Martin Otieno (1950 - 2014.6.April)
Kuona Trust just posted a thoughtful profile/obituary of our dear friend Martin Otieno. I
must share one point that i think could easily be forgotten, and that is that if it
hadnt have been for Martin, there might never have been a Manjano annual
art exhibition and competition. it was he, who spent a bit of time
walking the corridors of the ministry of culture, who knew of the
challenge facing late Agatha Ndambuki, the new Department of Culture
director. Agatha was given the docket to organize the Nairobi Provincial
Art Exhibition but found there had been no records kept, no
documentation and no one to give her guidelines on what to do next. she
didnt even have a computer or an email! So it was Martin who stepped in
and introduced her to The GoDown Art Centre and Joy Mboya and Judy
Ogana. They assisted Agatha immensely, first by linking her up with most
of the art centre directors around the city and a few media people and
scholars as well. That is how the first Manjano was born. There is no
telling what Agatha would have done without The GoDown's support. but
more importantly, no telling what she would have done without the
assistance of Martin, the wise, kind and thoughtful man who was also an
arts advocate and friend to many in the Kenyan art world.
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