The opening night of the play “In the Seashell Hum”, starring Nick Ndeda, Foi Wambui, Angela Mwandanda and Gitura Kamau, reignited the conversation around mental health in Kenya.
Before the show, organisers held a 10-minute session with the audience to discuss the importance of sharing stories about mental health. Nairobi Representative Esther Passaris was in attendance and said it was crucial, now more than ever, to show compassion and support those suffering in silence.
According to Mental 360, youth in Kenya face the highest mental health risks because 75% of Kenyans lack access to mental health care services, 50% of Kenya’s population is under 35, and 25% of youth grapple with mental health challenges by the age of 24.
Written by Adipo Sidang’ (author of Parliament of Owls), the play explores what one creative goes through while suffering from mental illness. The story is inspired by the rising cases of mental health issues in the creative sector. Through the character Baraka, it lays bare the weight of mental illness.
KBC English Service presenter Nick Ndeda emerged as the star of the night for his portrayal of Baraka, an artist suffering from alcoholism who desperately tries to make sense of his world as his mind fractures. Foi Wambui played his partner, Salma, while Angela Mwandanda played his sister Kendi.
The audience is first introduced to Baraka in the opening scene as he listens to a fictional radio transmission from Seashell radio before Athman joins him to discuss its contents. It is only later that the audience discovers Athman is Baraka’s cousin, who died over 10 years ago and is now a figment of Baraka’s fractured mind.
Ndeda carries the emotional weight of the show and delivers a compelling performance. With the most dialogue in the play, he keeps the audience locked in, slowly drawing them into his character’s fragile state of mind. He makes the descent into madness feel painfully real and deeply human, which is what makes you sympathise with him at the end.
Elsewhere, speaking about what drew her to the play Ms Mwandanda, who delivers the final pieces of the puzzle required to understand Barak’s obsession with Seashell radio and his cousin Athman, said she is an advocate for mental health.
“Mental wellness is something I strongly advocate for, especially as an artist and actor, because our creative process begins in the mind. Anything that contributes to protecting and nurturing that source of creativity is something I will gladly be part of.”
Some of the play’s supporters included Mental 360, Creatives Garage, the Creative Economy Working Group and more.
