A comedy cast of kids from Nairobi’s Huruma Estate have always taken note of what’s news and who are the newsmakers, mimicking this reality through funny Instagram video challenges.
Lighthearted remakes of any remarkable event have become a way to keep alive memories of the Kenyan experience. Such an art has been mastered by The Huruma Town Kids, a crew of children from Nairobi’s Huruma Estate that have become the answer to any happening of country-wide or international prominence. They recreate events and moments in a humorous way using make-do props, makeshift sets, and simplistic features like Duet on Instagram or TikTok.
These young creators have gathered over 70k followers on Instagram (their handle is Huruma80) with the average viewership per video being in tens of thousands.
Here are some challenges that this team pulled it off:
Governor Martin Wambora Challenge
The kids did a perfect remake that satirized Governor Martin Wambora’s lack of composure and stage antics at the Ministry of Health workforce conference in Mombasa on February 7th 2022. They recreated this euphoria using a simple set and using props to mock up delegates in the conference. It is their most recent video and has become an internet sensation gaining over 30k views in its first week of release.
Ramogi TV launch challenge
This set parodied the launch of Ramogi TV in a pantomime where they gestured as the TV presenters while using their voices for the background narration. Improvised props and costumes witfully rendered the studio and recreated an unforgettable moment on television.
President Kenyatta meets President Joe Biden challenge
The historic meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Joe Biden was recreated in the Huruma kid’s caricature photos. The assignment was feigning a resemblance to President Biden, but lathered hair was used for Biden’s Gray hair yet rendering the white house ambiance seemed sloppy. Anyway, the stunt came through as a record of history.
Money Heist Season 5 Challenge
The kids parodied season five of the Netflix hit series, Money Heist. The series which is one of the most-watched telenovelas worldwide premiered in May 2017 and came to an end in December of 2021 follows a criminal mastermind who goes by ‘The Professor’ has a plan to pull off the biggest heist in recorded history — to print billions of euros in the Royal Mint of Spain. To help him carry out the ambitious plan, he recruits eight people with certain abilities and who have nothing to lose.
With the help of a good cast and lip-syncing, the talented kids of Huruma, were able to bring to life the scenes of the trailer of the 5th season which depicted the gang ready to end it all at the Bank of Spain where they had been for over 100 hours and the Professor ready to risk it all as they face off with a new adversary, the army.
The Money Heist parody is their most-watched video after racking over 250k views.
Met Ngara challenge Challenge: Answer to the Met Gala
Dressed all-black and covered head to toe, Kim K was the figure of the moment in 2021’s edition of the Met Gala. For the crew’s response, one kid was draped in equally black attire, head to toe. This rendition was dubbed #Met Ngara, a Kenyan answer to the New York festival. This was perfectly executed yo highlight the biggest night in Fashion something that would make Vogue Editor-in-chief Anna Wintour proud.
Larry Madowo and Najib Balala interview
The cast mimicked Larry Madowo’s story on wildlife conservation in Kenya, filmed in Amboseli National Park. The Huruma-based kid crew recreated the wild environment taking after the real characters in the story. Some posed as hippos, flamingoes, and did props of wildlife and a helicopter. The kids took up the challenge and remade the scene and the events using the Duet feature on Instagram.
The kids’ talents, creativity and sheer determination has not gone unnoticed, they have managed to capture the hearts and minds of top personalities and companies. Some of these include; CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, rapper king kaka and award-winning afro-pop group Sauti Sol who have featured them on their videos, popular American producer Dj khaled who reposted their video, as well as music couple Nameless and Wahu. They have also had opportunities to visit and be interviewed by some of the world’s finest media companies including Capital FM Kenya, BBC and CNN. Last year, the kids got on their very first flight courtesy of Jambo Jet.
Through Instagram challenges that humorously narrate various Kenyan stories, the Huruma Town Kids have become a sensation and even a treasure. The call is upon the society to support them – their fees, talent, mentorship, and the like. Their caricature videos are a way to record those euphoric moments in Kenya.
