Kenya’s high flying dance group Focus Beyond Imagination (FBI) are building momentum ahead of their second trip to Arizona, USA, for the World Hip Hop Championships.
Speaking exclusively to SDE, Emmanuel Tumaini, FBI’s Chief Choreographer, revealed that they are working on the final touches before they jet out on August 3.
The championships is an annual competition aimed at weaving together over 50 countries in a celebration of hip hop culture through dance and is slated to kick off from August 5 to 10.
According to Tumaini, the crew paid a courtesy call to Deputy President William Ruto at his Karen residence on Tuesday, June 18, to say thank you for sponsoring their last trip.
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It is one of the costumes FBI wears. We created one exclusively for him for supporting us in our successful dance competition in the USA. We had to go back and say thank you for giving us a chance and appreciating our talent. He really liked it and interacted with us warmly. We assured him that come August we will make the nation proud once more.
Apart from meeting Ruto, FBI has met President Uhuru Kenyatta...
Many people ask how we have met the top brass in the country in such a short period. It is through sheer hard work.
We met President Uhuru while on Bamba Kura Yako campaign. Our own initiative meant to create awareness and encourage people, especially the youth, to participate in nation building.
We came from one of the impoverished parts of Nairobi, Majengo, and do not take the place dance has taken us, doors it has opened and people we have met for granted.
We work hard, we put in a lot of hours and when people see and appreciate what we can offer, it motivates us even more.
What is FBI all about?
FBI is about dance, inspiration and giving back.
We have achieved a lot but we still strive harder for more. We believe in giving this craft its proper place in society and it is about time that the public understood that dance pays and is like any other job.
Through us, Kenyans need to recognize that talent can propel one further and open doors. We need to nature talent.
You are billed as Kenya’s most successful dance group...
It has been a journey. Dance has laid out opportunities and launched us to platforms we never imagined. We have been to several countries such as Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, USA, and France.
The ‘Make The World Dance’ event was the first international competition that we won. It was an eye-opener. It is where we realised we could compete on the world stage. It gave us immense confidence that we can do it, that Kenya has all it takes and that we can win.
How many of you fly out per event?
We are a large group. You only saw eight at Ruto’s Karen residence. For example, 10 dancers will be headed out to Arizona in August.
Local stage, working with Churchill
We still perform on Churchill Show. Comedian Daniel 'Churchill' Ndambuki is one of the people who have been supporting us in the industry for the longest time.
The platform has been huge for us, the experience of working with Churchill is surreal.
Moesha Kibibi is still the only lady in the group...
Yes, she is. Moesha is really passionate about dance and was part of the FBI from the beginning.
We have grown as a unit ever since we started dancing. This is a big family where there is space to explore, grow and uplift each other.
