Wangari Muta Maathai was born in Nyeri, Kenya on April 1st 1940.In 1960, she won a Kennedy scholarship to study in America and earned a master’s degree in biology from the University of Pittsburgh and became the first woman in East Africa to earn a Ph.D.

Returning to Kenya in 1966, Wangari Maathai was shocked at the degradation of the forests and the farmland caused by deforestation. Heavy rains had washed away much of the topsoil, silt was clogging the rivers, and fertilizers were depriving the soil of nutrients. Wangari decided to solve the problem by planting trees.

Under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya, of which she was chairwoman from 1981 to 1987, she introduced the idea of planting trees through citizen foresters in 1976, and called this new organization the Green Belt Movement (GBM). She continued to develop GBM into broad-based, grassroots organization whose focus was women’s groups planting of trees in order to conserve the environment and improve their quality of life. Through the Green Belt Movement, Wangari Maathai has assisted women in planting more than 20 million trees on their farms and on schools and church compounds in Kenya and all over East Africa.

In Africa, as in many parts of the world, women are responsible for meals and collecting firewood. Increasing deforestation has not only meant increasing desertification, but it has also meant that women have had to travel further and further afield in order to collect the firewood. This in turn has led to women spending less time around the home, tending to crops, and looking after their children. By staying closer to home, earning income from sustainably harvesting the fruit and timber from trees, women not only can be more productive, they can provide stability in the home. They can also create time for education opportunities—whether for themselves or their children.

This virtuous circle of empowerment through conservation is serving as a model throughout the world, where women both individually and collectively are entrusted with money and material to invest it in ways that make a difference to their daily lives. Wangari Maathai’s Green Belt Movement is a great example of how one person can turn around the lives of thousands, if not millions of others, by empowering others to change their situation.

Wangari’s road to success was by no means easy. During the 1970s and 1980s, she came under increasing scrutiny from the government of Daniel arap Moi. She was frequently the target of vilification from the government, as well as subject to outright attacks and imprisonment. She refused to compromise her belief that the people were best trusted to look after their natural resources, as opposed to the corrupt cronies of the government, who were given whole swathes of public land, which they then despoiled.

In January 2003, Wangari Maathai was elected by an overwhelming margin to Parliament, where she is the Assistant Secretary for Environnment, Wildlife, and Natural Resources in the democratically elected Kibaki government. Even though she is now being protected by the very same soldiers who once arrested her, her voice on behalf of the environment is still strong and determined.

In The Green Belt Movement, founder Wangari Maathai tells its story: why it started, how it operates, and where it is going. She includes the philosophy behind it, its challenges and objectives, and the specific steps involved in starting a similar grassroots environmental and social justice organization. The Green Belt Movement is the inspiring story of people working at the grassroots level to improve their environment and their country. Their story offers ideas about a new and hopeful future for Africa and the rest of the world.

Wangari Maathai is the founder of the Green Belt Movement and the first woman to earn a doctorate in biology in East Africa. A recipient of numerous awards for her work on environmental and social issues, she was elected to Parliament by an overwhelming majority in 2003 and is currently the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Wildlife, and Natural Resources in the new democratically elected Kenyan government. In 2004, she was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Vist Wangari's website at www.wangarimaathai.or.ke

Journalist Lydiah Nyawira of The Highland Tribune in conjunction with Nyeri Online goes one on one with Kidum giving a perspective on his music, life and personal tastes at his live performance in Nyeri.

Ten Minutes with….. Kidum

Nyeri Town entertainment scene came alive for a live performance from Kidum And the boda boda band on 29^th April, at Banana Leaf hotel, Nyeri town.

For most Nyeri resident it was an opportunity to experience the popular artist in live concert and enjoy his popular hits such as ‘Mapenzi’ and Kidum did not disappoint. Once he took the stage the crowd was on its feet and sang along to his tunes enthusiastically. The Highland Tribune and Nyeri Online radio got a chance to interview the artist on his personal life and journey in the industry,

Is this your first performance in Nyeri? 

No I have been here before I was well know, I performed at the Outspan about 5 years ago, for a small crowd and though the money was not much the crowd and people of Nyeri really enjoyed my performance and I enjoyed the place and liked the response.

Where did the name Boda boda come from? 

When I was at the Kenya Tanzanian Border about 10 years ago to crossing into Kenya; I noticed that boda boda transporters were able to get through without much hassle from the authorities. We used to pay to a fee to cross the borders back then and the whole situation inspired me I wanted my music to cross borders as effortless as the boda bodas did at the border.

So when I started the band that was the name I gave it.

What is your favorite love song and who inspired you to write it? 

I love all my music but ‘Mapenzi’ is one song that if forced to pick a favorite I would choose as my favourite. I wrote that song from personal experience the first few times I performed it made me weep because I had so much emotion for what the words meant to me and I think the reason it’s a hit is because people relate to it as well and feel the passion in the words.

Which charity gigs have you done that were close to your heart? 

Well I have been a part of many charity gigs such as like the peace concert in Burundi which I was invited by former President, Pierre Buyoya.

The one I cherish most is a one I performed at in Rwanda in which the proceeds went to street children. Street children and families are a very big concern, for me personally I sometimes have donated entire proceeds from gigs to charities working to change the lives of street children.

 

On a lighter note what is your favorite food from Kenya and Burundi? 

I love rice and beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, whole nutritious traditional foods… am not a big fan of meat dishes though.

How does it feel to have a tight and busy showbiz schedule? 

Its wonderful, its really a blessing from God to be able to travel and do what I love to do meet people and I love it.

I like to find that people enjoy the music we share with them and it inspires me. I feel very blessed to be able to do this.

How do you balance this schedule with your family life we understand that you are married to Francine and have children? 

Well I will be honest when I started out in this business it was not as hectic as it is now.

Its become increasingly difficult to balance the two I feel like am married to music and this is putting a very serious strain on my family, my gigs are taking up all my time, I travel weekends holiday. I spend more time with the band, fans and music than I do my family.

For instance today even as I take this short break I am conducting this interview with you and can’t answer calls from home in this business its one thing after another; am trying very hard to find a solution to this current situation

What evils has piracy visited on you personally?

I have been affected by piracy just like any other artist out there. We all suffer when people choose to steal our hard earned work with little regard for the end result.

The government protects ideas, banks and other vital institutions I think we too should be protected after all what is more sacred than talent? It is God given and our only means to feed ourselves and our families. So on a personal and professional level I feel violated by piracy.

What really makes you angry that is not music related?

Well first and foremost I really get very angry when someone sings off key or out of tune it really irritates me.

In general a person’s words really have a great deal of power over me. When someone says they are going to do something and then they don’t that really upsets me. A person’s integrity is very important to me. I don’t condone people who don’t keep their word.

Lydiah Nyawira and Kidum during the one on one interview at Banana Leaf Hotel Nyeri.

Photos : by Sam Kairu.