Blankets and Wine to stream hybrid film Nairobi

The show, two and a half hours in length, will be premiered on Blankets and Wine's YouTube channel at 8pm CAT.

Artists featured in the film include Muthoni Drummer Queen, Bensoul and Nvirii the Storyteller. They will be supported by Okello Max, Kash Kaaria, Maandy, Xenia Manasseh, Kasiva Mutua and Zeshari Jean.

The film entails witty, thought-provoking and major socio-economic commentary on life in Nairobi delivered through live performances and monologues, which are overlaid with visuals, curated conversations, humorous skits, set design, costumes and choreography. It also explores themes such as sex webs, love and despair, money, gambling and debt culture, hustling and striving, politics and religion, among others.

“Nairobi is a timestamp of the experience of being in the city at this moment; a time capsule of things as they are,” Blankets and Wine head of production Flora Valleur said. “We want to give you a taste of the conversations we’re having, and the ones being had in places we can’t access. The production process moved by so quickly. We made a lot of decisions in very little time, so what you’re going to see is a product of hard work from dope, spectacular artists. But it’s also a work of instinct and fun times, with all the kinks attached. It’s the very experience of being in Nairobi.”

The production is supported by the Music In Africa Live (MIAL) project, which assists musicians and the industry at large to navigate the challenges and new realities introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Covering all African countries, MIAL offers financial support to operators, to enable them to create high-quality productions and promote, market and showcase their content to a wider global audience – primarily via digital means.

About Music In Africa Live

Thousands of African musicians have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has occasioned unprecedented lockdowns and restrictions across the continent. African musicians and professionals traditionally make a living from live performances, and now they find themselves in extreme difficulty.

The Music In Africa Live project is one of a number of new projects that the Music In Africa Foundation is introducing this year to support music professionals in Africa.

The project is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

Visit the MIAL website here.

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