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Take Five: Eugene Mbugua
Eugene Mbugua is an entrepreneur, and the producer behind shows on TV like Young Rich, Concert Nyumbani and Sol Family.
What you need to know:
- My company takes great pride in telling positive African stories, and we hope to spread this attitude all over the world.
- Two years ago, I created the first celebrity reality show in the region - Being Bahati - and it was quite successful.
1. Tell us about Concert Nyumbani…
This is a TV musical I created. In it, we use music and poetry to celebrate and appreciate some of the heroes who have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The show was sponsored by the Kenya Film Commission and involved four production houses and more than 50 filmmakers. It aired on July 19 across 11 local TV stations.
2. Between employment and entrepreneurship, which is easier for you?
I don't know if it is possible to differentiate the two. I think it depends on the profession in question. I know for a fact that my entrepreneurship activities are much more gruelling than any eight-to-five job I’ve ever held. My days begins at 4am, and I put in 14-hour shifts daily.
3. Why then did you choose entrepreneurship over employment?
Before I studied television production at USIU (United States International University), I was already working in the industry, doing odd jobs such as boom swinging.
The college degree just made me a professional in what I was already doing. I got into business because I wanted to own the ladder, not climb it.
4. What prompted you to create the Sol Family reality show?
Two years ago, I created the first celebrity reality show in the region - Being Bahati - and it was quite successful. After that, my team was eager to do a bigger and better show.
At the beginning of 2020, Sauti Sol, through one of their managers, approached me for a discussion about working with them for another reality TV show.
I have always been a big fan of Sauti Sol and I even went to school with Bien so I had no second thoughts at all. Besides, they are the biggest music band in Africa. I felt honoured to work with them and their team.
5. Why do you think it is so important to tell African stories through film?
There have been several complaints about how Africans are presented in foreign films and books, but if you think about it, it is not the responsibility of non-Africans to tell the African story. That should be our responsibility as indigenous Africans.
My company takes great pride in telling positive African stories, and we hope to spread this attitude all over the world.
