In this episode the host duo is joined by a filmmaking duo for an exciting conversation! Ceci Wanza and Clementina Kabutha are award winning filmmakers in pre-production for their latest feature film (at the time of recording). Their film ‘Kanairo’ follows the story of Jonte, a young Kenyan man navigating life in the big city with all its demands, expectations and excitement. The quartet go on to review their ‘Kanairo’ experiences; from the ladies’ inspiration to writing the film, to suitors, to the hustle of the city life, even to Kamande’s street bully nightmares. They look at the mental fortitude required to make it in Nairobi, the wit, the chaos, culture and character development that the city comes with and testify of a couple ‘I am Johnte’ realizations. The episode spotlights the process of making films and on a deeper level - mental health. The headspace of men in their youth, societal pressures, their counterpart’s demands, surprises and challenges are examined, as the four in the studio also make sure to explore possible interventions, platforms and solutions. The episode also tackles themes around leadership, masculinity, emotional expression, balance and art. 

The episode is brought to you by Kanairo, A film directed and written by Ceci Wanza and produced and co-written by Clementina Kabutha. 

About the Guests

Cecimercy Wanza is a Kenyan film and TV director, producer and screenwriter whose resume includes working on productions such as ToBA (2016), Get Some Money – the parable of Judas (2017) and short films such as The Editor (2018), Shiru (2017) among others. With efforts in Television on shows such as the 2018 Kalasha nominated show Sanaa Talks on KU TV, The Metropol Debrief and The Boss Lady both on Metropol TV (2021), Silver Screen (KUTV) among others. She won the 2022 Annual Journalistic Excellence Awards (AJEA) in the Environmental documentary category for her E-waste documentary, which she produced and directed. The proud double season producer of the first licensed Showmax Series “A Better Life” (2023) is currently an Indie filmmaker with multi - award nominated and award winning short film “Kanairo”. Nominations that include recognition from the Rwanda International movie awards ( RIMA) and an honorable award from Student International Film Festival amongst others - to winning a Sondeka Award (2023) for the film. She is currently working on the feature length development of “KANAIRO”.

Clementina Kabutha is a Kenyan producer, director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and video editor. Her journey has most recently seen her serve as the writer, director, and producer of the film "Vamp," which was officially selected for the esteemed Festival del Cinema di Cefalù (Best Short Film) and seen her work as an assistant producer on the TV series "A Better Life," available on Showmax. She’s also written, directed, and produced projects such as "My Story" and "Dogged," and gone on to produce "Still Waters," a sci-fi film that received acclaim by winning the Best Sci-Fi award at the Varsity Film Expo and an honorable mention at Eldoret Film Festival. Her latest project ‘Kanairo’ short film - won the Judges' Award at the Sondeka Awards and received an honorable mention from the Student World Impact Film Festival. It was nominated for at the Rwanda International Movie Awards ‘Rima’ (Best Short Film EA and Best Short Film International Category). It got officially selected at FilmJoint (Best Short Film), Golden Short Film Festival (Producer Category), NGO International Film Festival (Best Short Film), F5 FPP Financial Focus FilmFest (Best Short Film), Festival del Cinema di Cefalù (Best Short Film), Lumiere International Film Festival and Awards (Best Short Film), Lift-off Film Festival (Best Short Film), and Soleil Space (Best Short Film).

Show notes

• Kanairo on Vimeo

To support KANAIRO;

Click and donate on: https://www.mchanga.africa/fundraiser/72951

Or Paybill: 891300, Account: 72951

In this episode the host duo chat with the impressive Celestine Gachuhi and spotlight her path to the screens and beyond. An admirable journey of crazy faith, discipline and eyes on the prize dedication. Starting from the deep end - they talk impermanence, trials and tough beginnings; exploring childhood memories, circumstances and experiences littered with love and pain in equal measure. An episode full of gems, as the guest highlights lessons through changes, leaving, loving, cleaving and losing, dreaming, daring, doubting and overcoming. From Murang’a to Nakuru, Narok to Webuye and so on, the episode follows Celestine’s journey from school to fame, chapatti memories, fitting through windows, the original ‘face book’, friendship, travelling theatre, wonders of love, salons, sleeping in attics, chemistry with Pascal, belief, babies, family, finance and intentionality. A guest tailor made for favour, taking footsteps of faith and exalting dignity in the murky world of showbiz, this is an episode that celebrates hard work, discipline and pursuing a purpose driven life.

The episode is brought to you by Prevail Presents.

About the Guest

Celestine Gachuhi (Instagram, Filmconnectafrica Facebook, X (Twitter), Facebook)is a Kenyan Performing artist. An actor, a singer, mentor, content creator, aspiring producer and the founder and director of Film Link Africa. Film Connect Africa is a mentorship program aiming to engage and empower budding Kenyan actors through outreach and education.

Show notes

• SELINA Tv show

Books:

• LEAN IN by Sheryl Sandberg

In this first episode of the third season, the host duo has a powerful chat with brilliant Mwongera Mutiga. They interrogate the epidemic that is fatherlessness, highlight the crisis - its cause and effect, cite related studies and explore possible ways through and beyond. Besides themes around fatherhood, the episode follows Mwongera’s lessons growing up to becoming the consumer behavior scientist, communications strategist, entrepreneur and father that he is. From his first job to his first child, from his school days through to his hustling days, from his struggles to his successes with business, fatherhood and more. Mwongera talks transitions, realizations, lessons from his parents, inter-sibling dynamics, value systems, journey curbing carbs, the space - place and involvement of a father pre and post birth, present and engaged parenting, the nature vs. nurture question and much more. The guest also shares gems on the founding, building and vision of Papabear Kenya, The Legacy Project Trust and Redbrick Africa. An episode that spotlights intentionality, discipline and purpose.

The episode is brought to you by Prevail Presents.

About the Guest

Mwongera Mutiga (Instagram, Twitter) is an entrepreneur, researcher, communications Strategist, mentor and public speaker whose personal mission is to support the growth and development of the next generation through stable, loving families. He is a proud dad and loving husband and his passion through this path has birthed 'Papa Bear Kenya', a platform that is geared towards encouraging, equipping, and creating a community of strong, informed, accountable men to be the best, most impactful fathers they can be. The social impact and international development expert is also the founder and director of Red Brick Africa.

Show notes

• The Daniel fast

Books

• The Four hour body by Tim Ferriss

As they wrap the second season of the podcast in a classic No guests but Nuggets episode, Kamande and Kigondu sit and exchange thoughts on growth, leadership and expansion. With this one just by themselves, their musings cover intentions, inflections, deflections and elevations around work, their personal lives, podcasting and beyond. Kigondu shares a note or two from his experience working on his award winning one-person performance ‘Supernova’, as Kamande shares reflections from expansion of mandate both at home and at work. Starting off with memories and vibe around public holidays, rituals and meaning, the duo go on to underline lessons from Kipchoge, rethinking failure, share their reflections on leadership styles, climate action, earlier podcast episodes, mentorship, alignment, music, realizations, gratitude and more.

Show notes

• Eliud Kipchoge Documentary - The Last Mile

In this episode Kigondu and Kamande sit with the brilliant Joe Kinyua and look back at his journey to becoming a stellar lead TV, theatre and film actor. With great stories highlighting consistency, discipline and understanding the self - the episode moves from his first acting role growing up, prolific theatre seasons, his journey into producing and of course to his entry and success on TV. From being conned to being a recognizable face, from surviving days of scarcity to growing wiser in days of plenty; the episode gets personal and goes professional - all the while polishing gems from all these iterations in Joe’s journey. The lead actor in Africa’s best Original Comedy TV show at 2023 AMVCA’S, shares about his journey from accounts to the Arts, sharing lessons from success and failure, friendships and partnerships, stepping forward and stepping up, acceptance of self, seasons of inflection and reflection, planning vs. risking, ploughing back into the industry, mental shifts, assumptions and perceptions, personal pursuits and interests, prevailing beyond beginners luck, Benedict Cumberbatch, family, places of unconventional beauty, belief and so much more! An episode that celebrates dedication, discipline and the joy of finding meaningful and fulfilling pursuits.

The episode is brought to you by Prevail Presents.

About the Guest

Joe Kinyua is an award winning Kenyan actor and producer. With a background in accounting and interests in the Arts, Joe has gone on to be a Kalasha Award winner for his work on TV, a prolific theatre actor for his work on stage and lead in the AMVCA 2023 Best Original Comedy ‘Njoro wa Uba’. Before ‘Njoro’, Joe had his stints on TV shows such as Guy’s Centre, Changes, How to find a Husband, News Just in, Bold conversations, Sue na Johnnie among others. On stage he worked with theatre companies such as The Phoenix Players, Friends Ensemble, Prevail Presents among others. His works in film include DreamWork’s - The Fifth Estate, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

Show notes

• Joe Kinyua’s imdb work profile

A theatre review or two:

• https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/art/poetry-dance-and-comedy-lined-up-for-weekend-2221030

In this episode the BBB duo sit with the vivacious vocalist Ythera for an engaging chat on her journey finding purpose and direction through music and more. From the young and quirky to the mature and driven, the episode cuts across her experiences growing up, school days at Quabbz, campus life, Sauti Academy, her dive into the music industry, family, concerts, covers, bands and beyond. Ythera and the host duo highlight gems from her Coke Studio experiences, choir days, making money touring the country singing, the formation of Wanavokali, on and on to winning big in South Africa.  Lessons and themes around relationship with fear, relationship with money, teamwork, leadership and finding belonging - are also looked at, with occasional break into song moments. A great episode to peep into the Business of Music, the Value Chain in the industry and more, all sprinkled with stories from Ythera’s journey from solo to the power of six! An episode that celebrates preparation, trusting the process and patience.

Episode brought to you by Prevail Presents.

About the Guest

Ythera is a member of the popular Award winning Kenyan music group Wanavokali. The singer songwriter with an impressive background as a background vocalist has a degree in Journalism from USIU, experience and ambition in PR and training in Music. Driven to standing shoulder high among the women who succeed at all fronts, Ythera moves with dedication and purpose to play her part meeting Wanavokali’s intention of becoming Kenya’s leading export.

Show notes

• Wanavokali on Boomplay

In this episode Kamande and Kigondu have an engaging chat with the sociable and impressive Maurice Otieno, picking gems from his illustrious career and journey discovering the self. Their hearty chat covers lessons from building impactful communities and grand opportunities, to memories around childhood escapades, hustling days and the come up.

From MYSA football days to his daughter’s ballet classes, from his Highrise to Strathmore walks to professional correspondence with HongKong, from rugby opening opportunities and saving his life to broken metatarsals and drowning in accounts; the episode covers much in both breadth and depth. Double clicking topics and themes around entrepreneurship, leadership, corporate innovation, fatherhood, parenthood, financial management, venture capitalism, startup enabling and sustainable creativity, the lessons keep piling. The chat highlights the benefits of sponsorship to sports, journaling, knowing when to quit, networking, co-curricular engagements while in school, full immersion into parenting, marriage of cultures and even mama’s mayai! All this and more with Maurice’s journey as the through line navigating shifts and seasons - iteration to iteration.

Brought to you by Prevail Presents.

Maurice Otieno (Twitter) is an avid community and ecosystem builder, helping entrepreneurs, corporates and investors achieve their goals. He is the current Executive Director of the Baraza Media Lab team, before which he was part of the founding team of Metta Nairobi and worked at Strathmore Business School as a program manager for the MBA Program. He worked as an accountant in various firms in Kenya including General Motor East Africa, Farmchem Limited and Sameer Africa and Sanofi. He is also part of the founding team of ASSEK (Association of Startup and SME Enablers of Kenya). An entrepreneur himself, with a deep passion for building things people love, especially around travel and community, he founded Kampnoo Camping, a camping and hiking outfit in Kenya.

Show notes

• Netflix Documentary on Corruption at Fifa

Books;

• 1984 by George Orwell

Socials / Contacts:

https://barazalab.com/

Twitter: BarazaLab, MauriceOtieonoO

In this high energy episode, the BBB duo sit with the brilliant John Jumbi and trace his path to becoming an award winning and prolific creative. From early curiosities, youthful audacity to recent discoveries, they explore JJ’s life changing UNI indulgences, days in Agency and his pathway into the Arts. From his first performance on stage to his first cooker, first script to his first child, first sold out show to his first feature film, JJ’s storytelling emphatically interweaves his creative pursuits, family life, school life, parenting and gradual growth and understanding through life and career. The episode highlights gems from leadership, mentorship, building community, creating, earning and the creative enterprise. From Bei ya Jioni to Wakamba Forever, Makofi ya Kilo to Irregardless, 318 to It’s a Free Country and more, JJ gives commentary on creating Chatterbox’s most well received theatre and Film projects.

They explore places and phases in his journey, from T squares to scripts and screens, beginning, becoming, quitting, restarting, finding, transiting, reconnecting and so on. All this while keeping to mind his head space, zeal, intentions, consistency and concessions. A great listen on clarity of purpose, passion, conviction, film making, film financing, theatre, self – improvement and growth.

This episode is brought to you by; FunKeScience

About the Guest

John ‘JJ’ Jumbi (Twitter: johnjumbi, LinkedIn: John Jumbi)is an award winning filmmaker and theatre creator with a background in engineering, communication design, graphics and advertising. He is a director, writer, producer, creative entrepreneur, father, husband and founder and creative director of Chatterbox Film and Theatre (Instagram, Facebook).

Show notes

FREE by John 'JJ' Jumbi

Lion King Musical Chorus on Tiny Desk

Lwanda Rockman by Chatterbox

Wakamba Forever directed by JJ

318 short film by JJ 

IT’S A FREE COUNTRY - Feature Film Fundraiser site. Support!

Some Quotes from JJ

“..hii kazi si rahisi, it’s not a straight line.”

“..we only succeed when we pull others along with us!”

“(In leadership)  ..vision drives people more than anything else.”

As they do at the end of a year / beginning of one, the BBB duo sit with another two to look back at the year that was and make projections and intentions for the one ahead. In this episode Kigondu and Kamande sit with the Co-founder of CHURA, award winning techie Byron Sitawa and the brilliant actor and prolific Assistant Director (AD) Veronica Waceke to do just that! In between laughs and lessons, they pick and polish gems from the year circling seasons of waiting, working, wins and losses. From moments around sports, family, elections and entertainment to GOAT conversations, wedding preparations, sold out shows, babies, music and rebirth - the four look back at a most interesting year. Moving from Ciala Kaduol to South Africa in giggles and victory, the episode transverses the continent and beyond and this life into the next as they also remember icons, artists and family the world said goodbye to in the past year. A great listen highlighting effort, consistency, balance, serendipity, manifestation, quality living and thinking.

Show notes

• Chasing the Sun, RIP Kaunda Ntunja, Commentary

In this episode by themselves, the BBB duo talk finding balance and perspective in seasons of overwhelming joy or strain. They talk new babies and sold out shows, the discomfort of growth and thriving in the here and now. They look at the relationship we have with our thoughts vis-a-vis the lives we live, explore the effects of attachment and aversion and even the awareness of not performing excitement. Of sense stores, noble truths and the like - Kamande explores ways we could learn from experiences and not get caught in the stories we tell ourselves, while right across him Kigondu shares his lessons from a busy season of work in the entertainment industry and finding ground in the imbalance that that world can bring.

A sincere and simple episode with a chuckle or two but with immense thoughtfulness and fragility, covering topics around the self, need for hugs, colours of the mind, singlehood, parenthood, marriage, life’s ebb and flow of pleasure and pain, the importance of rest and Kigondu’s distaste for weddings.

Show notes

• Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein