Actress and content creator Jacky Vicke alias Awinja is one of the most recognizable faces in the Kenyan showbiz.
A respected media personality in her own right, she opens up to The Sauce about all things love, life and entertainment.
1. You are well-respected content creator and comedienne in the industry. What pressure comes with being held with such high regard?
(Laughs) Thank you for the compliment. To be honest, I actually do not consider myself a comedienne. It just so happened that I was a cast member of a popular comedy show, Papa Shirandula. But, I will take the compliment. As regards the pressure, it more often than not emanates from bearing in mind that the next content I have to put out has to be better than its predecessor. I am a firm believer in the fact that you are judged by your next job and not the previous job.
2. What is your take on the absolute male domination in the industry?
Historically, the industry has always been saturated with male artistes and entertainers in general. We are definitely heading somewhere, but the male domination cannot be understated. I think we have proved ourselves as female entertainers and are taking over by the day.
3. Tell me about your new partnership with Netflix.
Netflix launched the Free Plan app. Shix Kapienga, Abel Mutua and other influencers were approached by Netflix to endorse the app. It is the unpaid version of Netflix and has a lot of the content on Netflix, just a bit limited. You only your email address to access Free Plan.
4. The content you create for brands is quite creative and very captivating. You are inarguably one of the most recognizable creators for brands. How do you come up with such insane ideas?
My acting career comes in handy majorly when I am creating content for brands. I also have knowledge in TV and Radio production. I use my prowess in the aforementioned to devise different ideas to push brands. I also seek to understand the brand in question then get down to work.
5. What criteria do you use to decide which brands to work with?
My Awinja persona and Jackie are two different entities. Most clients feel Awinja has more influence, but the gag is Awinja cannot sell some things. So, my choices depend on if it is Awinja or Jackie selling. Some products can be pushed by both, which is what I do with the products I love!
6. You are very fashionable and most people obsess over your style, especially seeing as it is the complete opposite of how Awinja dresses. What inspires Jacky’s style?
I am a sucker for vintage fashion and antique pieces. I got a lot of that from looking at how my mom and her peers dressed back in the day. I give it my modern take and mix and match it up. It really is that easy!
7. You were on TV for years on end on Papa Shirandula. You have not been on TV for quite sometime now. Do you miss TV and have any plans for a comeback?
I do miss being on the show. Given the nature of my work and my social media presence, I think I have not disappeared from my fans. My TV and Radio fans and social media fans all consume my content. Nonetheless, I have to say the cast and I have kept close with each other all this time. Before Charles Bukeko passed on, there was something cooking. That is underway, so look forward!
8. You are very close with fellow actress and creator Nyaminde and often collaborate on projects. How do you keep in touch and manage to be such good friends?
I have known Nyaminde for a decade. While filming Papa Shirandula together, we would always hang out and even outside of work. We have since managed to be close friends. She pops up at my house all the time. We talk all the time, have a WhatsApp group and always have something we are doing together.
9. You have been in the industry for quite some time now. What is your take on its prevailing state?
Ours is a very seasonal industry. There has never really been a frequency. As regards social media, however, there has been immense growth. So many people now have platforms, lowering the dependence on other platforms like TV and Radio. We have a long way to go, but we have grown quite a bit.
10. What would you change in the industry if you could?
The inherent belief that you can only make it big abroad. Inasmuch as it comes from a place, I would want to see that notion take a backseat. I would also like to change the wrong mindset that if Ihad it rough on the come up, everyone else should go through the same.
11. What do you have underway?
I just relaunched my YouTube channel about two weeks ago and I can buoyantly promise that a lot of really good content is coming up. It dawned on me that each platform has its audience-I had neglected YouTube as I felt my content was already everywhere else already. YouTube needs a lot of consistency so I have that in consideration.
12. You are quite private, when it comes to your family, love life and motherhood. Why is that important to you?
I believe kids should be kids. I do not believe in parading my son on the internet. I could never imagine opening an account for him either..I mean, I already have 3 of my own! I am not against anyone opening accounts for their kid. To each their own.
13. Are you dating?
I am in a relationship. He is not in the limelight. The people close to me know. Would I post him? One day maybe!
