A Dialogue Across Generations for the Soul of Nairobi
Welcome to a unique project where the past and future of Nairobi meet on the page. Comic Strip Conservation Conversations is not just a series of illustrations; it is a vibrant, ongoing dialogue about the city we have, the city we’ve lost, and the city we want to build. Through the eyes of two unlikely companions, we embark on a journey to explore the very fabric of our urban environment.
Meet Our Guides:
’Odiero’ (Kjell G. Nordenskiöld): An 85-year-old retired diplomat, Odiero is a guardian of memory. Since 1968, his camera has captured the elegant lines and stoic presence of Nairobi’s colonial architecture. His vast photo archive is a love letter to a city built with order and intention, a tangible record of a fading era. For him, these buildings are not just stone and steel; they are stories, landmarks of a specific time in Nairobi’s long history.
’Kanairo’ (Ouma E. Obanda): A 20-year-old artist and environmental activist, Kanairo is the voice of the present and the architect of the future. He walks the same streets but sees a different city—one pulsating with life but grappling with chaos. He is fired by a passion for sustainability, frustrated by the traffic, pollution, waste mismanagement, and overcrowding that define the modern urban experience. He believes a better Nairobi is possible.
The Conversation Begins…
This series of comic strips will chronicle the encounters between Odiero and Kanairo. It starts in Odiero’s photo exhibition spaces, where black-and-white images of a meticulously planned city hang in stark contrast to the vibrant, chaotic reality outside.
Their conversations are a catalyst. Using Kanairo’s innovative community engagement methods—augmented reality that overlays the old onto the new, direct dialogues with residents, and participatory theatre staged right beside the historical photos—they will delve into critical questions:
1. Urban Planning:* What can the ordered, colonial-era plans teach us about today’s sprawl? Is there a middle ground between rigid planning and organic growth?
2. Conservation vs. Progress:* Must we choose between preserving our architectural heritage and building a modern, functional city? Can old buildings be repurposed for new needs?
3. The Natural Environment:* How do our built structures affect Nairobi’s rivers, air quality, and green spaces? How can we re-integrate nature into our concrete landscape?
4. Waste & Systems:* How did the city’s original sewage and water systems function, and why are they failing now? What would a sustainable, 21st-century waste management system look like?
What to Expect in the Coming Strips:
– Each comic strip will be a visually rich story, a snapshot of a larger conversation. You will see:
– Augmented reality visions where a historic building is digitally restored amidst the current cityscape.
– Heated, yet respectful, debates between our two protagonists on a park bench or in a traffic jam.
– Interactive scenes where the people of Nairobi become characters, sharing their own experiences and dreams for the city through participatory theatre.
Comic Strip Conservation Conversations is an invitation. It is an invitation to remember, to critique, to imagine, and to participate. Join Odiero and Kanairo as they argue, learn from each other, and piece together a vision for a Nairobi that honors its past while boldly embracing a sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future.
The city is talking. It’s time we listened.
