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Kenya appeared to be one of the most stable and democratic countries in Africa … until recent elections unexpectedly set off spasms of tribal and ethnic violence that have left hundreds dead and tens of thousands homeless. That’s why the dozens of partnerships between Kenyan and Indiana schools, churches, clinics, clubs and universities are more important than ever before. “Tuko Pamoja” is kiswahili for “We are together” … Come together to see works by artists influenced by Africa, groove to Kenyan music, eat food from across Africa, talk to your neighbors who are working with Kenyans and other Africans to solve problems, and celebrate our first African sister city, Eldoret, Kenya.

When: Friday February 1, 6:00-9:00 PM

Where: Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202

John Clark says one of his proudest moments as a Hoosier was in October, standing in the Indianapolis-Marion county city-county council session to formalize a sister-city partnership with Eldoret, Kenya. A further deepening of all the partnerships between the two cities, a recognition that Hoosiers are intimately connected to the world, a promise of new partnerships that would provide clean water to Kenyans, promote sports tourism, educate children better in both communities. Our first African sister … a proud moment indeed.

One of Clark’s most terrible moments came a few months later, when CNN reported that dozens of women and children had been burned alive in a church in Eldoret, victims of the spasms of ethnic and tribal violence that had erupted after the hotly disputed elections of December.

“Tuko Pamoja” — “We are Together” — had been planned for the First Friday of February as a celebration of our new sister in Eldoret, a chance for people of Central Indiana to experience the food and music and art and culture of Kenya and Africa. And it would be an opportunity for all of us to learn what our friends and neighbors are doing in Africa.

Well, it still is a celebration. in fact, it is now even more urgent that we understand the challenges facing our Kenyan friends and partners, even more urgent that we think creatively and empathetically about how we can work together. you need to go, and you need to bring your friends.

At “Tuko Pamoja,” you will have a chance to meet:

• Some of the 50+ voluntourists Ambassadors for Children had in Kenya when the violence broke out, most of them expecting to work with AIDS orphans in Eldoret.


• Members of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, who are launching an ambitious ten-year program of clean water and micro-finance in Eldoret


• Professors from Moi University in Eldoret


• Doctors, students, and others from Indiana University working with AMPATH, the Nobel Prize nominated HIV/AIDS program in partnership with Moi University


• UMOJA, a project of Global Interfaith Partnership, ten churches and synagogues in Indianapolis that are setting up clinics, orphanages, and schools in West Kenya

You’ll get a chance to meet more than just folks working in Kenya. Activists who have been working to prevent genocide in Darfur, several groups working on education and women’s issues in Congo, noted artist Bill Rasdell and friends who are working with counterparts in Cuba and South Africa … add to the mix the music, the food, the funky creative vibe of the Harrison Center for the Arts on First Fridays. And because it’s a Provocate First Friday event, expect a nearly full-scale map of Kenya and a flamboyance of plastic pink flamingos.

This will be an excellent chance to have fun while brainstorming about what is happening in Africa, and about what we can do to be part of the solution. If you have any questions — especially if you want to participate in the provocating! — contact John Clark at john@sipr.org, or Gwyneth Sutherlin at gwynethsutherlin@hotmail.com.

Know before you go … check out the “For More Information about Kenya” page.

If this event sounds interesting, check out … Its companion event on January 25, the Public Forum on Kenya at CTS. The discussion of Congo at the International School February 9 will be similar, it should also be excellent. You can discussion tribal and ethnic conflicts in Kenya and Africa over dinner at the Mosaic International Conversation Cafe of January 28.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 1st, 2008 at 11:40 pm and is filed under Events, Democracy, Foreign policy, Women, Violence, Law & justice, Hoosier history, Health & Medicine, Business, Music & Motion, Art, Education, GLOCAL-ization, Africa, Volun-tourism, Poverty, HIV/AIDS, Citizen Diplomacy, Taking action, Kids, Provocate Event. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.