Taking on the big boys ... and girls

Quite often you will miss the most important story in a magazine. You will miss it because it’s buried in the armpit of the magazine, squeezed next to the fillers and the stories that are supposed to give a magazine “variety” and “pace.” While I was going through this issue, I stopped to mull over a story and how it comes close to depicting the ethos of what we are trying to achieve here (no matter how elusive that may be). This story is a book review, penned by Michael Onsando. He reviews this book bravely and with an earnesty that I find gallantly refreshing.

In short, he says this book is rubbish. Although his language is delicate he doesn’t pussyfoot around the issue; it’s a book that is well written but poorly edited, he says. And he backs his claims by pointing to instances where typos (all apologies for our own transgressions on that front) came up unnoticed. He takes on one of the big boys of the industry (the book is edited by the revered academician and writer, Tom Odhiambo), and although our writer is not exactly a heavyweight he has the marbles to say it as it is.

Unknowingly, the review encapsulated what this magazine should stand for, what this magazine strives for; brevity and chutzpah. UP is working towards an irreverence that is not driven by malice or scandal, but by a good journalistic nose for taking an intelligent piss on the media and culture demigods and, of course, having a ball while doing it. You might not notice it at a first glance, but UP is growing up and with this growth comes a little sense of entitlement and cheek. We are striving to do more than churn out copy, we want to churn out copy that actually makes a difference. We want to speak – not loudly – but authoritatively. And it starts with bold pieces like this review. In the same vein of boldness, we throw the gauntlet at the feet of the Catholic Church with a story about discrimination in the church based on HIV status.

Away from the teeth gritting…does your living room look like a dump, what with, your old outdated sofas with cigarette burns? Do you look at the modern living rooms in magazines and feel like you are living in a cave? Here, go to our website www.upnairobi.com, click onto the page and be on your way to winning a funky modern sofa set courtesy of Victoria Furnitures.

But if you feel your ‘urban’ living is up to scratch, then jump straight into our UP Town pages and get a feel of music, art and all things culture. We have also introduced a Barfly column, which will perhaps help you break that lousy routine of frequenting one joint, year after year. Speaking of great things, the StoryMoja Hay Festival is here again. There are many reasons why you should attend but if you want us to run you through them then perhaps you are holding the wrong magazine. See you there at our very own UP Lounge.

Happy reading.

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