'What if we had a festival in a book and called the book This is Not a Book Because It is a Festival?' was the thought running through my mind in 2021. In 2020, we had created Lock-In Festival, an online festival we believe was the first of its kind. We developed a website where you could access all sorts of content, from music performances to vendors, and had artists from as far as Jordan and the UK. Performers included Lavosti, Sushi Firas, and Chucky. We also showcased films and hosted a virtual art gallery.
In 2021, we decided to bring back Sondeka Festival (something we hadn't done in so many years) and called it Sondeka ALT (ALT for Alternative). We did some incredible things with it. The programming included masterclasses, organizational showcases, music performances, an art gallery, an alternate world, a marketplace, podcasts, comedians, and digital art. Sondeka Festival 2021 played host to a vast collection of content that streamed from May 5th to May 8th, 2021.
On top of that, we created 3 apps, 6 kids' games, and 2 graphic zines. The festival streamed 11 hours and 32 minutes of video content while the virtual world, games, and animated content were deployed on our purpose-built festival website. We featured over 400 creatives in our Festival in a Book.
But how did we do it?
The Tech
First, I had to learn how to implement Augmented Reality (AR) because, for the book to work, AR was our only option. Adam Kiboi and I dove deep into researching different AR platforms to find the best fit for what we envisioned. After exploring various options, we stumbled upon UniteAR. We tested it alongside other platforms, comparing user experience, functionality, and ease of integration with our content. Eventually, we settled on UniteAR because it offered the best balance of flexibility and practicality for our project. From this we ended up creating SondekaAR App to work hand in hand with the 'this is not a book'
Next, we needed to create content to augment. Since it was 2021 and the world was still mostly shut down due to the pandemic, we had to get creative about how we would record everything. Our team, led by Trish, took on the monumental task of traveling to all the different creatives to record their performances and contributions. Despite the logistical challenges, they managed to collectively record and edit 68 videos in about two months. This was no small feat, pulling off something like this in such a short time required an immense amount of coordination, effort, and dedication from everyone involved.
While the production team was focused on recording and editing the videos, Adam led another group in gathering
pre-recorded content, images, and written stories from various creatives. The diversity and richness of the content made the project all the more special, as it represented so many unique voices and talents.
As for me, I was working on curating the festival into the book. This involved everything from layout and design to managing the general flow of the festival’s content. I had to ensure that all the elements, from the visual art to the performances and written content, flowed cohesively within the book, while still giving each creative piece the space to shine. Essentially, I was the festival’s curator, designer, and manager, all rolled into one.
The project was an enormous collaborative effort that required everyone to step up and push their limits. It wasn’t just about creating a festival or a book—it was about merging creativity and technology in ways we had never done before.
The Alternate World
We wanted to create an alternate world, a world full of music, creativity, and all things awesome. A world where our mascot, Ole Sondeka, comes from. Through a partnership with the Noisily Festival (UK), we collaborated with Arafa Hamadi (TZ) and Kevin Karanja (KE), who designed and built their interpretation of the Sondeka world in a 3D environment.
The two artists worked on structural set and graphic design, crafting an alternate reality that we brought to life within the festival. Their creativity and technical prowess helped us build an immersive, engaging experience that blended digital and physical realities seamlessly.
Ole Sondeka comes from Sondeka ALT, a world where everyone skates, world peace reigns, creatives rule, and no one jumps to conclusions. In Sondeka ALT, music fills every corner, creativity is currency, and every inhabitant is a creative. The people believe that creativity solves everything—music heals the sick, colors light the path to happiness, and creativity leads to world peace. Ole Sondeka, first of his name, is the mighty ruler of this world. To keep it balanced, he sends spies into other worlds to protect creativity.
Since 2014 we have had a mascot called Ole Sondeka and every year Ole Sondeka. In 2021 we wanted a live version on Ole Sondeka and Ronny, our resident photographer, was responsible for the photography side, working on capturing visuals for Ole Sondeka, another key element of our festival.
Ole Sondeka over the years.
We had such amazing pictures from the Ole Sondeka Photoshoot that was initially supposed to be used as promo materials so I wrote a script and created a photocomic from those images.
The Apps
Apart from creating Sondeka AR, we also developed Bazuu, a Kenyan charades game that people could play at home, and Simul8r, which simulated a walk through Karura Forest and Nairobi CBD. The idea was that if we couldn't visit these places during lockdown, we could explore them virtually.
Additionally, we showcased apps from various organizations that we thought were cool, such as Soja, Upesy, Call Pesa, and our very own Kalabars.
The Photographers
We showcased several photographers with unique works and also featured some of their content during the festival. These photographers included Mini Cheps, Ronny Onkeo, Robert Ochieng, Vic Mutua, and Kenyaa Mzee. Ditoro is a photocomic we commissioned Kenyaa Mzee to create specifically for the festival.
There was showcase of various innovators who sought to showcase their innovation to the rest of the world. Some of the featured innovators include; Lincoln Wamae who is a self-taught engineer, a designer and a champion of green energy and who deals in motorized mobility solutions to people with disability, Bradley Mbagaya from Autotrack East Africa who together with Kenneth Guantai came up with an electric hand cart and an elo-cub that is electric and provides transport and cargo movement in the most convenient way possible. Teddy Kinyanjui talk about cook swell jiko (cook stoves) and the seed ball project that seeks to reforest our forest by use of seed balls that are spread by slings or catapult and where able with an aeroplane. Jonathan Baker the founder of Rusty Fundi which is an industrial furniture brand that has had installation in major hotels and at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport main terminal. Edd Bher who is a gamer and has taken his gaming to the next level by creating his own gaming gears to facilitate his love for racing game. Black Rhino which is an extended Kenyan based extended reality based in Nairobi. 254 Breweries is a beer producing company that produces unique beer blends for the Kenyan Market.
The Films
We partnered with Electric South to curate the films showcased at the festival. Electric South provided us with VR films from Africa, such as The Other Dakar by Selly Raby Kane (SN), Azimuth by Nirma Madhoo (SA), Nairobi Berries by Ng'endo Mukii (KE), Le Lac by Nyasha Kadandarah (KE), and Azibuye by Dylan Valley (SA). We also showcased ALICE by yours truly, Mama Mboga by Jeff Mandela, and Honey I Bought You Flowers by Nyukundi Isaboke, among other great short films.
Contemporary x Digital artists
Some of the contemporary artists featured included Stephen Otieno Okuku, Evans Yegon, Dale Kotengo, David Muturi, and Lindsay Obath. The digital artists featured included Anoop Pradeep, Asaph Muchura, Ashley Mwalimu, Kennedy Kyalo, Nash Oh My, Naddya, Tara Light, Wanjira Kinyua, Izzy, Jr Pencil King, Veeraj Vaghela, Chief Nyamweya, Feysal, Zack Adell, Mwas Githinji, Wamvii, Dakchessa Comics, and Avandu Studios.
The Masterclasses
The creative industry masterclasses streamed during Sondeka were; Introduction to Virtual Reality by Ingrid Koop, Storytelling by Aleya Kassam, Photography skills by Joe Pepi, Decolonizing the arts by Sitawa Namwalie, Stage Lighting by Tom Shea, Online Branding by Adam Kiboi, Podcasting by Kevin
Mwachiro, Fundamentals of Earthbag Construction by Billy Blunt and being a Bad A** Female DJ.
Mwachiro, Fundamentals of Earthbag Construction by Billy Blunt and being a Bad A** Female DJ.
The Performances
Sondeka streamed music and DJ mixes by Akoth Jumadi, Dj Monhrea, Dj Basthma, DJ Knord, Dj Vidza, DJ Motacilla, KNVL, DJ Raph, Noisily DJ, DJ Panik Press, Xpreso, Liam Brunner, DJ Coco Em, Chucky, Kace, and DJ duo Schlachofbronx