Craft It · 2013–2023
Archived stories
Ten years of Kenyans and the things they make by hand: makers, Nairobi and Kampala, motherhood, dusty rugs and the conversations in between. 300 stories, brought back online.
2018Craft ItCraft ItDirty little feetBY MIKE MUTHAKA “We look like we’re on a bad date, Mike,” Bett says. She’s seated across from me at Java, Kimathi…
Urban GuideFive tourist spots in Joberg I can’t stop thinking aboutBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. The Hector Pieterson Memorial Site A 13 year-old boy stood by…
Urban GuideMy ovaries have made me unequal to my manBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI I don’t know what feminism is about. At least not anymore. So much has been written about it lately…
Dusty RugsAnthonyBY MIKE MUTHAKA “The machines are always out and about. If the team is nearby sometimes I’ll go and surprise them. I’ll…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsExams in progressBY MIKE MUTHAKA Two things that make school unpleasant for me: Exams, and class presentations. One can make you retake the whole…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive free grounds in Kampala to chill at when you have nowhere else to go and little else to doBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. The Sheraton Kampala Gardens “That’s not a place for people like…
Made By HandMercy of Blue Anchor CreativeBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI “How has your mechanical engineering degree shaped your art? No no, before you answer that, what was your favourite…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsFrom Russia, with Vodka (and chapos)BY MIKE MUTHAKA The house smells like chapos. It’s 40 minutes past 6p.m on a Thursday, and I can’t wait to get…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe Weedy MeadowsBY MIKE MUTHAKA I’ve always been aware of the whole preparing-for-school business, since my first day of school at Twin Birds Academy.…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideKampala radio: Five shows you must catch on Sanyu FMBY ERNEST TUAPE #1. Neo Soul Wednesdays On the evening of that Wednesday, just after 9p.m., I stepped into the elevator of…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe Krest FilesBY MIKE MUTHAKA I hear school is reopening next week. And I can bet my marbles the lec is going to ask…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive quickies for your first-of-the-month Friday plan in KampalaBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. #AKaDopeFirstFriday That’s the hashtag. The tagline? Dope Times. Dope Vibes. Dope…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideSpeak No EvilBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI What would you do if you found out through his Tinder app that your son was gay? Me? I…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsA Thirsty PerformanceBY MIKE MUTHAKA I have a feeling he doesn’t like me too much. In his eyes I’m nothing but trouble. Each time…
MotherhoodLike a rodeoBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI You tell me that your toddler is old enough to reach the door handle and let herself into your…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsHeadlinesBY MIKE MUTHAKA She goes to Karura Forest on some Saturdays. She likes to walk along the narrow paths, with the sun…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsLeonardBY MIKE MUTHAKA The new addition to my nightstand is a hardback. It’s called The Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw. It’s a…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive reasons to have your luwombo at 2K, downtownBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Just 2K I was WhatsApp’ing my friend Kakeeto. He’s a Muganda…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideA woman scornedBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI It’s Friday, 9.30a.m. GB and I are seated in Jambo Jet’s lounge waiting to board our flight to Coasto.…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsHelenBY MIKE MUTHAKA She wore black on the day of the funeral. She remembers looking out the window as they were driving…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive pieces of practical advice I’ve picked from interviewing women in businessBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI #1. “Make sure everyone you meet knows what you do” Lucy Mutiso started her bakery when she was 17…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideThat chic who sells chapos under the floodlightsBY SIMON KING: GUEST WRITER The light of day was slowly draining away giving way to the nightfall skies. Underneath them, a…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsPhysics, and a little bit of ChemistryBY MIKE MUTHAKA Her name was Salma. She wore lots of make-up, and she had a round face and big hips and…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive movies I watched last week (now that school’s out)BY MIKE MUTHAKA #1. Jersey Girl Ben Affleck is a big time exec in the entertainment industry. He has a fancy office…
Urban GuideFive tourist spots in Joberg I can’t stop thinking aboutBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. The Hector Pieterson Memorial Site A 13 year-old boy stood by…Urban GuideMy ovaries have made me unequal to my manBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI I don’t know what feminism is about. At least not anymore. So much has been written about it lately…Dusty RugsAnthonyBY MIKE MUTHAKA “The machines are always out and about. If the team is nearby sometimes I’ll go and surprise them. I’ll…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsExams in progressBY MIKE MUTHAKA Two things that make school unpleasant for me: Exams, and class presentations. One can make you retake the whole…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive free grounds in Kampala to chill at when you have nowhere else to go and little else to doBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. The Sheraton Kampala Gardens “That’s not a place for people like…Made By HandMercy of Blue Anchor CreativeBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI “How has your mechanical engineering degree shaped your art? No no, before you answer that, what was your favourite…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsFrom Russia, with Vodka (and chapos)BY MIKE MUTHAKA The house smells like chapos. It’s 40 minutes past 6p.m on a Thursday, and I can’t wait to get…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe Weedy MeadowsBY MIKE MUTHAKA I’ve always been aware of the whole preparing-for-school business, since my first day of school at Twin Birds Academy.…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideKampala radio: Five shows you must catch on Sanyu FMBY ERNEST TUAPE #1. Neo Soul Wednesdays On the evening of that Wednesday, just after 9p.m., I stepped into the elevator of…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsThe Krest FilesBY MIKE MUTHAKA I hear school is reopening next week. And I can bet my marbles the lec is going to ask…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive quickies for your first-of-the-month Friday plan in KampalaBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. #AKaDopeFirstFriday That’s the hashtag. The tagline? Dope Times. Dope Vibes. Dope…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideSpeak No EvilBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI What would you do if you found out through his Tinder app that your son was gay? Me? I…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsA Thirsty PerformanceBY MIKE MUTHAKA I have a feeling he doesn’t like me too much. In his eyes I’m nothing but trouble. Each time…MotherhoodLike a rodeoBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI You tell me that your toddler is old enough to reach the door handle and let herself into your…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsHeadlinesBY MIKE MUTHAKA She goes to Karura Forest on some Saturdays. She likes to walk along the narrow paths, with the sun…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsLeonardBY MIKE MUTHAKA The new addition to my nightstand is a hardback. It’s called The Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw. It’s a…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive reasons to have your luwombo at 2K, downtownBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Just 2K I was WhatsApp’ing my friend Kakeeto. He’s a Muganda…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideA woman scornedBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI It’s Friday, 9.30a.m. GB and I are seated in Jambo Jet’s lounge waiting to board our flight to Coasto.…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsHelenBY MIKE MUTHAKA She wore black on the day of the funeral. She remembers looking out the window as they were driving…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive pieces of practical advice I’ve picked from interviewing women in businessBY FLORENCE BETT-KINYATTI #1. “Make sure everyone you meet knows what you do” Lucy Mutiso started her bakery when she was 17…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideThat chic who sells chapos under the floodlightsBY SIMON KING: GUEST WRITER The light of day was slowly draining away giving way to the nightfall skies. Underneath them, a…2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsPhysics, and a little bit of ChemistryBY MIKE MUTHAKA Her name was Salma. She wore lots of make-up, and she had a round face and big hips and…2018Urban GuideUrban GuideFive movies I watched last week (now that school’s out)BY MIKE MUTHAKA #1. Jersey Girl Ben Affleck is a big time exec in the entertainment industry. He has a fancy office…