Oral East Africa>Picture poetry At the hut of the story

Written by Otiato Guguyu

Photographing thinking people can be an interesting experience, poets have got to be some of the few people I have photographed who merely acknowledged my flashes and returned quickly to whatever words are running through their minds.

Ms Maisy Odalo, Order-Low, the now former East Africa Poetic hour champion.

Moral support

It was quite interesting to catch how they followed other poets recite their work.

It was as if they shared the space with each other sort of urging their colleagues on.

Poetry is a small clan and they clearly need each others back i guess.

Getting into character

I sought after the poets just as they were about to get onto stage wondering how they were dealing with the tension and preparing for the crowd.

I personally would have been mortified climbing on stage unsure if whatever I would say would be received.

The clam confidence I saw in them was quite reassuring, yes, there was pressure, but they have been there done that.

Kizudeh, getting to character really caught my lens. He had made most of his performances with a signature look, easy casual, with a marvin rolled up just above his ears. But this time round, he had gone for a look. A white respectable African wear and a large brimmed black hat. This I was to learn were two people in one and I was lucky to photograph both.