2008 – Moonlion Safaris

By RUPI MANGAT

Above: The gate at Ruma National Park of the roan antelope. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: The East African Nation 14 April 2008

Only 40 surviving today – 2020.

If you think that only the African Rhino and elephant are endangered or a target of poachers, you are wrong. There are many other animals threatened with extinction who, unfortunately, are little known and rarely heard of.

Kenya’s roan antelope falls in this category. Today, this subspecies of the roan, Hippotragus equines langheldi, is only found in one tiny area in the world — Ruma National Park in western Kenya. At one time its territory stretched all the way from the Mara grasslands to Ruma. It was also found in other areas such as the Ithanga hills in Thika.

Continue reading “Endangered and little known: Roan antelope” →

Above: Ozi village in Tana Delta. Little girl draped in a khanga. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: The East African Nation media December 2008

The ubiquitous khanga has made its mark, in no other place than the White House, the official residence of the American president. And as we know, the new president-elect is non other than Barack Obama, whose father hailed from Kenya. It may be coincidence but it’s a double whammy for Kenyan presence on the most powerful nation on earth. The rectangular piece of cloth deriving its name from the bright-coloured guinea fowl, turned into a Christmas ornament, is hanging pretty on the White House Christmas Tree and as every proud Khanga owner knows, there’s always a message on it. The message on the khanga reads ‘Watu Kwa Amani’ – which means ‘People For Peace’ – a very appropriate message for this time and season of the year.

Pure cotton kangas that are now collectors item drying on Pate island Lamu - copyright Rupi Mangat (800x533) — Pure cotton khangas that are now collectors item drying on Pate island Lamu – copyright Rupi Mangat

Continue reading “Cloth of A Continent: From Kenya ………… A Khanga to the White House, USA” →