Meet event organiser out to raise profile of remote Kilifi

Caroline Mbindyo is one of the leading producers in the local film industry. Ms Mbindyo has been producing radio and TV commercials and shows for the last 15 years. She currently does media production work through her company Freestyle Media and Events.

However, Ms Mbindyo has been building another company, BizBaz Events, for four years now. She hopes that the firm will be a premier driver of cultural, entertainment, and leisure events.

In addition to the successful Bizarre Bazzar Crafts Fairs, held bi-annually, the first edition of the Kilifi Arts and Music Festival will be held on September 1 and 2. The festival will take place during the Kilifi Gold Triathlon.

The annual charity sports event aims at bringing into focus Kilifi — one of Kenya’s poorest areas — and raise funds for the Friends of Kilifi District Hospital.

“It’s about raising the profile of the area and putting it on the map as a destination and for investments. Regardless of the travel advisories, we decided to stick to holding the Kilifi Arts and Music Festival. It’s up to Kenyans to keep the country moving,” she says.

Ms Mbindyo explains that she picked on Kilifi because not many activities take place in the area. Holiday makers usually head to the North and South Coast or Malindi. She says that visitors will enjoy music, art and craft for two days including an all-night disco after the triathlon.

BizBaz’s core focus is to generate events in the world of arts, music, and crafts. The firm’s roots can be traced back seven years ago when the Bizarre Bazaar owner asked Ms Mbindyo to assist with the logistics.

They worked together for four years before the owner, Kiki, passed away. Kiki’s husband then invited Ms Mbindyo to become a business partner.

Increase in activities

The two businesses run with the support of three permanent staff, and casual workers in case of an increase in activities.

“People lack marketing skills and access to markets. We take this craft thing for granted in Africa because we see it all over the place. We don’t question whether they (crafters) make enough money, if they are getting anywhere at all, or if its a waste of time,” she says.

BizBaz is a good addition to Freestyle Media as it has been providing logistics in a crowded production industry. “We (producers) are very many these days and our clients are not very discerning.

People give themselves all sorts of titles and because we do not yet have controls in the industry people get swindled or churn out really sub-standard work,” says Ms Mbindyo.

The biggest challenge in the film industry is that there is no national policy, she says. It is hard to explain what production companies do as they are lumped together with performers and event organisers.

To change this, Ms Mbindyo, the vice chair of the Kenya Film Television Professional Association (KFTPA), is part of a team working on a film policy.

Her entry into the film industry was by accident. After graduation from university in 1997, Ms Mbindyo’s first job was as a production assistant at Exposure Productions.

A producer took Ms Mbindyo under her wings and taught her everything about production. She then worked at an advertising agency to get a different type of experience.

In 1999 she branched out on her own and started Rough Cut Productions which specialised in music and radio commercials.

When she broke up with her business partner in 2006, Ms Mbindyo set up Freestyle Media and went into TV production. “I think it’s great that there is more work out there, but I do not think it’s a true reflection of what’s possible.

It’s a lucky few who have managed to make it to the top of the industry. However, they are not able to make extra income to finance other products,” says Ms Mbindyo.

Hence the need to grow BizBaz. The Kilifi Festival will be the third annual event in the BizBaz calendar and Ms Mbindyo is looking forward to introducing other events.

[email protected]