This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
Reviving African Storytelling through Engage Kenya ¶
Since its inception in April 2015, Engage Kenya has been a beacon of hope for African storytelling, providing a platform for ordinary people to share their extraordinary stories.
Founded by Donald Bosire and Agatha Juma, Engage Kenya's mission is to 'inform, inspire and influence' through live performances of non-fictional stories.
Twice a month, in Nairobi, people from diverse backgrounds take to the stage to share their life experiences, ranging from struggles with substance abuse to love stories and rising from failure.
According to Agatha, a former marketer with a background in tourism and public-private dialogue, 'They have stories worth telling and worth hearing.'
Engage Kenya's events are not just about sharing stories; they are also a platform for musical performances, featuring independent upcoming musicians playing classical, Afro-fusion, and country music.
Since its inception, over 170 people have shared their stories at Engage Kenya, with packed auditoriums of guests in attendance.
In April this year, Engage Kenya held its first session in Kampala, marking a significant milestone in its expansion.
Donald and Agatha's journey with Engage Kenya began over 10 years ago at Toastmasters, a public speaking and communication franchise with hundreds of clubs around the world.
It was at Toastmasters that they recognized the absence of a public platform for people to share their life experiences and honed their public speaking skills, which underpin the vision of Engage Kenya.
As Agatha notes, 'Without the sharpening from TM, I doubt we would have had the confidence and desire to have people tell their stories.'
Engage Kenya's winning formula has also brought international attention, with Agatha and Donald being invited to Cornell University in September 2019 to run a Storytelling for Science session.
This one-week storytelling master class was held for an international audience of guests from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
According to Donald, 'They were impressed that an African company was able to deliver a workshop of equal, if not higher value, than the European or American firms they had previously used.'
Engage Kenya's impact extends beyond Kenya's borders, with Kenyan speakers in the diaspora taking the stage to tell their stories to a largely East African audience in the US.
