Recording Crossroads

CMFD travelled to Nairobi, Kenya between the 9th and 18th of March to record Crossroads and lay down the basics for the theme song. As usual, we brought our mobile recording equipment and partnered with a local studio. In this case, it was the spacious and comfortable Wilnag Studio in Hurlingham. They were good enough to hold off their renovations for an extra week so that we could use their facilities.

The Cast

Our core cast members came from a local theatre group, The 5 Centuries or 5C's for short. Since their group is smaller than the cast of characters in Crossroads, CMFD contracted them to enlist, audition and cast additional actors. Several of the cast members are puppeteers from the Community Health and Action Puppeteers (CHAPS). Both groups use entertainment-education techniques to raise awareness about human rights. Though they were more famliar with live performance, they quickly adapted to the coventions and techniques of radio drama.

Click here for biographies of the Crossroads cast.

The Music

While we were in Nairobi, we took the last few days at the studio to compose and record the basic tracks for the theme song, as well as write and record the lyrics. We had the opportunity to work with three versatile and talented artists, Erick Désiré Buchumi on bass and guitar, James Jose on drums and Maia Von Lekow on vocals. Crossroads cast member Lydiah Dola was also involved in developing the lyrics.

Click here to listen to the theme song.

Simiyu Barasa is a scriptwriter, director and freelance journalist based in Nairobi. He currently writes for the hit KBC series "Makutano Junction". He is an avid blogger, and has also stepped out from behind the scripts and onto the stage in performances with the Egerton University Center For Performing Arts, (Nakuru), Phoenix Players (Nairobi), Kizingo Arts (Mombasa) and Little Theatre Club (Mombasa).

Lorraine Anyango
is a radio journalist and scriptwriter working with the Nation Media Group in Nakuru. She writes radio plays for the station, and has also works in the theatre, writing, directing and acting with the Faith Evangelistic Ministry in Nakuru.