My journey to revive African oral storytelling traditions and use stories to educate and entertain young people began in earnest in 2016 when I left the corporate world and embarked on a journey to collect, archive and perform traditional East African folktales. In support of this work, I became an inaugural fellow of the Ford Foundation’s #AfricaNoFilter narrative change programme, where I edited and published an anthology of re-imagined African folktales.

During this time, I co-founded Positively African, an organization working at the intersection between arts and social justice. Our flagship event was the Nairobi International Storytelling Festival, bringing artists from different corners of the world to perform on stage and in informal settlements and local libraries across the capital.

As I delved deeper into the world of storytelling, I wanted to tell stories about women, and for adult audiences too. I adapted the novel by Nigerian author Lola Shoneyin, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives and performed it in 14 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America.

In 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic, I wrote and directed my debut film, Tales of the Accidental City, a tragicomedy about anger from the perspective of often-invisible characters. Self-produced with just $10,000 USD, it was part of the official selection of several festivals, winning seven awards, including Best African Film 2022 at the São Tomé International Film Festival; Best Experimental Film at the Silicon Valley African Film Fest, USA; and the Audience Award at Cine Invisible in Spain.

I have been Artistic Director of three residencies. In 2022 and 2021 I was Creative Director for a residency programme for young artists from 16 countries in Africa and Europe, and also Artistic Director of the East African Soul Train, an international, interdisciplinary residency that investigates new ways to collaborate virtually and engage audiences across geographic boundaries.

My work has been featured in various media outlets, including the BBC, Forbes Women, El Pais, Radio France International, The Daily Nation (Kenya), and Africa Writes, amongst others.

Prior to becoming an independent artist, telling African stories was already a calling. After completing a Masters in African Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, i worked first as a producer and reporter for the BBC World Service, and later in humanitarian emergencies with Doctors Without Borders for projects in the Horn of Africa. Clear that I wanted to work for an African-led organization after these experiences, I joined the African Media Initiative and managed a million-dollar fund for African journalists.

It has been an exciting journey so far. But somehow, I feel that the best is yet to come! Please join me for the ride!