June 01, 2006

The 360 Guarantee

ke-flag

I don't own Kenya, I owe Kenya.
I am all that I am because of my experiences growing up and living in Jamhuri. Yes, born, bred and in most part equipped with life/work skills in this beautiful, diverse nation we call home. Land of smart thinking, smart acting and smart, fun/funny people blessed in plentiful ways.
Granted, it has been some time since I was last home and I miss it every day. Like many of my peers, I am bcoz I grew up in an environment where the child was raised by the entire community regardless of one's ethnic origin, social standing or worldview. We benefitted from a social support system which entitles you to hold onto and pursue your dreams despite the many hurdles standing in your way. This is the one place where I met happiness and peace of mind and made them my friends.
Growing up in a town (now a city) where leaving the front door unlocked all day was the tradition but locking yourself indoors 24/7 was considered mean-spirited and antisocial, we were taught that opening up your heart is a sure way to fill it with warmth and l'epice de la vie (spice of life/nakshi za maisha); that opening up your mind is the way to learn beyond books and maktabas and opening up your home is the key to limitless abundance of happiness, good fortune, growth of kin and kith, warding off misfortune, boredom and a cold, lonely existence.
I am aware that with time things change and so do some values but it is gratifying to know that many well-grounded principles still hold firm (despite the darned MPs mess!). These are lessons I still value and look forward to sharing.
Mimi ni Mkenya/ I am Kenyan and many things define me as such. There is no perfect person or society but I know fellow Kenyans at home & abroad to be very hardworking (and hard partying), enterprising people. When someone says "You Can't" it only gives us more fire to succeed and we turn around, smack them in the face with the "I just did and will do again!" (hehe, guilty aren't you?), yes, we run (yaaawn!) to win races and the millions in prizes that come with them but we don't run away from ourselves.
We laugh so hard and so often it hurts. We care so much till we hurt, we're more trustworthy than our lousy, kniving politicians that milk us dry as they live in sinful luxury...yet we let them be!? We stay up-to-do date with local as well as world affairs and find it quite normal to analyse happenings as far away as Kiribati, Fallujah, San Juan, Kumasi, Copenhagen or even Seoul while riding in the matt, waiting in line at Nakumatt, cycling over Nyali bridge, taking the tube to Victoria Station, in the Metro in DC's U.Street, on phone, email, blog, etc just becoz we're who we are...Kenyan.

Kenya accords me My 360 Guarantee of happiness and peace of mind for every 365 days in a year. Show me a place promising more than that and I'll let you know its other name is...Kenya.

Happy Madaraka Day!

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Tuendelee Ama Wasnitch?

"The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life"
~William Faulkner
W. Faulkner may have been reading my mind at some point. Visual arts will always fascinate me and for that reason I better not stop this Akiey5 Experiment...same way that young, super-gifted black kid many called Jimmy didn't stop his Jimmy Hendrix Experience...yes, that very self-taught and mastered Experience that changed how we listen to & play music.

Here's a little taste of The AQ Experiment:



This is part of a continuing series of music video remixes I've worked on most recently. The Experiment brings together the song "Tuendelee" by Kenya's Kleptomaniax with the "Snitch" music video by Obie Trice & Akon to create what I called "Tuendelee Ama Wasnitch"(lol!) yeah, a blend of the two concepts as well.

Many thanks to the Musicman Extraoridinaire himself, MsaniiXL (I know you got greater things than this one coming bro!), as well as Spicebear, Irena, and Acolyte for trying out and giving feedback on different videos I've worked on to date.

Also, thanks to Gishungwa for contributing the Klepto track. For her effort she gets listed on the video credits towards the end among the likes of Obie Trice, Akon, Klepto, Eminem et al that akiey thanks for their part in the video/music. One day soon I will most appropriately honour said artistes as well. Enjoy!

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Simple Yet Complex

NB: The UB40 concert post I promised is in the works, still making time to edit video & pics.

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Sometimes I Wonder...

When my time is up on this 3rd rock from the sun,
will I be remembered more as a digital artist or the trained professional that I am?
If, and since I devote as much attention to my art
as to my chosen profession, will my works of art impart
greater precedence over the works of my mind and heart?
Until then, I will strive to make simple of complex things
And complex of otherwise simple things.
Bcoz such is the principle of my art.
-akiey-
I've mentioned this to a couple of my readers:
Never in my life have I taken a 2 minute class in photography, photo editing, videography or filming. What I do here and on other print & digital media is but self-taught & God-given skills that now define me as the akiey that does this & that in the name of art.
As such, years from now, will anyone touched by my work,
artistic or professional regard akiey's time on God's green earth
to be as good as what...

Pele is to football as Samora Machel is to martyrdom?
Dr. Dre is to G-rap as Mother Teresa is to saintly?
Mental is to Kaybee as Aime Cesaire is to freedom?
Iman is to modeling as Mikhail Gorbachev is to Ruski?
Clinton is to admirable as Necessary Noise is to exceptional?
Kipchoge is to athletics as Larenz Tate is to versatility?
Mc Solaar is to rhythm as Fundi Frank is to fashion?
TeeTee is to akiey's ifey as Lebron James is to simply amazing?
Maybe, maybe not, but you're still reading & viewing
and am still clicking, filming, editing and thinking...
Until then, You may be remembered as...?

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Cherry OH Baby!!

Orig pic sans my ticket here

I've had to put off this concert post mainly due to the tragic loss we suffered back home when we lost dignitaries on the peacekeeping mission to the northern region of Jamhuri. RIP all dear departed and my sympathies to their family, friends and all affected by the loss.

News of the loss reached me on the same day I was to start editing video & downloading the many photos I took at the concert. No way could I talk of a fun time with friends and mourn at the same time. The time out & no video playing here was Maarifa's tribute.

Yes, Good People, I finally got to meet & greet with the one-of-a-kind UB40 and their equally Irie opening act Elan from Cali by way of Morocco. The concert was at the amazing House of Blues in Cleveland. It's an understatement to say all this was a dream come true. Will give detailed info with pics, video etc in a new post as soon as am done working out a few details with video & photo sequence.

I will get back to you ALL by tomorrow, I too need to have my hands full of dessert for now!

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Am An Addict

There comes a time when one makes known their indulgences, compulsive pastimes or even: "addictions". I have a couple I've developed and nurtured (or have they been nurturing me?) since I was a kid.

I love reading. Will read anything & everything from that slip of paper swaying in the wind before it finds a spot on the sidewalk, to biographies in the library. Will read countless emails & IMs from fam and friends, online press releases, installation manuals, blogs, even those 60,000 word professional documents I work with...you name it, regardless of the languages it's written in, trust I will read it, internalise and analyse it...("urrrgh, who brought in this sorry nerd!"...murmur the bored AA-Addicted Anonymous attendees)

For nearly a year and a half now I've been getting my daily, nerdy fix from Wikipedia, that fast-growing online super warehouse of knowledge. I fully revel in it & indulge as if reading will be banned tomorrow. You will find me everyday browsing through articles on music, art, politics, history...kamilisha sentensi kwa jibu linalofaa.LOL!

I lose myself so much in Wikipedia it virtually becomes Akieypedia, with me, bloodshot, wide-eyed & info-thirsty looking around like a deal-catcher seeeking the latest arrivals at Nairobi's Gikomba market, a videogamer looking around for the latest Madden Games, like a damsel on 5th Avenue frantically seeking Vera Wang's latest robes, or feeling great like a loving, young Digo couple holding hands on their way home after selecting fresh fish at Likoni Ferry's Soko ya Samaki...and I mos def feel hyped like a mixtape DJ ruffling through crates of music LPs searching for that one beat that will change the music scene...

Today I take a break from Akieypedia mania, allow you to sit on that couch and wonder to myself: what's your addiction...?!

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Absolute Indisputable Truth

If there's any one lesson anyone in the Diaspora should carry with them every waking moment....

Strive to make your own money with the knowledge & skills you have acquired right from Jamhuri so you're not treated like the shit anyone would want to make you believe you are.

Class dismissed....


PS: This is my only major entry without a pic & hopefully my very last blogger post. Sayonara, Kwaheri, Baadaye....

Monday, January 30, 2006

If Blogs Spoke

If your blog had a voice, what would it say to/about you?
- If Maarifa & Tafsiri spoke they'd tell me:
a) Stop treating us like step-children, we bring you happiness so update us regularly (Rhaahaha, yeah right!)
b) Will you stop toying with the idea of quitting blogging because the more you think of it the more real it becomes every day!?
c) When we grow up we'd like to become ..err...magazines, maybe satellite radio stations, digital Tv & movie networks and also help write your memoires by complementing the junk you've been writing in your diaries since you were 12 years old, or...whatever the heck your insomniac self pushes us to be since you seem to decide everything big head,lol!
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We're having a party and we will be dancing under the light until yawn* at our other home. To get an all access pass to the event please click on the photo below or follow the link below it.
** The two and a half people who visit & comment on this blog regularly would tell you that when akiey says party until dawn he means "to party until the sun comes up" whereas by Partying Until Yawn he actually means "Partying Until Another Year Comes Up",LOL


Ok, now time to get back to what we used to call life & also prepping a couple pics for friends' upcoming projects:)

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Checking Body Parts

-Best viewed l-a-a-r-ge-
First off, I send out a big this to Blogger for being such a pain when I repeatedly tried to perform the most basic operations on their system. No wonder I've been planning to move my entire blog-related stuff to another site. Wapumbavu sana hawa madogi wa Blogger!
Lately I've had 101 photo design ideas struggling to pop out of my head & onto paper, website, print media etc faster than I can handle. For that reason I decided to draw on the creative juices by taking 3 ideas at a time, lol!
The above montage is one in a series I am developing as a tribute to some good fam & friends whose photos I recently came across on 2 CDs I thought I'd long-llost & were buried in the town's garbage dumps somewhere. The newly found CDs contain about 800 photos of people, places & things I caught on lens over the past 2 yrs & all this has now inspired an extra twenteen ideas ontop of the 101 I have doing the chakacha inside my thick head.
Currently, I am checking out body parts of people am close with, as well as those of blogpals who gave me the green light to use their pics (why the raised eyebrows, it's art!lol!), avatars & other blog 'things' for an upcoming composite photo meant to make fun of a situation that happened in my host country late last year but it's something we all can relate to since it was broadcast worldwide.
There' s still some room on the photo I am working on, so let me know on email, IM or phone if you'd like to be featured on it...Have no fear, won't make you look bad, if anything, you know my motto I Can Make U Famous.
Artists, like everyone else also do have a funny side. This caught my eye last nite. Enjoy:
--
An artist working on a nude portrait got very tired after a busy month. He had become very weary from this non-stop effort he decided to take it easy for the day. Since his model had already shown up he suggested they merely have a glass of wine and talk .
They talked for a few hours getting to know each other better. Then as they were sipping their claret the artist heard a car arriving outside. He jumped up and said "Oh no! It's my wife! Quick take off your clothes!"

Monday, January 09, 2006

Blogversary and Winners

On this day a year ago, Maarifa the weblog came into being. The reasons & drive behind this have long been obvious to all of my loyal readers composed of close friends (some I've known for nearly 20yrs), family, the wonderful KBW family, my buddies from other web-related affiliations that I am actively engaged in, a couple professional clients and ofcourse not to forget the Web surfers who stumble upon my bloghome.
It has been a very interesting and satisfying 12 months thanks to your regular visits, generous comments & appreciation for the digital photographic art I share with you, sharing your opinion on all my rumblings, your genuine concern when I go/went AWOL (many thanks everybody in KBW!) ... and ofcourse everytime you made me feel welcome in your blog homes cannot go unnoticed.
There's absolutely no way I could overlook the many good things that this interaction, mainly through KBW/NYD/FLM/Afrikblog has brought my way. I am glad to have met an amazing lot of highly talented, funny, caring and creative-minded friends. Many I meet on blogruns, about two dozen also on email, IM and regular calls across states and/or continents. Some of you I've known for countless years [sema mamboz good chica Irena, my kin & kith: Naj, Farouk, Maleeha & Izzo!:)], some I've met several times & with many others shared unedited(LOL!) photos of fun/crazy stuff we get into so we've basically 'seen' each other & we can now attach faces and voices to blogs!
All this has fueled the engines behind the growth of both Maarifa (and its affiliate bilingual site: Tafsiri which in turn marks its 1st anniversary in 3 weeks) and akiey the blogger and for that I say a very big Thank You! For sticking around & enjoying the ride with me:)!

NB: I would quickly run out of space & wearout my fingerprints trying to elaborate why I like some blogs & bloggers, so here's a quick glimpse of my top blogs and my most fav lined up over there.
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To celebrate this day, I share with you the 3 winners of the two (long overdue) posts that had everyone trying to figure about The Mvita Don's modus operandi and the food this blogger made & shared with friends. Thanks everybody for participating in this brainstorm activty:)
and so..... the winners are:

I made this collage of the 3 Maasai girls from 3 diff pics to honour the often taken for granted cultural magnificence of the Maasai culture and to congratulate the 3 ladies below that got the answers right. KBW guys didn't seem to fare too well so I look forward to you doing better next time guys!

The Chops For Days Post on Tafsiri:
The winner: Mshairi, my 1st blogfriend whose intelligence, brilliance and down-to-earth good nature (I know many out there would agree with me) gives one that deja vu feeling of having known her in another lifetime. She gave the dish one quick look & without hesitating figured it was octopus stew gravy that was on made & shared that evening. Let me know what kind of photo edit you'd like done. Muchas gracias querida!

The Mvita Don Post: to the two winners go a photo of their choice so see me in my chambers please:)

1st winner: Guess, that avid blogger who had no inside info but one that relied on her photographic memory and used her "skewed brain... that...can read upside down, right to left, right to left upside down" to easily and accurately figure out about 95% of Don Mvita's MO as well as his tools of trade & 'hits'. Congrats!

2nd winner: K.i.d.a.d.a, the shy, yet risktaking, creative writer of a blogger who knows people that know this blogger better than she'd want to admit (total balaa!) also blew the competition thanks to her probing skills, arm-twisting & info extracting tacticts. Only flaw was a small mistep in the tools of trade but she got it very right with the 'hits':

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Chilling with MJB...

As I go about responding to the Mvita Don post, my b-day post and my Chops for Days post on Tafsiri too, am all jazzed up for The Breakthrough, the new release by the Queen of HipHop-Soul Mary J. Blige (Dec 20, 2005). This montage and the other 5 in the series I made last weekend [flash that smile if I sent you any of them in the past few days:)], is a tribute to MJB for her ongoing contribution to good, soulful music. I intentionally inserted the mid pic as a reminder that am working on meeting the requests from the Mvita Don post.
PS: *I am announcing the winner(s) of the Mvita Don post, in the next post. Gotta do that. Lately, I've been swamped in work-- loots of work; but work, life, more work & more life is not an excuse*
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-Screenshot of the new joint. Click pic to be redirected there-
I am pleased to announce that I'm opening doors to my new home over here. Please feel free to drop by for some munchies, music, videos, audio & all the good stuff. All 3 joints will be running at the same time & same tempo so kick off your shoes & let's have loads of fun!
PS: I am not abandoning Maarifa or Tafsiri, No way!! New joint will be home to more pics, and stuff surrounding this blogger's other interests.
PSA-Public Service Announcement: I'm sure by now you've noticed that about 90% of my posts have 3-word titles à la : Chilling with MJB..., It's My Birthday!, After This Interruption, Pride and Joy, If Bob Visited, Akiey Con Fuego! It Wasn't Me , just to name a few. This happens for a reason or three but it sure brings to mind a good friend whose 3 names have 6 letters each to make a triple sixx!, lol! tsk, tsk!

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

It's My Birthday!

The Entire KBW means the Blog to me & please don't feel left out because some fast folks got wind of this sooner & decided to surprise me. Hugz 2 U all!
11/22: the day I celebrate my birthday. Yes, a year older & hopefully wiser. Behind me lies a year full of stuff I'd love to remember for the rest of my life...as well as some sh*t I'd rather not, but that's life. A new year full of hope lies ahead, will take it as it comes & make something greater out of it.
Strange but every year since I was 16, my birthday has been the busiest of all days in November. There's got to be a reason behind it, I may know it when I turn 40...That's when life begins, right?LOL!
Today I'll be working around the clock to beat two deadlines for clients in two different time zones so I will officially celebrate my b-day tomorrow. Do feel free to join in the fun if you have my address(wink!), know my phone number, IM add, email or you'd like a blog meet up. If you happen to be around the block then you'll mos def run into me & T-Joy(ful), Matt & Wei getting into some crazy fun stuff. For everyone who kept asking, nagging, threatening & even blackmailing about unedited(?) pics of this blogger here's a peek into some of my fam & circle of friends I hang with on the regular. (Best viewed L-a-r-g-e)

Thank yous (in no particular order): Mom & Dad for bringing me into this world and for raising me right. My siblings represented by Dada Aisha(middle left column) for the early morning B-day greetings (N'nani kama wewe Dada?) T-Joy(ful) (middle right column): dearest babygal for having my back(love U to bits hon!) Thrity: for the beautiful e-card(kisses 4 U & hugs to Pervez for me). Poi: for being 1st KBW to get thru call at exactly midnite(how nice of u fellow scorpio?), Abeid in Cotonou: thanks for the card (glad u remembered), Farhiyya: calling while tired & sleepy (U blaze up Toronto!).Guess: for the early morning email & msgs & for shouting me out in public jana(thanks rub-a-dub babe!), Nick for IM wishes(bro #3, u rock!), Milo untouchable on IM (bro #2, mention them plz!) Adrian IM sting (fellow scorpios sting!LOL!), FarmGal on IM, (stay strong:)!), SpiceBear on IM(thanks in b/n doing papers!)

Thanks everybody for your patience while my computer was acting up. Now it's up & running like Paul Tergat. Back with replies to comments & yes, I have to meet two photo requests from last post. Coming up in next post, promise:)

Saturday, October 29, 2005

That Other Side

EDIT: Hey good people, I know I've not done my regular blog runs lately bcoz of problems with my computer...can't stay online more than 5mins at a time:( I'm sorting out the problems & will be back in ONE day with replies to comments & ready for a new post. Thanks!
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That Other Side
-This post is 90% based on true events-
From time to time, the Mvita Don's modus operandi consists of deviating from the 'norm' such that when duty calls his personality changes to: no jeans, no cap; no tees, no slang; and definitely no bling or camera snaps.
The day starts earlier than usual with a prayer of thanks for a good night's rest (even if it was no more than 4hrs, ahem!), and hope for a better, rewarding day ahead. Quick shower followed by a quicker walk in-walk out of the wardrobe transforms last night's fun-seeking, casually dressed and easy going insomniac into today's more focused, formal looking, talking, walking & acting non-stop hustler.
Two to three urgent phone calls later confirm final details about the task ahead and add to the obvious "seriousness" of this "job". He has a light "pretend" breakfast as he again notices his state's own Robin Meade is all smiles as she reads global news on CNN Headline News-his favorite morning news station. Two minutes later, he's all ready.
A few quick but sure paces take him to the dimly-lit living room. By the coffee table he picks up the black attaché case containing his very important tools of trade-the tools of trade that he needs to ensure the 'job' gets done right. Tools he values so much fellow wise guys know the Mvita Don would die protecting them. It is common knowledge that such tools help define who he is & both friends & foes know not to mess with him when equipped with this arsenal that can determine the fate of many a man, woman and child.
Don Mvita, as others dare call him (but not to his face),knows he uses the arsenal to do good but you would know better depending on which side of the law or the street you are talking from.
A final walkthrough of his living quarters ensures all lights, doors, windows and appliances are shut & he grabs his keys as he checks the time on his wrist watch-the serious, leather strap kind he spares for such days- and out the door he goes into a world of contracts knowing today's outcome, which may be covered in the media would result in yet another urgent contract to take care of the current one. "What a life...!" he whispers to himself half smiling as he eases into the seat of the beige-gold sedan he owns but wants to give away to some anonymous single mother of 5 struggling with two jobs to put food on the table and clothe her kids. He does have a good side to him, he certainly does but there's work to do today so he remains focused.
Leaning back on the beige seat, he looks ahead as the quiet-engined machine slithers out of the parking lot. At the red light down the street, the car comes to a gentle stop. His eyes veer into the rear-view mirror and he immediately notices the obvious change. "Looking way too serious today" he says with a chuckle as he glances at the white sheet (displayed in pic) showing the increasing number of hits done, is he happy about that..?
The traffic light goes back to green, the sedan eases into the slow morning traffic and off he goes towards the rising sun...
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For now, the Mvita Don will make you an offer you can't refuse. He will grant you any reasonable photo request you make if you figure out:
a) where he is going & why b) what the valuable tools of trade are and c) what the 'hits' are
-To find out more about the Mvita Don, click on the image below.

PS: Replies to recent comments made on previous post coming up later in the day.

Friday, October 21, 2005

Pride and Joy

Recently, I got a terrible verbal whipping from some KB-Dub friends for going AWOL from my blogs & a few daring enough folks like Poi, Nick, Guess, Milo & K.i.d.a.d.a went as far as to suggest I was giving priority to my other online personas, or ripping the neighbour's jeans (not again!?), or that I was still topless in my white briefs like some Calvin Klein underwear model (thought we agreed I'll do that for the"akiey5" brand?), or better still that I've been shopping for a toy bullet proof jacket to face off Milo's toy gun(Rhaahaha!)....the list & jokes were endless but am glad everyone had fun... albeit at my expense:) .
Anyway, I've made my way back to Blogville with caliente (hott) posts coming over there this weekend. For now, as I revel in the surprise gifts from Mshairi (yes, she has a biig, kind heart. Thanks querida!), I shamelessly lay blame on all mentioned here & the folks I lined up in the above photo montage for giving me too much TLC, more than I could ever give my photos,LOL! They ensured I ate good, slept good & in return they engaged in some silly stuff just like we know how to:) Thanks all for being there in person & in spirit. Dada, Jr.Bob, N'dots, Tuma, Omari(RI..P), Zah, Doc you're one of a kind. T-Joy(ful), U are Awesome & thank you for everything, U know I mean it.
With all you fine folks at KBW & these wonderful people that are just a small part of my fam, I share Giacomo Leopardi's words:
"People are ridiculous only when they try or seem to be that which they are not"...I am glad we're all family, now let's keep having that ridiculous fun!!

Friday, October 07, 2005

If Bob Visited

I've spent 20 mins wondering & day dreaming about some "ifs". These are important & semi-important 'ifs' and "what ifs" concerning life, career, some choices I have as well as choices I' d like to have. "Ifs" about where I'd like to travel in the next few months, where I'd like to live starting next spring, 'ifs' about keeping some friends and 'ifs' about completely shutting out some used-to-be-friends.
I've considered 'ifs' about signing new contracts or sending them back unsigned & wondering 'if' I would do the same thing 'if' I was 21 again & doing the same things I love now. 'Ifs' about welcoming some people into my life & 'if' I'd still love them the same way when we get old...'if' I'll get old. There are 'ifs' about spending more time with family & closest friends & 'if' I should let them know that I could surprise them with a knock on that familiar home door. I can't deny some 'ifs' and 'what ifs' to do with finally turning some hobbies into breadearners and 'if' I'd be fully content with the decisions. Also, 'if' she a.k.t.u.a.l.l.y knows me like she said she does?
One biiig 'if' I've enjoyed wondering about is..."What if" I was to swing open the doors to my Gallery today, this week or this month and could invite any one or two persons to officially open it, who would I gladly have come do the honours & why?
'If' I could, I would invite the Honorable Robert Nesta Marley & my kid sis Tuma (love ya babe!). But again, 'what if' they were to choose to stand next to a pic of their choice as they gave a brief speech & they both chose the dual-personality framed pic of my parents' first born kid? "What if"?..and only "if"?
If you could invite any one or two people to do the honours for you, for anything, who would they be...?
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"Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality . Wake Up and Live!" - Bob Marley
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Thursday, September 22, 2005

Akiey Con Fuego!

Okay, am back aqui con fuego! (here with fire!...Spanish & pronouced like the title above).Here we go with the answers to the questions you asked. I had to marshall my two personalities to accomplish this gratifying task of looking within to see what lies without. Tried to be honest as possible & held nothing back regardless of how well you may know me or even who else reads this blog. I hope what I reveal about myself gives you better insight into akiey & the real me (wink!) & as always your feedback is greatly appreciated. Lets do this!!
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Mshairi, Got here 1st & took me back in time:
a))) Who is the love of your life? None at the moment. We're still looking for each other & will love her like she deserves to be loved . You know I'll let you know when she finds me.?:)
b))) When did you first fall in love? At 15 yrs old. Same girl in Q3. We were young but could tell it wasn't puppy love. She made the 1st move, brave girl she was.
c))) When was your first kiss? I was 15.5 she was 15. Darn her dad would have banished us or better still "killed us dead", lol!

Freegal inquired:
a))) What was the last item you bought for your house/ apt / flat /room?
House/apartment: living room carpet Bedroom: small dvd player to play Cds on
b))) What is your current bedtime reading?
Wow,insomniacs shouldn't read in bed, wont sleep. Ok, at times XXL (Hey, that's not porn, click the link!!)
c))) Do you believe in life after death?Yes always have courtesy of my upbringing, faith & simple logic but for past 3 years been feeling I don't want to come back in the human form. This trip has been a trip, I would gladly come back as flowing water (a gentle stream, river or the deep blue ocean)

Milo probed:
a))) Remember those fairy-tale 3 wishes, what would be yours? I wish I had Jesus' 2 Powers as well (wish no.1 & 3):
1) Power to Heal, so Africa my baby, here I come!! 2) Be with family & loved ones whenever we need to 3) Ability to walk on water: love water sports but imagine walking across the Likoni ferry channel or Nyali bridge creek, daayyyum!
b))) How would you describe yourself in one word? R.E.L.I.A.B.L.E
Reliable* Encouraging* Loyal(underline that!) * Intelligent(somewhat)* Ambitious* Bold* Loving * Extra-stupido!!
c))) What do you want out of life?
Happiness, Peace of mind, Success equal to efforts, Loving family, 5 good loyal friends

Wangari asked:
a))) What is your greatest pet peeve?
Professional: someone taking my professionalism for granted while it's clear I put in 150 %!
Social: Liars, mean people, sexists, racists, very slow drivers ahead of me (urrrgh!), some cops (shitty pigs!),

b))) What pisses you most about women? General: Very pretty woman with a badd attitude. Particular: When in love & she plays mind games
c))) What gets you most about women? Good Women are God's finest, most-amazing creation. Love their caring, loving nature & how they notice the littlest things about people & things. (I hope I understood the last Q?)

Nick told me to say 'aaah' and examined:
a))) (You know I had to go there) u and irena: let it rip…
U know she said to zip my mouth but have known her for eons, prolly since Moses led the Exodus. Nick, Irena may tell u more in her "whisper song" to you, lol!.
b))) List like 3 of your greatest accomplishments or things ur mighty proud of
Acc: 1-Maintaining near-perfect r/ship with my entire family 2-Good education, while lie, I had endeless fun but also burst my arse in school 3-Being darn good at what I do professionally..hey, ask folks who send me projects:)!
Proud: 1- My self-taught skills eg photography & some languages, 2-Nephews & Niece 3-Regaining my faith every time I lost it. Not so easy but yeah..Takes faith to keep the faith I think?
c))) Greatest failure in life or disappointment?
Failure: Not sure I've failed at anything & no, am not kidding
Disappointment: Not able to physically be there for family at some crucial moments...not my fault though.

Nakeel like the Lil' Sis she is aliuliza hivi...
a))) What was your stupid question you asked the teacher the first day of school?
1st day of undergrad in Univ. "I don't understand, what do you mean like we learned last semester?" Prof: "I know, you're in the wrong class, these are 2nd year students not freshers"
b))) How do you foresee the future on your way?
Very tough Question Lil Sis but...at times very bleak but with God's grace I'll be running the 2 multi-media/language agencies I've been trying to get off the ground for some time.
c))) What was the best dream you ever had and wanted it to happen?
I dreamed of this back when I was 22: Am working from home (what's new about that!?) seated at the desk facing 3 large windows overlooking the Indian Ocean in S.Coast. By 2 big windows stood my teenage daughter & son chatting with their 2 teenage cousins (my nephew & niece) as they looked onto the sea, and seated on my desk peeking over my computer screen is 14 yr old daughter. Their mom's on her way back from work. One of us had to work away from home. I'd like that to happen.

Guess teasingly asked:
a))) I know the cure for insomnia, are you interested? Intererested in the cure or in U Guess? hehe! knowing you...should I be afraid, very afraid or have a silly smile? lol!
b))) When you told me I am special last night, did you mean it, and what did you mean by special ? Of course I did mean it. In all senses of the word. Just let your imagination fly...or better still just make a guess:)! Ok, hint #1: U r way smarter than u allow most folks to imagine
c))) Can I come back and ask more appropriate questions? Yes you can & I answered both appropriate & inappropriate ones somewhere at the bottom: )

Poi really had me thinking deep:
a))) If you were no more today what would your closest friends/family say about you?
Closest Family: "We love him & he loves us more"
Closest Friends: "He had too much energy & a bagful of ideas to fit into one lifetime. He's gone to get more done"
b))) What would you like them to say about you?
Closest Family: "He cares tirelessly" (note the present tense. In the family we use the present for all dear to us)
Closest Friends: "We ain't never had a friend like akiey"
c))) And why would they not say it? As in what I wouldn't want them to say?
-he failed, he gave up, he was afraid, he was too busy, was too far...

K.i.d.a.d.a held nothing back & dared me thus:
a))) What can a lady do to make you go like…uuuuweeeee!!…and not in pain?LOL! (please dissect my Q into 3 parts: Mentally, Physically & Emotionally)
Mentally: A good woman with brains is irresistible. If she can caress me mentally before she reaches out & touches me physically...If she makes love to me mentally, am hooked & all hers physically...hers until she runs out of clever ideas,lol!
Physically: Is comfortable in her own skin knowing that I love her regardless & isn't afraid/ashamed to tell me the 3 little words: "Gimme Some More!"
Emotionally: Connects with me, is loyal, supportive… the type I mentioned chez Guess, combines that with the other 2 points above & yeah...uuuuweeee!!

Irena laughed away & wondered:
a))) Are you ever going to wear locs again? You looked so so hot in them (...?)
I most probably will if I keep working for myself & am successful. Ahem, am flattered but c'mooon! I was just a little younger & looked better then, lol! But my kids will:)
b))) Have you ever forgiven me…?(will have to call me for me to finish that sentence) ha!ha!ha!? Indeed, you're forgiven my dear friend...but lemme grab the phone & find out if there's more to that sentence. Darn suspense is killing me like Nick wanting to know about irena & akiey,lol! Btw, will get you those Josh Groban concert tickets: )
c))) Promise you wont tell Nick anything about me and you? You got my word Irena, as you can see above I referred him back to ya! He has to get you to whisper the answer in his ear,lol!

Caroline said: "thanks for stopping by my blog...pics add an aura to a blog that is most needed …have an idea of the person u are posting to or reading about..."
Caroline since I have no answer to a Q from you, kindly pick any 3 Qs from these wonderful people and include them in an upcoming post? Thanx & c u again soon!

Blue Poet philosophised:
a))) Who do you feel you are?
This Q was so deep I had to sit back & question myself:
1- On a bad & shitty day: That darned fool that forced Egyptians into slavery to build those enormous pyramids & now life is paying me back...seriously!
2- On a very good day: A bagful of ideas walking on 2 legs & about to have a biiig positive impact on this world & knowing the only thing standing in my way is the right opportunity bcoz am ready, I've been ready!
3- Generally: One of God's "Work in Progress" & I hope He'll be content with the final product.

b))) Why do men at the coast turn to look at buibui clad women when all they see is a fleeting glimpse of the eyes? Hehe, Blue, 'the eyes are the windows to the soul'. Coastal men believe you can tell a whole lot about a woman from what is communicated through her eyes.
c))) If you were an alien which country would you make your own?
Africa of the 1500s to scare the hell out of those darned European & Arab slave catchers so they never, ever, laa hasha!, sahau kabisa! Try to take away the sons & daughters of this sacred land.

Guess & Marvin came around asked "appropriate" Qs & also issued a threat,lol!:
a))) I love Blue's Qs-especially no.3- can I come and be your alien nurse. I promised to wipe that gooey green stuff (on your profile pic) with loadsa TLC?
You bet! After all the arse whopping I'll give the slave catchers above I'll need an alien n