By The Geeks, For the Geeks

When Black Panther first came out in February 2018, I was apprehensive. Hollywood’s coverage of any African narratives, especially fictional, up until that moment did not give me the reassurance that things were going to be any different this time around.

The hype around the movie was infectious though, especially within the geek community in Kenya. When the time came the cosplayers showed up and showed out! And not just in Nairobi of course, but worldwide. The Black community gathered around the spectacle of the movie and amplified it with their enthusiasm and hope that, finally, this would be it! A representative fiction about us that sparks joy.

But when all was said and done, I was still unsatisfied. Though the hype grew and fed on itself, an unnamed something was niggling at me (article coming soon). And though I talked about it with friends, I didn’t want to write a Twitter thread, nor did I want to publish an essay via Instagram stories.

Well, this platform has been created for the ‘me’ of back then. The ‘me’ who just wanted to voice my opinions on this bit of popular culture, in a space centered around fellow Kenyans and Africans who were more likely to understand where I was coming from.

The mainstream has not treated geeks in Kenya well so that wasn’t an outlet I was willing to accept either. Every new cosplay event was a chance for a voyeuristic re-look into the crazy grownups dressed as Catwoman and Deadpool. The first time around was understandable but by the third time, it was no longer funny. Where else could we go?

This platform is for the Kenyan and African perspective on the media we watch. And it just so happens that we watch more than just what we star in.

We turned hours-long conversations and Whatsapp discussions about anime and manga and K-dramas, Netfilx shows, video games and comics into a home for all geeks in Kenya and Africa and we hope you will join us along the way either as a reader and viewer or as a contributor. We want any and all opinions. On old and new media. On popular and non-popular culture. On Kenyan and non-Kenyan creations.

Welcome fellow denizens of geekdom.

Adventure awaits.