Nairobi photo exhibition paints the life of Hugo Chavez

Ambassadors Raul Rodriguez (Cuba), Jhony Bhalza (Venezuela) and Saad Maandi (Algeria). [PHOTO: COURTESY, KIUNDU WAWERU/ STANDARD]

By Kiundu Waweru

Nairobi, Kenya: It is one year since Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died. And as if in proof of what he came to be known as, the Eternal Commander, he has come alive in Nairobi.

This is through a photography exhibition currently showing at the Kenya Cultural Centre (KCC), which incorporates the Kenya National Theatre.

The pictures, exhibiting under the title President Hugo Chavez Frias: Promoter of the Multipolar World at the Ukumbi wa Maonyesho Gallery, show the charismatic bulky leader addressing high level meetings and conversing with ordinary people and children. He is also seen having a good time as he scales the Great Wall of China in an easy run.

It is an exhibition that paints Chavez not in presidential version, but as a down to earth man in touch with the common people.

And to prove Chavez’s popularity, its launch was graced by dignitaries, ambassadors and artistes.

The exhibition’s associate curator William Ndwiga says Chavez was a fearless but humble leader who advocated “socialism with a heart”.

 But why would a Kenyan gallery celebrate a foreign leader?

KCC director Aghan Odero says the Venezuelan Embassy asked them to run the exhibition to mark the first anniversary of their popular leader who died last year on March 5.

“The embassy wanted to showcase Chavez’s political commitment to the need for the existence and promotion of strong multipolar reality in the world,” she said.

Venezuelan Ambassador Jhony Balza said Chavez took leadership in 1998 at a time when his country had a submissive foreign policy.

 “Chavez gave a significant turn to the new course of our international relations,” reads the Ambassador’s speech. “There was a radical breakdown in the strategies and methods of Venezuelan foreign policies which was the beginning of an era of political sovereignty, independent policy and with unconditional adherence to international law.”

Chavez was outspoken. In 2006 while giving a speech at the UN General Assembly, Chavez called the then US President George W Bush “the devil”.

For this, Hugo Chavez was larger than life to his people. On March 5, his faithful gathered at his mausoleum for his anniversary.

A woman told the Washington Post that Chavez’s successor Nicolas Maduro cannot match him, “I think the problem is that Chavez never taught us how to live without him.” The Washington Post reported that Chavez has virtually been elevated to sainthood since his death – his portraits are sold in the streets “alongside iconography of Jesus and the Virgin Mary”.

Well, Chavez the eternal commander lives on in his legacy and also in his popular television recordings. A talented public speaker, Chavez would address his people on a weekly TV program, Hello President.

And for Nairobians, the exhibition, which runs until March 19, shares the memories of this man who pioneered regional integration in Latin America, and the belief that all countries should find their own path to national development and international stature.

Indeed, the Hugo Chavez Photography Exhibition is both artistic as it is informative.