⌐◨-◨. I am Joyce, an arts student in Nairobi,Kenya. My journey in web3 started in mid 2021 when I read an article about NFTs being the future of art, music and digital ownership. I decided to do my research and immediately fell in love with the space. On top of being a student, I felt it my obligation to educate youth in my area on web3 as they may not have as much exposure to information as I did. I decided to take on a new role as an educator in the way I know best, theatre.
My team and I have actively written a script revolving around the world of NFTs, decentralization and web3 in the pursuit to onboard as many people as we can, especially in a geographical area that has largely been left untouched.
⌐◨-◨For this grant, I am seeking an amount of 1.2 eth to cater for some of the costs of execution. The funds will mostly be used to offset the costs of venue and props. We would like to utilize the easily distinguishable brand of the nouns as a main motif and theme for our play.
End game ⌐◨-◨: Our endgame is to onboard the many talented performers of the arts to the wonderful world that is web3. This will give rise to endless opportunity to people who would have otherwise had a bleek future trying to build a career out of theatre. Allowing and giving a chance to people like these is something we owe not only to the artists and buidlers in web3,but also to ourselves.
With this venture,I will be sharing the wonders of web3 through the lens of the nouns⌐◨-◨ in a small but impactful way. All developments will be shared with the blessings of the DAO.
can you share anything more about the venue, script, and yourself?
i think this could be interesting at this cost but i need to understand a little bit more about the project. any supporting links, docs, and pictures would be great
My name is Joyce Achieng,a Kenyan 19 year old student at Kenyatta University studying Theatre arts and Film technology. Growing up as young African girl was nothing short of eventful. Having come from the the great lakes region of Kenya,I remember just how intrigued I was when we first moved when I was a little girl. Kenya is nothing short of a cultural marvel. Hosting over 44 indigenous African tribes, each different from the other, I was always in awe as I discovered the world was much more than the bubble I lived in. Upon joining High school, I was met with an assortment of students who came from these places I had been to as a kid. My love for theatre was cultivated when I joined the theatre club where I got to take part in my first ever play (as an extra) and there and then, I fell in love with the stage, I knew immediately that that was where I wanted to be.
After enrolling to college for my major, I remember news broke out that famous Kenyan Marathon athlete Eliud Kipchoge had sold a thing called an ‘NFT’. Mere curiosity turned to major interest when i learned that every single form of art was welcome in the world of web3,and there and then, I knew I had found the great equaliser. I was in utter awe at the thought of being able to bring my work to the world stage, and there and then I knew that that was what I was looking for. My research led me to very many educational articles and substacks to kill ignorance until I was sure it was exactly what I wanted. There and then, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut,and decided to use my avenue to form web3 communities of like-minded people around me,where we could grow and learn together. That is how we created “The Blueprint”; a small group of 10 actors using theatre to enlighten the masses on the wonders of web3.
Adisa is a 14 year old boy who has lived his whole life in the silent town of Matemwe on the island of Zanzibar. Despite being a regular looking boy, his impecable skills with the brush have fueled his name into every confab in his little beach town. Having lived and learnt the art sculpting or ‘makonde’ from his grandfather,their small workshop was adorned with all sorts of vesitigious relics and antiquities. Returning visitors to Adisa’s workshop we’re not a strange thing. It was simply impossible to overlook the great craft that he put into his work.
One night as Adisa is painting in his beach cottage,working on his biggest sculpture yet, with the waves roaring into an impending storm,an old man takes shelter as the rain batters the ground into a stormy downpour. He takes interest in Adisa’s work which he is more than happy to talk about,amidst the strokes of his brush and the occasional dab on the palette. Little does he know the great adventure he is about to experience as he is taken into a whole new reality filled with people who are avid enjoyers of the arts just like him. He loses all sense of time as he is lost in the most profound and immersive art he has ever experienced. He has encountered a world of great opportunity and decides to bring his Makonde art to the new reality he has discovered. His mind is completely blown from all the extraordinary art he experiences and gets to share.
After what seemed like an eternity,Adisa finally wakes up on his daybed and flicks the screen on his phone only to discover he has been ‘alseep’ for a bit show of an hour. He cannot believe just how vivid it all seemed and decides to share his experience with the others in his town. His quest turns to a mission to bring his art to the world which earns him the name ‘Mwashi’ which means artist. His efforts bring him great adventure and ultimately puts his name on the global map in a world,all to similar to his strange experience.
The Kenya National Theatre is the biggest and most renowned cultural centre in East and Central Africa. We decided to settle on using one of the small auditoriums as we believe in humble beginnings. The one we’re using sits 300 people at full capacity (Covid restrictions have been lifted in our country,so we expect to have close to full house). Rehearsal and a major part of the preparation work is already underway and we’re planning to have the play done on the 22nd of April.
We have finally commenced ads and promotions for the show! Ticket sales are set to commence 10 days from now after we conclude rehearsal and are able to fully settle our expenses. The play will be uploaded to YouTube aftet the premiere event is done. We we’re also fortunate enough to get the support of a local big band orchestra for live music! Waiting to hear from everyone on what they think about the initiative… all comments on the discourse will be highly appreciated!
Very unique and interesting proposal!
I see you used noun glasses on the poster, is there anything about nouns in the story or was that just for interesting visuals?
I was asking mostly because there was no mention of Nouns in the story you posted in the comments. Could you share more about how nouns fit into the story of the young artist?