A new creative platform dubbed Poetraits has been launched in Nakuru with the aim of providing artists with a space to showcase their talents, preserve their work and build a thriving creative community.

‎‎Speaking during the inaugural event, Poetraits team member Nyangari Macharia said the initiative was born out of the need to address the long-standing lack of opportunities for creatives in Nakuru to perform and share their work with wider audiences.

‎‎Nyangari explains that although the name combines the words "poetry" and "portrait," the platform embraces all forms of artistic expression. She notes that poetry extends beyond spoken word to include music, visual arts and other creative disciplines through which people express themselves.

‎‎"As creatives, we often create behind the scenes and rarely get enough platforms to showcase our work. Poetraits is about giving every storyteller an opportunity to be seen and heard," she says.

‎‎In addition to live performances, Nyangari emphasizes that documentation is one of the initiative's core pillars. She observes that many artists lack high-quality records of their performances, making it difficult to present their portfolios when opportunities arise.

‎‎"We intentionally brought professional photographers and videographers because every performance deserves to be documented well. The content will be shared online so that artists can have quality material to promote themselves," she adds.

‎‎She further reveals that future editions of Poetraits will incorporate workshops, allowing creatives to exchange skills, learn from experienced practitioners and strengthen collaboration across counties. According to her, building a vibrant artistic community requires sharing knowledge and welcoming creatives from different regions.

‎‎Meanwhile, featured poet Timelines describes Poetraits as more than an open mic event, saying it is a space for storytellers from different artistic backgrounds, including theatre, comedy and film.

‎He notes that the initiative is creating an archive that will preserve today's stories for future generations.

‎‎"Twenty or thirty years from now, people will be able to watch these performances and understand the issues that shaped this generation, including the Gen Z uprising," he says.

‎‎Timelines also welcomed efforts to seek partners who can help appreciate artists financially, saying creatives deserve recognition for their work.

‎‎Reflecting on being the first featured performer, the poet said he felt humbled by the trust placed in him. Although his politically themed poems created a reflective atmosphere rather than laughter, he said the audience's silence showed they were deeply engaging with the message.

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Muthoni Wanjiku