Thayù Kilili

Early Life and Education Thayù Kilili is a Kenyan creative, storyteller, and founder of the multi-disciplinary collective Creatives Garage, based in Nairobi. They were born and raised in Kenya and began their career exploring various forms of creative expression, including digital art, film, and writing. Source: Mkazi Magazine, [1]


Career Thayù founded Creatives Garage in 2012, aiming to create a collaborative space for artists and creatives in Kenya. The organization has supported over 14,000 creatives in the region and beyond, providing a platform for the production and distribution of art, music, and film. Creatives Garage also organizes events, such as the Sondeka Festival, which has showcased hundreds of creatives from East Africa. [2]

Thayù is also known for their work in film and documentary production, having directed and produced over 100 films and documentaries. Their work often explores themes related to identity, belonging, and social justice, with a particular focus on marginalized communities in Kenya.[3]


Projects Thayù has been the driving force behind several notable projects, including:

Kalabars: A platform aimed at helping African content creators gain market access through digital media and streaming services.[4]


Blooms in the Dark: A theatre production exploring queerness and gender identity in Kenyan society. The show was first performed in 2024 and is noted for its exploration of societal challenges around homophobia and transphobia.[5]


Femmolution: A collaborative anthology and music project celebrating African women and addressing feminist issues.[6] Recognition and Awards

Thayù has been recognized for their contributions to the creative industry with several awards, including the Prince Claus Seed Award and the Zuri Awards in Kenya for innovation in the arts. Their work has been showcased at multiple international festivals and symposiums, including the International Symposium for Electronic Art (ISEA) and the LiftOff Global Sessions. [7]

Collaborations Thayù has worked with numerous organizations including Mozilla, British Council, and Meta, focusing on the intersection of creativity, social justice, and technology. In 2024, Thayù led research in collaboration with Mozilla on the impact of artificial intelligence on the creative community in Kenya, resulting in the report titled ARTificial Intelligence in Africa.[8]


Personal Life Despite identifying as an introvert, Thayù is known for their fearless experimentation across different artistic mediums. They are passionate about supporting marginalized communities and pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms through both virtual and physical platforms.

  1. ^ https://hivos.org/i-am-the-chief-mechanic-of-creatives-garage/
  2. ^ https://www.afrocritik.com/sondeka-awards-how-creatives-garage-continues-to-empower-kenyan-african-creatives/
  3. ^ https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/lifestyle/2024-08-02-the-creative-holding-the-hands-of-peers/
  4. ^ https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/kenya2018/charities/creatives-garage https://businesstoday.co.ke/creatives-garages-kalabars-launches-its-version-of-viusasa/ https://khusoko.com/2019/11/04/creatives-garage-gets-into-streaming-with-on-demand-movies-platform/ https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2019/11/online-video-streaming-service-that-tells-african-stories-launched-in-kenya/ https://www.bizcommunity.co.ke/Article/111/810/197970.html https://kenyabuzz.com/lifestyle/kalabars-finally-the-afrocentric-streaming-service-we-deserve https://royaltrendia.com/creatives-garage-launches-video-streaming-kalabars/
  5. ^ https://hapakenya.com/2024/07/03/catch-creatives-garages-blooms-in-the-dark-theatre-show-on-july-13-at-braeside-school/ https://kenyabuzz.com/events/event/blooms-in-the-dark https://www.mwendengao.com/2024/07/11/blooms-in-the-dark-premiers-on-july-13-at-braeside-theatre/ https://africalia.be/en/creatives-garage-presents-blooms-in-the-dark-a-show-with-the-brightest-of-stars/ https://www.lamusicjunkie.com/2024/08/14/blooms-in-the-dark-kenyan-queer-play/
  6. ^ https://kenyabuzz.com/lifestyle/femme-evolution-feminism-for-kids-in-kenya
  7. ^ https://www.inplaceofwar.net/women-on-the-frontline/liz-kilili
  8. ^ https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/science-health/ai-double-edged-sword-in-kenya-s-art-industry-4696478 https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/opinion-analysis/columnists/why-ai-is-a-double-edged-sword-for-kenyan-creatives-4697776 https://tech-ish.com/2024/07/10/kenyan-creatives-embrace-ai-amid-concerns-over-bias-and-intellectual-property/ https://www.tuko.co.ke/business-economy/technology/555123-chatgpt-top-ai-tools-kenya-concerns-bias-job-displacement/ https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/amp/financial-standard/article/2001499060/report-kenyan-creatives-embrace-ai-but-wary-of-its-bias-and-threats https://techweez.com/2024/07/10/ai-kenya-art-scene/#google_vignette https://kenyabuzz.com/lifestyle/kenyan-creatives-embrace-ai-to-enhance-artistic-innovation-study-finds https://businessnow.co.ke/creatives-in-kenya-embrace-ai-but-wary-of-its-bias/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/blog/creatives-in-kenya-embrace-ai-but-wary-of-its-bias/