41 min
Eric Wainaina: Product vs. Process NBO Musical Theatre Initiative Podcast
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- Performing Arts
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.
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbomusicaltheatreinitiative/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbomusicaltheater/
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/
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.
Follow us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nbomusicaltheatreinitiative/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbomusicaltheater/
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/
41 min