Hi everyone,
After a long hiatus, we’re back! I’ve drafted many introductions, but I’ve realized it’s best to start with a “Get-to-know-your-Curator” post before diving into lengthy discussions. From there, we can explore ideas and collaborations together. I’m excited to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to reach out! A big thank you to Chris for setting such a high standard. I won’t try to fill her shoes, but I promise to honor our readers, my authentic voice, and the entire community in everything I share here.
My role in one sentence:
I’m here to connect the dots, turn ideas into meaningful experiences and very occasionally make horrible jokes.
What I’m curating for you:
The Africa Media Festival, Creative Civic Canvas, Curators-in-Residence, this newsletter, and other one-off initiatives that happen across Baraza. I, however, do not curate Baraza’s music playlist so if you hear anything questionable, surely that cannot be me.
My superpower at work:
I possess a keen sense of listening, attuned to unspoken words, and can also detect the arrival of samosas by their scent. Therefore, I kindly request you avoid direct eye contact.
My current creative obsession:
Three-step Afro-house currently. So good. Too many concerts though. I’ve also been actively looking for books that explain the rise and fall of dictatorial figures in historical accounts. I’ve just finished reading “History of Julius Caesar” by Jacob Abbott, because often we believe that what we are going through is unique, yet there is both a playbook to enforcing and eventually overcoming tyranny, based on historical accounts.
☕ How I take my coffee/tea:
I love a good Mocha. This is the key to my heart really.
🌍 A cause/idea I’m passionate about:
I joined Baraza because I’m big on natural justice and believe in good karma. I really care about helping artists, entrepreneurs, and media pros bring their cool projects to life in a way that lasts. I’ve seen too many times how creatives finish a project, spend all their money, and then hit a wall trying to start something new. And it’s frustrating to see brands and big companies take advantage of the fact that there isn’t enough support for people in media and creative fields. My main aim is to make sure our shared passion leads to awesome work and that creators get the credit they deserve. Someone once told me that curation is often an exercise in humility, where it is my job to get out of the way, or get obstacles out of the way for creators and media professionals to go through. That is all I am here to do.
My big dream for the creative/media space:
A world where African storytelling is respected, valued and well compensated. Where we can tell our stories boldly, beautifully, equitably and live sustainably from doing it.
First media moment that shaped me:
Learning about impartiality in media class was a bit of a struggle for me. But then, Marc Lamont Hill, who was a CNN correspondent at the time, really stood out. I trusted him because he was clear about speaking his mind, even when it meant losing his job at CNN after the Gaza-Israel controversy. Even though CNN let him go, he bounced back and became a host for Upfront on Al Jazeera. That whole experience really hit home for me: you can’t fake real trust. Your words and actions have to match up, and that’s something I’ve stuck with ever since.
🎵 The soundtrack to my workday:
Christian Kuria – Sunbleach
Mereba – Stay Tru
Fun fact you didn’t ask for but I’ll tell you anyway:
I once interned as an auditor, I’ve worked as a researcher in STEM, I’ve been a publicist for a musician and I’ve also worked as a curator for old African artefacts. I have lived many lives. Don’t ask. Let’s leave the past in the past.
💌 How to find me at Baraza:
My workmates make fun of me because I’m a man from Western Kenya who cannot eat maize. So you can find me at Baraza eating fish, not with ugali, but with potatoes.
Talk Soon,
Martie Mtange
Curator | Baraza Media Lab
Member Spotlight: Fallohide Africa + ARGO
This week, we’re stepping into the mythic, mossy world of ARGO — Africa’s first public environmental Augmented Reality (AR) game. Built by visionary game designer Joanna Oluoch and the creative minds at Fallohide Africa, ARGO turns Nairobi’s Oloolua Forest into an enchanted, story-rich playground — blending conservation, tech, and magic.
So… What’s ARGO, and Why Should We Care?
Think of ARGO as Pokémon Go meets climate storytelling — but Afro-mythic, deeply joyful, and built on a design philosophy Joanna calls “urgency without despair.” No guilt trips. No apocalypse forecasting. Just good storytelling, forest guardians, and immersive gameplay that draws you in — then subtly reminds you the Earth needs your help.
It’s fun first. The message follows. And that’s the point.
What’s One African Media Innovation That’s Blown You Away?
The Création Africa programme (yep — that French government one) is giving serious lift to African creatives working in AR/VR, animation, and immersive storytelling. And guess what? ARGO is one of its 2025 grantees!
What’s exciting is how the programme backs projects that are both culturally rooted and technologically ambitious — a rare but necessary combo on the continent.
One Quick Tip for Media Orgs Trying to Engage Audiences Better?
Lead with emotion. Not data.
Not a slide deck.
Not another infographic.
Emotion.
Whether it’s humour, myth, or mystery — start with feeling. If people care, they’ll come back for more. That’s ARGO’s secret sauce.
What’s the Most Underrated Opportunity in African Media?
Nature. Real-world spaces. Public places.
We keep thinking content belongs on screens. But Africa’s forests, rooftops, streets, and rivers? They’re waiting to be reimagined as immersive storytelling stages.
With ARGO, we didn’t rent a venue — we turned Oloolua Forest into a permanent media installation. It’s live. It’s free. It’s weird and wonderful. And it’s just the beginning.
Final Word?
We’ve raised over $60,000, showcased ARGO in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania, and France — and a permanent installation is now underway in Oloolua Forest.
Follow our journey at fallohide.africa or argo.oloolua.
Because saving the world shouldn’t feel like a guilt trip.
It could start with a story.
Or a game.
Or just a really good pair of hiking boots.
Partner Pulse: Radio Workshop Wants Your Stories!
At this year’s Africa Media Festival, the Radio Workshop crew blew us away with their hands-on session: “Level Up Your Audio Storytelling.” And the vibes didn’t stop there — now they’re inviting YOU to pitch your next big audio idea.
Submit your pitch here
Why It Mattered:
Led by Naomi Grewan, Mike Rahfaldt, and Melissa Mbugua, the workshop walked participants through everything:
- Finding standout stories
- Recording audio like a pro
- Writing for the ear
- Editing + music magic
Dozens left buzzing with ideas — and now some of those are turning into actual podcast episodes. Yours could be next.
Latest Episode Drop: Greener Pastures
Meet Ruby — a 30-year-old Zimbabwean mother of three, now working in the UK as a care worker. Through late-night voice notes recorded while her elderly client slept, Ruby shares her real, raw, and sometimes hilarious journey of sacrifice, survival, and strength.
It’s a powerful listen. It’s personal. And it captures the struggle of the 30% of Zimbabweans living abroad with heart and honesty.
Tune in now and share your thoughts.