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A thread about my thoughts on #TEFB and it's purpose and influence on modern kenyan society.
For a long while I have been frustrated with Kenyan storytelling in both film and theatre. The industry has been hell bent on creating stories that are influenced by world trends.
For a long while I have been frustrated with Kenyan storytelling in both film and theatre. The industry has been hell bent on creating stories that are influenced by world trends.
Shows on popular TV stations are hiring writers from other countries to write shows for them, to be consumed by a Kenyan audience. As if we don't have millions of stories and writers of our own. Here is the thing, Kenya is a diverse country rich with both culture and history.
#TEFB is proof that there are so many stories from our history yet to be told. We also have many books from renowned Kenya writers yet to be adapted to Theatre, film or even TV. So can we please stop telling stories about maids falling in love with their masters?
Scene One:
2001.
Close to 7:00 PM.
A lift hurtles up to the 19th floor of Lonrho house, Standard Street, Nairobi.
Inside the confined space are three dudes.
One is tall, like, really tall, and skinny.
Lanky is the word.
The one beside him is short and visibly shy.
2001.
Close to 7:00 PM.
A lift hurtles up to the 19th floor of Lonrho house, Standard Street, Nairobi.
Inside the confined space are three dudes.
One is tall, like, really tall, and skinny.
Lanky is the word.
The one beside him is short and visibly shy.
Early signs show that he would be plump later in life. He is not thaaaat short, but standing next to Tall Dude, he looks just about Mwala’s height. Tall Dude and Shy Dude look as hood as hood gets. Effortlessly.
Dude 3 is not hood at all.
Or, at least, does not look it.
Dude 3 is not hood at all.
Or, at least, does not look it.
He has that easy, cool confidence of someone who would know the response to “otherwise?”
It is Tall Dude who starts talking. He is the social one. He says hello to Cool Dude, introduces himself, then introduces his friend, Shy Dude.
Finally, he hands over a CD.
It is Tall Dude who starts talking. He is the social one. He says hello to Cool Dude, introduces himself, then introduces his friend, Shy Dude.
Finally, he hands over a CD.
On an unidentified day, a week no one seems to place, a month that has disappeared into the woodwork of history, roughly 2000 years ago, a man went down a road towards a city.
Around him were loud crowds, livestock, and men with weapons. He was riding on a mule.
Around him were loud crowds, livestock, and men with weapons. He was riding on a mule.
Roughly one thousand nine hundred years later. On 12th January 1908, another man was riding toward what would become a major town. He was surrounded by men with weapons and thousands upon thousands of cattle.
He, too, was riding on a mule.
He, too, was riding on a mule.
Riding into that city was catastrophic for the first man.
In a few days, he would be speared and tossed him into a staring contest with death.
The second man didn't know it yet, but centuries later he too would be speared sent to face the grim reaper.
In a few days, he would be speared and tossed him into a staring contest with death.
The second man didn't know it yet, but centuries later he too would be speared sent to face the grim reaper.
