Ken Burton- Kenya diary of events: Feb 12th Travelled to Nairobi on Air Kenya; upgraded to business class, which was a nice bonus Hardly stepped off the ‘plane when I was met by Kenneth, a representative, who took me right through customs and immigration. Immigration, in recognition of the humanitarian nature of the trip, very kindly waived the $50 US visa fee, and with a smile and warm handshake continued to make me feel welcome. Met my driver for the week, Peter; another calm, warm and good- humored person. Peter and Kenneth both accompanied me to the Stanley Hotel, an extremely nice hotel in the centre of Nairobi. The welcome at the hotel was very special. From nowhere a voice came ‘Mr Burton.. welcome to the Stanley’; he was shortly followed by Susan, a hotel rep who presented me with a big bouquet of flowers. Taken to my room, spacious and modern. Feb 13th Met with both Liz Wood, chair of the Kijani Trust, and Charity, marketing person from the Village Market- a large, modern shopping and entertainment complex in Nairobi, and responsible for setting up the visits in the various homes. Visit to the first home Shangilia Mtoto Wa Africa – a home for street children in one of the slum areas of Nairobi. The ‘children’ ranged from around 2 through to around 17 years old. The home was set up by a former film actor, and has an arts emphasis. It is the Kenyan custom in the homes and schools to make a musical presentation to the visitors for about twenty minutes. I was treated to about 15 minutes of dance, and some most amazing acrobatics, where students went up to three people high, jumping on shoulders, somersaulting , etc... – most professional. The workshop ran with several songs which the students sang enthusiastically. Feb 14th An early start; visited the Village Market , where Thursday’s performance would take place. Was met by Irene, who runs the Nest Orphanage in Limuru, about 45 mins from Nairobi. This is a home for orphans from as early as birth. The warmth of the children was absolutely outstanding. Their staff emitted an infectious enthusiasm which definitely rubbed off on the children . An amazing experience with so many beautiful children. The afternoon was spent in Kibera, one of the largest slums in East Africa. The home was set up by the Kenya Girls Guide Association, and seeks to empower and educate young girls who are from the slums, and teach them survival skills. They greeted us at the gates with singing; they were initially quite inhibited, but by the end of the afternoon, they expressed themselves so freely through singing – the transformation just shows the power of singing. Feb 15th The morning was spent in the well known Nyumbani home. The other homes were for disadvantaged, and HIV/AIDS orphans. This home is for children who are actually HIV positive. Their enthusiasm, warmth, discipline was exemplary – a real childlike innocence, lack of inhibition and natural joy. These were kids up to about age 8. Initially, I wondered how I was going to keep them interested for two hours, however this was not a problem, as they picked it all up so easily, and gave so much joy in their beautiful little faces. The grounds of the homes are well kept, with colourful landscaping, water-fountains, and a large play area. The home seeks to integrate the children into society as normal individuals who need not feel stigmatized by their HIV. It is a very successful programme. Lunch was at a nature park -excellent food; very picturesque, with a dedicated ostrich park one side, a lake running through the middle, and a crocodile park on the other side. Whilst their jaws were wide open, many of the crocs were asleep. Afternoon was spent at Mama Ngina Home. This event was filmed by the local television station, and some more great presentations and singing ; more infectious enthusiasm, This ended the visits to the actual home. My eyes were truly opened ,and it was a real heartfelt experience to work with children, many of whom had been abandoned, found on the streets, in garbage cans, or orphaned due to parents being deceased through HIV/AIDS, and a range of other heart-rending stories. All the homes made great presentations before the workshops commenced, and were most embracing. If gave me the feeling of ‘wanting to take them all back with me’. Wed Feb 16th A bit of time for leisure to visit an animal orphanage, and then to a giraffe park to see Lyn-a beautifully elegant Rothschild giraffe, and her sisters roaming freely. The afternoon was spent at Nation, a multi-storey media complex opposite the hotel housing some of the press, TV and radio station, I did an interview with ‘Loving Touch’- a high-class chic fashion magazine, which will feature me as ‘Man Of The Moment’ (a one page spread) in the April issue; I was able to talk about my musical influences and motivation and the home visits made in Kenya. Following this, we went and did a live radio interview. The evening was spent at the ‘Carnivore’- an absolutely massive character restaurant serving all manner of carnivorous fare-including crocodile, camel, and ostrich (which I did not try), and the normal chicken, lamb, beef (some of which I did try). An amazing place !! After eating we went to meet the quartet at the airport, and returned to the hotel Thu Feb 17 The morning was spent at the Village Market shopping centre, where the various homes presented at least two songs which they had learnt during the week. They waited in the shopping centre’s own performance venue, an ampitheatre seating several hundreds of people. The discipline of the children was a perfect model of discipline. They listened – you could hear a pin drop. They also sang and danced together. The joy was free, and rather addictive. The groups performed in the food court to the shoppers and diners. The response was positive indeed. The quartet sang two songs, as guests . After the performances , the kids were all treated to a big meal, which we joined them for. Then the time for sad ‘good-byes’. The various group sang songs to say ‘thank you’, ‘good bye’, ‘go well’. They seem to have songs for everything, and they sing them with such passion. It was hard to let go, but we had to make another journey to Lake Naivasha, but not before I bought a lovely African dress for the wife !! The journey to Lake Naivasha was some 1 ½ hours from Nairobi, which took us past the ift Valley, and Longodon Moutains. Miles and miles of different landscapes: lush green became forests densely populated with tall trees, moving onto long mountain ranges, -occasionally the land was dry, but not for long. Finally arrived at the Sopa Lodge in Naivasha. An amazingly long stretch of undeveloped road, with caters and potholes almost as big as the cars themselves. Turn right into the Sopa Lodge, and the road again is smooth; we move further away from the main road deep into meticulously kept landscape – a real treat to the eyes !! The rooms are extremely spacious – sunken baths on the marble tiled bathrooms, large balconies, and lounge area, all in round, thatched ‘mud-hut’ style houses each housing 4 rooms. In the background among the trees, the occasional ostrich, donkey, monkeys and other animals wonder. The lodge leads out to the lake. At sunset we all walk, and meet a Canadian and his wife, whom we treat with a sunset song ; a hippo makes an appearance out in the sea. Bit of a big mouth !! Fit for consumption of humans !! Superb food back at the lodge restaurant- a large round building with hearths dotted around, each surrounded by leather furniture . The service is truly first class, and the views out of this world. We return back to our rooms after dinner, not before viewing the two hippos grazing . Friday Feb 18th We travel to the Lake Naivasha Yacht Club on the famous ‘pot-hole road’ – not for the faint hearted- trust me !! The Yacht Club is set in acres of land which house all sort of game- bucks, giraffes, cattle and so forth. It is a beautiful day, and we go and bond with the animals, whilst the sound guys set up; we then rehearse, and then go back to the serious business- visiting the places for which we’ve come to raise funds for. We leave the Yacht Club and drive across to the secondary school for which we are doing the benefit concert. The landscape is somewhat different to that of the yacht club, even though it is opposite. And the famous pothole road.... smooth in comparison to the roads in this part of town. It’s a good thing we went in the four by four wheel drive cars, and not the normal cars- they would have not survived. We drive through the slum; people wave to us with a smile on their faces. We reach the school, the only secondary school serving the whole area. We are shown around the school, and are humbled once again by the great joy in the face of the students who have so little. We go into a classroom to say hello to the students. They are told that we are there to raise funds for a bursary fund for the school (secondary education is not free in Kenya); on hearing this, they erupt into spontaneous applause. We visit the new dining room which is being built to accommodate the new lunch programme, where they give the students their second meal for the day. The students are keen to learn and make things better. If they can only get an education , they can get a job and break the poverty cycle. It is suggested that we sing; we go back to the classroom and tell them; they get excited and go and round up the whole school within minutes; they all wait outside in eager anticipation. We present ‘Great Getting Up Morning’, during which the students break into spontaneous applause whenever it reaches a crescendo. We leave the place feeling compelled that we must do something for the school, such as set up a music centre, which would not cost much in British money. The concert in the afternoon is shared by the Garden Opera Company at the Yacht Club. The ‘promenaders’ sit on chairs or blankets, with their picnic hampers, enjoying the music whilst game wander in the background. What a wonderful setting. The concert is introduced by various people , including artistic director of the festival, David Honeyball. An articulate, notes-free rallying and thank-you speech is most confidently delivered by the head girl of the Marere School, the beneficiaries of the concert. To an enthusiastic reception the Chorale presented at the end of the first half: I’m Gonna Sing (Hogan), Acclamation (Ray), Might Spirit (sung by Bobby), ‘Know Ye & Enter Into His Gates from Psalm 100 (Burton) & Great Getting Up Morning (arr Burton) This followed excerpts from ‘Don Giovanni’, and ‘Der Perlfischer’ by the GOC. After an interval reception hosted by the landowners- a most warm and bubbly couple- the second half follows with excerpts from Rosinni’s “Barber Of Seville” and other excerpts from various operas,; LAC concluded the sunset, as the sun started to go down over the lake , with ‘Keep Your Lamps’ (arr Thomas), The Eyes Of All (Berger), Mary Did You Know (sung by Gemma & Tina) , My Life IS IN Your Hands (Franklin) and the ever popular Jesus Is A Rock (apparently during this, a buck in the distance, who was seated for most of the performance, actually stood up.) Concert over, hailed a great success; we met with the audience, which we learn are workers, holidaymakers from all over the globe. All too short for me !!