“Staring into the sunset
watching it paint my face
with its hues
of yellow and brown,
the colours of the earth
as it goes to sleep.”
-Njeri Wangarì Wanjohi
40 poems that explore themes on Urban Blues, Love, Identity, Traditions, Cultural changes, Exploitation and Politics among others.
Hailed among the most talented Kenyan poets and performers, she has come to be known as the voice of reason and change in the Kenyan poetry circles due to the content and theme of her poems which range from Culture, religion, human rights, technology and everyday challenges in the Kenyan society. Having written poetry since 2004 and performing since 2007 she has slowly grown into the person she is today.
These poems especially speak to a number of related realities in Kenya and other countries in the African continent; they speak about a people with ingenuity and yet forced to make tough choices because of hard economic and political conditions; they speak of an evolving culture, shaped by everyday realities of life and the ingenuities of survival. The mixture of languages and slang also give the poems an interesting immediacy and life.
Mwenda Ntarangwi
Sociology Professor
She is one of the most respected female poets in Nairobi today. Njeri Wangari has a powerful voice, and she knows how to put it to good use. Whenever she takes to the podium to recite a poem, she has her enthusiastic audience applauding all the way.
Joseph Ngunjiri
Sunday Nation — Kenya's leading newspaper
The poems bring a lot into perspective; and give me a thing or two to think about. ... Very nice!
Cee
Kenyan blogger
I have had a hearty laugh reading Maisha Ya Hawker, got the tears to prove it 🙂 You just topped Women Behaving Badry and I love it! Your expression is amazing Njeri. I can't wait to see you perform this one.
Ndanu
Performance Poet
I must admit these are lovely poems. I have been following your blog for a while and it is very inspiring and informing. I am a poet and run the blog Two Hours Before. Your blog actually inspired me to do it also and I must tell you that your work is excellent. I will keep tuned and hopefully will get an opportunity to meet you and maybe attend your performances.
Simon Mwangi Muthiora
Blogger and Poet