Dandora
Encyclopedia
Dandora is an eastern suburb in Nairobi
, Kenya
. It is part of the Embakasi division. Dandora is divided into five phases. Dandora was established in 1977, with partial financing by the World Bank
in order to offer higher standard of housing http://www.nd.edu/~ndmag/au2005/africa1.html. However, the estate has turned into high-density slum with high unemployment. Nairobi's principal dumping site
is situated in Dandora, probably causing health problems for local residents.
The Dandora Oxygenation Ponds, a prominent feature on satellite imagery
of the area, is Nairobi's main sewage treatment works, and discharges processed water in to Nairobi River
.
Dandora was listed by the Blacksmith Institute
as one of the most polluted sites in the world.
Recently many Kenyan hip hop
groups have emerged from Dandora, for example Kalamashaka
. Hip Hop culture has developed and played such a significant role in Dandora that many artist are determined to use hip hop as a positive community force. Recently visits by American hip hop artist group Dead Prez has increased attention to the impoverished condition of Dandora. “Hip-hop is a powerful tool that we can use to educate those in the darkness so if a rapper grabs the microphone to rap about jewellery and material riches when his community is very poor then he is lying to the people because what he’s rapping about is not true. Our communities are poor we don’t own nothing so why should we rap about things we don’t own. The big companies pimping us so we should not easily fall in the trap,” expressed by a member of Dead Prez on visit. Dandora is finally beginning to gain momentum in gaining attention to the humanitarian and environmental issues in the slum.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is part of the Embakasi division. Dandora is divided into five phases. Dandora was established in 1977, with partial financing by the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
in order to offer higher standard of housing http://www.nd.edu/~ndmag/au2005/africa1.html. However, the estate has turned into high-density slum with high unemployment. Nairobi's principal dumping site
Waste management
Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal,managing and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and the process is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics...
is situated in Dandora, probably causing health problems for local residents.
The Dandora Oxygenation Ponds, a prominent feature on satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
of the area, is Nairobi's main sewage treatment works, and discharges processed water in to Nairobi River
Nairobi River
Nairobi River is a river flowing through the Kenyan capital Nairobi. It is the main river of the Nairobi river basin, a complex of several parallel streams flowing eastwards. All of the Nairobi basin rivers join east of Nairobi and meet the Athi River, eventually flowing to the Indian ocean. These...
.
Dandora was listed by the Blacksmith Institute
Blacksmith Institute
Founded in 1999, Blacksmith Institute is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating life-threatening pollution in the developing world. Blacksmith identifies and cleans up the world's worst polluted places, focusing on communities where children are most at risk. Based in...
as one of the most polluted sites in the world.
Recently many Kenyan hip hop
Kenyan hip hop
Kenyan hip hop is a subgenre of hip hop music that has become very popular among local youth. Some artists generally classified as Kenyan hip hop may not have much to do with hip hop in its strict sense. Mixing of Swahili, English and tribal languages is common...
groups have emerged from Dandora, for example Kalamashaka
Kalamashaka
Kalamashaka is a hip hop group based in Dandora, a ghetto estate in Nairobi, Kenya. It comprises three members: Oteraw, Kama and Johny. The group was formed in the mid 90's. They became popular with Tafsiri Hii hit in 1997...
. Hip Hop culture has developed and played such a significant role in Dandora that many artist are determined to use hip hop as a positive community force. Recently visits by American hip hop artist group Dead Prez has increased attention to the impoverished condition of Dandora. “Hip-hop is a powerful tool that we can use to educate those in the darkness so if a rapper grabs the microphone to rap about jewellery and material riches when his community is very poor then he is lying to the people because what he’s rapping about is not true. Our communities are poor we don’t own nothing so why should we rap about things we don’t own. The big companies pimping us so we should not easily fall in the trap,” expressed by a member of Dead Prez on visit. Dandora is finally beginning to gain momentum in gaining attention to the humanitarian and environmental issues in the slum.