NBO Musical Theatre Initiative Podcast NBO MTI

Ngartia is a Kenyan writer and thespian who has been active in the Kenyan art scene since 2011. He studied Theatre Arts and Film in Kenyatta University while exploring  fiction, poetry, non-fiction and drama. He has been part of several theatre productions over the years and is one of the co-founders of Too Early For Birds, a series of storytelling productions based on Kenyan history. He has performed around Kenya and East Africa, has written for TV, and is a familiar face in the Nairobi Spoken Word scene.

On this episode of the NBO MTI podcast, Ngartia tells us how Nairobi’s most popular story telling team, Too Early for Birds, came about and how it’s taking on a new form of art as Nairobi’s more revered theatre collective.





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Learn more about the NBO MTI on our website: https://nbomti.org



Hosted by Wanjiku Mwawuganga: https://www.instagram.com/wanjikumwawuganga/

Produced by Karishma Bhagani: https://www.instagram.com/karishma9597/

Edited by Rushab Nandha: https://www.instagram.com/rushabnandha/

Chemutai Sage is a Kenyan born singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. She is a classically trained pianist and self taught guitarist. Her music can be termed as 'Rhythmic Soul’ and contains Afro, RnB, Neo soul, Classical and Hip hop influences.

On this episode of the NBO MTI Podcast, Sage takes us through her journey with the NBO MTI, her musical with Aroji Otieno and to more visibility and creative ventures during the pandemic. She also breaks down her biggest challenges as a musical theatre composer and her approach to collaboration.





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Twitter: https://twitter.com/chemutaisage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chemutaisage/



Learn more about the NBO MTI on our website: https://nbomti.org



Hosted by Wanjiku Mwawuganga: https://www.instagram.com/wanjikumwawuganga/

Produced by Karishma Bhagani: https://www.instagram.com/karishma9597/

Edited by Rushab Nandha: https://www.instagram.com/rushabnandha/

Aleya Kassam is a Kenyan feminist, storyteller, writer and performer. Her writing has been performed and published on multiple platforms and stages around the world, from Nairobi to Kigali to Stuttgart. She is widely experimental; from page to stage, screen to speaker, micro fiction to memory poems, docu theatre to participatory filmmaking - she loves to play with how people experience story. As the ‘A’ in The LAM Sisterhood, she fills the world with stories for African women to feel seen, heard and beloved, like the award winning, Brazen.

In the second episode of the NBO MTI Podcast, we have a conversation with Aleya Kassam about online theatre, her experiences, her favourite character from her musical Pani Puri, which she is writing in collaboration Eric Wainaina and Rushab Nandha, and how the NBO MTI allowed her to step out of her comfort zone and challenge her. Also, you’ll find out what music she’s listening to and what book’s she’s reading, and whether they’re any good.





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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleyakassam/

Wordpress www.chanyado.wordpress.com



Subscribe to the #LAMLetter on: http://bit.ly/3jt6yW9



Learn more about the NBO MTI on our website: https://nbomti.org



Hosted by Wanjiku Mwawuganga: https://www.instagram.com/wanjikumwawuganga/

Produced by Karishma Bhagani: https://www.instagram.com/karishma9597/

Edited by Rushab Nandha: https://www.instagram.com/rushabnandha/

In the premiere episode of the NBO MTI Podcast, Eric gives us an insight into how he approaches the writing of his characters and surviving as an artist during the pandemic by prioritising process over product.

Eric Wainaina has been a staple in Kenya’s music scene since the mid 90’s, he stepped into the limelight as part of Five Alive, a male A Capella band. His seminal hit, Daima, is widely considered Kenya’s second national anthem and was recorded while still a student at the Berklee College of Music. He has released five studio albums and has written, produced, recorded and composed music for TV, film and global sporting events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Outside of music, Eric has a long-standing career in musical theatre. In 2004, he wrote and co-starred in Mo Faya a 21-piece musical theatre showcase inspired by the legend of Lwanda Magere, a mythical warrior in Luo folklore. The musical was staged for 8 weeks at the GoDown Arts Centre in Nairobi before a national tour spanning 52 shows. It was then selected for performance at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2009. In 2010, he wrote and produced the music for Tinga Tinga Tales a British-Kenyan children’s TV series comprised of 52 episodes based on African folk tales. Commissioned by the BBC for its CBeebies channel, and Disney Channel for its Disney Junior block, the programme was later adapted into a musical and was presented at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway in New York in October 2018. In 2016 he established The Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative with Sundance dramaturg Roberta Levitow to offer African artists new and alternative models for creating musicals. The initiative has catalysed the creation of 11 Kenyan musicals.





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Follow Eric on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericwainaina

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwainainamusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericwainainamusic



Learn more about the NBO MTI on our website: https://nbomti.org



Hosted by Wanjiku Mwawuganga: https://www.instagram.com/wanjikumwawuganga/

Produced by Karishma Bhagani: https://www.instagram.com/karishma9597/

Edited by Rushab Nandha: https://www.instagram.com/rushabnandha/