The year began with some newlydead dreams overcast my life. After some time trying to prepare for a serendipitous moment, I tapped out and decided to just stop trying in the first place. Still, inside, there’d always be this nudging to try one more time (knowing full well that should I fail, I’d try again, no doubt, albeit slower).
So with my camera equipment on its way, I decided to take a leap of faith and do things as if no was out of the question. I went and pitched myself and my uncanny ability to spin anything into a TV show to a production house. The kind lady who is the co-founder only had one question for me, “What work have you done?”
“Nothing at the moment but my equipment will arrive this Sunday,” I responded a warmly. We were chatting on a Thursday. Lady had a point so even though I wondered how I’d do it, I decided that I’d start work on my Youtube channel the coming week.
The following day, Dave and I met Buddha Blaze. He’s been a friend to the both of us since our Slam Africa poetry days back in 2008 and knowing that he had played a significant part in conceptualizing Coke Studio Africa and BLAZE BYOB show, I picked his brain on what I’d need to get stuff going TV wise behind the scenes.
Like the quote at the start of the post, he probably said insight in response to every question.
It was obvious, wasn’t it? Turns out in Kenya and the world really, reality TV shows with big budgets aren’t done with the primary goal of having a feel good ‘believe-in-yourself-artist-or-youth’ end game. Those are by-products.
He said, “Big companies only throw money at a problem. That’s it. And when the problem is solved, they’ll pull the shows.” Perhaps I’ll get to share our discussion in detail or ask for a motherload of a favour and have him on my Youtube channel soon. Godspeed.
And it was a light bulb moment for me. To get a lot of my stuff off the ground, I’d need insight into pressing issues companies are facing and creatively solve their problems for them. It left me conflicted, me who wants to paint self-belief, confidence and joy in TV shows not just make a problem go away, but it also left my mission expanded.
I believe Dave and I have a mission to help the arts and creativity become mainstream, celebrated and even a tool to inspire and plug positivity (and dreaming again) back into the country. Of course this needs a lot to change in Kenya legislation wise and in pretty much all sectors but for me to do it, I’d need to do the grunt work of solving problems their way before I can show people that my way can work too.
My ideas are making room to fit company visions and my goals too because, let’s face it, taking the path less traveled makes for a new path. I love how Carrie illustrated it on her IG account at the start of the year.
There is no path. The path is made by walking
I happened to watch Chadwick Boseman’s Howard University commencement speech yesternight (which will be a week ago when you read this) and he was on the same wavelength about purpose and holding your ground even when it seems unfavourable for you.
“It takes a lot to plant seeds whose shade you won’t enjoy,” paraphrased because my husband always says something along the same lines.
You could tell he’s thankful to be living in the fruit of his intentionality and he was overwhelmed by his journey in hindsight. It was a hard road with a few let downs, but when you think about it, we’re most grateful for the things that come hard, not easy.
So I guess that’s where I’ll end this post.
There is no path. The path is made by walking - Antonio Machado Click To TweetSaid it one more time in case you forgot.
xo,
7 Comments
Tara
June 7, 2018 at 12:28 amPraying for this new venture for you. God has a way of pruning and shaping us, doesn’t he? I am excited to see what comes of this. Blessed to be your neighbor at Mary’s and the new Tell His Story home.
Koki
June 7, 2018 at 11:20 amThank you Tara <3
Michele Morin
June 8, 2018 at 4:13 pm“The path is made by walking.”
I’m going to be holding on to this one today.
Koki
June 8, 2018 at 5:10 pm❤ Michele
Mary Geisen
June 9, 2018 at 3:38 amBeautiful! May doors open and new beginnings find their way into your life. Thank you for sharing at #TellHisStory
Koki
June 9, 2018 at 10:26 amThank you Mary <3 And thank you for taking up the baton from Jen
The Agony Of An Untold Story - Koki Oyuke
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