With production of local TV talk shows often wanting in creativity and quality, it is always refreshing to see an exceptional effort. Gospel music video producer Allan Aligula has taken up the challenge and launched a brand new show with a fresh outlook. Fusing in elements of a talk-show, interspersed with music videos and interactive ‘word from the street’ sessions, SOFAR might just be what TV has been waiting for.

We caught up with Allan to talk about the Fiyuhworks-produced programme, now airing on K24.

Check out the interview: 

Mwafrika.com: Hey Allan, thanks for having us. So, tell us about this new show.
Allan Aligula: Well, it's called SOFAR, and is already showing on K24. SOFAR denotes two things – one, it’s a place of rest – that being the sofa where the show takes place. It is also about a journey, a journey of identity and celebrating our own.

M: Let’s talk about that journey in a moment. First though, give us a brief overview of the show.
A: The entire show is basically centered around a sofa, that’s where all the discussions take place. The idea is to get people who are involved in some aspect of our culture, get them to talk about what they do and how it has influence on culture. It’s like a mirror into our lifestyle as a people. In that way, it’s not a profile show, since its focus is not really on the guests, but on what they do and how that influences culture.

M: I understand you’ve had two episodes already, can you tell us about those, and about the guests?
A: Yeah. We had Mbuvi come in for the first episode, which we filmed at the Nairobi Arboretum. The idea is that the sofa travels to wherever it needs to go, talking to different people! We talked about the power of identity and music. On the second show, we were looking into what defines authentic Kenyan, and we had a culture manager come in for that. We have people like Suzzana Owiyo, the German high commissioner (Walter Lindner) and a host of other interesting people lined up for the upcoming episodes.

M: So is the show all talk? And who hosts it?
A:  The host is actually the sofa. It gets to ask the questions, The guest on the show gets to have a conversation with the sofa, so to speak! That conversation is the central part of the show, but there are other things that go on as well. We have relevant (Gospel) music videos playing, at least three per show. Then we have an interactive section, where we get views on the topic from the street, so the show is pretty busy.

M: What was your motivation, why did you decide to produce a programme of this nature?
A: I’ve seen too many profile shows on local TV and I felt that there was a gap, and that we were loosing touch with who we are, both as Christians and as a people. I wasn’t seeing what I wanted to see – us telling our own stories in our talk, our music and our art…for me, it’s about the journey to finding our identity and presenting it. That’s what the show does, in an interesting, out of the box way.

M: Alright. A final question – what do you see in the show’s future?
A: Being a social commentary, SOFAR will change with the society. Culture is changing and progressing. I think after the first season (that’s 13 episodes), we’ll be able to nail down more of an identity for the show. At the end of the day though, its still a mirror for the society.

M: Thanks a lot for the time. Anything else you might want to add?
A: Yeah, people need to watch the show, and give us feedback on how its doing. You can email us on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you want to be involved as a guest on the show, you can also email us a brief bio of who you are and what you do, and we’ll consider it.

M: Just give us those show times, so we are clear.
A: SOFAR airs on K24 every Sunday at 5.30 pm, with a repeat on Thursdays at 4.00 pm.

M: Ok. Thanks again, and all the best with the show!
A: Thanks.

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