PRESS FREEDOM: THE -G.R.E.A.M--- SPEAKS OUT

I got this from a blog called 'gukira' it read like

"Dear President Kibaki:

On March 2, 2006 government forces raided the headquarters and printing plant of the Standard Group. In addition to destroying equipment and newspapers, they shut down the KTN news station.

This latest attack follows the jailing of three journalists from Standard Newspaper, attacks on Citizen Weekly, and ongoing harassment of journalists by government-sponsored forces.

I urge you to condemn these attacks and to support freedom of the press."

I mainly write about Hip Hop and entertainment but this one cuaght my eye and I had to comment. Not that I suck this government's dick and not that I do not advocate for press freedom. Its because I love journalism.

First, the raiding was in bad taste and the day will always be remembered as a dark one in the history of press in Kenya and world over. It was like a bad dream to me when I woke up to the news of the raid. The governemnt erred in this one and I condemn the attack in the storngest of terms.

Secondly, I do not think the arrest of Swaleh Mdoe was to curtail freedom of the press otherwise the same would have happened to the likes of Muraya Kariuki, Jaidi Kisero, Philip Mwaniki or any other journalist. That is where the Standard Group went wrong when they accused the governemnt of harrasing the press coz one of their own had been arrested on suspicion of not being Kenyan. Remember what happened to Nation media Group journalist that were sent packing for working in Tanzania? Was that abuse of press freedom or would you call it protocal? I urge Standard Group to SHUN sensationalism and work towards responsible journalism.

Look at newspaper like Citizen Weekly or whatever they call it. The government still allows it to run even when they come up with maligning articles on Politician, Businessmen, Entertainment Celebrities and other well to do Kenyans. I remember one Headline that read "WANGARI MATHAAI MARRIES MUSICIAN ERIC WAINAINA" Others have read "HALF OF KENYAN MPS ARE HIV POSITIVE" This are just afew headlines that have graced the paper over the years and there are many others the list is just endless. This is irreponsible journalism and I dont think the President should be blackmailed into supporting bad or gutter press.

The Press and the Governemt should come together and come up with laws that will be acceptable to all. Meanwhile the Press should learn to regulate itself. They should learn from that Nation Media advert "The Dog ate my homewrok!"

On the other hand the goverment should never at any one time repeat the March attacks and should allow everyone to work in peace.be it a journalist, a garbage collector, a CEO or a hawker.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP

The month of November marks the Anniversary of Hip Hop. The Anniversary hosts a positive Hip Hop community coming together from all walks of life to celebrate the true essence and excitement of what Hip Hop was meant to be.

Due to their lack of knowledge about the whole of Hip Hop culture, many of our world’s youth are mistaken in thinking that activities such as: smoking, drinking, wearing oversized designer label, bling bling plastered across their chest, grillz, gun carrying and getting shot nine times or whatever, or going to strip clubs, are “Hip Hop”. Hip Hop is being portrayed negatively by today’s artists who work in the element of Rap (emceeing), exploiting the culture at the expense of the youth’s state of mind and morality. The culture has become get rich stop trying.

Zulu Nation urges us to let Hip Hop be about Peace, Unity, Love, Having Fun, Positivism, Creativity, Tolerance, Respect, Party and Participating, Going Back to the Essence, Being Open Minded, and Devolution: Each One Teach One, consciousness and the up-liftment of all people.

This year, this month, all Hip Hoppers to work towards eliminating the negative stereotypes in Hip-Hop's public image and promote the elements of Hip-Hop culture so that we may all unite in the common spirit of the culture. Let’s guide Hip-hop Culture toward freedom from violence, and establishes advice and protection for the existence and development of the international Hip hop community.

Next year will mark ten years since the birth of local hip hop and it would be good for all hip hoppers to gather and pay tribute and respect to the legends of this culture to pay to our local equivalents of Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, NWA, Krs One, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Roxane Shante and Wu Tang like Hardstone, Kshaka, late Poxi Presha, KSouth, Mashifta, Mwafrika, Nazizi and others who have done local hip hop proud.

Lastly there is African Hip Hop Awards. The Awards are aimed at saluting Africans that have contributed to the establishment of Hip Hop culture in countries throughout Africa. This year they were held in South Africa on 27th of August. Coming year we should see as many Kenyans registering for the event if our Hip Hop is to get recognized by the world. The media should try and publicize such an event so that our artists can benefit just as they have been doing with MTV awards.

Meanwhile Anga Banga, Dandora Burning, Mwafrika Presents: The Muki Garang Mixtape, Shika DVD, Mashifta’s Classics album, Kenyan: The First Chapter, Nairobbery and Wenyeji’s DC, among others should take you to the roots, and to the basics of emceeing.