Drama, Dance, Music, & Sport for Kisumu Youth

We are halfway through 2015, and the Manyatta Youth Resource Center and Equip Manyatta continue to offer exciting opportunities and programs for Kisumu Youth. 
 
Our provincial soccer team continues to challenge opponents in the ongoing North Nyanza Provincial league.  Our adult aged provincial soccer team is made up of youth who started with the MYRC in 2009 on our first under-14 soccer team.  In late June, Manyatta United met a tough challenge when they defeated Superstriker’s FC 4-2 at Shaurimoyo playing ground.   Unfortunately, our goalkeeper has also suffered a major leg injury that will keep him from playing for several months. Injuries are a major problem facing the Manyatta United Football Club as the pitches we play on are poorly maintained and are often hazardous.  Your donations to our programs, not only help the MYRC keep their programs running, they also help provide for medical assistance our youth need on and off the field. 
 
We were so proud of our good friend and collaborating artist, Nahna, as she was selected out of hundreds of applicants to travel to Sweden to participate in the Ethno Sweden Festival.  Ethno World is a program that creates festivals throughout Europe to bring folk musicians from many cultural backgrounds together from all over the world.  These musicians are given the opportunity to learn about a variety of cultures and traditions and a variety of musical styles through a combination of seminars, workshops, jam sessions and performances.  These musicians teach each other through intercultural learning and exchange. Nahna works at One Vibe Studios in Kisumu who helped Nahna find this opportunity.  Nahna has also been supported since 2012 by Equip Manyatta who has helped pay for studio sessions, music videos and trips to Nairobi to expose her talent.  Nahna spent three weeks in Sweden sharing about traditional Kenya through music and learning about cultures from around the world, Nahna had never left Kenya.  
 
Nahna was also featured in the studio collaboration organized by Street Breeze Records, One Vibe Studios and the MYRC’s Starbell Records.  The collaboration originated when Starbell Record’s lead producer, Malique, and Street Breeze Records lead producer, Claster, decided they wanted to send a message of unity to local musicians and studios.  Photographer and producer G Man did the photo shoot of the collaboration. Rising producer and videographer Crizo Mzeyah shot the music video. Crizo has shot several of the videos sponsored by the MYRC and has caught the attention of numerous stars looking to get professional music videos made.  To see more of Chrizo’s work check out his youtube page at:
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CrizoStudio/videos
 
The performing arts collaboration 2Jinyce is still going and continues to perform at primary and secondary schools throughout Kisumu. While 2Jinyce aims at inspiring students to follow their dreams and believe in their talent it has also helped participating artists gain local popularity. Founding member of 2Jinyce and Starbell Records artist, Gabiro, continues to perform all over Nyanza and his following continues to grow as well.  Check out Gabiro’s recordings at
 
https://www.reverbnation.com/gabirodahiphop
 
Equip Manyatta also was given a really cool opportunity to display and sell arts and crafts made through our program and by MYRC youth at Lauren’s Restaurant in Boonville, California.  Lauren’s gave us three months to exhibit a wide range of pieces made in Kisumu and bought by Equip Manyatta.  By selling the art at shows like Lauren’s we are able to continue buying art made by youth in Kisumu and help small businesses created by these youth grow.  The show ends at the end of August so if you are in the area please stop by and check it out. We are so thankful to Lauren for giving us this opportunity. 
 
Equip Manyatta and the MYRC would like to thank you all for your continued support and also for the support you gave us during our Microproject fundraiser. During those three months we raised enough money to help completely pay for the fees of 10 primary school students and 5 secondary school students for the whole year. It will also help us cover small fees and expenses for those youth who are just short of covering all of their costs. So, thank you!