#EveningWalk

 

 

 

That no matter what your past looks like, no matter how many obstacles you meet on your way, no matter how many times you fall and rise, remember that with a CAN DO attitude, whatever you are looking for is also looking for you!

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 09, 2020/– Kenya is steadily becoming a reputable and formidable breeding ground for top actors and actresses in the world. In these exciting times we are lucky to have Eunice Ayuma on Kikao. We pick her brain on her journey, perspective of the industry and more.

Let Kikao begin…

[Question 1] Welcome to Kikao. Who is Eunice Ayuma?

In my journey of becoming, I have been a creative/film enthusiast, sales representative and a business development executive. I define myself as a leader who shows up every morning to learn and teach something new in equal measure.

[Question 2] Share with us your first acting debut role and journey so far.

My debut role was on a segment series by Lolani Kalu on NTV’s Swahili prime time news. I was narrating Swahili poems and acting them out. I later played Annabelle on Rush TV series that has been translated into French and Portuguese, Wrath TV series, Clichè, Sage and Mission short films and the latest season of Jane & Abel TV Series, some are distributed to FTA’S, Cable TV, Streaming platforms and other non convectional distribution channels across the globe.

[Question 3] What lesson do you pick from the global success of Lupita Nyong’o, Edi Gathegi and Kiran Shah?

That no matter what your past looks like, no matter how many obstacles you meet on your way, no matter how many times you fall and rise, remember that with a CAN DO attitude, whatever you are looking for is also looking for you!

[Question 4] With the rapid growth and expansion of streaming services in Africa, will Kenya join the likes of South Africa and Nigeria as key hubs of creation and demand?

Absolutely, Kenya is in the top 3 largest markets in Africa together with Nigeria and South Africa. Both Amazon Prime and Netflix launched in some African countries in 2016. The penetration of international SVOD platforms brought new competition to the streaming space, this has transformed the African media landscape by opening us up to a far wider audience, we’ve seen the recent release of Netflix’s first African original series, seen acquisitions from Nigeria, and the growth snowball keeps rolling, its circumference is bound to grow.

[Question 5] Few people know of the appearance of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta in the 1935 movie Sanders of the River and music maestro Sal Davis in The Syndicate (1968). Other notable Kenyan personalities from other fields have also made contributions in the acting scene. Is the Kenyan film industry receptive of this diversity and what are its effects?

When the first Kenyan president took part in Sanders of the River he was not yet the president, he used his skills and ability as an African artist to tell the story the best way he knew how. Music is a piece art, locations whether designed or natural are pieces of art, costumes, make up, different lights, characters are pieces of art, the art of story telling using audio visual is a collection of putting pieces of art together to give life to a masterpiece that is film, TV shows, movies, TVCs you name it.

To answer your question I’d say, there is a lot of power in collaboration! The Kenyan Film industry understands this fully and hence you will find the likes of Bobby Trabolee’s still alive collaborating with the makers of Monsoons Over The Moon, Sautisol featuring in films like Veve and now on a global space in Queen Sono, Governor Alfred Mutua, with Machawood, he is creating an enabling environment for the growth of the creative industry, Multichoice with Talent Factory, other government bodies in the Ministry of sports, Culture and Heritage are also collaborating with creatives, the future is brighter!

[Question 6] “Evening Walk With Eunice Ayuma”. What is it all about?

This is a movie! Okay I’ll be brief.

After work, I always found creative ways and spaces to escape Nairobi’s evening rush hour, being an enthusiast in the entertainment space, I found my true north leading me to creative hubs around Nairobi, a lot of the action worth sharing in Nairobi happens in the evening or over the weekend, be it book clubs at the Kenya National Theatre, Local and International film or Documentary screening at the cinema halls, Art Exhibitions, discussions with industry playerscommunity outreachactivation gigsgeneral forums and networking with other people out of the entertainment space. This is before the curfew in 2020, lol!

So I needed an outlet to share the little lessons I picked to my online organic audience, there I chose to use and hone my skills by penning down the stories through my blog that I named #EveningWalksWithEuniceAyuma.

I then expanded my walks to a national level while filming and yo! Kenya is such a beautiful filming destination, since the days of Out of Africa up until now, I have so much about Kenya’s jaw-dropping scenery I am yet to share!

[Question 7] As a creative, how are you coping with COVID-19 pandemic?

My very first acting coach Neil Schell told me amongst other students in one of his sessions that as a creative, one must endeavor to have both technical and soft skills that can earn them something when cameras and microphones are not rolling. So with a blue ocean mindset and grateful to the almighty for the Internet, I am finding ways to work with and around this endemic by; providing my services from home, learning, unlearning, and relearning a lot of stuff, reconnecting with family and friends virtually, reading the books I shelved, binging on the shows and movies I promised myself to watch, attending the webinars I can, taking up new courses and above all, listening to podcasts, my favorite now being Activate Gems and Nuggets.

The written interview was compiled by Phineahs Munene – Co-founder of Wazo Moja for Eunice Ayuma – of eayuma.com

Dressed by House of Ruma

Distributed by Wazo Moja on behalf of Eunice Ayuma

SOURCE

Eunice Ayuma

Actress speaks as her film premiers in Nairobi: By Artmatters.Info

Actress | Commercial model | Voice over arti

 

Eunice ‘Freezzer’ Ayuma is a budding Kenyan actress who starres in CLICHE, a short family drama directed by Firul Maithya that is scheduled for screening and discussion during the 95th monthly Lola Kenya Screen film forum (LKSff), Nairobi’s premier critical movie platform, at Goethe-Institut on August 29, 2016.

Please introduce yourself
My name is Eunice Ayuma but close friends call me Freezzer, the nickname I acquired from friends back in secondary school.

Please describe how and where your acting journey began.

I am an actress, commercial model and voice over artist. I started my acting career in 2012 when I appeared in Malimwengu na Lolani Kalu, a Kiswahili news segment on NTV. Other notable projects I have been involved in include WRATH, SAGE, and CLICHE.

Please describe your experience with CLICHE
My experience in the making of cliche the film was exciting. Working with people whose work I admired and meeting new people was a great experience for me. When I first read the script of the film, I knew this was a story I would want to tell. The writer’s style of telling it is out of this world.

Have you received any formal training in acting?
Yes, I have received acting training from Neil Schell, a director and acting coach from Canada and Patience Ozokwor, an award-winning actress from Nigeria.

Where were you born?
I was born and raised in Nairobi where I also attended Our Lady of Mercy Primary School in Shaurimoyo and Huruma Girls High School in Makadara.

What else have you studied after secondary school?
In 2015 I was among the lucky few that got the opportunity to study Intellectual Property Law, an online course from Harvard School of Law that was organised by Kenya Law, an organisation based in Upper Hill area in Nairobi.

What are your dislikes?
Negative energy and people who speak ill of others.

Do you have any dreams, wishes or prayers?
My dream is to tell a countless number of stories that will both influence viewers positively and keep them entertained. Every time I speak to my creator I always ask for wisdom and good health.

How about any short term ‘concrete’ plans; do you have any?
Every time an idea comes in mind I always put it down on paper. I never leave a pen and paper when I go out. My biggest plan is to hone my skills whenever I get an opportunity to do so.

From whom or what do you draw your inspiration?
My mum. Mama is my best friend. We talk everything from my mistakes to all plans. She’s is the last to go to bed and the very first person up in the morning, focused on making things moving in her 30-year-plus business.

Do you have any person you can refer to as your mentor?
Dorothy Ghettuba of Spielworks Media. She is full of wisdom that she is always willing to share. She brings out the best in me.

What difficulties and successes have you faced so far in your work on screen?
The biggest challenge I’ve experienced is booking a role. This sector is packed with talented actors and new ones are coming in all the time as can be seen during audition sessions. I keep track on my personal growth and always reward myself every time I make a step forward. That I have managed to put my work under one roof is so far my greatest achievement. When my eayuma.com website was born I knew the impossible is possible; I learnt the value of using what you have where you are instead of giving excuses.

What does your family think of your acting career?
My family has always been supportive though I had to keep explaining to my parents what I do for a whole year. They listen to my ideas and support me all the way. They are my biggest cheerleaders.

Any ‘favourite’ movies, songs or actors you’d care to name?
Favourite Movie: A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN starring Gerald Butler, VEVE, EYE IN THE SKY
Favourite TV Series: THE WIRE, NARCOS, LIES THAT BIND, SENSE 8, SUITS
Favourite Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, Miguel Angel Silvestre, Jason Statham
Favourite Actress: Adesua Etomi, the Nollywood actress whose performance in the movie, FALLING, earned her the Female of the Year prize in the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in 2016.
Favourite Song: Confidence by Demi Lovato. I see a reflection of me in the song, Confidence. Demi Lovato songs speak to me.

Eunice Ayuma with crew and cast members of Hamba Production at Machakos Film Festival in eastern Kenya’s Machakos County.Do you have any dreams, wishes or prayers?
My dream is to tell a countless number of stories that will both influence viewers positively and keep them entertained. Every time I speak to my creator, I always ask for wisdom and good health.

How about any short term ‘concrete’ plans; do you have any?
Every time an idea comes to mind I always put it down on paper. I never leave a pen and paper when I go out. My biggest plan is to hone my skills whenever I get an opportunity to do so.

What are your hobbies?
When I am not onset or working, I am with friends at Imax cinema watching movies, at home cooking random meals, out with my girls tasting dishes from new restaurants, enjoying my ‘me time’ reading journals, listening to loud music or following my favourite television series. I enjoy spending time with family. Being the last born, I happen to have many niece and nephews. I must admit my role as an aunt is so well played out. My people can’t get enough of my pilau rice dish.

Last born . . .
Yes, from a family of five; a brother and three sisters. I have the advantage of learning from the wise people that came before me. I am very shy.. I don’t know where the confidence comes from when I speak in public.

Any other talents that you have but are yet to be publicly recognised?
I sing so well in the bathroom or when I am overwhelmed. I am yet to get the courage to sing in public. I also enjoy walking, I remember back in primary school I represented the school in a 5000m walking race, I managed to go to the next level. I have even started a blog called Evening Walk With Eunice Ayuma.

Are you a member of any youth group?
Yes. My church has several groups that are assigned various roles. I belong to the drama group that creates plays to entertain guests during special occasions. People refer to me as msanii (artist in Kiswahili) in church.

Describe your typical day.
My Monday-Friday day starts at 4:30 AM when I whisper a prayer and go online to update my status, check on friends, return e-mails, chat on whatsApp and any other social App. I then work till 6:00 PM when I go to various creative hubs in Nairobi: Alliance Francaise, Pawa254, Goethe-Institut, Creative’s Hub, iHub, just to mention but a few. There I get to learn, re-learn and learn again. By the time I’m done it’s 10:00 PM. Back home, I take supper, check mail and texts, return calls and ‘it’s a wrap’. Weekends are mostly set aside for auditions, family and friends.

Being in a career that attracts as much public attention as acting must have cast you in the spotlight; are you receiving any ‘marriage proposals’ from admirers?
Ha ha ha, yes, numerous. Not everyone has the courage to follow through, though. But we end up being friends. Some just go away.


How would you describe your ‘Ideal man’?

It is he that possesses enough courage and confidence with which to approach me.

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