Msafiri Issue 165 - Feb - Mar 2021

kanbu DEAR READER Welcome to the February/March 2021 issue of msafiri.2021 is a year filled with hope and optimism and we are spreading love and cheer during Valentine’s Day. It is a special occasion to remember the loved ones in our life, and also one of the most critical periods of the year for Kenya’s horticulture industry. Valentine’s Day generates a significant portion of horticulture sales and helps to support around six million livelihoods (see page 80). We are proud to play our part by delivering Kenyan flowers (as well as fruit and vegetables) to over 60 cities around the world, ranging from Accra and Lusaka to Amsterdam and London. It’s just one the different ways we continue to support economies as they recover from the effects of the Covid-19…

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION At the height of the Covid-19 lockdown in Kenya during 2020, Team Lioness rangers could not travel home to be with their families, but continued working on the frontline for months on end in order to protect wildlife from poachers, bushmeat hunting and environmental destruction. When coronavirusrelated travel restrictions lifted, however, they could return home, two-at-a-time, to celebrate poignant family reunions. Here, Ruth Sikeita, 28, is reunited with family at her home village of Olasiti. “My heart is full as I am seeing my son and daughter for the first time in four month,”said Ruth. TURN TO PAGE 22 TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TEAM LIONESS. PHOTO BY PAOLO TORCHIO/IFAW…

CONTRIBUTORS THE WRITE STUFF MEET SOME OF THIS ISSUE’S WONDERFUL WORDSMITHS – AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY CAN’T WAIT TO TRAVEL TO NEXT Peter Muiruri is a Kenyan writer specialising in travel, conservation and human interest stories where “words paint a picture, and a picture tells a story”. Follow Peter on Twitter @peter_ muiruri and Instagram @peterinafrica2016 TAKE ME THERE: “New York. I just want to ride in yellow taxi cabs and walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, besides connecting with long-lost friends. It’s that simple.” Gatuiri Mwangi FOOD CONTENT CREATOR AND FOUNDER OF LEO TUNAPIKA?(LEOTUNAPIKA.COM) A TOP KENYAN FOOD BLOG THAT WAS A WINNER IN THE 2019 BAKE AWARDS. A WIFE AND MOTHER OF THREE, HER MOTIVATION IS TO SHARE EASY RECIPES FOR THE EVERYDAY CURIOUS COOK. Harun Momanyi is the founder…

VISION OF AFRICA MARA MAGIC Kenya Airways proudly supported the Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year 2020 competition – turn to page 72 to find out more and see the overall winning image. Here, we pick four other superb photographs from the competition, and highlight the work of the community conservation projects benefiting from the Angama Foundation initiative PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ANGAMA FOUNDATION/THEGREATESTMAASAIMARA.COM Supporting community conservation in the Maasai Mara EACH ENTRY FEE FOR THE GREATEST MAASAI MARA PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR IS DONATED IN FULL TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONSERVATION ORGANISATIONS, EACH SHARING A COMMON GOAL TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MAASAI MARA ECOSYSTEM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS ANGAMA FOUNDATION Supporting education, healthcare and conservation initiatives on the western edge of the Maasai Mara, entry fees…

VISION OF AFRICA What does it take to become the Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year? Here’s what the judges are looking for: Overall impression and visual impact: does the entry invoke an emotional response? Technical difficulty and execution: does the entry show skill in balance, focus, lighting and exposure? Originality, humour and creativity: is the photographer’s message conveyed through their lens? Feeling inspired? Entries for this year’s competition are now open. Visit thegreatestmaasaimara.com for details and marvel at the crop of stunning images each month on Instagram @thegreatestmaasaimara, #TGMM2020…

TRENDING THE WORLD IS YOUR WORLD We are plugged into a global community where anyone, anywhere, can engage with a far-flung creative moment, enjoy it, share it, or reimagine it for all the world to experience. As the cultural spotlight continues to shine on Africa, we have no shortage of content and inspiration to offer. WORDS: ANNABEL ONYANGO nigeria’s most recent fashion export is Kenneth Ize (@kennethIze) whose ready-to-wear looks have been modelled by the likes of Adwoa Aboah and Naomi Campbell. Ize’s signature style uses the traditional Yoruba fabric aso oke, which is handwoven into a check pattern, vibrantly coloured and heavily textured. A collaboration with millennial Ize and the 85-year-old fashion veteran Karl Lagerfeld may seem like an odd pairing, but could be a powerful cultural statement about…