[Wadabo_updates] Benefit show this Saturday!

[wadabo_updates at wadabo.com]

Dear members of the African drum & dance comunity,

We hope you will be able to join us at the event listed below.  This 
benefit show is to raise money to help Nathan Okite, a dear friend of 
many in the drum and dance community, whose father passed away 2 
weeks ago.  Nathan is trying to raise money to send his father's body 
back to Kenya to receive a proper Luo burial.  We hope you will show 
your support by coming to the show Saturday; for more info, read 
Nathan's letter below.

KENYA:  A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Saturday, June 10, 2006

8:00pm - 1:00am

Location:  Encuentro5 (33 Harrison Ave., 5th Fl., Chinatown) www.encuentro5.org

Come celebrate community and awareness this Saturday night.  With 
performances by Lamine Toure and Group Saloum, The Boston Afro-Beat 
Society, Ujamaa, and more, it will be a night of beautiful music and 
information as we help raise money for the Odhiambo Okite: Return to 
Rusinga Island Fund.  There will be speakers to discuss current 
events in Kenya, the state of African medical facilities, and more. 
Food, beer, and wine will be available.  All ages are welcome.  There 
is a 5$ donation at the door.  Thank you all, and peace be with you!

______________________________

Letter from Nathan:

Dear Friends,

My father, Odhiambo Okite, passed away on Thursday May 25, in Wausau, 
Wisconsin at the age of 62.  His life, which he dedicated to 
furthering peace and justice at great personal sacrifice, has been 
cut short too soon, and I need your help in honoring the custom of 
his people and his wish to return to the burial ground of his 
ancestral home.

Born on Rusinga, a tiny, remote island in Lake Victoria deep in the 
interior of Africa, he was among the first to go school, and became a 
leader of that generation of African renaissance that emerged from 
the yoke of Colonialism.  After Kenyan independence, he took that 
energy and excitement to the world.

He studied at Kisii Secondary School; Inter-American University, 
Puerto Rico; Wheaton Graduate School of Theology, Wheaton, Ill.; and 
The Washington Journalism Center, Washington, D.C.

After college, he interned at Time, Inc. before returning to Kenya 
where he taught in secondary schools and at Kenyatta University 
College.  From 1970-1979 he was Editor-in-Chief and CEO of 
Target/Lengo newspapers.   He was Assistant Editor of the Weekly 
Review and also founded two publications, People Magazine and the 
Medicom journal of medicine.

Later, he served the Government of Kenya as Chief Press Officer, 
Chief Government Information Officer, National Advisor UNESCO Rural 
Newspapers Extension Program, Head of Kenya News Agency, Chief News 
Editor for Voice of Kenya national radio and television network, and 
National Advisor UN Population Communication Program at Kenya 
Institute of Mass Communication.

My father found the pen to be the most potent weapon in the fight for 
justice, and as a teacher, journalist and writer his voice was heard 
across Kenya, Africa and the World.

He became a threat to the powerful, and suffered the indignity of 
torture at the hands of the government he served and that should have 
protected him.  He had to leave Kenya for the United States for 
medical care.  Unfortunately, his health did not fully recover, and 
ultimately he lost his sight. He was never able to return to Kenya

But even after leaving behind his possessions, with no money, blind, 
and in poor health, he continued to give of himself. He continued to 
work as a freelance journalist and consultant working on public 
service issues, notably organizing the Homes Conference on 
Homelessness and Inadequate Housing and founding the Wausau 
(Wisconsin) In-House Network (WIN) which provides temporary housing 
for the homeless and inadequately housed.

My grandfather once said that the sign of a truly educated man is not 
the degrees and credentials, but the ability to speak to anybody.  My 
father was an educated man.  He spoke as easily with the 
underprivileged as with the powerful and famous.  He conversed as 
easily with the rich and powerful, including Lyndon Johnson, Desmond 
Tutu, Queen Elizabeth II, Indira Gandhi, as he did with the most 
down-and-out and out-of-luck wherever they happened to be.

This life, that transcended modest beginnings and took the spirit of 
service and love to the four corners of the globe, has now come to 
and end.  Having given so much, he died poor, and his family needs 
your help to honor his legacy.

The Luo tradition and his wish is to be buried in his home, Rusinga 
Island. In the spirit of harambee (cooperation), we are trying to 
raise the funds to take him home.  Any contribution that you could 
make would be greatly appreciated.

We thank you for making it possible for all of us to complete the 
journey of his life, from Rusinga to the world and back again to the 
soil of Rusinga where he may rest in peace with those who have gone 
before. 

Contributions can be mailed in the name of Carol Ann Okite to our address:

AnaClaire and Nathan Okite
30 Columbia Street #3
Brookline MA 02446

Or, please join us to celebrate Odhiambo's life through music at 
Encuentro 5 on Saturday the 10th  from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am. Encuentro 
5 is located at 33 Harrison Ave, 5th floor, Boston (Chinatown), MA 
02111  with performances by Lamine Toure & Group Saloum, The Boston 
Afro-Beat Society, Ujamaa, Nicolas Despo, and more.

Thanks to all.  Peace be with you always.

Nathan Omogi Okite
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