Jun 7 2024
Mugambi Nthiga (Pt 2): This Is What Clinical Depression Looks Like
Actor, comedian, film director and scriptwriter Mugambi Nthiga continues where he left off - after his return to Kenya in the late 2000s, when he walked into what he calls "the most toxic work environment I have ever been in," in the advertising industry.As that was happening, his romantic relationship was also dying, and he was starting to feel the pressure - until his friends who had formed a musical group called 'Just A Band' approached him to play a part in the video for their song 'Ha-He'. The video ended up going viral all over the world, with a character called 'Makmende' who they created.However, while the video was becoming a global phenomenon, it didn't quite fill the financial and career expectations that Mugambi had had. And thus started his journey living with mental health issues.In this often hilarious interview, Mugambi provides important background and context to Kenya's entertainment industry, including his experiences working on some of Kenya's biggest movie projects, and how one of them triggered yet another episode of clinical depression.Listen in to hear how he navigated his depression, how they inspired him to seek movie projects that explore and explain mental health, and what he now knows about failure, success and happiness.