The Creatives Doormat | Afrikala Art

Discover our mission to amplify creative voices, rights and livelihoods through storytelling, content and community.

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Your journey of learning, unlearning and relearning about creativity

The Creatives Doormat is not just a project, it is a declaration, it’s a movement. It is Afrikala Art’s bold response to years of exploitation, exclusion and invisibilisation in the creative economy. At its core, The Creatives Doormat affirms one radical, urgent truth: Creatives deserve to live and thrive with dignity through their work.

Too often in Kenya and many parts of the world, creative labour is undervalued, underpaid and deeply misunderstood. From musicians to set designers, scriptwriters to illustrators, many creatives are denied fair compensation, mentorship and safety. Late payments are routine. Contracts are vague or non-existent. Resources are hoarded at the top, while those behind the scenes the very engines of execution are left scrambling for scraps. Creatives are expected to work “for exposure,” speak only when spoken to and remain grateful for the bare minimum.

But silence has a cost. Behind the stage lights and vibrant sets are creatives carrying trauma some from toxic workspaces, others from gender-based violence on set. Many fear speaking up due to gatekeeping, retaliation or losing what little opportunities they have. We have lost too many talented souls to deaths by suicide, burnout and despair because their pain was invisible, their voices silenced and their worth denied.

The Creatives Doormat exists to disrupt this. It is a platform for visibility, voice and vindication. It reimagines what a just, safe and inclusive creative economy could look like, where resources flow more equitably, where mentorship and peer support are built into the system and where artists are not forced to choose between survival and expression.

Through this initiative, we uphold SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), while actively contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The Creatives Doormat is where creativity meets impact and storytelling fuels systemic change.

What We Offer

A multitalented and faceted creative powerhouse of unmatched talent.

1. The Creatives Doormat Podcast
A raw, reflective and radically honest space where creatives share their lived truths from navigating gatekeeping and underpayment to celebrating their wins and reimagining ethical creative futures. The Creatives Doormat podcast aims to build a growing archive of personal stories, lessons and solidarity that speaks directly to the lived realities of creatives across Kenya and beyond.

2. Content Creation & Visual Storytelling

Cinematography, videography and photography
Brand strategy, visual identity development and messaging
Music and Film production (inc. audiovisual design, podcast production and short films)
Copywriting, campaign design and pre/during/post-production services tailored to purpose-driven projects

3. Social Media Management & Digital Consultancy

Full-cycle digital communications and content support
Platform-specific growth and engagement strategies
Support for ethical storytelling, inclusive campaigns and online identity building

4. Creative Advocacy & Skills Acceleration

Training, mentoring and community-led workshops for aspiring or underpaid creatives
Capacity strengthening for storytelling, branding and entrepreneurship
Peer-led collaborations with a focus on dignity, impact and creative justice

5. Event Coordination, Networking & Collaboration Platforms

Curated events, panels and community meet-ups for and by creatives
Facilitation of safe, inclusive spaces for industry dialogue and collective organising
Opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, shared learning and co-creation
Support for mental wellness and resource-sharing through every gathering

And so much more...

Why It Matters

The Creatives Doormat is a home for creators, not just their creations. It’s a space where dignity is non-negotiable, where collaboration replaces competition, and where storytelling is reclaimed as a powerful tool for justice and healing. Proceeds from our work flow directly into mental health support, peer mentorship, and skills-building programmes for young and emerging creatives.

This is more than a platform. It is a movement to remind every creative: you matter, your work matters and your voice belongs here.

Proceeds from The Creatives Doormat flow back into our core: sustaining mental health programs, creative skill-building and peer mentorship initiatives. Here, creativity meets impact and storytelling fuels change.

The Creatives Doormat Team

Founder & Creative Consultant

Marlene Kawira Kinyua

Marl is a humanitarian creative who is passionate about storytelling and anchored in SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Marl co-creates with the Afrikala Art Creative team to push for fair working conditions, dignified pay and sustainable income streams for creatives. Her work focuses on curating and sourcing opportunities that help creatives grow within their crafts while building livelihoods rooted in dignity, equity and long-term impact.

Alongside her leadership, Marl is a dynamic content curator and producer with a diverse portfolio spanning podcasting, music visualisation, photography and videography. Drawing from her consultancy experience in ethical storytelling and communications, she brings authenticity, creativity and a people-centred approach to every project. Her mission is to ensure that creative work is not only seen, but valued, protected and sustained.

Project Lead and Content Manager

Martha Wangare (Rasma)

Martha (aka Razma) is the project lead at Creatives doormat. She is a content creator, social media managing professional and model passionate about storytelling through creative visuals. She specialises in capturing compelling photos and videos that elevate untold narratives. Driven by a desire to empower marginalised communities. Martha excels in sourcing sponsorships to support impactful work at Afrikala Art. Her vision is to amplify authentic African stories and connect them with wider audiences through engaging, meaningful digital content.

Administrator and Creative Associate

Wayne Brandon

Wayne is a Creative Associate and also the administrator at The Creatives Doormat, where he helps manage content direction, coordinate guests/clients and support production behind the scenes. He works closely with the team to shape podcast and general production tone and themes, ensuring platforms stays true to their goals of giving creatives a space to showcase their expertise, speak honestly and be heard. Wayne brings a practical, thoughtful approach to creative planning and is always focused on making sure things run smoothly and stay on track ensuring people and processes are efficiently supported.

Podcast Host and Producer

Eugene Kimani

Eugene is a podcast host and producer for Creatives Doormat by Afrikala Art, helping organisations tell authentic, mission-driven stories that resonate. Eugene is a Kenyan-based audio-production consultant, Eugene Kimani, blends digital media and storytelling to craft narratives that connect, inspire and inform. With a diverse production experience and a passion for storytelling, Eugene brings insight and effectiveness to every project. With a background in radio broadcasting and a passion for human-centred storytelling, Eugene has covered stories from the Kenyan creative industry to development organisations, focusing on the people behind the headlines.

Videographer

Robert Gitiche (Roba)

Robert (aka Roba) is a photographer and filmmaker with 13+ years of experience in photography and 8 in film. A passionate visual storyteller, he brings creativity and depth to every project. As a team member of The Creative Doormat, Robert contributes his cinematic eye and collaborative spirit to the community of creative collaborations. He is also the Founder and Creative Director of Tiche Studios. In 2021, his short film NDOTO was selected and screened at the Tashkent International Film Festival after competing in the ‘A Movie in 5 Days’ contest in Uzbekistan.

Beyond The Creative Doormat, Robert is the Founder and Creative Director of Tiche Studios, a growing media production company focused on telling powerful African stories through film, commercials and music videos. His leadership at Tiche Studios reflects his commitment to nurturing talent and raising the bar for visual storytelling in the region.