A Lagos artist who found herself in conversation with an armed robber during a robbery will bring the unusual encounter to the Nairobi stage on Saturday, November 7, when The Moth stages its seventh Mainstage in the city.
Odun Orimolade, an artist, researcher and curator, will join four other storytellers at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa’s LRC Auditorium for the event themed “Now or Never”.
The Moth is known for live storytelling, with participants sharing true personal experiences without notes. The Nairobi event will be hosted by media entrepreneur and women’s rights advocate Adelle Onyango.
Orimolade will recount the encounter with the armed robber, while the other storytellers will share personal experiences that forced them to confront defining moments in their lives.
Anne Obure, a hydrotherapist and swimming coach, will describe how a scuba diving retreat turned into a fight for survival.
Shakirah Namwanje, founder of the WOMANDLA Foundation Uganda, will speak about confronting an HIV diagnosis while holding on to her dream of becoming a mother.
Bernard Mbugua, a human rights defender and EndTB campaign champion, will recount being diagnosed with tuberculosis as a teenager and having to choose between his grandfather’s traditional treatment methods and modern medicine.
Mahmood Bangura, a Sierra Leonean social scientist, will tell the story of becoming his niece’s guardian following a death in the family.
“None of these five storytellers walked in thinking they had a story worth sharing on a global stage,” said Josephine Macharia, producer of The Moth.
“What we discovered is that each of them had lived through a defining moment where they had to act, and simply couldn’t wait any longer.”
The event comes against the backdrop of ongoing health challenges in Kenya.
About 1.3 million people in Kenya are living with HIV, according to the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council.
The World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 says Kenya reduced tuberculosis deaths by 35 per cent between 2020 and 2024.