[Music] how many of you have ever found yourself
how many of you have ever found yourself
how many of you have ever found yourself wiping a tear after watching a movie I
wiping a tear after watching a movie I
wiping a tear after watching a movie I can see the men raising their hands
can see the men raising their hands
can see the men raising their hands behind their I see you men or how many
behind their I see you men or how many
behind their I see you men or how many of you how many of you found yourself
of you how many of you found yourself
of you how many of you found yourself telling a character in a TV show you’re
telling a character in a TV show you’re
telling a character in a TV show you’re watching no no don’t open that door
watching no no don’t open that door
watching no no don’t open that door don’t open the door how many the thing
don’t open the door how many the thing
don’t open the door how many the thing about stories the thing about TV shows
about stories the thing about TV shows
about stories the thing about TV shows is that we get so much into them that
is that we get so much into them that
is that we get so much into them that you see ourselves in the lives of the
you see ourselves in the lives of the
you see ourselves in the lives of the actors the lives of the of the of the
actors the lives of the of the of the
actors the lives of the of the of the characters in the stories you are
characters in the stories you are
characters in the stories you are watching stories mirror our lives
watching stories mirror our lives
watching stories mirror our lives stories reflect how our lives are
stories reflect how our lives are
stories reflect how our lives are stories mirror our hopes our dreams and
stories mirror our hopes our dreams and
stories mirror our hopes our dreams and even sometimes our fears
even sometimes our fears
even sometimes our fears it’s as if movies summarize life think
it’s as if movies summarize life think
it’s as if movies summarize life think of it as life in 90 minutes the power of
of it as life in 90 minutes the power of
of it as life in 90 minutes the power of the story or the power of stories is
the story or the power of stories is
the story or the power of stories is that we end up feeling like we know the
that we end up feeling like we know the
that we end up feeling like we know the people in the stories you’re watching we
people in the stories you’re watching we
people in the stories you’re watching we feel that they’re people we like to know
feel that they’re people we like to know
feel that they’re people we like to know if you don’t know them we feel connected
if you don’t know them we feel connected
if you don’t know them we feel connected to them now imagine growing up in a
to them now imagine growing up in a
to them now imagine growing up in a community where most of the stories in
community where most of the stories in
community where most of the stories in our community are negative the people in
our community are negative the people in
our community are negative the people in there in your community are always cast
there in your community are always cast
there in your community are always cast as the villains as the bad people the
as the villains as the bad people the
as the villains as the bad people the bad people in the movie and if your
bad people in the movie and if your
bad people in the movie and if your community makes its own news is really
community makes its own news is really
community makes its own news is really something negative happening is the
something negative happening is the
something negative happening is the house binding the somebody who was
house binding the somebody who was
house binding the somebody who was caught stealing something only the
caught stealing something only the
caught stealing something only the negative things for most people in the
negative things for most people in the
negative things for most people in the slums that they walk in they don’t like
slums that they walk in they don’t like
slums that they walk in they don’t like to see people cameras partly because
to see people cameras partly because
to see people cameras partly because every time they make it on the news
every time they make it on the news
every time they make it on the news there’s something bad they never make it
there’s something bad they never make it
there’s something bad they never make it on news when there’s something positive
on news when there’s something positive
on news when there’s something positive happening Chinua Achebe the famous
happening Chinua Achebe the famous
happening Chinua Achebe the famous Nigerian author who penned Things Fall
Nigerian author who penned Things Fall
Nigerian author who penned Things Fall Apart said people create stories create
Apart said people create stories create
Apart said people create stories create people or stories create people create
people or stories create people create
people or stories create people create stories in essence what he’s saying is
stories in essence what he’s saying is
stories in essence what he’s saying is that we create stories then those
that we create stories then those
that we create stories then those stories end up influencing us and our
stories end up influencing us and our
stories end up influencing us and our communities we end up becoming like the
communities we end up becoming like the
communities we end up becoming like the stories we hear all read about or the
stories we hear all read about or the
stories we hear all read about or the stories that are told about us in the
stories that are told about us in the
stories that are told about us in the 60s and the 70s I think those are famous
60s and the 70s I think those are famous
60s and the 70s I think those are famous criminal in Kenya known as John Currier
criminal in Kenya known as John Currier
criminal in Kenya known as John Currier meeting John Committee said in all of
meeting John Committee said in all of
meeting John Committee said in all of these interviews he used to be in the
these interviews he used to be in the
these interviews he used to be in the police VIP list shows all the
police VIP list shows all the
police VIP list shows all the most-wanted criminals the time he was
most-wanted criminals the time he was
most-wanted criminals the time he was arrested and he was sentenced to 20
arrested and he was sentenced to 20
arrested and he was sentenced to 20 years in jail while in jail killing me
years in jail while in jail killing me
years in jail while in jail killing me she put down the gun and picked up a pen
she put down the gun and picked up a pen
she put down the gun and picked up a pen and started writing his books in prison
and started writing his books in prison
and started writing his books in prison he published the book my life in crime
he published the book my life in crime
he published the book my life in crime and about 13 years into his sentence he
and about 13 years into his sentence he
and about 13 years into his sentence he got released for good behavior
got released for good behavior
got released for good behavior so that’s junk real meaty changing his
so that’s junk real meaty changing his
so that’s junk real meaty changing his story he changed his story from what was
story he changed his story from what was
story he changed his story from what was there before or Halles known before to
there before or Halles known before to
there before or Halles known before to know being an author and as we speak now
know being an author and as we speak now
know being an author and as we speak now he runs an organization in his hometown
he runs an organization in his hometown
he runs an organization in his hometown in Marana which is in central part of
in Marana which is in central part of
in Marana which is in central part of Kenya where he rehabilitate street kids
Kenya where he rehabilitate street kids
Kenya where he rehabilitate street kids and teaches them how to be respectable
and teaches them how to be respectable
and teaches them how to be respectable members of the community so that’s a
members of the community so that’s a
members of the community so that’s a different story whose living I ran an
different story whose living I ran an
different story whose living I ran an organization called Salaamu Johnny just
organization called Salaamu Johnny just
organization called Salaamu Johnny just to say Lee was joined
to say Lee was joined
to say Lee was joined Salaamu which means films Johnny in the
Salaamu which means films Johnny in the
Salaamu which means films Johnny in the Sun and with film with Johnny we train
Sun and with film with Johnny we train
Sun and with film with Johnny we train young people from the most from the
young people from the most from the
young people from the most from the informal settlement in Nairobi most of
informal settlement in Nairobi most of
informal settlement in Nairobi most of the informal settlements oh now they can
the informal settlements oh now they can
the informal settlements oh now they can tell the lie that stories using film and
tell the lie that stories using film and
tell the lie that stories using film and television how they can tell better
television how they can tell better
television how they can tell better stories and I remember when he began
stories and I remember when he began
stories and I remember when he began film with Johnny most of the people
film with Johnny most of the people
film with Johnny most of the people thought why don’t you teach this
thought why don’t you teach this
thought why don’t you teach this children or this youth you’re working
children or this youth you’re working
children or this youth you’re working with to do easy work have them just
with to do easy work have them just
with to do easy work have them just document stories don’t have them doing
document stories don’t have them doing
document stories don’t have them doing drama comedies you know things that make
drama comedies you know things that make
drama comedies you know things that make them think the creative things they
them think the creative things they
them think the creative things they thought it’s easier just give them a
thought it’s easier just give them a
thought it’s easier just give them a camera and tell them show us the bad
camera and tell them show us the bad
camera and tell them show us the bad things in camera you know the raw sewage
things in camera you know the raw sewage
things in camera you know the raw sewage flowing then collected garbage heaps the
flowing then collected garbage heaps the
flowing then collected garbage heaps the dot the smell
dot the smell
dot the smell have them show that
have them show that
have them show that but I noticed that the students have
but I noticed that the students have
but I noticed that the students have acted by walk to me and wanted more for
acted by walk to me and wanted more for
acted by walk to me and wanted more for the character of the stories they’re
the character of the stories they’re
the character of the stories they’re working on they wanted the characters to
working on they wanted the characters to
working on they wanted the characters to experience life knowledge to do stories
experience life knowledge to do stories
experience life knowledge to do stories that showed characters were full and I
that showed characters were full and I
that showed characters were full and I noticed quickly that it was a character
noticed quickly that it was a character
noticed quickly that it was a character in a movie the working on they’d want a
in a movie the working on they’d want a
in a movie the working on they’d want a car that have a hotter situation that
car that have a hotter situation that
car that have a hotter situation that they were in so they’d say for example
they were in so they’d say for example
they were in so they’d say for example let’s have him dumped by his girlfriend
let’s have him dumped by his girlfriend
let’s have him dumped by his girlfriend no no no someone has to say let’s have
no no no someone has to say let’s have
no no no someone has to say let’s have him grow in the poorest part of the slum
him grow in the poorest part of the slum
him grow in the poorest part of the slum then another would say how about after
then another would say how about after
then another would say how about after his girlfriend has dumped him he gets
his girlfriend has dumped him he gets
his girlfriend has dumped him he gets hit by a bus let’s say if if he’s hit by
hit by a bus let’s say if if he’s hit by
hit by a bus let’s say if if he’s hit by a bus I mean I was Terry is gone he’s
a bus I mean I was Terry is gone he’s
a bus I mean I was Terry is gone he’s ended quickly I didn’t say okay okay
ended quickly I didn’t say okay okay
ended quickly I didn’t say okay okay okay
okay
okay how about we have him injured we have
how about we have him injured we have
how about we have him injured we have him paralyzed neck down I guessing the
him paralyzed neck down I guessing the
him paralyzed neck down I guessing the drift icing the trend if the character
drift icing the trend if the character
drift icing the trend if the character was between a rock and a hard place they
was between a rock and a hard place they
was between a rock and a hard place they wanted the rock smoldering hot but the
wanted the rock smoldering hot but the
wanted the rock smoldering hot but the thing about the stories that are told by
thing about the stories that are told by
thing about the stories that are told by the users working with even though the
the users working with even though the
the users working with even though the stories began in the slums the stories
stories began in the slums the stories
stories began in the slums the stories didn’t end there
didn’t end there
didn’t end there the characters they worked with were
the characters they worked with were
the characters they worked with were fighting to come out of the bad
fighting to come out of the bad
fighting to come out of the bad situations they were in the characters
situations they were in the characters
situations they were in the characters were aggressively and actively pursuing
were aggressively and actively pursuing
were aggressively and actively pursuing better for a better future a better
better for a better future a better
better for a better future a better fortune you see for most of these young
fortune you see for most of these young
fortune you see for most of these young people I work with they had dreams – the
people I work with they had dreams – the
people I work with they had dreams – the dreaming of being studs they wanted to
dreaming of being studs they wanted to
dreaming of being studs they wanted to move from the gutters of the community
move from the gutters of the community
move from the gutters of the community to the gated communities they wanted
to the gated communities they wanted
to the gated communities they wanted change and what had change for their
change and what had change for their
change and what had change for their characters
and therein lies the problem about the
and therein lies the problem about the stories we tell of the people in the
stories we tell of the people in the
stories we tell of the people in the slums the problem is not the setting
slums the problem is not the setting
slums the problem is not the setting it’s okay to begin from there but more
it’s okay to begin from there but more
it’s okay to begin from there but more often than not the stories we tell and
often than not the stories we tell and
often than not the stories we tell and there they don’t progress if there’s any
there they don’t progress if there’s any
there they don’t progress if there’s any change is for the worse for the wrong
change is for the worse for the wrong
change is for the worse for the wrong people I work with they felt that the
people I work with they felt that the
people I work with they felt that the change can also be positive the change
change can also be positive the change
change can also be positive the change can be different boom believe Oh hoo
can be different boom believe Oh hoo
can be different boom believe Oh hoo Lambie vu
Lambie vu
Lambie vu that’s a Swahili proverb which means the
that’s a Swahili proverb which means the
that’s a Swahili proverb which means the person who is patient gets the fruit so
person who is patient gets the fruit so
person who is patient gets the fruit so I grew up collecting quotes I just love
I grew up collecting quotes I just love
I grew up collecting quotes I just love the way quotes had a way of just
the way quotes had a way of just
the way quotes had a way of just summarizing an idea and just put an idea
summarizing an idea and just put an idea
summarizing an idea and just put an idea to wisdom in a small thing so I love
to wisdom in a small thing so I love
to wisdom in a small thing so I love that about quotes but I find I found
that about quotes but I find I found
that about quotes but I find I found myself more often than not not
myself more often than not not
myself more often than not not remembering that the quotes or the cost
remembering that the quotes or the cost
remembering that the quotes or the cost not eliciting emotions from me but I
not eliciting emotions from me but I
not eliciting emotions from me but I found myself remembering the story that
found myself remembering the story that
found myself remembering the story that my parents told me my father told me
my parents told me my father told me
my parents told me my father told me when he was growing up his his parents
when he was growing up his his parents
when he was growing up his his parents were so poor that he couldn’t afford to
were so poor that he couldn’t afford to
were so poor that he couldn’t afford to buy a short capsula kanessa
buy a short capsula kanessa
buy a short capsula kanessa and when he began school he used to be a
and when he began school he used to be a
and when he began school he used to be a shot only and go to school that way and
shot only and go to school that way and
shot only and go to school that way and most of the time after walking for so
most of the time after walking for so
most of the time after walking for so many kilometres he’d come back home
many kilometres he’d come back home
many kilometres he’d come back home after school and not eat anything at
after school and not eat anything at
after school and not eat anything at home that boy who is to go to school or
home that boy who is to go to school or
home that boy who is to go to school or a shot ended up finishing high school
a shot ended up finishing high school
a shot ended up finishing high school and getting a job and his fortunes
and getting a job and his fortunes
and getting a job and his fortunes change that boy who never stopped a
change that boy who never stopped a
change that boy who never stopped a shorty is now I diplomat to the UN and I
shorty is now I diplomat to the UN and I
shorty is now I diplomat to the UN and I guess he has many suits now so we
guess he has many suits now so we
guess he has many suits now so we generally remember whom believer who
generally remember whom believer who
generally remember whom believer who Lambie vu or this story I suggest that
Lambie vu or this story I suggest that
Lambie vu or this story I suggest that this story would stick more than just a
this story would stick more than just a
this story would stick more than just a problem because this story brings things
problem because this story brings things
problem because this story brings things in a in your imagination it makes you
in a in your imagination it makes you
in a in your imagination it makes you feel something
feel something
feel something there’s a sort of a mother told me that
there’s a sort of a mother told me that
there’s a sort of a mother told me that when she was grown up
when she was grown up
when she was grown up they used to split firewood for cooking
they used to split firewood for cooking
they used to split firewood for cooking and I don’t know how many of you know
and I don’t know how many of you know
and I don’t know how many of you know how to split firewood so you’d get there
how to split firewood so you’d get there
how to split firewood so you’d get there the piece of wood put it down then you
the piece of wood put it down then you
the piece of wood put it down then you have to step on it to pivot it how many
have to step on it to pivot it how many
have to step on it to pivot it how many of you know how to do that they step on
of you know how to do that they step on
of you know how to do that they step on it let me pick an axe and displace it so
it let me pick an axe and displace it so
it let me pick an axe and displace it so the time she was doing that I should
the time she was doing that I should
the time she was doing that I should ended up splitting the piece of wood and
ended up splitting the piece of wood and
ended up splitting the piece of wood and she split her toe into – she’s so
she split her toe into – she’s so
she split her toe into – she’s so injured that she couldn’t get any
injured that she couldn’t get any
injured that she couldn’t get any medical attention where she was in rural
medical attention where she was in rural
medical attention where she was in rural Kenya in rural CI a– so she had to come
Kenya in rural CI a– so she had to come
Kenya in rural CI a– so she had to come to nairobi and get specialized treatment
to nairobi and get specialized treatment
to nairobi and get specialized treatment in a row b she stayed with one of my
in a row b she stayed with one of my
in a row b she stayed with one of my relatives and while she’s getting that
relatives and while she’s getting that
relatives and while she’s getting that treatment she bumped into my father and
treatment she bumped into my father and
treatment she bumped into my father and she met my father and that’s how they
she met my father and that’s how they
she met my father and that’s how they met
met
met so what’s the moral of that story
so what’s the moral of that story
so what’s the moral of that story sometimes when you split your big toe
sometimes when you split your big toe
sometimes when you split your big toe you could meet your soul mate no no
you could meet your soul mate no no
you could meet your soul mate no no that’s what the moral the moral is
that’s what the moral the moral is
that’s what the moral the moral is sometimes even the things that sim was
sometimes even the things that sim was
sometimes even the things that sim was can actually end up becoming better so
can actually end up becoming better so
can actually end up becoming better so you may not be in a place to create a
you may not be in a place to create a
you may not be in a place to create a movie or a TV show but I suggest that
movie or a TV show but I suggest that
movie or a TV show but I suggest that you in a place where you can start
you in a place where you can start
you in a place where you can start writing a story I say about the kind of
writing a story I say about the kind of
writing a story I say about the kind of life you’d like to leave I thought about
life you’d like to leave I thought about
life you’d like to leave I thought about how you’d like to be remembered or to be
how you’d like to be remembered or to be
how you’d like to be remembered or to be seen by people so for instance my story
seen by people so for instance my story
seen by people so for instance my story would be something like can allow a
would be something like can allow a
would be something like can allow a filmmaker who acted the youth from the
filmmaker who acted the youth from the
filmmaker who acted the youth from the informal settlements he dreams ten
informal settlements he dreams ten
informal settlements he dreams ten ladies and gentlemen from film who
ladies and gentlemen from film who
ladies and gentlemen from film who Johnny would win an Oscar in his
Johnny would win an Oscar in his
Johnny would win an Oscar in his lifetime one of the most prestigious
lifetime one of the most prestigious
lifetime one of the most prestigious awards in films so that’s my story and a
awards in films so that’s my story and a
awards in films so that’s my story and a times if something negative or something
times if something negative or something
times if something negative or something unexpected happens to you you have an
unexpected happens to you you have an
unexpected happens to you you have an opportunity of including that in your
opportunity of including that in your
opportunity of including that in your story so if today I dropped one of my
story so if today I dropped one of my
story so if today I dropped one of my tools of trade on or my camera’s down my
tools of trade on or my camera’s down my
tools of trade on or my camera’s down my expensive cameras and breaks to pieces
expensive cameras and breaks to pieces
expensive cameras and breaks to pieces maybe I can add that to my story this
maybe I can add that to my story this
maybe I can add that to my story this way Ken alow has continued to take
way Ken alow has continued to take
way Ken alow has continued to take pictures with this camera phone
pictures with this camera phone
pictures with this camera phone realizing that a camera is just a tool
realizing that a camera is just a tool
realizing that a camera is just a tool is not the end in itself
is not the end in itself
is not the end in itself so you could be here and you have taken
so you could be here and you have taken
so you could be here and you have taken a long time but that’s just a small part
a long time but that’s just a small part
a long time but that’s just a small part of your story
of your story
of your story so what eight years of Governors in
so what eight years of Governors in
so what eight years of Governors in kubera I met one of my students called
kubera I met one of my students called
kubera I met one of my students called George’s and George’s this six-two guy
George’s and George’s this six-two guy
George’s and George’s this six-two guy very big and very very tall and very big
very big and very very tall and very big
very big and very very tall and very big came to me and told me the audience
came to me and told me the audience
came to me and told me the audience didn’t get robbed me meaning hey you can
didn’t get robbed me meaning hey you can
didn’t get robbed me meaning hey you can you give me twenty shillings I told him
you give me twenty shillings I told him
you give me twenty shillings I told him of course not I can’t give you what
of course not I can’t give you what
of course not I can’t give you what should I give you money I mean you’re
should I give you money I mean you’re
should I give you money I mean you’re big enough you can fend for yourself
big enough you can fend for yourself
big enough you can fend for yourself then George’s ask me like Kimmy what do
then George’s ask me like Kimmy what do
then George’s ask me like Kimmy what do I told him I’m a filmmaker I do
I told him I’m a filmmaker I do
I told him I’m a filmmaker I do photography I do TV shows so this is
photography I do TV shows so this is
photography I do TV shows so this is they just asked me how about you trained
they just asked me how about you trained
they just asked me how about you trained me how to do that
me how to do that
me how to do that he came online with us and over time he
he came online with us and over time he
he came online with us and over time he became so good fuckin all the shows they
became so good fuckin all the shows they
became so good fuckin all the shows they worked on is called XYZ show most of you
worked on is called XYZ show most of you
worked on is called XYZ show most of you are from Kenya annoyed the show that has
are from Kenya annoyed the show that has
are from Kenya annoyed the show that has puppets curry catching politicians so
puppets curry catching politicians so
puppets curry catching politicians so that’s the show he worked on they just
that’s the show he worked on they just
that’s the show he worked on they just became so good he branched out and he
became so good he branched out and he
became so good he branched out and he said his own company so in fact two
said his own company so in fact two
said his own company so in fact two years ago my company and George’s
years ago my company and George’s
years ago my company and George’s company were bidding for work George’s
company were bidding for work George’s
company were bidding for work George’s ended up winning the bid
ended up winning the bid
ended up winning the bid he had smarted us that’s George’s story
he had smarted us that’s George’s story
he had smarted us that’s George’s story I can also tell you about Fatuma when
I can also tell you about Fatuma when
I can also tell you about Fatuma when Fatuma finished high school he had very
Fatuma finished high school he had very
Fatuma finished high school he had very poor grades fatima couldn’t go to
poor grades fatima couldn’t go to
poor grades fatima couldn’t go to university far too much got two options
university far too much got two options
university far too much got two options like most of the guards in his community
like most of the guards in his community
like most of the guards in his community a that go and become a house help or get
a that go and become a house help or get
a that go and become a house help or get married off and maybe bring that dowry
married off and maybe bring that dowry
married off and maybe bring that dowry to her family but for tumour really
to her family but for tumour really
to her family but for tumour really wanted to go to college she really
wanted to go to college she really
wanted to go to college she really wanted to go to university she came and
wanted to go to university she came and
wanted to go to university she came and learn how to edit video and over time
learn how to edit video and over time
learn how to edit video and over time she went and did the bridging courses in
she went and did the bridging courses in
she went and did the bridging courses in a way where you got to increase your
a way where you got to increase your
a way where you got to increase your grades in university so she did the
grades in university so she did the
grades in university so she did the bridging courses and she joined one the
bridging courses and she joined one the
bridging courses and she joined one the local universities as we speak now
local universities as we speak now
local universities as we speak now Fatima’s edited over 40 TV episodes
Fatima’s edited over 40 TV episodes
Fatima’s edited over 40 TV episodes when one of the show she works with one
when one of the show she works with one
when one of the show she works with one rather is called a one-in-a-million that
rather is called a one-in-a-million that
rather is called a one-in-a-million that comes on eminent or DSTV on Wednesday
comes on eminent or DSTV on Wednesday
comes on eminent or DSTV on Wednesday nights
nights
nights Fatima is also now able to pay our own
Fatima is also now able to pay our own
Fatima is also now able to pay our own fees and also educate some of Absa
fees and also educate some of Absa
fees and also educate some of Absa Billings so for two months or a change
Billings so for two months or a change
Billings so for two months or a change she began from a place maybe where she
she began from a place maybe where she
she began from a place maybe where she didn’t have much hope and future but the
didn’t have much hope and future but the
didn’t have much hope and future but the stories change and that’s the power of
stories change and that’s the power of
stories change and that’s the power of stories that stories are so dynamic
stories that stories are so dynamic
stories that stories are so dynamic stories changed they don’t have to stay
stories changed they don’t have to stay
stories changed they don’t have to stay stagnant I feel that quotes are stagnant
stagnant I feel that quotes are stagnant
stagnant I feel that quotes are stagnant what stay there but when you have a
what stay there but when you have a
what stay there but when you have a story I saw you can change and often for
story I saw you can change and often for
story I saw you can change and often for the better
the better
the better but where do you begin I suggest you
but where do you begin I suggest you
but where do you begin I suggest you begin by writing a paragraph about how
begin by writing a paragraph about how
begin by writing a paragraph about how it wants to be seen or how you want to
it wants to be seen or how you want to
it wants to be seen or how you want to be remembered and after you do that
be remembered and after you do that
be remembered and after you do that don’t keep it to yourself share it with
don’t keep it to yourself share it with
don’t keep it to yourself share it with others because Surak comes alive when
others because Surak comes alive when
others because Surak comes alive when others know about it and after you do
others know about it and after you do
others know about it and after you do that memorize your story and go out
that memorize your story and go out
that memorize your story and go out there and live a better story thank you
there and live a better story thank you
there and live a better story thank you [Applause]
you
you [Applause]
”
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