Lisa Amenya has been active on the Kenyan music scene for a while. She is also passionate about building up the African scene by promoting the best in Kenyan entertainment. Jamati caught up with her to find out what makes her tick.

Jamati: You graduated from Pitzer and went on to work at KISS FM. Can you tell us a little about your experience there?

My first employer, after having graduated from college, was Walt Disney Imagineering. My unit was part of a much larger team based at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. We were working on the construction of Disney’s California Adventure, the surrounding restaurants, hotels, etc. I was at Disney for two years before making a decision to relocate to Nairobi.

I was part of a team that launched KISS 100 in Kenya in 2000. I began as a late night radio presenter. It was fun while it lasted… perverts and very lonely people called me late at night. I was accused of ‘twanging’ or faking my American accent… And, a lot of people treated me like a celebrity…free entrance at clubs, discounts on clothing. It was fun… it was also hard work. Though I am a big mouth by nature, the job was challenging. At a minimum, I got bored sitting in a room by myself late at night, five nights a week – talking to thousands of people presumably- but sitting in that studio all by myself in sub-arctic temperatures (radio equipment likes cool air).

I was eventually taken off-air and offered a job in Sales. In total I worked at Radio Africa (KISS 100’s parent company) for approximately 5 years, on-air and in sales, marketing and promotion. We launched a second radio station while I was there, Classic 105. It was all a great experience. KISS 100 and Classic 105 are among the top radio stations in Kenya.

Jamati: There was a shift in your career path and you went on to work for East African Botanicals (EAB) before going on to work in the entertainment field. What was the reason for the deviation? Did it help your career in any way?

For a long time, I dreamed of working in a ‘helping’ field. I felt like fundraising, particularly raising money to fight the spread of drug-resistant malaria in Africa, would be a worthwhile effort on my part. I was able to pull from my combined work experience to satisfy the job requirements.

My job at EAB was extremely gratifying. The organization directly supported more than 5,000 small holder farmers in East Africa, indirectly supported more than 30,000 family members, and the raw material cultivated by EAB’s farmers is used to manufacture more than 1 million malaria treatments in Africa every year.

Did it help my career? In the broader scheme of things, sure. I do some contract work in fundraising and marketing communications for several small organizations. I enjoy that work. I would probably be a lot further ahead in the entertainment industry, had I not detoured. I am glad that I did.

Jamati: What do you see in the future of entertainment in Kenya?

Money. Professionalism. Opportunity.

Jamati: Do you think that the Africans in the Diaspora are making an impact on entertainment on the Continent and if so, how?

Particular African artists, for example Akon, are having a huge impact on the entertainment industry in Africa (though many Kenyans currently have a love – hate relationship with Akon. Twice we were told that he would perform in Kenya. In both instances, the concerts did not materialize).

We are now achieving successes in all genres of music, both on and off the continent. We’ve moved beyond Lingala to hip-hop…Valerie Kimani from Kenya just signed a jazz contract with a label in Europe….their are rumors that Akon may go country. In my mind, through entertainment the world is getting smaller, each of us feels a bit bigger and capable to make an impact.

And, I want to strongly believe that Africans at home are making an impact on Africans living in the Diaspora. We are creating our own variations of popular music, our own beats, etc. Kenyans are constantly on their way to and from concert tours in Europe and the States. Kenyans from the Diaspora are selling out these concerts….

Jamati: Thank you very much for agreeing to the interview.

It was my pleasure