It started with a tweet. A simple 140-worded reply made to an internationally acclaimed writer. “I follow British author Hari Kunrzu’s Twitter account and one day I happen to see him lament over the cliché that every book coming out of India had to have spices on the cover,” says the comely, curly-haired Aleya Jamel, Reading Promoter at StoryMoja. She replied tongue-in-cheek, “And it seems like most books coming out of Kenya have to have a lone acacia tree in a barren desert on the cover.”

A place of mindlessness and inner stillness is where great works of art are made. These tranquil places are found in solitude, away from the petty prattle that dims creativity. And when artists consecrate here, ideas are exchanged, inner eyes are opened and an inspiration that no glut of adjectives can describe is born. Then they get to work, and through their paint brushes and their fingers, they rouse an art from inside that then comes alive in the public milieu.

Ideas are strange things. They can even be rude things. Usually, they pop up in the most inopportune of times, flash incredibly fast before your eyes, then poof, gone. But sometimes that light bulb moment comes at the perfect time. “In 2008, my brother Ivan and I were stuck in the middle of the night on a stationary train between Mombasa and Nairobi when an idea struck us,” says highspirited 34 year-old Sean Ross, co-founder of Rift Valley Festival- a musical jamboree that brings together local and international artists for a common humanitarian cause.

Let’s face it, when asked what your favourite meat is, pork is probably the last thing that comes to mind, right? I could be wrong. I hope I’m wrong. Because the guys at Golden Spur in Westlands make some sweet swine. Swine so good, it throws chicken out the window, and bullies the beef.

I’m here to see Cyrus Kabiru, and before I can pose any question, he states that his line of duty revolves around balance—he is a painter, creator of shades and a sculptor. His sculptures are made from found objects or recycled materials.

It’s tricky to review a book written by an opinion writer, mainly because the writer might turn and write an opinion about your opinion. However, Rasna Warah is an eloquent writer and her book ‘Red Soil and Roasted Maize’ only serves to confirm this. The book is a compilation of her best works since she began writing for The Daily Nation. The collection spans nearly 20 years, with every article evoking nostalgia and showcasing the causes the rabble-rouser championed or challenged.