The Koroga Report: 16th Edition

The 16th edition of the Koroga Festival started on a high note with Maqbuli and Wangui Kabala starting it off with a recap of the previous Koroga Festivals. They made me wish I never missed Awilo, Koffi and Mafikizolo. From what I hear Yvonne Chakachaka set the roof on fire as well. I have to confess this was my first Koroga Festival and I barely knew where to go when I got in. The place was packed with vendors who sought to run your pockets dry. There was a St. James Street where I assumed people went to taste all sorts of whiskey. Eddah’s hope was on a warpath against cancer right on the opposite side of the smoking zone. Well played Koroga *slow claps. They were not only selling a wing and a prayer but good merchandise in support of the battle against cancer and the hope that cancer is not a death sentence.

Guest Violinst

Wangui Kabala

Miss Lira

Lady Jay Dee

Nyota Ndogo

Mercy Masika on stage

The Arboretum Gardens was packed by 1. I thought for a second that everyone had carried their chairs from home only to realise that it was actually packed. My consolation was that there wouldn’t be much use for chairs once the music comes on. Everyone ended up on their feet dancing and singing along to Nyota Ndogo, Mercy Masika and Lady Jaydee. The deejay kept the crowd on their feet in between the performances. Meanwhile, this was another excuse for family men to get turnt with their families in the same vicinity having a good time too. Good thing there was a kids section with bouncy castles installed and 1824 was the adult section with the Sunday School filled with spirits that were not particularly holy.

For most, the entire show was spent on the feet. Dancing and chanting to the favourite choruses from the various artists on the stage. Lira unmasked the face of the voice behind the theme song on the famous animation movie, Moana. With that voice, I could see why she has made it thus far with 6 album records and platinum hits. For most, however, Lira was a new face until they could associate her with her accomplishments. The crowd was quick to adopt her style and soon enough the tempo was upbeat.  Just when we thought we had come to an amazing climax, it was revealed that it was Lira’s birthday. A cake was cut as the audience joined in to sing her a birthday song!

Whiskey

Her eyes glowed golden brown like fine whiskey in the moonlight. I had forgotten to put the drapes down again and the light shone right through exposing the glow on her well-groomed fur. I was already in bed enjoying some rom-com over a finger of matured bourbon on the rocks. I was in quite the happy place so I barely noticed her walking majestically towards me with her momentary breaks every now and again as she got distracted by the ribbons hanging by the window.

We named her whiskey. The major inspiration of the name came from her whiskers from when she was brought home and very little from the obvious. The previous owner didn’t care much for her kittens. She was brought home bruised on her back and with a big patch missing from around the wounded area with very few whiskers and face fur to speak of. She was rough on the edges and uncultured but she won our hearts over pretty fast. Her great grandmother was not very social but she had a good demeanor and took a little pride in her health. She didn’t do too much calories and probably thought avocado would make her fur less glossy.

Despite her outstanding personality, she went out of her way to get herself more protein from the neighbors poultry and dad decided to drop her off somewhere she’d never be able to find her way back. This was not easy for me because almost 7 years in and I was already considering her to be family. We had given away so much of her litter we feared some might come back and ruin the breed after they are all grown up and ready to mate. To me she was a thorough bred. A diva trapped in a feline body. We mourned her for about a month and decided to bring one of her distant grandchildren hoping she would live up to the legend of her great grandparent. May her paths be easy and her passing glorious. *moment of silence*

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Her calm purr grew louder as she found her way into my arms and went around a little to make it a perfect cuddly curl. She blinked slow as the spaces between my fingers filled up with her grey and black furry coat. She sniffed on my finger and let it run against the side of her mouth and led it right under her chin while she closed her eyes in utter pleasure. She got lost in the moment there and snapped at my fingers in feline temper as I tickled her with gentle runs under her belly. I am still getting used to their weird way of showing gratitude.

I was about to tuck in so I kiss her goodnight on her forehead as she finds somewhere warm  to curl into around my neck. The nights are never cold with such love from an innocent animal that asks for nothing but food, shelter and attention. Much like raising your ild. You may never understand the language but love is not only a universal language but an interspecies one. You can feel it in the vibration as she purrs and as she greets you at the gate after a long day out.

Her warm beady eyes enchant you into talking all your troubles into them. The dilated pupils open the gateway to your soul and you can’t help but bare it out. The pressure was mounting anyway. Her responses are well paused as you talk to her and she rubs her side on your ankle and it works better than a hug instantly. There is something about a listening ear that warms your heart and melts it down. At this point it is only instinctive to carry her to your shoulder and let the hug linger. Afterwards you have no choice but thank her with a plate of cold milk.

The love for pets is not everyone’s cup of tea but the joy in raising one brings out some benevolence in you. The hygiene problems notwithstanding, they can be pretty good company as you cook or as you watch a crappy movie and you need someone to complain to when it gets too crappy. All this while she is either chasing her tail dizzy or grooming herself neat. Hardly the best audience but the company is priceless especially when I am writing a story like now and she walks all over the keyboard and types some weird language or ends up adding subtitles on vlc as I am watching something. She has a really subtle but accurate way of demanding to sleep on your already warmed up lap. The little ball of fur rubs it off on me and in no time, I am dead asleep too.