Present

1. Joseph Healey – The Moderator of www.Afriprov.org website, jghealey@aol.com

+254 572 522 977 — Directing the meeting.

2. Cephas Agbemenu– cyagbemenu@yahoo.com +254 723 307 992 – Assistant Moderator. Chairing the meeting.
3. Elias Bushiri Elie – e.bushiri@yahoo.com +254 701 391 149 – Assistant Secretary
4. Margaret W. Ireri – margwireri@yahoo.com +254 722537 774 – Secretary

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5. Alimas Kaluta Adrien – +254 706 360 250
6. Peter K. King’oo – petchaloo@gmail.com +254 724 802 220
7. Angelique Chelo – angelcheylo@yahoo.com +254 707 367 671
8. Annastasi Oisebe – annastasioisebe@gmail.com +254 705 600 979
9. Cikuru Bishangi Devotha – devothac200@gmail.com +254 718 227 541
10. Elysee Meta – elizemeta@yahoo.com +254 722 705 778
11. Francis Njuguna – osnjuguna@yahoo.com +254 720 434 819
12. Gabriel Odhiambo – gabrielodhiambo1@gmail.com+254 726 369 593
13. Hondi Muhimanyi Placide – hondimuhimanyi@gmail.com +254 701 408 731
14. John Mbiti Mbuvi – mbiti.john5@gmail.com +254 721 124 661
15. Kevin Namatsi Okubo – kevinnamatsi@gmail.com +254 715 307 874
16. Laur Mwepu Luiza – laurjudithmwepu@yahoo.fr +254 725 806 611
17. Patricia Nderitu – pnderito@gmail.com +254 711 580 942
18. Judy Maina – judy.mainaw@gmail.com +254 724 207 998
19. Ricardo Benon Benjamin – ricardobenon1@gmail.com +254 701 606 345
20. Roger Akouete Adjomayi – akouete4@gmail.com +254 725 932 201, +254 731 580 461
21. Allan Babunga – from the USA on Skype — alainidya@yahoo.fr

Apologies

1. Justus M. Omae – justusmoturi@live.com +254 722 286 423, +254 726 453 057
2. Sikitoka Mboni – sikitoka@yahoo.com +254 721 925 624
3. Sr. Grace Njau – annegracenj@gmail.com +254 722 260 078

• Annetta Miller — millerannetta@gmail.com +254 721-713084
• Evans Nyakundi — evansnyakundie@yahoo.com +254 722-566445
• Tyty Mukendi Wamulumba – mukendiwamulumba@yahoo.fr
• The Rev. John Mbiti — john.mbiti@gmx.ch, mbiti.john@gmail.com +41344226420, +41788353111

 

Opening
The Assistant Moderator welcomed the members to the meeting.

Internet user workshop

The training was done by Ricardo Benon to help the members to know how to use the African Proverbs Website more effectively. The members learned how to vote for their favorite proverb of the month, and also be able to access other services on it.

Introductions

Ricardo introduced the members, and then every member introduced themselves. A prayer was said by Elysee Meta in Lingala.

History of the African Proverbs Work

The history of the APWG was given by the Moderator, Fr. Healey. It was noted that out of 21 participants 12 members had visited the “Welcome Message” on the website; 12 members had visited the African Stories Database; two had visited the Endangered African Proverbs.
The Moderator explained to the members that the www.afriprov.org is a window into African oral literature and African culture from a Christian perspective. It began in 1998 through the help of the Urban Ministries Serving God Office. The Assistant Moderator suggested that photographs of the responsible leaders on the site be posted. The members supported this suggestion. The names are as follows:

Joseph Healey is the Moderator based in Nairobi, Kenya at  JGHealey@aol.com. The Assistant Moderator is Cephas Agbemenu based in Nairobi, Kenya at  cyagbemenu@yahoo.com  The host of our website is CNETGlobal International that has a registered Internet Domain at www.cngs.com. The Website Host is Sam Wanyoike based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada at  sam@cngs.com. The Administrator of the website is Charles Gikera based in Nairobi, Kenya at  admin@itura.net. The Assistant Administrator is Peter Kyalo based in Nairobi, Kenya at:  petchaloo@gmail.com.

Reading the minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on Saturday 30th January 2016 were read by Ricardo Benon because the secretary was not available then.

Some corrections were made on the contact list of the minutes.

• Laur Mwepu clarified that the Eton ethnic language was not spoken in D. R. Congo as minuted, but in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and São Tome.

Matters arising from the previous minutes
Emphasis was put on the need to use the correct ethnological name of a language. The corrections were made on: Tembo, Nyala, Nyaturu.
A review on the steps to follow to use the ethnologue was made.

• Get to the Afriprov.org website, highlight on Resources and on the drop box click on Links.
• The ethnologue page is displayed, scroll to the bottom and click on countries. A list of continents and its countries is displayed.
• Click on Kenya, (or country of your choice), and all the languages in the country are displayed in alphabetical order.

Presentations completed research projects

The 10 Digo/Eton/Tetela project booklets were presented by the writers to the Moderator.
Presentations of recent research proposals

The members were required to present their proposals verbally to the meeting, so that the full board members would critique their work, then approve or reject. New guidelines required that the proposal be presented in writing and include 2 sample proverbs from the ethnic group.

Chonyi proverbs – Angela Chelo met the criteria required and was allowed to present the proposal on the Chonyi (Mijikenda) ethnic language.

Shona proverbs – Ricardo Benon intended to present a proposal on the Shona (Zimbabwe) ethnic group, but the Moderator clarified that it had been researched very widely already. Secondly, these people were located too far away, which would require him to travel there to do his research. He was advised to undertake a different project.

Ibo proverbs – Elysee Meta expressed the wish to research on the Ibo (Nigeria) proverbs. The Moderator indicated that they had been researched too much over the years and she needed to undertake a different project. She confirmed that she would research on Embu proverbs. Question: What is the theme/focus?

Duruma proverbs – Margaret Wambere informed the meeting that she changed her intended research on Makonde to the one on Duruma (Mijikenda), due to logistical issues.

Teso proverbs – Gabriel Odhiambo informed the meeting that he had changed the proposed project from Marachi (Luhya) to Teso.

 

New Guidelines for African Proverbs Working Group (APWG) Grants
These were revised and updated guidelines to direct the members on their writing and publication of the proverbs. Emphasis is put on:

1. Payment of the annual membership fee of one thousand Kenya shillings (Kshs 1,000). The African Proverb Working Group (APWP) is an African proverbs and stories family/small community.
2. Attendance and participation at meetings.  New members are required to attend two full APWP meetings before presenting any research proposals.
3. Members are to be internet compliant: be able to access and actively participate in the afriprov.org website, Facebook Page and vote in the Poll.
4. All research project proposals are sent in writing to members of the Executive Committee for initial evaluation (this involves a screening process) and approval/disapproval. The exact name of the African language is normally taken from the African Ethnologue. Proposals should include two sample proverbs with explanation. Then the approved project proposals are included in the “Agenda” and sent by File Attachment to all members before the meeting. Then the proposal is presented in writing to a full APWG meeting for discussion, evaluation/critique and approval/disapproval. Only qualified, selected members can vote on the proposals. The proposal has to be approved before members officially undertake the proverbs collections and qualify for grants.
5. Concerning content: a main objective of the proverbs writing is for Christian religious and evangelical purposes. Emphasis on the “Biblical Parallels” and the “Religious Application” of the proverbs.
6. The ideal is an Endangered Proverbs Collection in a small, relatively unknown African language. If a well-known language is chosen, there has to be a specific focus/theme and needs special evaluation and permission.
7. A research proposal on a language not native to the researcher needs special evaluation and permission. A Verification Process by the Executive Committee is required.

8. Normally a research proposal on a language in another country is not given a grant. Exceptions can be made.
9. As a general principle, new grants are given only after the work for the old grants is completed. This applied to the individual and to the group.
10. The number of projects approved for grants has to fit the annual budget.
11. The first half of the grants will only be paid out after the “Minutes” have been posted under on the www.afriprov.org website. This method informs the benefactors about approved, undertaken and completed projects.
12. The Executive Committee supervises formatting and final production of the collections.

• Production of a “African Proverb of the Month” by each member, picked from their current collection, before the second half of a grant is paid out.

14. Submission of an Ebook (final electronic copy) before the second half of a grant is paid out.
15. Include names and contacts of collaborators if the research is about an ethnic group to which a member did not belong.  This would be for verification of the content.
16. Part of the payment goes to the collaborators (covering research and production).
17. Inclusion of the research proposal at the end of the collection booklet. It would be placed as an appendix. 
18. Training Workshops are an essential part of full APWG meetings. Topics: “Internet Compliancy.” “Structure and Layout of the African Proverb of the Month.” “Microsoft Word Documents.” “Formatting of 100 Proverbs Booklets.”
19. All members need to provide a brief bio-data to be posted on the internet; a bio-data template will be provided by the Executive Committee for members to follow.

Promoting the African Proverbs, Saying and Stories Website, Poll and Facebook Page and WhatsApp
The Moderator continued to emphasize the importance of using the website to source for information, updating members on various issues, participating in the poll for a proverb choice, posting statements on the Facebook Page, and the importance of using the smartphone.

Rogers Adjomayi explained to the members the importance of using the WhatsApp as a communication medium. He encouraged members to post messages and participate more in discussions featured daily. Its purpose was to have fun and learn at the same time. It also helped to communicate quickly to members when required.

2016 Calendar

Elias Bushiri presented the three draft calendars so that the members could make a choice of the one which would be printed. The members suggested that every month’s page should display an African proverb. The meeting agreed that it should be edited and be sent to each member. Rogers offered to assist.

Receiving of Grants
The following members received grants for their completed works.
Full grants given to:

• Elias Bushiri (Holoholo proverbs)
• Laur Mwepu (Eton proverbs)

Half grants given to:

• Margaret Wambere (Digo proverbs) – Ebook posted on website. Proverb of the Month to be edited and approved.
• Elysee Meta (Tetela proverbs) – Ebook posted on website. Proverb of the Month posted.
• Kevin Okubo (Nyala [dialect of Luyia] proverbs) – Ebook posted on website. Proverb of the Month to be edited and approved.
• Gabriel Odhiambo (Turkana proverbs) – Ebook to be presented to Moderator for editing, approval, submission of 10 booklets and posting on website.
• Rogers Adjomayi (Fon proverbs) – Ebook to be presented to Moderator for editing, approval, submission of 10 booklets and posting on website.
• Devotha Cikuru (Nyaturu proverbs) -Ebook posted on website. Proverb of the Month to be edited and approved.

Hopefully they all will receive the second half of their grant at the next full APWG Meeting.
2016 Annual Membership Contributions
Contributions were received from three members:
Ksh.
Etoka Malusise 1,000.00
Gabriel Odhiambo 1,000.00
Alimas Kaluta Adrien (mpesa) 1,000.00
Total 3,000.00

 

Any Other Business
The members requested that photographs taken at the meeting be posted on the website and the WhatsApp.

Date of the next meeting

The date of the next APWG meeting will be communicated soon.

Closure

There being no other business the meeting ended with a prayer by Judy Maina, a new member.

The members appreciated the moderator for hosting the meeting and for the sumptuous lunch provided at the Maryknoll Society House.