Take 5: Abu Sense and Ngartia

Abu Sense and his "partner in crime" Ngartia. They starred alongside each other in Abu's maiden show, a storytelling series dubbed, Too Early For Birds on May 17, 2017 at the Kenya National Theatre. PHOTO| COURTESY

Abu Sense has re-entered the art scene with a bang, proving that he hasn’t lost his touch with the craft. His maiden show, a storytelling series dubbed, Too Early For Birds, premiered on May 17, 2017 at the Kenya National Theatre. Abu was accompanied by his ‘partner in crime’, Ngartia, a storyteller who is active in the Kenyan performance and writing scene. He is a co-founder of storyzetu.com and recently toured East Africa as the main performance artist on Jalada Africa’s mobile literary festival.

 

1. You and Ngartia are working as a duo, yet you’re not really a duo. Looking at you though, yours seems like a match made in heaven. How did you guys get together?

Abu: Ngartia and I have been crossing paths since those days of Nairobi’s Finest at Das Restaurant in Westlands. This was back in 2010 when neither of us had a specific direction in channelling our art. Over the years, our content and messaging became more similar. Collaboration was inevitable.

Ngartia: After hanging out a bunch of times and talking about our ideas, we realised that the only way we were going to get close to achieving our vision was through working together.

 

2. What exactly are you trying to accomplish as a unit? 

Ngartia: We are trying to be the best storytellers we can be, in the mediums we are interested in - stage, film and page. We are concentrating on the next edition of our storytelling show, Too Early For Birds, at the Kenya National Theatre on July 29 and 30.

 

3. What motivated you both to quit your jobs?

Abu: The dissatisfaction with routine. Neither of us can deny the blessings of having a job and the financial security that comes with it, however, we’re both big on chasing dreams and fulfilment through passion points.

Ngartia: I studied Theatre Arts and Film at university. At some point I started asking myself who convinced me that art cannot sustain me.

 

4. Were you surprised at how many people showed up for your first gig? The turn out was good...

Abu: Surprised? No. We’d planned to fill the theatre, and thanks to our incredible marketing and events planning teams: Zosi & Miriam Kadzitu, Edith Gathoni, Owaahh and the entire cast for their persistent awareness push, we did fill it.

 

5. Are you voting? If yes, why? If not, why not?

Abu: I am, although there isn’t yet a candidate who has a convincing vision.

Ngartia: If today were election day, I wouldn’t vote because the candidates have no convincing development ideas. At the moment, I’m choosing not to exercise my right to vote.