After two years of break, The Moth is coming back to Nairobi this November for its sixth Mainstage.
The live storytelling event, hosted by media personality Adelle Onyango, will be on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at the LRC Auditorium of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
This year’s theme, “Daring to Hope,” is more than ever required. As with much of the world, Kenyans are dealing with inflation, shifting politics, and stress in society.
Through live stories presented on stage, The Moth hopes to present insight, determination, and perhaps a couple of laughs in the process.
For more than 25 years, The Moth has brought people from everywhere on earth astronauts, refugees, parents, artists, and activists to share true stories without notes.
Each Mainstage performance features five storytellers each giving raw, unflinching personal stories that often blend humor, risk-taking, and humanity.
Nairobi’s show is part of a global season of 18 Mainstage events taking place this fall. For the first time in the organization’s 28-year history, all will share the same theme.
Still, no two nights are alike every stage features a different mix of voices, making each evening unique.
“Gathering all of our Mainstages under one umbrella allows us to go beyond the stories themselves it becomes a communal conversation,” said The Moth CEO Sarah Haberman. “There is a rhythm to each night, but together they create a portrait of vulnerability and courage.”
The power of storytelling, Haberman asserted, is its ability to unite. Research shows that audiences remember information delivered in the form of narrative better than presented as plain facts.
In Kenya, where resilience is a way of life every day, the theatre is a platform for healing and unity.
The Nairobi event also defies stereotypes by putting the African storytellers in the spotlight. “The theme for this year’s celebration, Daring to Hope, is particularly resonant,” said Sarah Austin Jenness, The Moth’s Executive Producer. “We can’t wait to present Pan-African voices and share stories that inspire and forge greater connection.”
The Moth has had a relationship with Kenya for years through its Global Community Program, which has created a network of more than 800 storytellers across more than 50 countries.
Nairobi adopted the tradition after hosting its first Mainstage six years ago, and the city remains an important stop on the global storytelling tour.
This November, The Moth provides more than entertainment. It’s a call to listen, to connect, and above all to dare to hope.
Event details:
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Location: Catholic University of Eastern Africa (LRC Auditorium), Nairobi
Theme: Daring to Hope
Tickets & Press Passes: Kenya Buzz platform
