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.
2018Dusty RugsDusty RugsAbout Valentine’s DayBY MIKE MUTHAKA “What are you giving up for Lent?” “Ati?” “Wait. Are you Catholic?” I look up to see how the…2018Craft ItCraft ItFive Vintage Musicians from Kampala You Must Listen ToBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Maddox Sematimba Fine production. Excellent music arrangement. Top-notch vocals. Reggae sound,…2018Craft ItCraft ItCables and KingsBY MIKE MUTHAKA I’m distracted. I’m standing next to a glass cabinet, staring in amazement at the contents. The door of the…2018Craft ItCraft ItFrom Namanga Road, with LoveBY MIKE MUTHAKA My first real kiss came from the girl next door. Tongue and all. She was a year older than…2018Craft ItCraft ItThe HelpBY MIKE MUTHAKA The request hit Cathy’s Bureau at eleven thirty on a Wednesday morning. The phone in her office rung thrice…2018Craft ItCraft ItTinder MeBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) When my boss signed off my leave application in December, giving me…2018Craft ItCraft ItJoyceBY MIKE MUTHAKA The lollipop man outside Airtel lifts the stop sign at the zebra crossing. The cars at the front, on…2018Craft ItCraft ItFive cafés to nip in when you’re stuck anywhere along Kampala RoadBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Café Javas I have never walked into a place in Kampala…2018Craft ItCraft ItShe’s a Catholic GirlBY MIKE MUTHAKA “I thought you’d stay and have some cake,” she says. My mind starts opening up in all sorts of…2018Craft ItCraft ItOld Dogs, Same TricksBY MIKE MUTHAKA You wake with a snap of the head, nauseated and sweaty. It’s 2AM. You feel feverish. Your head hurts.…
Urban GuideFive stalls at the Kampala Cake Fair that piqued my brainBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. OneRwak It’s a synergy of skills and talents of siblings. They…
MotherhoodSocks and SinnersBY FLORENCE BETT Muna is fearless when she’s around me. I love how that reads so I’ll go ahead and write it…
Dusty RugsA Dusty 2018BY MIKE MUTHAKA I want to try out celibacy this year. Wait, masturbation doesn’t count as celibacy, does it? I watched the…
Urban GuideFive score points for Brisk in KololoBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Restaurant Scenario 1: You are allergic to alcohol like my friend…
MotherhoodThief in the NightBY FLORENCE BETT I’ve had two miscarriages. Today, I’ll tell you about the first one. It happened in late March 2010. I…
Dusty RugsKnock on WoodBY MIKE MUTHAKA A case was brewing in the compound of New Light Senior Girls’ school. There were reports that the hedge…
Urban GuideFive of my fondest Christmas memories from 90s KampalaBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. The real trees I grew up next to General Adirisi Mustafa’s…2017Craft ItCraft ItCraft It ChristmasBY FLORENCE BETT I got up at 4AM this morning. 4.22AM to be exact. It was more of freaky startle than a…2017Craft ItCraft ItHumpty Dumpty RemembersBY MIKE MUTHAKA This post will make better sense if you’ve seen ‘The Affair’ Part 1: Me. Tuesday The lady behind the…2017Craft ItCraft ItFive sublime spots to catch Kampala’s skylineBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Box You will do a daunting climb to the height of…2017Craft ItCraft ItMother-in-LawBY FLORENCE BETT The first time my mother-in-law started to call me every day was when I was two days past my…2017Craft ItCraft ItA Song for Old MenBY MIKE MUTHAKA The stillness of Moi Avenue was disturbed by a Citi Hoppa turning off the street. No.46, Kawangware: a big…
Urban GuideFive foods you must try next time you’re in KampalaBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Luwombo Step aside, Matooke. Luwombo, walk in. Boiled and tasty sounds…
MotherhoodHeartbreakBY FLORENCE BETT I suspect that Muna doesn’t like me very much now. It’s absurd, I know. But she’s refused to refer…
Urban GuideFive stalls at the Kampala Cake Fair that piqued my brainBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. OneRwak It’s a synergy of skills and talents of siblings. They…MotherhoodSocks and SinnersBY FLORENCE BETT Muna is fearless when she’s around me. I love how that reads so I’ll go ahead and write it…Dusty RugsA Dusty 2018BY MIKE MUTHAKA I want to try out celibacy this year. Wait, masturbation doesn’t count as celibacy, does it? I watched the…Urban GuideFive score points for Brisk in KololoBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Restaurant Scenario 1: You are allergic to alcohol like my friend…MotherhoodThief in the NightBY FLORENCE BETT I’ve had two miscarriages. Today, I’ll tell you about the first one. It happened in late March 2010. I…Dusty RugsKnock on WoodBY MIKE MUTHAKA A case was brewing in the compound of New Light Senior Girls’ school. There were reports that the hedge…Urban GuideFive of my fondest Christmas memories from 90s KampalaBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. The real trees I grew up next to General Adirisi Mustafa’s…2017Craft ItCraft ItCraft It ChristmasBY FLORENCE BETT I got up at 4AM this morning. 4.22AM to be exact. It was more of freaky startle than a…2017Craft ItCraft ItHumpty Dumpty RemembersBY MIKE MUTHAKA This post will make better sense if you’ve seen ‘The Affair’ Part 1: Me. Tuesday The lady behind the…2017Craft ItCraft ItFive sublime spots to catch Kampala’s skylineBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Box You will do a daunting climb to the height of…2017Craft ItCraft ItMother-in-LawBY FLORENCE BETT The first time my mother-in-law started to call me every day was when I was two days past my…2017Craft ItCraft ItA Song for Old MenBY MIKE MUTHAKA The stillness of Moi Avenue was disturbed by a Citi Hoppa turning off the street. No.46, Kawangware: a big…Urban GuideFive foods you must try next time you’re in KampalaBY ERNEST TUAPE (Craft It’s new foreign correspondent in Kampala) #1. Luwombo Step aside, Matooke. Luwombo, walk in. Boiled and tasty sounds…MotherhoodHeartbreakBY FLORENCE BETT I suspect that Muna doesn’t like me very much now. It’s absurd, I know. But she’s refused to refer…