TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
I’m a Kenyan cosplayer in love with pop culture.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER COSPLAY?
I discovered cosplay through Facebook back in 2012 when at the time Bleach was really popular. I’d just started watching anime.
DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR?
No, but I have friends who also cosplay & we encourage and uplift each other a lot and pushes us to do more.
DESCRIBE COSPLAY & WHAT INSPIRES YOUR OUTFITS?
Cosplay is an art that involves costuming and role play. You dress up as a character and many go the extra step of becoming the character, for the while that they are in that costume. I love strong, authoritative & sexy female characters like Wonder Woman & Satsuki Kiryuin.
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR SOCIETY AFFECTS YOUR INDUSTRY?
In Kenya, cosplay is still just catching on so we don’t get the kind of fame and traction that cosplayers in the first world get. Corporates don’t even know that they can use cosplayers for marketing. However I know that the work that we put in now will pave the way for future Kenyan cosplayers
DO YOU FEEL THERE’S A GOOD SUPPORT ATMOSPHERE IN YOUR CRAFT?
Locally, the support is very little. Other than each other, our biggest supporters are event organizers in the pop culture industry which has unfortunately been affected by the pandemic. We keep creating though, because we do this for the love we have for it.
MOST CLICHE THING YOU’VE COME ACROSS IN YOUR FIELD?
The prettier/more handsome you are, the easier it will be for your content to gain traction, regardless of quality.
TO PLAY A CHARACTER FOR A DAY, WHO & WHY?
It would have to be Wonder Woman. She’s a beautiful strong leading lady and her costumes are all so gorgeous.
MOST REWARDING PART OF WHAT YOU DO?
Seeing the end result of working on these looks & them getting appreciated in the public light. I attended an event in my Wonder Woman cosplay and kids loved it. It felt so good to see them happy.
ONE THING YOU HOPE TO IMPROVE ON IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
I want the world to know that African cosplayers are just as skilled and just as talented & we deserve the same kind of attention.
