Paukwa? Pakawa!
Paukwa is a place dedicated to positive stories about Kenya. Our story house is named for the Swahili word that is an invitation to a story – Paukwa. It’s an age- old term, well known across East Africa. Paukwa invites one to remember the joy of stories from their childhood days and to get lost in new, familiar or unknown ideas about the daily things that surround us.
Each day ordinary Kenyans are pushing our nation forward. As volunteers, as SME owners, as creatives, teachers, farmers, counsellors, techwizards and more. There is a bigger story as they build our nation each day through their tenacity, hard work, positive attitude, search for excellence, and sheer hustle.
Through their efforts we all grow.
At Paukwa, we shine a spotlight on the everyday builders of our nation and the history we almost forgot.
This digital storybank celebrates memory, culture, modernity, but most of all, the positive. Dive in and discover a story of Kenya you didn’t know you never knew!
#KeArtists
Art is all around us. On streets, where matatus silently compete in ranks of the latest artwork, in galleries where murals and sculptures preside, in malls, in public parks and even in cafes. Art tells a story, and as storytellers we continue to seek narratives that inspire. So then what is the story of these works of art around us? We believe it all goes back to the
Paukwa? Pakawa!
Paukwa is a place dedicated to positive stories about Kenya. Our story house is named for the Swahili word that is an invitation to a story – Paukwa. It’s an age- old term, well known across East Africa. Paukwa invites one to remember the joy of stories from their childhood days and to get lost in new, familiar or unknown ideas about the daily things that surround us.
Each day ordinary Kenyans are pushing our nation forward. As volunteers, as SME owners, as creatives, teachers, farmers, counsellors, techwizards and more. There is a bigger story as they build our nation each day through their tenacity, hard work, positive attitude, search for excellence, and sheer hustle.
Through their efforts we all grow.
At Paukwa, we shine a spotlight on the everyday builders of our nation and the history we almost forgot.
This digital storybank celebrates memory, culture, modernity, but most of all, the positive. Dive in and discover a story of Kenya you didn’t know you never knew!
#VisiwaVyetu
Kenya is known as a wildlife tourism hub and safari destination. Other than these gems, breathtaking waters besprinkle the Kenyan landscape giving both the coast and hinterland immense beauty. These waters are endowed with islands that bewitch with beauty and the promise of adventure. Islands on the Kenyan coast are more known and adored by people than the ones on the inland waters. As such, many inland islands remain
Remember the story of...
Diana Karungari – Jewellery That Tells a Story
Personal decorative pieces have always been a part of African culture. Beyond its use to adorn the body, jewellery was also used to convey specific messages. Some jewellery spoke to a woman’s marital and child-bearing status while others symbolized a man’s standing in his community. Jewellery was also believed to offer the wearer spiritual protection and as such, was worn by children and other vulnerable groups such as initiates and pregnant women to ward off evil. The sentimentality attached to these crafts is not lost and contemporary designs continue to draw from the well of past creations. * When Diana Karungari was a little girl living in Rongai, she enjoyed dressing-up her dolls. She would look...
Our audio stories
A note from our team
JOURNALISM AS SERVICE
If you were to look up the purpose of journalism, you would probably find something along the lines of empowering citizens with the information they need to make the best possible choices in their everyday lives, and for their communities and government. In our #MagazetiYetu and #KePhotographers collection,s what strikes a chord is the sacrifices that journalists throughout our history have made to give us the power of decision-making. When we take a closer look at our media history, it is clear that these professionals went far beyond the call of duty to secure the credibility of information reaching the public. And for this sacrifice, we can’t help but label these journalists the epitome of servants. These heroes have stood for truth, democracy and our nation time and time again – even to their own detriment. Be emboldened by the figures who remained uncompromising in their values. May we stand on their shoulders.
TEAM PAUKWA
A note from our team
LUGHA ZETU
Languages are the vibrant threads that weave together the tapestry of human existence. They are the essence of communication, connecting individuals and communities, while also serving as the key to preserving culture, heritage, and knowledge. African languages have long been underappreciated and overshadowed by colonial ones. However, times are changing, and with increasing efforts to promote cultural diversity and inclusivity, they are finally gaining the recognition they truly deserve. Kiswahili, in particular, has emerged as a leading example of this linguistic renaissance. At Paukwa, we have long been champions of different facts of Kenyan culture. Through #KeProverbs and #MisemoYetu we celebrate the rich diversity of our linguistic heritage.
TEAM PAUKWA
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