Comments on: Otieno Amisi: Death of a Kenyan Poet http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/ Putting Kenyan books on the world map Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:23:52 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Achumbo Shadrack http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-232 Achumbo Shadrack Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:52:57 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-232 To me reading the tit bits of Otieno Amisi's Journey in life invokes a strong feeling in my mind on how us as human beings can live a life such wholesome without being "such reasonably rich". Men of Letters are conceived adorable and even more past their demise as they live gaping holes unfulfilled. All this time reading Amisi's eulogy, I am amazed on how he lived my life and a bet of a lot us without fully knowing him. I can small, ear and feel Amisi's life on my wet pulps type this piece. Amisi went to Homa-Bay High School a neighboring school at by home place where in the early 90s teemed with academic elites. Their performance in football only rivaled their delicate display in arts especially theater that Amisi excelled in along the expansive shows of the great lake victoria. Trekking from my local primary school "Lake Promary School"back to my home place "Sofia Estate"in the evenings, I could stop marveling the interaction with some of the guys that Amisi epitomised. "Nera okew South Nyanza" cant stop epitomosing yourlife. All I can say is RIP. To me reading the tit bits of Otieno Amisi’s Journey in life invokes a strong feeling in my mind on how us as human beings can live a life such wholesome without being “such reasonably rich”. Men of Letters are conceived adorable and even more past their demise as they live gaping holes unfulfilled. All this time reading Amisi’s eulogy, I am amazed on how he lived my life and a bet of a lot us without fully knowing him. I can small, ear and feel Amisi’s life on my wet pulps type this piece. Amisi went to Homa-Bay High School a neighboring school at by home place where in the early 90s teemed with academic elites. Their performance in football only rivaled their delicate display in arts especially theater that Amisi excelled in along the expansive shows of the great lake victoria. Trekking from my local primary school “Lake Promary School”back to my home place “Sofia Estate”in the evenings, I could stop marveling the interaction with some of the guys that Amisi epitomised.

“Nera okew South Nyanza” cant stop epitomosing yourlife.

All I can say is RIP.

]]> By: John Ochieng http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-144 John Ochieng Wed, 28 May 2008 16:27:45 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-144 To me and to many, Otieno Amisi was a mentor and a teacher. He was literally giant of all shades, a wordsmith per excellence. We havea indeed lost a critic who spared no one especially pretenders and joyriders in the world of literature. RIP To me and to many, Otieno Amisi was a mentor and a teacher.

He was literally giant of all shades, a wordsmith per excellence.

We havea indeed lost a critic who spared no one especially pretenders and joyriders in the world of literature.

RIP

]]> By: Clifford Oluoch 'Eastlander' http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-141 Clifford Oluoch 'Eastlander' Wed, 14 May 2008 06:48:46 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-141 I learnt of Otieno's death in early January through a friend and I let out a loud curse. We met in December (8th?) during the Storymoja nyama choma fest and we bonded well, exchanging ideas. He then offered to do an article and interview me on my 'Eastlander' series. I was a bit uncomfortable knowing how sharp his pen cut. Unfortunately we never got to the interview and I never got to see him again. It came as a shock when I learnt of his death, but writers never fade..... I learnt of Otieno’s death in early January through a friend and I let out a loud curse.
We met in December (8th?) during the Storymoja nyama choma fest and we bonded well, exchanging ideas. He then offered to do an article and interview me on my ‘Eastlander’ series. I was a bit uncomfortable knowing how sharp his pen cut.
Unfortunately we never got to the interview and I never got to see him again.
It came as a shock when I learnt of his death, but writers never fade…..

]]> By: Gregory Julius Juma http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-140 Gregory Julius Juma Tue, 06 May 2008 10:57:10 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-140 What? Ati Otieno Amisi died in December and it was never published in the media coz of Siasa? I knew Otieno Amisi while i was freelancing for the Standard in Kisumu together with Alphayo Otieno. He was a very hamble person and i have never met anyone that had beef with Otieno. Rest peace. Otieno. What?

Ati Otieno Amisi died in December and it was never published in the media coz of Siasa? I knew Otieno Amisi while i was freelancing for the Standard in Kisumu together with Alphayo Otieno. He was a very hamble person and i have never met anyone that had beef with Otieno.

Rest peace. Otieno.

]]> By: Samuel Mbajah http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-139 Samuel Mbajah Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:59:28 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-139 Was very devastated to learn of Amisi Otieno's demise. He was my teacher at Homa Bay High School and also a colleague at Raliew Secondary School. All the comments posted here succintly capture the content and character of Amisi. May you rest in peace "wuod jaduong'." Was very devastated to learn of Amisi Otieno’s demise. He was my teacher at Homa Bay High School and also a colleague at Raliew Secondary School. All the comments posted here succintly capture the content and character of Amisi. May you rest in peace “wuod jaduong’.”

]]> By: Grandmaster Masese http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-138 Grandmaster Masese Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:53:08 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-138 I learnt of Otieno Amisi's death with great sorrow and sadness.He was a friend and teacher who was so down to earth in his daily life,a man who had done alot in his short life.I knew him as an intelligent warrir in the literary world.Kenya has lost a hero. we had plans.We wanted to start like a critical fire accross the literary scene.i went to Kisii in decmber and when I was back on January 15 this was my first Nairobi literary shock!That a friend had gone with terrible mess that was eating the country then.Double loss for Kenya,for his family and for all his friends and the literary scene. Brother rest in peace.I hope you now know life wherever you are,because you lived and you live in the work that you left us with. I will now read your blogs and work so that i remember you forever and may be strive to show the beauty of your work. So saddened by your demise.See you brother ion the after-life. I learnt of Otieno Amisi’s death with great sorrow and sadness.He was a friend and teacher who was so down to earth in his daily life,a man who had done alot in his short life.I knew him as an intelligent warrir in the literary world.Kenya has lost a hero.
we had plans.We wanted to start like a critical fire accross the literary scene.i went to Kisii in decmber and when I was back on January 15 this was my first Nairobi literary shock!That a friend had gone with terrible mess that was eating the country then.Double loss for Kenya,for his family and for all his friends and the literary scene.
Brother rest in peace.I hope you now know life wherever you are,because you lived and you live in the work that you left us with.
I will now read your blogs and work so that i remember you forever and may be strive to show the beauty of your work.
So saddened by your demise.See you brother ion the after-life.

]]> By: tony mochama 'smitta' http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-124 tony mochama 'smitta' Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:55:10 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-124 It's quarter to seven on a friday morning. There's a red streak of sunrise in the east, and tears in my eyes as i read all the tributes to Otieno amisi, esp. the one by Alphayo. I last saw amisi at a story-mmoja function in early december at Impala. Amisi, an old pal and spur-mate in lit-wit, asked me for my book... " I want to review it," he said, eyes shining with mischief, "then you can defend your territory." A week later, he did, on this very blog... Two and a half weeks later, Otieno was gone - altho i did not learn of his demise till one of those false peace paues in mid-January. I was stunned, standing still on loita street, feeling the sorrow swell in my heart, my throat hot, feeling that terrible feeling of loss ... remembering that when i last saw him, as i handed him my book, the look we exchanged, i somehow knew we were saying goodbye (he looked heart-breakingly frail) ... that Amisi was in his wonderfully mischievous way determined to fire the last salvo in our 'literary wars,' in a final act of art defying death, even when we know that in the end, death eats us all. I miss my friend Amisi, much ... It’s quarter to seven on a friday morning. There’s a red streak of sunrise in the east, and tears in my eyes as i read all the tributes to Otieno amisi, esp. the one by Alphayo. I last saw amisi at a story-mmoja function in early december at Impala. Amisi, an old pal and spur-mate in lit-wit, asked me for my book…
” I want to review it,” he said, eyes shining with mischief, “then you can defend your territory.” A week later, he did, on this very blog…
Two and a half weeks later, Otieno was gone – altho i did not learn of his demise till one of those false peace paues in mid-January.
I was stunned, standing still on loita street, feeling the sorrow swell in my heart, my throat hot, feeling that terrible feeling of loss … remembering that when i last saw him, as i handed him my book, the look we exchanged, i somehow knew we were saying goodbye (he looked heart-breakingly frail) … that Amisi was in his wonderfully mischievous way determined to fire the last salvo in our ‘literary wars,’ in a final act of art defying death, even when we know that in the end, death eats us all. I miss my friend Amisi, much …

]]> By: Web Bandit http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-113 Web Bandit Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:12:38 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-113 Farewell Amisi. I really enjoyed sparing with you about my skill (or rather lack of) in the writing business. I respected the fact that you werent those who spent their time on the sidelines but decided to jump headfast into the blogging scene. You will be missed. Rest in peace. Farewell Amisi. I really enjoyed sparing with you about my skill (or rather lack of) in the writing business. I respected the fact that you werent those who spent their time on the sidelines but decided to jump headfast into the blogging scene. You will be missed. Rest in peace.

]]> By: Alphayo Otieno http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-110 Alphayo Otieno Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:12:51 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-110 Now I know what Shakespear meant when he said: "The World's a stage, and all men and women merely players, they have their exits and enterances, And one man in his part plays many parts". I cant write about Amisi alot. It will be revealing the side many of his friends never knew. A more personal and private life that only a friend like me knows. We lived in the same house many times. In Nairobi as writers for the features desk at likoni, we shared my house. In Homa Bay as a corespondent for the Standard, we shared his house at the Homa Boys High School where he taught litrature. Oketch Kendo assigned common feature jobs together. We were like brothers. Since I moved over to the US last July, I only communicated with Amisi on SMS thrice. The last time, we engaged, he wanted me to get him some willing publisher to publish his e-book so he could earn royalties since he had lost a job at Oakland. He told me he was freelancing the Business daily and that It was hard to earn a living. Now one of these days I was at a Library here in Kansas City and managed to get some viable poetry publishers. I talked to them then text Amisi that finaly his dream was about to be realized. He did not reply. I gave it the benefit of doubt that he could have been sleeping then given the nine hour time difference central America has with Nairobi. I tried calling his number and it was unreachable! The next day I read some reveiew by Tony Mochama that reffered to Amisi as the late! I was struck! While I was in January trying to keep in touch with a long-time budy, he was already in his grave! I will never forget how we walked with you from Kayole to Likoni Road when our cheques delayed; how we ate sukuma wiki; how we spent time at the Likoni Rd library; how we travelled to Kisumu in Eldoret Express to see our sibling whenever we had earned; how we regularly visited our friends in Eldoret; how we trecked long miles in Keiyo district to write features; how we slept in grass thatched huts at your Asembo Bay home; how we burnt huge logs to warm your lonely and dump hut and drive away intruder mamals; how we jointly visited Homa Bay to try and make peace with your estranged wife, Florence; how we whiled away our evening at the Homa Bay pier in 1996 only to come up with creative features on the water hyacinth; how I collected you from the village in Asembo, brought you to Nairobi and asked Opanga to accomodate you at the Features Desk; how you told me that you miss just a loaf of bread when I was at your bedside at Kenyatta Hospital and how I just brought that; how I with my wife visited you at your maskan in Kalyole and we saw you running down stairs to get us sodas and above all, the numeorus phone texts you sent me that you were now worried of your health! Rest in peace ja Kokise! We shall meet. Not here in the US nor in Africa but at the features desk in heaven where I am sure you are already a sub-editor re-writting illitertae intro from quack scribes. Now I know what Shakespear meant when he said:
“The World’s a stage, and all men and women merely players, they have their exits and enterances, And one man in his part plays many parts”.

I cant write about Amisi alot. It will be revealing the side many of his friends never knew. A more personal and private life that only a friend like me knows. We lived in the same house many times. In Nairobi as writers for the features desk at likoni, we shared my house. In Homa Bay as a corespondent for the Standard, we shared his house at the Homa Boys High School where he taught litrature. Oketch Kendo assigned common feature jobs together. We were like brothers. Since I moved over to the US last July, I only communicated with Amisi on SMS thrice. The last time, we engaged, he wanted me to get him some willing publisher to publish his e-book so he could earn royalties since he had lost a job at Oakland. He told me he was freelancing the Business daily and that It was hard to earn a living. Now one of these days I was at a Library here in Kansas City and managed to get some viable poetry publishers. I talked to them then text Amisi that finaly his dream was about to be realized. He did not reply. I gave it the benefit of doubt that he could have been sleeping then given the nine hour time difference central America has with Nairobi. I tried calling his number and it was unreachable! The next day I read some reveiew by Tony Mochama that reffered to Amisi as the late! I was struck! While I was in January trying to keep in touch with a long-time budy, he was already in his grave! I will never forget how we walked with you from Kayole to Likoni Road when our cheques delayed; how we ate sukuma wiki; how we spent time at the Likoni Rd library; how we travelled to Kisumu in Eldoret Express to see our sibling whenever we had earned; how we regularly visited our friends in Eldoret; how we trecked long miles in Keiyo district to write features; how we slept in grass thatched huts at your Asembo Bay home; how we burnt huge logs to warm your lonely and dump hut and drive away intruder mamals; how we jointly visited Homa Bay to try and make peace with your estranged wife, Florence; how we whiled away our evening at the Homa Bay pier in 1996 only to come up with creative features on the water hyacinth; how I collected you from the village in Asembo, brought you to Nairobi and asked Opanga to accomodate you at the Features Desk; how you told me that you miss just a loaf of bread when I was at your bedside at Kenyatta Hospital and how I just brought that; how I with my wife visited you at your maskan in Kalyole and we saw you running down stairs to get us sodas and above all, the numeorus phone texts you sent me that you were now worried of your health! Rest in peace ja Kokise! We shall meet. Not here in the US nor in Africa but at the features desk in heaven where I am sure you are already a sub-editor re-writting illitertae intro from quack scribes.

]]> By: Kingwa http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/otieno-amisi-death-of-a-kenyan-poet/#comment-109 Kingwa Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:56:27 +0000 http://kenyanbooks.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-109 Amisi was a great poet, and was very passionate about literary matters. Indeed, his eyes sparkled whenever he was among the literary fraternity or at such events. He loved to ruffle feathers, sometimes i got the feeling that it was out of pure mischief, to get people out of their comfortable thinking zones and talking, engaging in discourse and dialogue. He was a great guy. I was one of his fans on the KBC programme ran by prof. Chris and Bwatebe. Kenya has lost a great resource, this was a guy that was about art for arts sake and about changing the world through journalism. He was among the last of the idealists standing. RIP brother. May the rest of us left keep on cherishing the ideals and living with the passion that you always had to advance art. At least then, your legacy will live on. RIP. Thanks for this tribute Ngunjiri. At least he has not gone totally unremembered. Amisi was a great poet, and was very passionate about literary matters. Indeed, his eyes sparkled whenever he was among the literary fraternity or at such events. He loved to ruffle feathers, sometimes i got the feeling that it was out of pure mischief, to get people out of their comfortable thinking zones and talking, engaging in discourse and dialogue. He was a great guy. I was one of his fans on the KBC programme ran by prof. Chris and Bwatebe. Kenya has lost a great resource, this was a guy that was about art for arts sake and about changing the world through journalism. He was among the last of the idealists standing. RIP brother. May the rest of us left keep on cherishing the ideals and living with the passion that you always had to advance art. At least then, your legacy will live on. RIP.
Thanks for this tribute Ngunjiri. At least he has not gone totally unremembered.

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