Cold Spaghetti

From The Guardian Weekly:

“The slums of Nairobi have been the backdrop to some of the worst violence since Kenya’s disputed elections in December 2007. In Kibera, a settlement on the edge of the city, approximately 700,000 people live in extreme poverty. Much of the area has been destroyed, but there are bright spots amid the ash and rubble. Every few meters there are white, hand-painted signs calling for peace and brotherhood. Luhya artist Solomon Muyundo (aka Solo Saba or Solo 7) has been painting peace messages in public places every day since the fighting broke out.

This reminded me so strongly of the beauty within the NOLA Rising messages; the joy those little signs bring to me when I see them. This artist is trying to calm his troubled nation, to stop those in the throws of chaos from harming each other. Here is the artist, in his own words:

“
I’ve been going out and painting messages of peace in Kibera, trying to calm the violence that erupted after the election. I write things like “Peace wanted alive” and “Keep peace and justice” in white paint.

Some people have started urging me to paint in their areas too, in places that I haven’t reached. They are encouraging me to do more, and I’m really happy that they like what I’m doing. I want so much to restore peace in our country.
…

I think the messages contribute to a more positive attitude in the community. Wherever there is a message of peace, someone feels secure. People are resuming their normal activities with less fear.
…

When people were trying to loot the marketplace I ran around the stalls with charcoal, writing “ODM” on as many things as I could. The looters never took any of the goods that I wrote on. That made me think that perhaps signs could speak louder than I could.
…

People want a way in which to protest peacefully. Perhaps we should be printing T-shirts with peace messages and giving them out for free. That way people can advocate peace wherever they are.

I haven’t heard of any other artists in the country promoting peace in this way. But if Kenyans can think of a way to assist the community in this manner, I encourage them to do it, without worrying about who will pay them. They should display peace wherever they are, in all the places I can’t reach. As artists, we are talented, and we have a role to play in the community.

“

I wonder how the ‘Grey Ghost’ would respond to that?