The Moth, a nonprofit dedicated to live personal storytelling, is set to return to Nairobi for its seventh Mainstage event on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The event will take place at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa’s LRC Auditorium and will be hosted by Kenyan media entrepreneur and women’s rights advocate Adelle Onyango. This year's theme is “Now or Never,” which explores moments when taking action became unavoidable and waiting was no longer an option.
Five storytellers from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone will share their true, personal experiences without notes. Ugandan HIV and sexual and reproductive health advocate Shakirah Namwanje will share her experience of confronting an HIV diagnosis while holding on to her dream of motherhood. Her story is one of many that will highlight individual struggles and wider issues affecting communities across Africa.
Human rights defender and EndTB campaign champion Bernard Mbugua will recount his experience with tuberculosis as a teenager and the difficult choice between traditional approaches to treatment and modern medicine. His story, along with others, aims to transform statistics and social issues into human experiences that audiences can connect with emotionally.
The evening will also feature a remarkable story from Lagos-based artist and researcher Odun Orimolade about an unexpected encounter with an armed robber during a crime. Additionally, hydrotherapist and swimming coach Anne Obure will recount a scuba-certification retreat that unexpectedly turned into a test of survival and resilience.
Sierra Leonean social scientist and educator Mahmood Bangura will share the deeply personal story of becoming his niece’s guardian following a death in the family and his determination to give her the opportunities her mother would have wanted for her. These stories are expected to highlight wider issues affecting communities across Africa, including healthcare, unemployment, safety, family, and resilience.
For The Moth, storytelling offers an opportunity to transform statistics and social issues into human experiences that audiences can connect with emotionally. With Nairobi’s diverse storytellers taking the stage once again, the seventh Mainstage promises an evening of vulnerability, courage, and powerful human connection.
The event aims to bring people together through the power of storytelling, showcasing the resilience and courage of individuals who have faced challenging situations. By sharing their experiences, the storytellers hope to inspire and educate the audience, fostering empathy and understanding.
Key points
- The Moth's seventh Mainstage event in Nairobi will feature five storytellers sharing personal experiences on HIV, TB, crime, survival, and family responsibility.
- The event aims to transform statistics and social issues into human experiences that audiences can connect with emotionally.
- The storytellers will share their true, personal experiences without notes, exploring moments when taking action became unavoidable and waiting was no longer an option.
