Talent incubation and development has always been an issue in this side of the world. However, thanks to several players in the industry, a lot is turning on the positive and many a youth can directly live off their gifts.
One such major player on the local scene is Sarakasi Trust. Here are three premium events organized by the trust that have shaped the local talent scene and ones you shouldn’t miss out on!
One of these is the annual Sawa Sawa Festival, held during the Madaraka weekend in the beginning of June. Important objectives for hosting an event of this kind are to develop audiences, bring profile and exposure to Kenyan artists and build capacity in the area of cultural entrepreneurship and festival production.
Sarakasi Trust initiated the concept of the annual Sawa Sawa Festival to create a unique festival with an African identity appealing to the Kenyan public at large while at the same time creating an opportunity to reach out to audiences across age, gender, cultural and economical back grounds.
Sawa Sawa aims to promote and stage the performing arts through several platforms like workshops, exchanges between local and international artistes, technical skill and cultural sharing workshops, community building (theme) activities, jam sessions/studio recordings, media activations and the multi stage multi day concerts.
The Sawa Sawa Festival attracts audiences of over 100,000 people. To date two documentaries about the festival have been produced. Always at hand to spice up the event are the Sarakasi All Stars, showcasing the best in acrobatics and dance.
Another such event are the Sound In Motion workshops held each third Friday of every month. The Sarakasi Dome is the venue of Sound in Motion workshops facilitated by Artists for Artists in which invited deejays, producers, speakers and seasoned artists share their experiences and provide advice to young affiliated musicians. After the first Sound in Motion workshop at a Sawa Sawa Festival 2012, Sarakasi was asked to continue the initiative on a regular basis – and we did just that! The seasoned artists who have given time to our developing performers include Kris Darling, Nick Odhiambo, Octopizzo, Karen Mukupa and her band, and Mzungu Kichaa.
Finally there is the Triple H Up or Hip Hop Hook Up, This new initiative, in partnership with the Sarakasi Trust, originally known as Jump Off, was started in November 2012, by Susan Timon, Flemming Olendo, Edward Ananda and James Kimbiu, as a talent spotting platform of ‘tomorrow’s best acts and today’s best kept secrets’.
The aim is to assist youth through the performing arts and to identify hidden talent. Activities include music, DeeJay-ing and MCee-ing, rap battles, spoken word, open mike sessions, exhibitions, fashion and merchandising.
Impact is also achieved through multiple media channels, including TV, radio and online social networks. Creating opportunities for talented young Kenyans enables them to drive social change and contribute to development.
