Journal Entry: 4th January 2015 Sunday

Came by night bus from Mombasa. Needing to surprise myself I sometimes just get random.

So I decided not to sleep the whole trip. We boarded the bus at 10:35pm, of course they had promised that departure time would be 10pm. Am not sure of when it left. After packing the bingi drums at the back of the small black bus printed ‘Mencini’ on the back windshield.

Ras Musyoki was the first to climb. He took the task of booking all the tickets for the rest of us. Possibly he knew the best seat position and might had felt a need to reward himself for a successfully completed task part of a larger duty. M-Stic followed him slinging a guitar from his shoulder and carrying his bag in the hand. The most flamboyant member of Abakisimba. You know him with stars on everything he wore. Right from from his natty straight baseball cap, his shoulder length dreadlocks covered some of the square metals on his jacket which matched with more same glittering things on everything he wore including his belt. Maybe it was the reason why other passengers some of whom had already boarded the bus stole glances at us and promptly gave way when any of us approached. The bus engine was running as I we got on. I followed him behind, my guitar secured to my back, a travel bag and a satchel dangling from my neck. I noticed that the seat behind the one Musyoki sat on had a window. Then I shouted

“Nakaa kwa ile kiti mimi”

M-Stic asserted he was heading to that one.  Too bad, so was I and had notified him. He should at least had pointed out. He is polite too akaniachia.

So after stuffing my guitar in the luggage rack next to his, alternating the instruments’ bodies to save space. I also placed next my blue travel bag which was so stuffed, you would assume it for a baloon! Then I sat with the satchel bag headphones necklacing my neck. I guess Muriu followed me because all I remember was his huge bare biceps squeezing me to the godamned window. Anyway I noticed that Stic sat on the set of seats with Musyoki. Udulele sat to the isle on our set and Kamunya sat on the middle seat in their set.

Gratitude and fulfillment might be the best description of how I was feeling. Not because am this very important and relevant artiste something I do not mind being, rather the previous perceived impossibility of the task earlier in the day after checking out from Diani Bay Resort gave me solace that all the hustle was over.

A school of drums, 2 large midrange speakers, an assortment of different coloured bags, several laptops very many cables and a total of 9 adults were ready for transport distributed between a cream – or some pigment evading my vocabulary- coloured Pajero and a metallic grey double cab Nissan. Not big deal to transit, dilemma is the double cab is secured to the tail of the Pajero by a 3 inch diameter cylindrical pipe about 2m long. We had a ferry to cross but that is a story for another day.

I felt very victorious and a sense of security shifted my mind to other things. To begin, all that my attention oozed towards, sort of like the ammonium smell wafting into the air behind a just cleaned abolition block, was the moon. The sky was clear and a pale light from the almost full moon made things different. Though the air maintained humidity up till past Manyani. I remember trying to determine the direction of the bus by looking at the position of the constellation also called ‘The Plough’ which kept changing position every turn the bus made along the very smooth road. It was a marvel, the grandeur of all expanse and creation. What a start to a year.

Am learning that awareness validates meaning. Since all of it is real, like Muriu’s snore that I completely ignored even refusing to wake him up as Ras Musyoki requested. There has to be a very special meaning to the fact that all the galaxy I gazed at is so that I would just do that or anything else I wished. Have you ever considered booking a ticket for that Virgin Galactic trip to space that Richard Branson is toying with?

Maybe that is too ambitious. It is very important to note that there is no blackboard in the sky as author Donald Walsh would say, where anyone has written what you are. Possibly if you looked up to the sky and assumed it for a blank canvas then decide to write whatever you wanted on it, ONLY then could there be a possibility for anyone to paint or write anything in YOUR sky. Never wait for anything, to quote Jack Canfield another of my favourite authors.

“Some of you are waiting for doves to fly over your house in a cross sign formation.”

I say today may this year bring you beautiful and significant experiences that shall lead you ever more to the fullest expression of your being, to positively impact humanity. Thanks for being a special part of 2014 for me. Am promising even massive things in 2015.

I wish to thank everyone who made MUTHURUKISHON Mini 2014 a success. Just mention a few people and not in any particular order. I was excited to meet again my long time friend from Uganda. Something always told me you are a cattle boy Gisa, well more things in common. Thanks for the Rolex!!! Take care of the cow you received from me, it must never be sold. Only give it away if it bores. Then again can Mc Machonyaya get bored? Pleasure meeting you Sara. Cory you are so much fun. For Clarrisa too much unfinished business, are we recording the lefty guitar or what? Your company rocks too!!! So we ‘see you around’ Meghan great for you to come through. Sorry I could not come back for the party at the beach house. Shout out to Swift and Bankslave some of the illest paint masters I know. The former an old time buddy from the art circles the other a new acquaintance. I see you with your cobra Mr Whistleman!!! Great Djs: Wasengo, Dark Meme from Entebbe, Dj Knod and many more. Kakee, Munroe, Iddi Aziz, Bob, Mganga mkuu kwa ile handshake ya North Coast plus allowing me kukusumbua ukilima. Daniel Okiror for your music and generosity. Idrix, Vicky, Cathy Matete, Giscard, Lebo, Eugene, Moses and his Zoe, Charles the Chef, Hamisi and ever smiling manager Mr Eric, asante ndugu kwa complimentary room. Liz and your family. Much love Alai K, and the very efficient Wamboe and don’t anyone dare call her Ann, nilijihisi kuheshimika dada ubarikiwe sana. Then of course my main man Greg Tendwa. Hata kama ndio kunaendanga, una roho mzee. Am so proud we are friends. Thanks for this man.

Again I promise a great year and see you all in December at MUTHURUKISHON Minifest 2015