August | 2023 | catracarol

“……I met this girl, when I was ten years old
And what I loved most she had so much soul
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me…..”

When I started writing this, these lyrics came to mind, so for the record that was “I used to love h.e.r“ by Common, which is a classic, if you know you know, although what really comes to mind is a scene on the movie, Brown sugar and that was one of my favourite movies of all time . These lyrics are what my relationship with Nairobi is, i have been a few times when i was younger, say maybe a little over ten years old so to speak since my sister went to school there and my mom visited Nairobi for work and carried me with her.

However my first impressionable memory of Nai was when i got to travel with a friend right after high school for her cousins wedding, a seven day long wedding and it was bomb. This was definitely a good trip one that left me with fond memories till date some of the reggae or dancehall jams i love are from that time..

Over the years, I visited it more and even attended University there for almost two years of my post grad, I created more memories made friends had more experiences and each time I go back I have this feeling that I can not really put to words, its whole and filling, its good vibes great energy, its good sheng and even better times, good people, good spots from the eateries to the clubs, games parks, shopping malls oh I could go on and on..

When the year started i remember saying some of the things i wanted to do this year and one of them was that i want to travel again, go to new places or revisit old places religiously and really have memorable times. As luck would have it i had started the process of finalizing my thesis and some of that required me to go to Nairobi physically and so there was that little opportunity the universe said, lets gooooo. The fact that i get to relieve these moments and that i get to share Nairobi through my eyes and those experiences with my friend is something that i do not take for granted at all.. Some of my good friends are from Nairobi, we either met there or elsewhere and remained tight and i hold them dear.

So here is my little letter to Nairobi, the city that awakens me and the joy of life, you have been a part of me for so long, thank you for always being magical and giving me the best memories.