Aleya Kassam, Writer

She is a Kenyan feminist, storyteller, writer and performer, whose work explores narratives from the margins. She is widely experimental with form, from page to stage, screen to speaker, micro fiction to memory poems, docu theatre to participatory filmmaking, blogs to twitter threads - she loves to play with the ways people experience story.

Her first writing home was www.chanyado.wordpress.com which was described by Nanjala Nyabola as 'shuffling between personal narrative and political observation, the blog allows you to take a step back and think about the real impact of political or social issues on the individual.’ That initial exploration, fed her passion for sharing stories that explore divergent truths and enable people in the margins to feel seen.

Her writing has been published and performed on multiple platforms and stages around the world, from Nairobi to Kampala, Kigali to Stuttgart.

Aleya is also the ‘A’ in The LAM Sisterhood, a story company that fills the world with stories that make African women feel seen, heard and beloved, such as the award winning stage show Brazen.

Find her on a stage, or writing at www.chanyado.wordpress.com and on twitter /instagram as @aleyakassam

Rushab Nandha, Composer

A graduate of the SAE Institute, Cape Town, began his professional career in 2017 co-producing, recording and mixing Eric Wainaina’s "Don't Bury Me," featuring John Nzenze, Blinky Bill and Kendi Nkonge.

In May 2018, he was enlisted to co-write the music and lyrics for a musical theatre project titled "Pani Puri," alongside Eric Wainaina and Aleya Kassam. Birthed at the Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative, "Pani Puri" tells the story of an interracial couple’s forbidden love.

Between December 2018 and April 2019, he co-composed the score to Mugambi Nthiga’s directorial debut, "Lusala." The score incorporates mood-based, piano driven themes combined with soundscapes made by electronic samplers, analogue synthesizers and traditional African instruments. In June 2019 the original motion picture soundtrack album was released alongside his debut EP "without .wavs" - an electronic EP attributed to Tim Bergling (Avicii).

From April 2019 to October 2019, he co-produced "Live At The Elephant" - a monthly concert showcasing some of Kenya’s best live musicians, and in November 2019, saw “Pani Puri read and performed for the first time at the Kampala International Theatre Festival, as well as seeing the release of his follow up single "Anicca (Remix)," with Elsaphan Njora and Sens_ei.

Eric Wainaina, Composer

Eric has released five studio albums, "Sawa Sawa," "Twende Twende," "Love and Protest" and "Dreams In Stereo." However, it all began with the release of "Daima Kenya" in 2001.

He has a long-standing career in musical theatre. In 2004, he wrote and co-starred in "Mo Faya," a 21-piece musical theatre showcase inspired by the legend of Lwanda Magere, a mythical warrior in Luo folklore. The musical was staged for 8 weeks in Nairobi before a national tour spanning 52 shows. It was then selected for performance at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2009.

In 2004, he wrote and co-starred in "Mo Faya." The musical was staged at the GoDown Arts Centre, Nairobi, before being selected for performance at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2009.

In 2010, he wrote and produced the music for "Tinga Tinga Tales." The programme was later adapted into a musical and presented at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway in New York in October 2018.

In 2016, he established The Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative with Sundance dramaturg Roberta Levitow to offer African artists new and alternative models for creating musicals. The initiative has catalyzed the creation of 11 Kenyan musicals.