Updates

Hi Guys, First, thank you so much for considering working on this project and those few that have submitted work to date. There's just a month to go for the launch and so a fair bit of pressure to get a design finalised in the next ten days or so. I got one comment that the brief was not that clear and apologise if that is the case. Here are some clear guidelines: 1) http://content.time.com/time/beyond911/ - this is very much the inspiration for the project. Rather than Time it could be branded as a Horn of Africa Production. Design Crowd people are working on a logo 2) I like the idea of a clean holding page, with a paragraph that could, for now read: "This Memorial Project will provide a lasting testimony of the attack's impact on the people of Nairobi. These first-hand documentary testimonies are the stories of people who were there or were very closely affected. The stories collected include those recounted by heroes who ventured inside the mall to save lives; shoppers who were caught inside but lived to tell their story; friends and relatives of those who past; policemen; journalists who covered the attack; government officials; the Red Cross; Oshwal centre; ambassadors; surgeons and political commentators. No single event in Nairobi's recent history has brought such a cross section of society together in unison. What we have here is a celebration of the highest in us; a harmonious yearning for the safe and secure Kenya many once knew and dream for our future. These portraits and stories give an open, truthful, soulful account of what happened - not from the voices of politicians alone, but from the ordinary Kenyans who were caught up in this. Fewer stories could emphasise the feeling that We are One Kenya, regardless of race, religion or economic background, as this, the story of Westgate. Photos and Video by Arjun Kohli 3) An "Enter" portal and then the main thing should be the 40 portraits and the 40 stories. Now, that is the thing that needs to be set up so that it is something original but has the same impact as http://content.time.com/time/beyond911/ , but, using the stories and portraits that I have here: http://vimeopro.com/productionafrica/westgate-multimedia-project password: waronterror 4) I can arrange for links for you to download the 12 videos that are up there from vimeo - or link them/embed them from Vimeo....I think that I should have about 30 ready for the launch on September 21st and the project wants to grow to 40. I can also upload portraits.... 5) The additional page is a sponsors page. I have told sponsors that we could put their logo on the site and then have a write up about them and their involvement. 6) Picking features from Time project is good - like back linking the stories from the persons name to their portrait - having the pop up window come up with the background portraits as wall paper. 7) Keeping it clean, focussed and uncluttered is to me elegant. Thank you so much for considering working on a project that really is about 9/11, Boston/ Mumbai attacks....as this.... Sincerlely, Arjun Kohli
Added Thursday, August 14, 2014

HI All Thank you very much for working on this. I am attaching two things - one is a press release that will be sent out mid next week so you get a feel of the project. The other is a link to download 22 of the portraits. These can be used to frame the 40 spaces for the 40 portraits that I will eventually take even though for now I have only reached 22 of them. If anyone wants to, after showing me designs, upload some of the actual videos and embed them this will be possible with my vimeo login details - let me know if this will help you. The link to downloading the portraits is: http://we.tl/uim5ZvwxcH I will share with you the holding site, tomorrow, www.westgatememorial.org, as over here we worked on a holding page with some info, portraits and one film. The Press release is pasted below: Our Nairobi: A Westgate Memorial Exhibition Aim & outline Since the attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi on September 21st, 2013 Nairobi citizens have lived in a state of mourning, fear and shock. We believe that a healthy society, in a nation whose unofficial motto is Peace, Love and Unity, we need to remember these words now more than ever. We, the Kenyan citizenry, should not let a four day siege in our nation’s capital city, pass without a meaningful national conversation. The “Our Nairobi: A Westgate Memorial” project aims to address this. It is a powerful memorial that draws its inspiration from a similar effort undertaken by Time Magazine, the Ground Zero Museum and the citizens of New York after the September 11 attack on the Twin Towers. Our project consists of 3 main components: 1) A 2 month exhibition at the National Museum of Nairobi, displaying victims stories and stories of those closely involved. The stories celebrate the community, honor the aftermath of rescue and recovery and share a personal memorial tribute from Westgate friends and families. 2) After the exhibition closes, 40 powerful interviews with those personally affected by the attack will be uploaded to a Westgate Memorial website, www.westgatememorial.org. 3) The exhibition will open with four choreographed evenings, by invitation, with orchestra and choir on the one- year anniversary days (September 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th), in the courtyard at the National Museum. Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com  On those evenings victims and their families, dignitaries, media and the general public will be invited to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack with an evening of reflection, music, and a candle lighting ceremony by a printed list of those that passed. Invitations will have guests seated by 7:30pm when the concert will begin The 22nd, 23rd and 24th are by invitation events mainly for families or volunteers closely involved, but the media are welcome throughout. The concert on the 21st will be a part of the Story-Moja Festival and so anyone can attend. The exhibition will be free and open to the public. It will be open and running through the Story-Moja Festival, with an official opening on the one- year anniversary, 21st September 2014. More Information on the Project Part of the memorial consists of interviews with those personally affected by the attack. They were all asked one question: “What were you doing the morning of the attack?” The link below provides an example of the interviews taken and the type of portraits that will be displayed. http://vimeopro.com/productionafrica/westgate-multimedia-project Password: waronterror The physical exhibition aims to showcase more than twenty stories, at least 5 of which will be played during the memorial concerts and remembrance evenings on large screens. The stories will be displayed in the Aga Khan Hall of the Museum on individual flat screens with headphones along with portraits of the interviewees and a little plaque with a key quote to guide the visitor to an interview that might appeal to him or her. People recounting their stories are shoppers, waiters, shop owners, journalists, police, first respondents, doctors, mortuary officials, the head of Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com  the Oshwal community, ambassadors; political commentators; victims and their friends and families. The exhibition will incorporate a sacred space for visitors to write and share their reflections after watching the films. This allows the Kenyan citizenry to have a platform to voice their opinions, think carefully about the events that passed only one year ago and heal from the tragedy that the nation experienced in their own personal way. Through the interviews conducted, new and thought-provoking information on the Westgate attack is continuing to emerge. However, the Exhibition is positioned more as a Memorial Project than an investigative journalism project. But, many of the key figures have never been interviewed before, either by the media or by the investigators, so there is lots of fresh material in the interviews and transcripts. Unlike a documentary, where the story and characters are edited down so much, this project gives space and time for individual expression. The format was chosen because the film maker felt that editing this story down to just half an hour or an hour would not be as healing or interesting as allowing visitors the space to really explore the intimate thoughts and feelings of fellow country men and human beings on the deep subjects. Through the story of Westgate people reflect on the meaning of life and death, the path to better national security and emergency response. They talk about terror, the meaning of Jihad, what it means to be Kenyan. Most interviews end with a question relating to what they want for future genearations in Kenya and a vision of that future. Many things emerge, but one thing in particular: everyone across the board wants peace, love and unity. Everyone across the board still loves Kenya and wants it to overcome terrorism and prosper in peace and security. People can choose to listen to who they want to listen to. They can find the stories that they can relate to, be it a high commissioner, cartoonist, policeman, volunteer or waiter. Part of the experience that the exhibition gives is an opportunity to really get to know a person who you would never ordinarily get to talk to or listen to. In this respect it is a community building exercise drawing on the powerful “We are One” campaign that emerged around the Westgate attack when everyone came together. Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com  In essence, this is a portrait of Kenya: capturing the intimate voices of people frozen in one space in one moment. Standing within the hall should be a powerful experience. Because of the steady and calm approach, lots more is revealed in these interviews than would be in a “run and gun” news style approach. Each interview took at least an hour to film and is edited down to ten minutes, on average. In this way the project is an excellent example of oral history. The information collated allows one to learn about the perspectives of individuals who might not otherwise appear in the historical record. It goes beyond the basic facts and gives you an insight into the hopes, feelings, and personal experiences of those interviewed. The stories are told in their own words, giving each interview the chance to participate in the creation of the historical retelling of their lives. And for these reasons this project is extremely valuable. The full transcripts of each interview will be donated to the National Archives for the public and scholars alike to enjoy. As well as the films the public will be able to enjoy a gallery of prints by the Kenyan cartoonist, Gado. This collection is collated from his published cartoons following 9/11, the Embassy bombings, subsequent attacks, and Westgate. About the Film Maker Arjun Kohli’s previous work creating a news piece with photo journalist Kate Holt for the BBC (http://www.bbc.com/news/in- pictures-24329418) inspired him to undertake a larger oral history project to capture the national sentiment surrounding the Westgate attack. Arjun studied broadcast journalism at the Mohammed Amin Foundation in Nairobi, before conducting further studies in film Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com  production and editing at the South African School of Motion Picture. He then worked with Voice of America, the BBC World Service and later Reuters Africa Journal before continuing with academia conducting a Masters course in African Studies at the University of Oxford. He has worked making documentary films with various NGOs and international bodies including UNEP, USAID, DFID, UNESCO and filed for the BBC and Guardian multi-media. For a full bio please visit www.productionafrica.com Supporters and Funding The project holds the opportunity for the public, business’ and NGOs alike to show their support for the victims and unity against terrorism both in Kenya and across the world. A wide cross-section of society has already shown support for this project, from Red Cross representatives, to police officers, and foreign ambassadors. The project is being crowd funded largely by the Nairobi community, people affected by the attack and media sales. Media Sales and Media Participation We’d really like you to talk about the Exhibition and encourage people to visit it. It’s unusual for Nairobians to go to the Museum for specific exhibitions so it would be good if the press could review it and discuss it and encourage participation. We were all affected in some way or knew people that were. Whilst we have not gathered all 40 films that will form the memorial website, we thought that we should display at least 20 to mark the one year anniversary and encourage the public to re-visit. Many would say that Kenyans have a culture of forgetting and moving on, often without really absorbing lessons. In a way, this is an effort to break that culture, and the media has a role to play. We hope that the stories and exhibition will provide a meaningful focus and entry point when discussing Westgate one year later. Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com  With its portraits, transcripts, video and audio this project is very media friendly. The films were shot in colour in High Definition on an EX3 and the portraits were shot using a Canon 5D. If you would like to make a television, radio or print magazine feature about the project; the making of the memorial, or simply cover the memorial events themselves, please get in touch. We are happy to run interviews, provide access to the production or concert rehearsals (7th September) and do interviews before, during and after the event. There will be an interview booth set up at the Memorial on all four evenings to interview either the film-maker or the volunteers. But, please be sensitive to the fact it is a Memorial. We are also happy to work with you if you want to create a video, radio or print piece using some of the project photographic, print or video material. If, during the siege, your media house featured a character that you want to follow up with in this context, we are open to inviting him or her into studio as a participant. We are open to ideas that you have. We will send a media advisory if there is going to be an official opening ceremony, other than the concerts. Available on enquiry: Key Quotes and list of those interviewed Timeline of terror in East Africa to date Video and audio clips relating to the project Some portraits for use in magazine, online or newspaper features For media enquiries, please contact: Arjun Kohli Cell: + 254 721 555 911 Web: www.productionafrica.com Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com  The Westgate attack, basic facts • The basic narrative that has emerged is that on Saturday, Sept. 21, unidentified gunmen attacked the Westgate mall. The siege, which the Islamic terrorist group al- Shabaab claimed responsibility for, lasted until September 24th 2013 • At least 67 people were killed and up to 200 injured, in what became an 80-hour siege • The Kenyan military recently identified four terrorists who they allege took part in the attack. Their bodies are now in the United States undergoing forensic investigation. • The government then said five militants had been killed – but no bodies were ever shown to the media. At least 11 other people were arrested after the attack, suspects who apparently were not at the mall during the incident. • Al-Shabab means The Youth in Arabic, it emerged as the radical youth wing of Somalia’s union of Islamic Courts. The group has claimed to be allied with al-Qaeda Arjun Kohli www.productionafrica.com 
Added Saturday, August 16, 2014

Project Deadline Extended
Reason: Designs are still being refined
Added Friday, August 22, 2014

Good news from the project - the Govenor of Nairobi is going to open the exhibition at the Museum on the 15th September - The press release will state that the website will also be ready for viewing simultaniously - so not long to go -
Added Friday, August 22, 2014

Some images I have permission to use https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads/8a402130160c62fd888ab54cd0dc8d9520140820062114/23f2b313f9d25bffe98336dbf198aaf420140820062114/709387
Added Friday, August 22, 2014