Kenyan actor and creative director Nick Kwach has shared a memory from his early days in the industry, revealing the humble beginnings that shaped his career.
Speaking during an interview on This Friday with Betty show on TV47, Kwach recalled a time when he and fellow performers did a show and were paid not in cash, but with a plate of pilau.
“There was a day we went for a show and were paid with a plate of pilau,” he said, highlighting the challenges that many actors endured while chasing their passion.
Kwach also noted that in his early career, travel theatres often offered minimal compensation, with some gigs paying as little as KSh 300, money that performers had to stretch to cover both expenses and savings.
The pilau incident, he added, was just a reminder of how far the creative industry has come.
“When I started, we would get paid with KSh 300, which you had to use for your basic needs as well as save for the future.” He noted.
Despite such struggles, Kwach has remained in his craft, as he says he used the platform to encourage upcoming and digital-aged actors to be strategic in their planning to avoid falling into uncertainy.
“I would want to urge digital actors and upcoming creators to plan well so that they cannot be found in a limbo,” he advised.
The actor further shed light on how the country’s creative industry has transformed over the years, emphasizing the evolving relationship between audiences and content creators, noting that, unlike before, today’s digital landscape has enabled audiences not only to consume but also share and market creative content.
“There is a way that the reception of the audience has changed from how it used to be back then; right now, people share and market our content.” He explained.
On a lighter note, when asked about his marriage plans, Kwach joked that he would invite his fans to his wedding once he is ready.
