Badlands Ndio Mtaa is a visceral solo multimedia performance that follows a boy’s transformation into manhood in Korogocho, one of Nairobi’s most perilous informal settlements.
Mutemi Mistari (Dominic Mutemi), acclaimed film and theatre performer, spoken word artist, and advocate for community dialogue, brings his powerful new solo work Badlands Ndio Mtaa to Cheche Gallery at the Kenya National Theatre on 27 and 28 February. This introspective piece traces the invisible forces of shame, fractured memories, societal pressures that forge a boy into a man amid Nairobi’s gritty streets.
The piece delves into a boy’s crowded “inner room” – a fragile mental space where fear, hunger, faith, and longing collide, mapping the insidious violence of poverty and the small acts of resilience that define survival. Through spoken word, physical theatre, and evocative multimedia elements, Mutemi Mistari confronts the everyday dangers, shame, suppressed memories, and societal pressures that harden vulnerability into guarded strength, while affirming the enduring spirit of the “mtaa”.
Ultimately, Badlands Ndio Mtaa is both a personal excavation and a broader societal mirror. It affirms “ndio mtaa” (yes, this is the hood) not as defeat but as acknowledgment honoring the lived truths of those who grow up in such spaces while using art to break the silence around masculinity, trauma, governance failures, and community endurance.
The solo format, delivered with unflinching intensity by Mistari, allows seamless shifts between the boy’s youthful innocence and the man’s guarded maturity, making the transformation feel immediate, embodied, and profoundly human. Blending interactive multimedia, immersion and raw storytelling, Mutemi confronts issues like gender-based violence (GBV), governance, and personal transformation with unflinching honesty.
This is about the silent battles in the badlands we call home— the mtaa that shapes us, breaks us, and rebuilds us. Art is my way to start the conversations we avoid.” – Mutemi Mistari
Created in collaboration with director Esther Kamba (Musyi Arts and Production) and Ndiangui Muya (Assistant Director/Scenic Designer), the show is designed to spark uncomfortable but necessary conversations in Nairobi’s creative and social spheres.
In a place where danger is ordinary and survival demands quiet strength, Directed by award-winning theatre maker Esther Kamba, with assistant direction and scenic design by Ndiangui Muya, the production is presented by Musyi Arts and Production.
About the Artists
Dominic Mutemi is a multifaceted film and theatre performer, spoken word artist, and community advocate who leverages art to ignite vital conversations. His work tackles pressing societal issues including gender based violence (GBV), governance, and personal resilience. With experience on major stages through NPAS productions and notable film credits including Inside Job (Netflix-affiliated) and My Name is Omosh—he brings authenticity and depth to his roles. Currently starring in his original solo piece Badlands Ndio Mtaa, Dominic performs as @mtemi_mistari on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram (@dommiceleb), where he shares his creative process and engages audiences directly.
Esther Kamba is an award-winning Kenyan-Canadian creative based in Kenya, operating as a theatre director, dramaturge, curator, and founder of initiatives like Sifa Arts/Musyi Arts and Playreading Kenya. With over a decade of experience, she creates immersive, socially engaged theatre focused on set design, youth training, resistance, and cultural collaboration. Her work spans directing, devising, and international workshops. She emphasizes questioning systems and using theatre for social impact. For Badlands Ndio Mtaa, Esther contributes as director and producer, bringing her expertise in layered, thoughtful production design.
Ndiangui Muya is a theatre director, playwright, actor, and designer with a background in Film Technology and Performing Arts from KCA University. He works fluidly across theatre, sound design, visual art, and technology. His practice centers on political and social issues, employing theatre to interrogate systems, break silences, and foster dialogue. In addition to stage work, Ndiangui explores innovative formats like audio plays. For Badlands Ndio Mtaa, he serves as assistant director (with Esther Kamba as director) and scenic designer, shaping the visual and spatial language of the piece.
Badlands Ndio Mtaa | Kenya National Theatre, Cheche Gallery | Friday 27 February 6pm | Saturday 28 February 3pm & 6pm | Tickets on Usanii