I have over a decade of experience in building and creating dope sh* while collaborating with some of the most talented people in the world.
Thayù is an award-winning, reclusive storyteller who thrives on exploring fragmented memories and weaving creative narratives while pushing the boundaries of digital artistry. What they don’t express in words, they convey through vibrant creativity. A true multidisciplinary polymath, Thayù embodies the essence of a creative in every sense. A pixel-loving stylus slinger, they inhabit a digital realm where CMYK and RGB coexist, with artistic talents spanning a wide range of mediums—from bold illustrations and writing to experimental augmented reality—allowing them to seamlessly merge the virtual and real worlds.
Thayù's creativity extends to writing across various formats, including comics, games, theater, film scripts, books, poetry, experimental music, and podcasts. To date, Thayù has authored 16 children's books, 3 erotic poetry books, 4 comics, 2 photo comics, and 2 anthologies—all published. They are also the founder of Creatives Garage, an organization that has supported over 14,000 creatives in Kenya and beyond for the past decade.
Additionally, Thayù established Kalabars, a content-based platform for storytellers to gain market access; Baiskeli, a brick-and-mortar store for creatives to sell their crafts; and Sondeka Festival, which, along with Lock-In Festival, has showcased hundreds of creatives from East Africa and beyond. Thayù is also the driving force behind Sondeka Awards, which celebrates talent across East Africa, and has created and curated numerous projects such as Femmolution, Prosexsive, Sondeka Alt, That Other Place, and Blooms in the Dark. These ventures create opportunities for creatives to showcase their work in both physical and virtual spaces.
Thayù's passion for storytelling extends into film making, with credits to over 100 productions in their portfolio.
Though Thayù identifies as an introvert, their creativity knows no bounds. They fearlessly experiment with various mediums, continually exploring new ways to bring their imaginative visions to life. Whether through film, technology, or other artistic tools, Thayù's work exemplifies the fusion of creativity and innovation.
Thayù has worked with thousands of creatives over the years on various projects and has collaborated with organizations such as Meta, Care International, Goethe Institut, Mozilla, African Union, In Place of War, Africa No Filter, British Council, Canadian Embassy in Kenya, and the Prince Claus Fund. They have won several awards, including the Prince Claus Seed Award (NL), Zuri Awards (KE), Google Challenge impact award and the National Diversity & Inclusion Awards & Recognition (KE).
Their work has been featured and selected for showcase in various festivals, such as Bside Festival (UK), OpenScreen (LU), LiftOff Global Sessions (UK), and Afrika Film Festival (BE) and publications like Through the Window (NL, TR) Museo (AUT), International Arts Manager (UK) and The Next Renaissance - Culture and Creativity Shaping Europe(EU) and Webtoon Creation Africa (FR). They have also been selected to represent creatives in symposiums such as the International Symposium for Electronic Art and the Social Innovation Exchange.
Thayù is an alumni of the Festival Academy (EU) and Association Marcel Hicter pour la Démocratie culturelle (BE).
They are a member of the Africa Narrative Collective, Creative South, The Oracle Cultural Network (EU) and the Mozilla Alumni Network.
"A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes is better than a master of one"
In the Blogs
The Star Newspaper - Thayu Feature 2024
I am Music Junkie - Blooms in the Dark Play 2024
Mozilla - AI in Kenya 2024
Techweez - AI in Kenya 2024
MSN - AI Bias
Tech-ish - Kenyan Creatives Embrace AI Amid Concerns Over Bias and Intellectual Property 2024
Tuko - 6 Top AI Tools Used in Kenya Amid Concerns of Bias and Job Displacement 2024
The Standard Newspaper - Report: Kenyan creatives embrace AI but wary of its bias and threats 2024
Nation Newspaper - AI double-edged sword in Kenya’s art industry 2024
The Business Daily - New age realities: Why AI is a double-edged sword for Kenyan creatives 2024
Business Now - AI in Kenya
MSME - Facebook and Creatives Garage launch #RealpeopleRealstories to support the Creative industry
Hivos - I am the Chief Mechanic
Mkazi Magazine - Why bipolar doesn't curtail chief mechanics awesome creativity
Kenyabuzz - Femme Evolution
This is Africa - Femmolution, a call for women to rise
The East African -Celebrating the region's bold achievers
I am Music Junkie - Hope/currency 2023
Afrocritik - Sondeka Awards 2023
Nairobi Design Week - Sondeka Awards 2023!
In place of war - Liz Kilili, pioneer of Kenya’s creative industry
B-Side Festival - That other place
My Mind my Funk - Art as therapry and therapy for Artists
Kenya Copyright News - Creatives Garage, a hub where artists learn to turn their craft into a source of livelihood
Through the window - In her wake
Prince Claus- Queer expression through literary work
In place or war - women on the frontline
Hapa Kenya - Q&A Monday
Potentash -Heels and Pearls
Capital FM - online video streaming service that tells african stories launched in kenya
Festival Academy -South Korea and Kenya: two kids from the same class
The African Courier - Real people real stories
Business Insights Africa - realpeoplerealstories - a campaign that supports the creative industry
Khusoko - Kalabars
The Nation - Women honoured during Zuri Awards