By Waridi Ajambo
Nairobi, Kenya: Nyokabi Macharia, an actress, singer, and dancer currently based in Nairobi, was pursuing her master’s degree in the UK at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama when the pandemic hit. COVID-19 presented a unique set of challenges that forced her to rethink her approach to the industry.
Nyokabi’s course had to move online, which was a difficult adjustment for her. “It wasn’t the same as being in the classroom, and the practical nature of our course made it even more challenging,” she said. However, her lecturers found a way to make it work, and Miriam adapted to the new normal. Her program was Musical Theatre and it needed a lot of in-person instructions that weren’t possible during the time period.
She had her final project during the pandemic, and she chose to shoot an adaptation of Frankenstein. She took up an extra challenge by directing her project online in London while her entire team was in Kenya.
“It was my first time directing a project by myself, and it was challenging, especially with the time difference and the fact that it was my final project,” she said. However, she tackled it with confidence and delivered an outstanding project. This marked her first experience directing a project independently, further fueling her determination to overcome any obstacles that came her way.
She pushed herself further to create her first one-woman show, Actors Anonymous. Again, she assembled a team from Kenya and the UK to create it, and the show premiered on 5th February 2021 to favorable reviews from a newspaper and a blog based in London. The show revolved around a support group meeting for aspiring actors in London – Nyokabi played all the characters.
The actress moved back to the country in 2021. She began working on multiple projects- including several plays and her own company, Shorts from Africa Collective, where she partnered with veteran actress Nice Githinji.
“Nice and I met because we were both part of the Balcony Arts, an experimental online theatre project that brought together actors from all over the world.”
The collective brings together artists from different disciplines to create works inspired by Africa and its literature. Their first production was My Life in Crime by John Kiriamiti.
In the midst of a global pandemic, the world seemed to be at a standstill. Many people struggled to adapt to a new way of life, with theatres closed, productions canceled or postponed, and artists being left uncertain.
Harnessing the virtual realm to its full potential, Nyokabi began using Instagram Live and YouTube as platforms to perform her plays, ultimately breaking down geographical barriers and connecting with diverse audiences worldwide. Additionally, through Shots from Africa, she orchestrated online Zoom plays, fostering multicultural collaborations that underscored the importance of continuous reinvention and adaptation.
For Nyokabi, the pandemic simplified success. “I took up Yoga during the pandemic to keep me centred. Before the pandemic, I was always afraid to rest because I always looked for the next thing to work on. But the pandemic helped me slow down and appreciate the simple things,” she said.
The pandemic may have presented a unique set of challenges for Nyokabi, but it also allowed her to explore new ways of showcasing her work.
“It made me focus on my small steps and the journey. I was a front-of-house staff in a theatre company and was paid half of my salary during this period. But my biggest success was directing online and being the first person to direct over Zoom,” she said.
She proved that reinventing oneself is crucial to success in the performing arts industry, and the pandemic only made this fact more apparent.
Her professional reputation speaks for itself with notable works under her belt, from Netflix’s Country Queen, Chaguo, to Showmax’s County 49 and Crime and Justice. She is also known for playing Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, the Legend in “Too Early for Bird’s Brazen Edition” (TEFB), and the role of Giraffe in the hit musical “Tinga” performing alongside some of Kenya’s best musicians like Atemi, Eric Wainaina, and Chris Adwar.
At the Kalasha Film and TV Awards in December 2022, Nyokabi Macharia scooped the coveted Best Lead Actress in a Film award. It was a good year for her as an actress. Being recognized on various platforms has allowed her to gain more credibility regarding her craft.
For Nyokabi, the pandemic was a time of growth and reflection. It taught her to appreciate life’s small things and embrace the challenges of creatively reinventing herself. She is excited to see what other opportunities will arise as she looks to the future. “The pandemic showed us that necessity is the mother of invention,” she says. “And I can’t wait to see what we’ll come up with next.”
This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Waridi Ajambo and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
