THE ORIGINAL NAIROBI SIGHTSEEING TOUR………….DISCOUNTED TICKETS

Nairobi is cold, polluted, unjust and over congested…but I love it. Yes, I love Nairobi. There’s nothing more urban and at the same time nothing wilder. Let me show you around through some random pictures that I’ve taken in the last couple of years.

Note: This post is meant to be a light introduction to my main project “I’m a Star” – a series of portraits depicting a charismatic self-presentation by the street kids of Nairobi in their environment. The title could be be misleading and a tad incautious, as it was hardly an exhaustive tour of Nairobi I was aiming to portray. Many remarkable aspects of this beautiful city are totally missing from my pictures because I was of course more involved and more present in the areas where I was carrying out the main shooting with the street kids. I kindly encourage you to look at my homepage and welcome your feedback. Since this blog is a work in progress I confess that I didn’t find other ways to move to the homepage than mysteriously clicking on “Paolo Novelli” on the upper left side of any page. Enjoy

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131 thoughts on “THE ORIGINAL NAIROBI SIGHTSEEING TOUR………….DISCOUNTED TICKETS

      • Hi. I think the correct name is rugby. It is the same as glue in purpose though, so you are not wrong. In the Philippines, we have the same problem. These kids are aptly called “rugby boys” here. These truly are amazing pictures. It tells so much.

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    • Hi Laura. Thanks for your comment. I’ve used all kind of cameras. For the main shoot, the one that I’ve called “I’m a star” I’ve used a Linhof Tecknicardan view camera with 6X12 film magazine and a set of three lenses (55, 80, 135). For the rest of the shoot I’ve used Leica M6 with a 35 mm, Hasselblad 6X6 with an 80 mm, Hasselblad 6X4.5 with Tilt and shift adapter and a Canon 5D digital with the set of tilt and shift lenses (24, 45, 90). Ciao! p

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  3. A truly inspiring sequence of perceptive images. I love Africa, but I would never be able to match this quality of photography. Too old. To scared. We hope to go back next year, but concentrating on the safety of the wildlife.

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  5. I would love to visit Africa. It’s been my dream since I was little. Thank you for bringing light to a dark and troubled place. And the amazing thing is that there is hope, joy and laughter in their faces. I will never understand this world completely, how it works, why so many people suffer and why those who don’t do not help. I need to do more….thank you.

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  7. Thank you for putting up some pictures that also shows some part of prosperity. There is more to many of the 55 countries in Africa than just poverty and war.
    Strong pictures. Especially the street boys with their glue bottles.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Perfect love

  8. I lived in Nairobi for three years, and I’m sick of photographers like you who get accolades for taking pictures like this. People in poverty, smiling under the sunlight? Is that Nairobi? Where is Nakumat, the country’s largest employer? Where is Javahouse or Runda. Where is Village Market? Where is Adam’s Arcade or any of the leafy suburbs? Where is Mama Ngina St with its bookshops and coffee houses? Where are the thousands of people who drive to work every day?

    Shame on you for typifying Nairobi like this. No doubt, the city contains vast poverty, glue sniffing children and plenty of squalor. But if you really loved the city, you would hold a more balanced view of what it contains, and then people like me wouldn’t get pissed that you’re just another opportunistic photographer who probably means well, but ultimately makes things worse. Because of your photos, more and more people believe the lie that squalor and smiles are all what comprises Kenya. Because of your publicity, Kenya will continue to be seen in the eyes of the world as just another poor country of delightful idiots.

    I know some Kenyan PhDs who could probably say this better than me.

    • I agree with you 100% Simon. As someone who has lived in Nairobi all her life, I get disgusted by foreigners who take such pictures and try to portray only one side of Africa “The Dark Continent”. No wonder majority of people in the “first” world believe we live in trees, communing with animals and all we know how to do is run. I can’t tell you the number of ridiculous questions I got when I was in University in the states. I can’t blame them though if this is the kind of pictures they were looking at.

      I would be curious to find out where this photographer stayed during his period here. I am pretty sure it is not Kibera or any other slum for that matter.

    • I agree Simon! I currently live in Nairobi and these pictures (brilliant though they are) entrench the stigma that people already associate with many African capitals. We need a balanced view of the happier and other aspects of the normal life that is living in Nairobi.

    • My comment before I read the previous ones:
      Cool photos and I guess congrats on these getting you to freshly pressed. However, I think its really sad that this is the only part of Nairobi you captured as its no different from what everyone sees on the news and assumes is Kenya / Nairobi in a nutshell. It would have been much nicer to include photos on the urban life, our malls, our suburbia, our fancy new overpasses, our efforts towards being a mega city with roads similar to the ones you see internationally, streets with cafes/restaurants and art galleries showing how Nairobians are moving towards an art culture, areas showing that we are now moving towards a multi-cultural city, the masaai markets all over Nairobi, Nairobi centre fashion, worshipping places in and away from town. There are many ways to capture the beauty of Nairobi, its sad that you captured the one angle everyone overseas already assumes of us. Make it a place worth visiting, not one they look at, feel bad and question their security before ever thinking of taking a plane ride out here.

    • Thank you!
      I have been scrolling down the comments to see if those who’ve been to Nairobi or live here have seen this.
      Most of these pics have been taken in Muthurwa, which is a small area and does not even begin to comprehensively represent the city.
      Good photography alright, but I think Paolo could have been more balanced seeing as in his intro he talks of “Nairobi Sightseeing…”

      Paolo, I’d suggest you even this out by depicting the posh areas of the city too.

  9. Wow!! These are some really great photos..like really really great! Each of ‘em telling a different story… I am in love with them! :)
    Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed! :)

  10. What a moving representation of Nairobi, you have a good eye. What beautiful hope-filled children, the old saying goes that eyes are the windows to your soul, I say our children are the manifestations of our hearts!
    Thank you for sharing

  11. Wow! This are really beautiful photos. However, I think you should also capture the very beautiful side that Nairobi has, so people can see both sides of the coin.
    The picture quality is amazing, and these photos brought tears to my eyes.

  12. I went through a whole lot of feelings. I guess that’s that the photos were meant to do. It’s very hard for me to believe anyone lives this way. And to think we go beserque if out water goes off for 10 minutes and the power is out for an hour. If climate change is going to effect us all it makes you wonder how bad it will get for those poor souls.

  13. i hope that you will read this. I am deeply saddened by your partisan view of Kenya. I know in your heart of hearts you probably meant well when you put these photos up but you may have caused more damage than you imagined (hopefully you did not do this for mere publicity). I have lived in Nairobi for many years and there are millions of images you could have taken to represent “your beloved city” in better light. You are part of the reason why I have to contend with questions such as whether we live on trees in kenya or even whether i ever had clothes on before moving to the US. Please, in the future, try and move your camera around and enjoy the good scenery in Nairobi. You will genuinely love it, not because you sympathize with the poverty in Kibera. Do not mistake this for denial, poverty is a problem we are very much aware of. I just hope that there’s better things I can discuss with my american friends when they see your photos.

  14. I am a Kenyan living in Nairobi and very disappointed. Mostly because your photo are intended to manipulate the poor and take advantage of their deplorable living conditions. Every city in the world has conditions like this, and I know that Nairobi city has several projects that are being undertaken to provide these people with decent housing.

    I’m sure you go into Nairobi through an international airport. I’m also sure you did not also live among these people during your stay in Nairobi. Tell us the truth You were in some 5 star hotel in upmarket. My point is show both sides of the coin and also explain what the country is doing to help its people get out of such situations.

    For anyone who wants to see the true unbiased images of our beautiful city Google search Nairobi and see the images of our city or copy and paste this link on your browser:

    http://www.google.co.ke/search?q=nairobi&hl=sw&biw=1001&bih=619&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OHOBTpjZIpOS0QXHmo2vAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEwQsAQ

    Next time you are in Nairobi, do not abuse our hospitality. We are a great and proud people.

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  17. Your photos convey such a powerful message. I actually have friend who is in Nairobi right now and based on what I saw today in your shots, I must say his photos may have concealed the true face of Kenya, specifically that of Nairobi. You just changed my perception of that place and of the people. I was really moved. Thanks for sharing this! :)

  18. Wherever you go or whatever you post on the internet, whether good or bad, everyone’s always going to have their opinions. Commenting about your photos, I loved them! Very raw and captivating! You have a true talent with photography! That and you’ve got good cameras! I was just skimming through other people’s comments about showing the good side of Nairobi as well and etc… at the end of the day, Freshly Pressed still put Nairobi on the front page, whether people liked the photos or not. That should be taken as a positive because people like me have never dreamed of going to Nairobi, but you know what, I just opened up a new tab and started googling the entire country in general and I’m quite interested. I want to see the other good things that Nairobi also has to offer now. This was a great post overall. Congrats!

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  20. First up, congratulations on your photos. They are as stark as they are beautiful. However I am using beautiful for the abject that is shown explicitly. Your photos do tell a story and one cannot turn away from the reality that is.
    I have been to Nairobi this year and have totally fallen in love. Agreed there is the debate about touristy photos vis-a-vis the in-yopur-face-reality types. Nairobi does have a lot more to offer than the desperate smiles and stories of poverty. You work reminds me me of a handful of critically acclaimed Indian film directors, back in the 80s, who have highlighted poverty. Obviously, there is a lot more to romantacise about. Nairobi for me will remain that.
    Your fellow Nairobi-lover: Calmdev

  21. Thank you for a long overdue “trip” back home. You have such an eye for humanity and to show the beauty of a person regardless of current situation. I would love, however, another series on the sheer beauty of the city. ;)

  22. Well Well Well N is cold congested polluted unjust but not for everybody you can see from your photos who this description relates to. Why so few words perhaps the absence of text from pictures is because photographers often cannot describe, tell tales of situations in life which are not part of their experience. visual artists can simply point and snap and collect beautiful images of the miseducated, misinformed and fatalistic. This is the part of the world where the first evidence of human civilisation were found today de African is struggling for survival in the homeland. Reeducate the mind, freedom from mental slavery through a process of lifelong learning which places these Africans, and all oppressed peoples at the centre of change and development and they will built their own positive lives and communities. ohhhhh dear here i go again pontificating, soz ppl – spiffing pics what oh!!!!!

  23. You’re an amazing photographer. The Nairobi CBD images you shot are some of the best I’ve seen in awhile! Also love your other photos. Nairobi looks so chaotic. I can’t wait till I visit someday.:)

    • Thanks Eddy! Yes Nairobi is a city that most of the travellers try to avoid when visiting Kenya, but it’s definitely full of energy. In the good and the bad. I’ll post some new stuff in the next days. Hope you will like it. Keep in touch ;)

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