“PICHA” — The Swahili Drama That’s All About Silence, Memory, and Truth

Images via Prevail Presents

Karibu tena! The lights go up. The curtain pulls back. And just like that, you’re swept into a world where every silence speaks louder than words. Did you miss PICHA the first time it was staged? It’s your chance to catch it, one night only on Thursday 1st May.

PICHA is a powerful reminder of the complexities of memory and family, brought to life through stirring performances and poetic storytelling. Written by Mohamed Komeja and directed by Martin Kigondu, this fulll-Swahili drama produced by Prevail Presents is a revival of a story first staged in 1985 and is now reimagined for today’s audience.

Reviving a Timeless Classic

Originally written in 1985, PICHA returns to the stage with renewed relevance, offering a glimpse into the past, while challenging us to reflect on our present choices and silences. Each scene, enhanced by curated lighting, set design, and direction, pulls the audience deeper into Kanini’s world.

PICHA follows the unraveling of secrets behind the seeming perfection of Kanini’s family. Kanini is a middle-aged mother and wife who has created this image of a decent and respectable family. In doing so she has turned a blind eye to traumatic experiences both in the past and in the present. This perfect image is shattered when a photo with a deep secret is discovered.

The conflict between the two images forces her to make an irreparable choice. Is it too late to make a difference? And does she even have the mental fortitude to make the ‘right’ choice?

PICHA is a deep dive into the spaces between memory and silence—the kind of performance that lingers long after you leave your seat. It dares to ask: what happens when we turn away from the truth? And what price do we pay for the stories we leave untold?

Celebrated Kenyan Actors

The stage comes alive with powerful, emotional, and deeply human performances celebrated actors Lucy Wache, Suzanne Karani, Polyann Njeri, Fadhili Kerosi, Michael Ndunda, and Suki Wanza, this production is both a celebration of Swahili culture and a deeply human story that speaks across generations.

Authentic Swahili Storytelling

PICHA is performed entirely in Swahili, embracing the beauty and rhythm of the language while delivering a universally relatable story about family, memory, and generational trauma. It’s a stirring narrative that confronts the weight of silence around gender-based violence.

Ready to be moved? Grab your tickets, step into the world of PICHA, and prepare to see silence—and yourself—in a whole new light.