Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Denis Maronga. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Denis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
If you were young kid from Kenya in the 90’s and living in Nairobi City, you probably witnessed political assassinations , income disparity, unemployment , government censorships and getting chased down the streets by the police for no reason, At 13 I met a drama teacher, a woman named Miss Omondi, who sparked something in me . I remember just being fascinated by the concept of using storytelling on stage to talk about issues affecting my fellow students and my community. I often got in trouble for imitating teachers, chefs and my fellow classmates . I got kicked out of two high schools because of my commitment to art. After high school, my single mum with four other siblings to feed , couldn’t afford college tuition for me. A neighbor , Peter Kawa, invited me to a traveling Acting group audition.When I stepped on a professional stage for the first time, I was like, I want to be an actor !Thats how my creative journey began. I traveled all over the country performing in schools, colleges and museums. I did tv sitcoms, political campaigns and more. When i relocated to the US is 2008, I continued to pursue my passion.
Denis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Denis Dubai Maronga, I’m a creative director , event curator, producer , podcaster, standup comedian and the Founder and CEO of The Kicheko Project Organization . Art found me at a rough season in my life both in Kenya and in USA. I used art to heal from trauma and the challenges of living as an immigrant in a hostile state. I relentlessly filled my calendar with activities , projects, causes, releases and more because I couldn’t sit still. My commitment to switching between creative lanes from acting to producing and performing music to stand up and now socials campaigns is because honestly,I can’t sit still. I can enjoy sitting still, but i just can’t . I just have a drive that, though I can’t explain exactly where it comes from, is always there. I like figuring out how to apply my personality best by trying out different things.
In my work as an artist, I am motivated by a desire to give back to my community and provide opportunities for other underrepresented artists to showcase their talents. This has led me to use my platform to create events and exhibitions that highlight the work of artists from diverse backgrounds, including those from Nairobi and other parts of the world.
For example, in In Seattle and Shoreline, Washington, I have organized events that showcase the work of artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds, including those from Africa and the Caribbean . These events provide a platform for these artists to share their unique perspectives and connect with audiences who may not have had the opportunity to experience their work otherwise.
Overall, as an artist, I am driven by a desire to push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and create work that has a positive impact on the world around me. Whether through, comedy, music, dance, visual art, or other mediums, I believe that art has the power to inspire, connect, and transform, and I am excited to continue exploring the possibilities of my craft in the years to come.
One of the key features of my organization , The Kicheko Project , is our annual talent show that focuses on community building. The event is designed to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and to foster a sense of belonging and connection. This is achieved through a variety of means, including the selection of performers, the design of the event space, and the creation of opportunities for audience members to interact with each other.
We provide hosting/emcee services, event planning and curating and through our media platform, The Creative Hustle podcast, we advertise and market small businesses and upcoming artists trying to share their work with the world. Through collaborations with other organizations to curate events like The Refugee and Immigrant Week festival,Juneteenth Celebrations , Madaraka Festival, Umoja festival and more , we have resonated with diverse audiences and that promoted social connection and community building.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Everything in life has a process and art is no different . When i was a little boy, I’d sit and watch my dad play records. He was a great artist in his own way and a great man. I learned a lot from his process, he was present and in the moment. He wasn’t worried about yesterday , today or tomorrow . He was right there in that exact moment with us. Art has taught me to see the beauty and potential within everyday things especially nature. I started to learn to act around the same time i learned to appreciate the value of family and Community .
People have criticized me for doing a lot of things. For doing this, that and the other, for doing too much. But creativity’s a real balancer for me. I have been living undocumented and stateless in the US for 16 years now. People come to the United States for the promise of freedom and opportunity. My experiences are emblematic of the struggles of millions of undocumented children and youth in America who deal daily with isolation from peers, the struggle to pursue an education, fears of detention and deportation, and the trauma of separation from family and loved ones.
Living undocumented feels like being in an “invisible prison”. You can’t access student loans to pursue further education , you can’t work or travel much , you can’t get loans from financial institutions to start a business , you have no health insurance and in some states, you can’t drive or rent a place to stay. As an artist, companies and individuals take advantage of you since you can’t sue them and some people don’t give your work the respect it deserves. I began pursuing music in 2009 with my friend Steph Kapela in Wichita Kansas . We used to record in the bathroom closet since we couldn’t afford a studio . The quality wasn’t the best but we got debuted in Kenyan music charts a few times and even got to perform on FOX news Kansas breakfast show twice!
Music has taught me to appreciate life as it comes , the good and the bad. This has always helped me feel rooted and grounded. I have worked with a number of music giants from East Africa and Jamaica. I have wrote music about love and loss, pain , discomfort and celebration . Music has always helped me to maintain my optimism of the world, as long as there’s music, comedy and art in the world, then thats a life worth living.
Over time, Immigration issues can lead to more severe issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, poor identity formation, difficulty forming relationships, feelings of persecution, distrust of institutions and authority figures, acting out behaviors and more. It was a terrible chapter of my life, I was homeless for a while after i lost my family , my house, my daughter and my car. I lost my friends, some died, most got deported and others avoided me like plague . This is when my comedy journey began. I began performing at soup kitchens, charity banquets for homeless shelters, and for at-risk youth. These are the most under-noticed and underserved people yet we found a way to laugh at our problems . I couched- surfed for a while then eventually got my own place. I began performing at local clubs like the Looney Bin in Wichita, Kansas and later got invites to perform in Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami Florida and a comedy club in New York.
I heard Seattle was a safe safe state for undocumented immigrants and I woke up one morning , packed a little suitcase , donated my belongings to friends and goodwill, booked a one way ticket and relocated to Seattle Washington in 2018 .Seattle is constantly evolving and it feels like both a big city and a small city at the same time. Homegrown giants like Amazon and Microsoft firmly situated in the region but unfortunately you cant get employment unless you have work authorization . So I was stuck in the immigration ferris wheel again. I decided to nourish my love for existing and life , in other things especially through art.This is something that has always emerged when i need it most in my life and it makes me feel confident. I might not be where i want to in life, with my career , but i’m strong and resilient . I began hosting/emcees for free at events all over the state. I have performed for Bill and Melinda Gates, The Seahawks team, I have hosted at Seattle art Museum , Museum of Pop culture , the biggest black comedy festival in Seattle, i have done commercials for Amazon, King county local government , Tacoma symphony and I even met and shook hands with the US president Joe Biden when he recently visited Seattle!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
The number-one piece of advice is pretty straightforward and doesn’t have to cost anything but your time: Show up. It is showing up and supporting something you want to exist. For me, the best way to build up the arts is by starting where you live and working your way out . Challenge yourself to attend events that showcase art forms different from those you usually seek out, go to a new or new-to-you venue, venture into a new neighborhood — take a chance, take risks. Even if you don’t love it, you’ll have something to talk about with your friends — and you’re building context for future arts going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tr.ee/r7lKecOxHD
- Instagram: https://tr.ee/ZBkAWv8w26
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKichekofactory
- Linkedin: https://tr.ee/RxMZO9Bsi6
- Youtube: https://tr.ee/UXW1qWZTEu
Image Credits
Hylens Photography . https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hylens%20photography