Science Editor, Writer, Communications Specialist

Chelenge: Kenyan wood sculptor stands strong with people with disabilities

November 2, 2023

“I am Kenya’s first woman sculptress,” Chelenge says, as we step through a low, thatch-roof verandah and into her light-filled home studio— a sprawling bungalow where rooms flow effortlessly into one another, like a river. The walls are an immaculate whitewash and the cement screed floor is painted with red oxide, creating a perfect backdrop for Chelenge Van Rampelberg’s rich collection of paintings, and her own wooden sculptures—some nearly touching the ceiling, others at eye level.

As we meander among the sculptures I am struck by the expressions on the carvings – alive, serene, defiant. Some lips are upturned into small smiles. Many of the figures are missing something… a breast, an arm, both legs …

“What’s up with the disabilities?” I ask Chelenge, and spark off a monologue.

“I believe the ugliest thing in the world is the most beautiful.

“See this cripple here? He’s too, can give a nice, strong hug to this beautiful girl he loves.

Musings on mahamri and coral reefs in Kilifi

September 14, 2020

Chumani village in Kilifi, where my buddy has set up a sustainable mixed farming homestead, is a 10-minute walk from one of the most gorgeous, white sandy beaches on the East African coast. In Chumani the skies are blue, the air is warm, and the moon and stars hold a beauty contest every night.

Plus, Chumani has the most delicious mahamri this side of Pwani, made fresh every morning by Mamake-Anna and her daughter Anna in their low thatch-roof kitchen-cum-restaurant by the side of the short stretch of road that turns off the Mombasa–Kilifi highway into the villlage and straight to Chumani Beach.

Legend has it that this road once had a big chunk of chuma (‘metal’ in Kiswahili), which slowly became a landmark. As time went on the village came to be known as the place with the chuma (Chumani).

Audio: Memories of rural Kenya in the 1930s–50s: My mum and I on national radio

December 3, 2017

Ever wondered how Africans managed in the olden days?

How did women deliver children at home? What did they feed their babies? And when people fell sick who brought them back to health… and with what?

And then when the British colonialists came and tore apart the social structure in Central Kenya, what drove people to nonetheless take up the formal education they brought? (My parents’ families were among the early adopters.)

In May this year, my mum, author of a memoir titled “It’s Never Too Late”, and I were invited to The Books Café, a radio program hosted by Khainga O’Okwemba, on the national broadcaster KBC.

Though I kicked and screamed when Khainga suggested that I should join the program, it turned out OK, and I even enjoyed the chit chat…you have to think on your feet!

Here’s the audio. 1 hour long. And below it the promo clip too – 30 seconds.

Margaret Wakarindi Githinji – author of ‘It’s Never Too Late’, a memoir, Now on Kindle at: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Late-Margaret-Wakarindi-Githinji-ebook/dp/B08TVTSG43/ref=sr_1_1

Cool insights for a hot world: trees and forests recycle water

February 9, 2017

Anyone who has walked outside on a sunny day knows that forests and trees matter for temperature, humidity and wind speed. Planting trees speaks to concerns about climate change, but the directly important aspects of the tree-climate relationships have so far been overlooked in climate policy where it relates to forest.

That, at least, is the conclusion of a new review. The authors suggest that the global conversation on trees, forests and climate needs to be turned on its head: the direct effects via rainfall and cooling may be more important than the well-studied effects through the global carbon balance.

Yet, current climate policy only recognizes the latter. While farmers understand that trees cool their homes, livestock and crops, they had to learn the complex and abstract language of greenhouse gasses and carbon stocks if they wanted to be part of climate mitigation efforts. Not anymore, if the new perspectives become widely accepted.Read more

Kombo Chokwe Burns and his Afro Simba Band blazes the music trail

February 5, 2017

Launching his new album Pandizo, Kombo Chokwe Burns and his band got their lucky audience off their seats in no time flat!

His mastery of the guitar, his own and his singers’ gorgeous voices, a powerful stage presence, and a fun ‘pekeshe’ -style from the Kenyan coast [they call it Mijikenda Fusion], did the trick that balmy evening of 6 November 2016. Besides the guitars, the Chivoti—a traditional bamboo flute— went straight into our souls.

The songs in the album, done in Kiswahili and the Mijikenda languages, have great lyrics – some environmental (e.g. Maji – water).

So happy to see the story of Kombo’s journey of resilience in the face of a major obstacle in the local media – finally!

Go Go Kombo, Go Go Afro Simba! History has its eyes on you!

You can buy the music here: https://afrosimba.bandcamp.com/releases

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Children’s orchestra plays Cohen’s Hallelujah

February 4, 2017

I had the great good fortune to be part of the audience at the culmination of an Orchestral Weekend at St Andrew’s Turi in Molo, Kenya, mid January.

Here are the kids—all 13 or younger—performing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, conducted by the amazing Julia Luvai.

Children's orchestra- Kenya — Children’s orchestra- Kenya

And the master himself? https://youtu.be/YrLk4vdY28Q

‘Tis the season for frankincense, a suitable restoration tree for the Horn of Africa

December 20, 2016

There’s one more reason to be jolly this season: the frankincense tree—source of one of the precious gifts of the Magi in the Christmas story—is being called “a suitable tree species for use in dryland restoration under a changing climate.”

Based on studies on frankincense trees (Bosweillia neglecta) from southern Ethiopia, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and partner researchers are calling for this tree’s expanded application in the restoration of drylands in the Horn of Africa.

In this region, covering Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and parts of northern Kenya, frankincense is tapped from Bosweillia and several other dryland trees found naturally in dry tropical forests and woodlands. When injured, the bark exudes a fragrant watery sap, which is collected and left to harden into the frankincense resin. Bosweillia neglecta tree produces a particular, earthy frankincense known as ‘Borena type’.

An important commodity, frankincense is used in pharmacology, as a flavouring, in cosmetics and in perfumery, and is traded locally and internationally. The incense is used in many religious and cultural ceremonies around the world; indeed, no Ethiopian coffee ceremony is complete without the sweet, heady aroma frankincense releases when heated over hot coals.Read more

Put Soils First, African Soil Seminar concludes

December 2, 2016

For three days, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) was abuzz with stakeholders concerned about the state and fate of Africa’s soils. Over 150 government, UN and NGO officials, researchers, agricultural technology providers and human rights advocates were attending the first ever African Soils Seminar, 28 – 30 November 2016.

“Soils are the basis of our survival,” said the co-chair Wanjira Mathai, who directs wPOWER Hub and chairs the Green Belt Movement founded by her mother Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai. Read more. . .

Climate conference COP22 calls for action on land restoration, coordination, financing

November 22, 2016

img_3997-copy — Marrakesh, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains

The 22nd UN climate conference (COP 22) held in November in Marrakech, Morocco’s ‘Ochre City,’ was all about action.

Action not only to reshape the path of development in order to curb global temperature rise as a result of climate change, but also to sustainably feed and provide for a growing global population. The actions are part of countries’ commitments of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, which came into force on 4 November 2016, just days before the Marrakesh conference kicked off on 7 November.

Agroforestry for climate commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals

November 7, 2016

The Paris climate change agreement came into force on 4 November 2016—an unprecedented event. And the Marrakech climate talks, COP22, will be all about turning that agreement into reality on the ground.

Trees in forests and on agricultural landscapes are central to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and to delivering on the Paris Agreement. Read more. . .

Soil inhabitants hold together the planet’s food system

Audio: Memories of rural Kenya in the 1930s–50s: My mum and I on national radio

Musings on mahamri and coral reefs in Kilifi

Cool insights for a hot world: trees and forests recycle water

‘Tis the season for frankincense, a suitable restoration tree for the Horn of Africa

Fig trees throw down a lifeline to a healthier planet

‘De-risk’ the wood energy sector to unleash green growth

Brushing up charcoal’s image

Biodegradable seedling bags could grow stronger trees, but can they replace polythene?

The little-understood indigenous African fruit trees

What will it take to restore 100 million hectares of land in Africa?

Chelenge: Kenyan wood sculptor stands strong with people with disabilities

Chelenge: Kenyan wood sculptor stands strong with people with disabilities

Musings on mahamri and coral reefs in Kilifi

Audio: Memories of rural Kenya in the 1930s–50s: My mum and I on national radio

Cool insights for a hot world: trees and forests recycle water

Kombo Chokwe Burns and his Afro Simba Band blazes the music trail

Children’s orchestra plays Cohen’s Hallelujah

‘Tis the season for frankincense, a suitable restoration tree for the Horn of Africa

Put Soils First, African Soil Seminar concludes

Climate conference COP22 calls for action on land restoration, coordination, financing

Agroforestry for climate commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals