KSL Cover Huyu Yesu by Mercy Masika & Angel Benard

When I started this blog, I wanted to address the lack of documentation of Kenyan Sign Language, Deaf Culture and History in Kenya and rest of Africa. Back then the cost of hosting a website was inhibiting and not much was available to go by as far as development of applications, websites or programs.

Almost twenty years on and we now have a lot of info on the internet and numerous apps popping up everywhere. There is still struggle with the cost of internet, cost of data used on cellphones and we are yet to benefit from the land to sea cables heralded in the turn of the new millennium as the salvation of the data depraved country.....

Some of the issues impeding the utilization of data in Eastern Africa are cost of gadgets and cost of data - the costs have considerably been getting more and more affordable due to competition and demand/supply dynamics, secondly there is a level of appreciation of the use of data among the population however this is still low.

I would like to share more videos but am constantly aware that the many Deaf Kenyans will not enjoy the music due to the cost involved for downloading and viewing these videos - maybe an offline engagement would work? I have pondered about the idea of a "Caravan of Champions" a bus/truck that would go round the schools for the Deaf and showcase champions from across the country and have a weekend of mentoring and fun with Deaf students.

So as you enjoy the videos know that there are thousands of Deaf Kenyans hoping to enjoy the videos as you do and this can be made possible by you and me joining hands together to make schools for the Deaf in Kenya connected to the internet, have electricity and of course have teachers who know and are fluent native signers of Kenyan Sign Language and not all the gibberish stuff of total communication, lipreading and signed exact English ( I have always wondered why they never did a Signed Kiswahili for schools.....it would be funny to gesture works like tahamaki, jicho pevu, kizungumkuti na mustakhbal) 

Enjoy this Video - KSL Cover Huyu Yesu by Mercy Masika & Angel Benard

Introducing Cover Versions in Kenyan Sign Language (KSL)

Kenyan Sign Language (KSL) is a very expressive language. Songs in sign language are therefore equally expressive and many times are more expressive than their purely vocal versions. I was first introduces to this concept while a student and intern interpreter at DOOR Africa then located in Limuru, Kenya.

Since then I have interpreted hundred of songs in private and in public for various audiences. On many occasions I have been encouraged to make these into video formats and make a compilation for the songs - I must admit that I have overthought the idea and many times procrastinated the initialization of this idea. I have wanted to have a crew and do perfect videos, make money while entertaining using signed songs. The perfectionist in me, wanted perfect videos and broadcast quality......Besides I have had my own personal insecurities of how I would be judged or criticized and compared with other performers or put on the spotlight. 

Over the years I have had dreams of playlists, mixx tapes/crates of the perfect start and how it will all unfold - I have a liking towards Bongo flavor, R&B and Gospel songs however I have been stretched over the years to interpret Rock, Reggae and even local songs. I may not do all the songs I have wanted since time and space may over take them BUT I am starting.....rough.....raw and spontaneous as they come.

 

My dear friends who have enjoyed the interpreted songs in my home, church, conferences and clubs I have valued and taken to heart the nudge to make videos and materialize this idea. I am mostly grateful to my friends Faith and Buddy Eldridge to whom I am eternally grateful for their support and push to do these videos in the past few months. There have been other contributors to this Eva my friend and neighbor in Langata, Silvia, Grace, Liz, Raphael, Gideon, and Peninah for sharing the stage at various events and interpreting together, the mentees and mentors from KSLIA for your encouragement and positive comments for making this dream alive.

The cover versions will take various forms and shapes - keep watching and reading here for more....

Looking forward to your comments

Ni Mungu Pekee

Only God

peace