Mali: The next big thing on Kenyan television
By PHILIP MWANIKI
Posted Saturday, September 24 2011 at 18:00
aThat Mexican soaps have flooded the prime time slot of the television stations cannot be understated.
But even though they are popular especially among women viewers, every TV executive is looking for that silver bullet that will turn the tide and start another trend in Kenya. What will that be?
Mali is the name, and NTV will be the home of the first Kenyan soap to air three times a week starting October.
The family drama will augur well with Kenyan audiences as the people behind the show, Al Is On Productions modelled it on a story that many would associate with or at least are aware of.
Some of the biggest headline grabbing stories in Kenya have been family dramas played right before news cameras.
Last year, there was the Kirima story, a real life soap opera that Kenyans were obsessed with that involved legacy, wealth and succession.
“There have been many high profile wrangles in Kenya that involved family not just the Kirima saga — like Kijana Wamalwa, Samuel Wanjiru, James Kanyotu, Samuel Gichuru and even Wambui Otieno families — and from the interest they generated, we figured it would be a fantastic theme,” says Alison Ngibuini.
When it comes to family, everybody has a story to tell, and this drama will address many of them like generation gap, succession, wealth, marriage, suspicions and deceit.
Mali revolves around a rich and wealthy family led by its patriarch, Gregory Mali (George Ohawa) who is married to two wives — first wife Mabel (Mary Gacheri) a Ugandan who is a staunch Christian and Usha (Mkamzee Mwatela), a Tanzanian, who is a free spirit and the cause of much of the family drama.
Mabel has two daughters, Nandi (Mumbi Maina) and Lulu (Brenda Wairimu) while Usha has two sons, Richard (Kevin Samwel) and Arthur (Daniel Peters).
Only daughters
The succession wrangles start with the children. While Mabel is the first wife and is in control, she is “disadvantaged” as she has only daughters while Usha has sons who will possibly take over Mali’s estate when he dies.
Their children, however, are not interested in the wrangles and admire each other’s mothers. Arthur loves Mabel while Lulu wishes her mother was as cool as Usha.
But they are not to be ignored. Lulu has a crush on a waiter who works at her father’s hotel while Arthur finds himself drawn to their house help Selena (Carolyne Ngorobi). Nandi, who is currently abroad is said to be pregnant with the dad’s Chief Operating Officer Tony Babu (Tony Mwangi)
Mali, despite having two wives, is also having an affair with one of his employees and this makes for interesting drama to keep you in front of the television everyday.
It has a strong cast, a mixture of experienced actors and budding ones make for a fantastic show.
It will feature some celebrities like Kalekye Mumo, Nick Wang’ondu, Lupita Nyong’o, Redsan and rapper Octopizzo.
Ngibuini says she has been working on the idea of a soap opera for five years now and started working on making it a reality two years ago.
“I pitched the idea to several broadcasters who shut the door on me but when I pitched it to NTV, they loved it on paper and jumped on the idea. It is a game-changer. That I can promise you,” says Ngibuini.
She has been commissioned to produce 326 episodes and says work has already started on the show and she is the first to admit it is not a cheap venture.
Many stations love the Mexican and Philipino soap operas as they are cheap to purchase as opposed to producing local shows.
Although she will not get into details, the show will cost over Sh100 million.
“It is expensive to do such a show and although Sh100 million sounds like a big amount, when you break it down per show, it means we work on a shoe string budget but it is a start and this is the only way to grow Kenyan productions because we are using local actors and crew and that is employment,” says Ngibuini.
MTV’s Shuga
Having worked on shows like MTV’s Shuga, which is currently on production for its second season, Ngibuini says that going down the “Mali” route was a challenge and she has had some guidance from people like Mfundi Vundla, the creator and Executive Producer of one of Africa’s biggest daily dramas, Generations.
The South African show, also very popular in Kenya, is the longest running soap opera in South Africa, after popular Egoli, having being on air for over 15 years.
It started as a once a week slot but it was extended to every weekday as its popularity grew, and in the process creating stars like Karabo Moroka, who has been in the show since the start.
“Mfundi has been a big help and he sent us a team from Generations, Isindigo to help us in the scripting and handling a multi-camera production, which we are doing and we have learnt a lot,” she adds.
Ngibuini says she is working with a crew of 120 adding they have done a lot of research and preparation for the show.
“We have seven writers, seven story liners and script editors and we also have lawyers, doctors, businessmen, pastors consulting with us and helping us come up with a script that is believable and free flowing. We are not going easy on this and we are here to set a trend and make sure that the production can be watched beyond the Kenyan borders and very soon, people across East Africa will be feasting their eyes on Mali,” she added.

For the longest time I have always wondered what it is about the bold and the beautiful or the mexican telenovellas.

Would East Africans want to see themselves on screen if they had a chance to see themselves on a daily drama.

Coming soon East Africa’s frist DAILY soap opera

Auditions will be held on Saturday 27 August 2011 between 08:00 and 18:00 at Homeboyz Studios at Ambar House, Baricho Road in Nairobi. To be eligible to audition, you must be a Kenyan resident between the ages of 18 and 24 with good spoken English skills. No previous acting experience is necessary. The auditions are for two key roles (one male, one female). Registration opens at 08:00 am and closes at 12:00 noon.

“We are looking for real and raw talent,” says Georgia Arnold, Executive Director, MTV Staying Alive Foundation, “Shuga: Love, Sex, Money is going to follow the pace set by Shuga. It’s going to be a hard-hitting drama about sex and relationships. With principle photography for Shuga just a few weeks away, and the TV show premiering across Africa in February 2012 – this could be a huge career boost for aspiring Kenyan thespians.”

“Among the judges will be MTV Creative Director, Tim Horwood, actress Lupita Nyong’o, who played the pivotal role of Ayira in Shuga, Alison Nguibini (Shuga series producer), and Jacqueline Achieng from HFG. Homeboyz’s DJ Hassan and Corine will keep the crowds entertained,” continues Arnold.

Audition places will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis. The judges will chose six finalists, whose fate will be decided by public voting at www.mtvshuga.com between 29 August and 4 September. The winners will be notified on 5 September.

The first series of Shuga was filmed in Kenya in August-September 2009. Starring a young cast of upcoming Kenyan actors and actresses, Shuga told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi.

“Shuga was viewed in 48 African countries and 73 countries worldwide through 13 MTV channels and over 100 third party partners,” says Lydia Murimi, HFG/K Country Director. “HFG through its partnership with implementing organizations uses the film as part of its community outreach and to facilitate dialogue with and among youth across the country.”

Shuga: Love, Sex, Money, and associated digital platforms, events and marketing activities will be supported by HFG Global and HFG’s Kenya office through their brand, . The new series will be expanded from three to six episodes and develop complex emotional storylines, some of which were first explored in Shuga. Principle photography for the series goes into production in Nairobi in September 2011 and the show will broadcast around the world from Valentine’s Day 2012 (14 February).

“The film is distributed widely in the country by our partners who conduct viewing sessions followed by facilitated discussions with youth. Youth are then able to discuss behaviours and choices in the film and relate the key themes to their own lives. In addition, young people are linked to community programs and services. An evaluation conducted by Johns Hopkins University indicated that youth groups participating in the screenings a higher intention for behaviour change. We expect that Shuga: Love, Sex, Money will take the behaviour change message even further,” explains Murimi.

The initiative is a unique public-private sector partnership that was forged by HFG in 2009. It is funded extensively by the U.S. Government through PEPFAR, works closely with the Government of Kenya to ensure the programme fits within Kenya’s existing HIV prevention strategy, and engages youth in all aspects of programme planning, implementation and evaluation.

For more information about Shuga: Love, Sex, Money log onto www.mtvshuga.com or www.g-pange.com.

-ENDS-
ABOUT SHUGA
Shuga is an award-winning TV series and multimedia campaign developed by MTV Networks Africa, The Staying Alive Foundation, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and The Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG). The initiative, funded extensively by the U.S. Government through PEPFAR, is designed to fit within Kenya’s existing HIV prevention strategy, using “edutainment” to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS among youth Kenyans.

Shuga series two, subtitled “Love, Sex, Money”, and associated digital platforms, events and marketing activities will be supported by HFG Global and by HFG’s Kenya office through their brand, . The new series will be expanded from three to six episodes and develop the complex emotional storylines first explored in Shuga. Principle photography for the series goes into production in Nairobi in September 2011 and the show will premiere on Valentine’s Day 2012 (14 February).

The first series of Shuga was filmed in Kenya in August-September 2009 and told a bitter-sweet tale of love, loss, sex, heartbreak and relationships, set in the clubs, bars, campuses and hangouts of contemporary Nairobi. With a raw and uncut view on the lives of sexually active young Kenyans, Shuga spot lit the risks associated with unprotected sex and the party-hard lifestyles of urban Kenyan youth, told through the interlinked tales of characters Ayira (Lupita Nyong’o), Ty (Pepe Haze), Felix (Tumisho Masha), Violet (Sharon Olago), Skola (David Omwange), Sindi (Valerie Kimani), Leo (Nicholas Mutuma), Kennedy (Antony Mwangi) and Virginia (Eva Kanyang’onda).

Shuga: Love, Sex, Money starts filming in Kenya in September 2011 and will be broadcast around the world starting 14 February 2012.
ABOUT PEPFAR
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally, and PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases across the global health spectrum. PEPFAR is driven by a shared responsibility among donor and partner nations and others to make smart investments to save lives.
Learn more at www.pepfar.gov.
ABOUT HFG
The Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation (HFG) is an innovative public-private partnership that leverages the core competencies of the private sector to enhance the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s (PEPFAR) youth-focused HIV prevention programming in severely impacted countries.

Managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), HFG, Kenya helps accelerate the Government of Kenya’s (GoK) HIV prevention strategy by revolutionizing HIV prevention interventions and combining the core competencies of the private sector with technical expertise of government and development partners in the creation and expansion of innovative and effective youth.HFG Kenya’s vision is to inspire and provide opportunities for Kenyan youth to live healthy and productive lives and to contribute to the realization of a generation free from HIV.

Join the partnership at www.hivfreegeneration.org.

ABOUT

calls upon youth individually and collectively to take charge and be active in protecting their health, lives and destinies by leveraging information, education, life skills, economic opportunities and resources available to them.

The hip, action-oriented brand has five pillars:-

• G-Jue: encourages youth to know their HIV status & that of their partner
• G-Fahamishe: persuades youth to increase their knowledge and understanding, pursue information, develop skills
• G-Inue: endorses the importance of youth engaging in economic opportunities, skill development & entrepreneurial skills
• G-Amini: underscores the importance of building self-esteem and assertiveness to overcome peer pressure and make smart choices, enhance family and community efficacy
• G-Kinge: a call to action for the youth to protect themselves from infection by avoiding risky behavior and adopting safer sex practices

Join the movement at www.g-pange.com.

For more media information, imagery or comment, please contact:

Alison Reid Rose Thuo
Director of Communications Communication Manager
MTV Networks Africa Partnership for an HIV-Free Generation
T +33 385 30 0636 +254 20 235 1836/9
M +33 609 685 861 +254 712 990 873
Email: alison.reid@mtvne.com rthuo@hivfreegeneration.org

• I do not question
• So I must be the target market
• Nobody gave me a four bob increment
• But I have complied
• Is it true that I am just being a Kenyan – tolerant?
• Am I  part of the system or just part of the problem
• Who buys fuel in Kenya?
• What if… I refuse to comply with new fuel hikes?

what is wrong with ME? YOU? US?

So over the past two weeks I have been on two different courses of antibiotics.  Having struggled to be faithful to taking the dose fully I finished.  I now find myself suffering side effects; first it started with nausea to the joy of those in my office who think something is in the oven (dream on!).

Then came the itchy palms much to the delight of the peeps in my office who now start claiming that lots of money is coming my way shortly.

It has been five days of itchy palms not a dime has fallen from the sky but it is time I visit my pharmacist again and dear lord not another course of antibiotics or antihistamines that make me drowsy.

Anyone out there with itchy palms?

28th February a day of peace, unity and kinship – the day we remind ourselves of all the reasons why we must stand together and work together. Towards this day we have called people to sing the national anthem at 1pm. This is a day of reflection on UNITY means to “ME” what I must do to bring unity around my immediate surrounding – Feb 28th is the day we ground the notion that we mouth so easily, that we often times pay lip service to (and then do or say something that works against it) – we bring the notion of unity home to a personal level.

On February 28th Kenyans will come together and unite in the prayer that is the Kenya National Anthem, to celebrate their unity as a people, and to remind themselves that together, they can achieve much more. On this occasion, Kenyans come together, not to protest against anything but to stand for unity.

The idea is simple: Wherever we are, whatever we are doing at exactly 1pm on February 28th, Kenyans from all walks of life, will pause and sing the national anthem, led by participating media houses, church choirs, community choirs, school children, and musicians. Once they have sung all the three verses, they will disperse and continue with what they were doing – only energized by the strong spirit of kinship.

This is an initiative that belongs to Kenyans: aimed at uniting us under the banner of our National Anthem.

The call to action: Sing & Unite!
On the 28th February 2011 the world will watch as Kenyans stand UNITED;
1pm, 1 nation, 1 people, 1 anthem, united in 1 prayer for 1 Kenya

Ni Wakati!

On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, wherever you are, at work, in the supermarket, in traffic, in school, on campus, in hospitals, in churches, in mosques, in temples, in synagogues, on sports pitches, in court, on your farm, at police stations, at armed forces barracks, in matatus, in buses, on the beach, in the game parks, at the airport, in parliament, in State House, in your homes…

On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, we stand
On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, we unite
On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, we shall speak in one voice.

On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, let’s sing our anthem, all three verses

On the 28th February 2011 the world will watch as Kenyans stand UNITED; 1pm, 1 nation, 1 people, 1 anthem, united in 1 prayer for 1 Kenya

We are Kenya!