Cultural Exchange, Public Health Take Center Stage as “The Moth” Storytelling Event Returns to Nairobi

​The Moth, an acclaimed international non-profit organization dedicated to live personal storytelling, is set to return to Nairobi on Nov. 7 for its seventh Mainstage event, highlighting African voices and fostering transnational cultural exchange.

​The event, hosted by Kenyan media personality Adelle Onyango at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, will gather five storytellers from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone under the theme “Now or Never”.

​This year’s showcase emphasizes critical socio-economic and public health issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa, including progress and ongoing challenges in combating HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB).

​Among the speakers, Ugandan health advocate Shakirah Namwanje will share her personal experience of receiving an HIV diagnosis while navigating motherhood. According to UNAIDS figures, Sub-Saharan Africa was home to approximately 26.3 million people living with HIV in 2024, representing roughly two-thirds of the global total. While Kenya has made notable progress—reducing new infections by three-quarters since 2010 to align with 2030 targets—stigma continues to pose a significant barrier to public testing and treatment access.

​Additionally, Kenyan human rights defender Bernard Mbugua will reflect on his teenage TB diagnosis, contrasting traditional healing practices with modern medical interventions. World Health Organization data shows that Africa accounts for nearly a quarter of the global TB burden. Although Kenya reduced TB mortality by 35 percent between 2020 and 2024, health authorities continue working to bridge gaps in early detection.

​Other featured speakers include Lagos-based artist Odun Orimolade, Sierra Leonean storyteller Mahmood Bangura, and Kenyan hydrotherapist Anne Obure, each offering narratives on resilience, urban life, and human determination.

​Organizers noted that the annual gathering serves as an important platform for promoting mutual understanding, cross-border solidarity, and community development through authentic personal storytelling.