Author - Jammy

Your name and what do you do?

My name is IBRAHIM CHITAYI. I am a screenwriter, playwright, script consultant and an entrepreneur.

Tell us more about your brand “Ibrachi”.

“Ibrachi” is an idea which came from my high school nickname “chichi” [as a result of my second name “Chitayi”], so when I was ready to have my first e-mail ID, I opted for “Ibrachi” as my login name, which is a combination of my names ‘Ibrahim Chitayi’. I am also known as “Ibrahim’s Kitchen” – this is what happened, Ibrahim’s Kitchen was first an outside catering service which I started in 2013, the same time I launched my screen writing career and because a kitchen produces multiple delicacies – I decided to brand myself “Ibrahim’s Kitchen”, home for a variety of creativity/art. However, there was a confusion with the word “Kitchen”, not in my head but to some, their artistic creativity was only limited to food [who doesn’t like food]. I still wanted a brand which tells my story and showcases my personality. IBRACHI LIMITED is all about creative works, food, retail and support to upcoming talented minds in the entertainment industry.

You are a script writer for Swahili series Moyo, Maza and Aziza, how do you find inspiration to create characters and scenes that people can relate to?

I am the Head writer for Jiffy Pictures, a production company headed by Lulu Hassan and husband, Rashid Abdallah – a power couple with the zeal for a great course. Moyo, Huba, Maza and Aziza success is as a result of great minds and team effort. I value my co-writers Jacob Mwadingo and Zahra Mwangi with great passion. I am thankful for their support, trust and their amazing creativity! That had to be said. Now, how do I find the inspiration…. It all starts with an idea which develops into a beautiful captivating story. The process is not as easy as it may sound, you must know and understand life, to write it. Our experiences, the environment we live in, the people, their stories, what we see, hear, what we read, what we watch on digital platforms, anything that crosses our senses, is what inspires any writer. And then there is the talent, a God given gift, that spark, the only driving force which lures your great mind into thinking beyond measures and creating something magical.

How emotionally involved are you with the characters you create?

Do I dream about them? NO! Do I think a lot about them? MAYBE! Look LIM, I do not want to sound bias but also, I do not want to make an actor look weak on national TV not unless it’s part of their character – if an antagonist must look bad, make him/her worse for the audience to hate and If the audience must sympathize with a protagonist, then make him/her lovable. It is important to always learn how to balance your emotions – characters should not overwhelm a writer.

What was the first script you ever wrote, and what were the challenges?

THE BROKEN CALABASH, a stage play – “an African version of Shakespeare’s ROMEO and JULIET” [Judge’s comments at the Kilifi Drama Festivals]. I was in my fourth year at St. Georges’ High School. Challenges, mmm – what I can remember is falling in love with Nikolai Gogol’s THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR, the dialogues in the play just moved me in a special way, there and then I knew what I wanted to do, write with the same amount of passion. And I did just that!

What is the biggest misconception about being a script writer?

Is there any? Writing is a sophisticated form of art, is it a craft? Yes, because writers create something out of nothing. Further, each writer creates something uniquely his or her own. A writer who is an artist is one who not only creates something from nothing but creates something unique from nothing. But a writer cannot accomplish this without having learned the craft. Brilliant writers are, I believe, both born and made. Inspiration is only half the battle. If a writer doesn’t learn to assemble the components, to follow the instructions, then there is the risk that the blank page will be filled with the literary equivalent of hotel art. It may look pretty, but it has no depth and moves no one. And yes, if you continue to perfect your skill and take it seriously, you can definitely make a living through writing.

 Mombasa has a lot of unemployed youth, and few jobs that they can apply for.  How can a youth identify a skill that they can pursue as entrepreneur?

For any kind of job, you MUST go to school, Education is very important. To perfect your skill, you need a formal guidance. The interest you pick out from a tender age, explore and perfect it. Talking from experience, it is very wrong for parents to say NO to their kids because they want to sing, act, write or play football – first show them the importance of education and how they can use that to perfect their hidden talents. It doesn’t take rocket science to know you are gifted, but it does take patience, self-motivation, consistence and commitment to achieve your best in life.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a script writer, whether in Swahili or English?

Perfect your skill. Most youths are blinded by lifestyle, they wish more to live someone else’s life and fear the process that comes with it or take it for granted. Script writing takes a lot of your energy and social life. You must learn how to balance life, prioritize your needs and focus.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

As a writer, I have helped create opportunities for hundreds of people, I believe with faith and Allah’s guidance, this can happen ten times as much and through me, more focused people will be able to do the same for others. And yes, expect a book from me with all the good, the bad and the ugly, it’s not easy being a writer – a successful one, not easy at all. As an entrepreneur, I have plenty of opportunities lined up, God knows my intention, God knows my struggles and my challenges, inshallah He will take me through all this.

Parting Shot.

One of my favourite Maya Angelou’s quotes is “When someone shows you who they are, the first time, believe them!”   When you create something out of nothing, the aura changes. The change can be negative or positive, pick what is important and leave the rest to garbage collectors. A man is but the product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes – Mahtama Gandhi. Think great, read great books, talk to strong-minded people and you will succeed.

Your name and what do you do?

My Name is Harith Salim; I am a Journalist. I have been working for Nation Media Group for over a decade now, but I was elsewhere before.

 How did you become a Swahili news anchor?

Being a news anchor was by Grace of God. Personally, I had totally different plans for this life of mine but after all God is always Right! Secondly, I think the love of Kiswahili which is easily my first language contributed as well. So when I was called upon, I said, Why not? I had the courage and confidence of the language as instilled by my late parents. (May Allah Forgive their Sins and Make their souls rest in peace)

What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Life itself is a challenge, but the real challenge was lacking an opportunity to prove myself in this field. There has been a misconception of not believing in people you don’t know, which I think is pulling us behind. SO if you are denied an opportunity, do not sit back press on and one day things will look up!

What is a typical day for you?

Days have become so mechanical, that’s the disadvantage of employment. Doing the same thing over and over again. So basically, I report to work at around 8, have an editorial meeting, prepare for the daily shows, and edit news scripts then finally presenting the news to the general public. And my day is made!

 You grew up in Mombasa, if you had the resources the youth have today would your life have been different?

Our days were much different from what it is right now, you really had to struggle to get what you really wanted. It was like getting everything the hard way. Growing up in Mombasa, you had to work extra hard to prove that you can do it regardless of the situation and if we had resources that are available now, I think things would have been different.

What tools of today can the youth use to create employment for themselves?

For the youth, seek knowledge to become a job creator not a job seeker, so for those aspiring to make sense out of their lives, try out new things. Start your own business, for journalists for instance, save some amount to buy a camera, shoot your own stories and script then sell your ideas to media houses. If you a writer look for and write interesting human interest stories and features and sell your ideas to magazines and other publishing companies. You can as well start your own blog, Blogs that make sense not otherwise. That is how people start earning by making use of their talents and skills, don’t wait to be employed. Make a difference, be unique and instead of looking for jobs in companies, the companies will be looking for you

What are some common myths about the journalism profession?

Journalism is considered the easiest job one can do but believe me it’s not. For instance, TV can give you the best platform to make a fool of yourself, so it requires a lot to be a journalist. Journalism is a field that requires 100% commitment. It’s a well of knowledge and ideas unlike other professions.

How has the popularity of the Internet affected your profession?

The internet has given the ‘perceived’ platform for everyone to be a journalist. So news both genuine and fake spread so fast. So many people consume more information from the internet through social media platforms. Although there is a danger of consuming fake information. On the other hand, the internet helps a lot in getting information instantly and it has made live events the order of the day without delays that we used to experience before. Also information is got and disseminated while still fresh. As you know, news just like vegetables is perishable.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

I guess I don’t have the power to answer that. Only God Knows. But if wishes were horses then I would wish for so many things that won’t fit the space.

 Parting shot  

Parting shot will always come from what I love doing the most. Akiba ya Maneno…. Tatizo sio tatizo, ila tatizo ni mtazamo wako kuhusu tatizo. Basically, for the youth of my beloved town of Mombasa, just know that the impossible is the untried.

Your Name and what do you do?

Johra Amer Al Nahdy. I am the Founder and Director at Cake Emporium college of confectionery Arts in Mombasa.

Tell us about Cake Emporium?

Cake emporium college of confectionery arts is a state of art institute providing world class education driven by passion, leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation in the baking industry to empower a generation of confectionery and cake artists. Our institute has really shifted the common notion that baking is a mere formality. We have invested heavily towards discovering creativity in the industry offering value to our students beyond their expectations. We offer a broad range of baking courses, training, mentorship, skill transfer and consultancy.

How did you get into the baking and confectionery arts industry?

I have always been passionate about pastry and sugar Art, I enjoy the creative process so much that FROM A YOUNG AGE I have always found myself indulging in baking and experimenting with all sorts of recipes and techniques, this pushed me to join pastry school while living in Canada to allow me to explore my curiosity and hobby and eventually I felt  I should take my tempting creations to Mombasa and share my knowledge with others. More to the same I am also very keen on girl child empowerment and I its obvious we can’t all be doctors and lawyers and hence there is a need for exploring the arts, the confectionery arts industry is young and virgin in Mombasa and Kenya as a whole but has immense potential and that’s why I chose to venture into the same.

What was the greatest challenge you faced while starting Cake Emporium in Mombasa?

The main challenge that I am facing is inadequate awareness about the nature of  confectionery arts industry.Many people still think going to school to learn baking isn’t something that should be undertaken, in addition the industry has received much professional and technical support its considered mostly a hobby. Another challenge, from the customers perspective, is pricing and cost of cakes, people expect us to price our products as home bakers forgetting our dynamics are different and what we offer is different as well, market awareness and response to the industry is also a huge challenge.

What has surprised you about business ownership?

It takes much more than passion and every day is a whole new lesson, How much administrative work there is and how big the little things can become.

Are there enough resources for Women entrepreneurs in Mombasa?

There is potential but we haven’t explored and exhausted everything we have, I feel like the Mombasa woman is yet to get out and take the business world by storm, while there is a good number who are trying there is still a very huge number that is barred by one thing or another from venturing into business, another big challenge I find in Mombasa is people conform a lot, women need to learn that one can do anything and everything their put their mind to it, it takes believing in yourself and trying…one step at a time and before you know it you are flying.

You baked Ali Kiba’s wedding Cake, did you have any challenges preparing and delivering the cake and how did you overcome them?

There was so much expectation and I kept wondering what if I don’t meet all these expectation, also given the wedding would be aired on live TV all the way in Tanzania I felt I had taken the responsibility of representing Kenya in the East African Market and I had to make sure whatever I delivered represented who we are both as a country and as an individual…I put in my best, paid attention to detail and most of all prayed (I am firm believer in prayers) in addition I have an excellent team that is very cooperative and skiled, this as well helped to put together the cake and I believe we did a good job.

You do a lot of Marketing, from your experience what type of marketing works effectively in Mombasa?

I feel the Mombasa market isn’t mature yet in terms of exposure especially for the confectionery arts industry, we push a lot content on social media and radio. Radio is a good reach for Mombasa audience because a lot of people follow what is happening on Radio. Social media is also the most effective and cost friendly alternative to advertise.  Social media influencers such as vloggers, bloggers can really help in publicizing content.

Where do you see Cake Emporium ten years from now?

Cake Emporium is going to be big and we will change the game, take that to the bank. I see Cake Emporium at the helm of a global brand that originated out of Kenya, which is not a common occurrence! I am working on launching the Kenya Cake Artists Network which will be an association/network for all Kenyan cake decorators/artists to learn, grow and also promote their skills and talents to Africa and the world. It will also exist to set high standards of excellence in the Kenyan cake industry, there will be branches of our school opening in other parts of the country as well, lets just say 2018 has been our stating point but inshaa Allah we are going places.

Parting Shot

When starting a business research your market and target audience thoroughly before investing significant funds into any business. Get inside the mind of your target customers. Discover their problems, then conjure up solutions and think how to monetize those solutions. Lastly, be passionate about what you do. You will need it to help you get through the long days, sleepless nights and more.