DZADDYLUTIONS

PREAMBLE

Allan Shioso Ikhalachi is not your average 30-year-old. A few minutes with him and you are engulfed with this enormous feeling that, boy! Does he ooze wisdom like a 90-year-old! He has a mega project/event coming up and he is excited and nervous at the same time. Excited because he is slowly achieving his dream. Nervous because pulling off an event of this magnitude is never easy, more so if you are still regarded as a “nobody” in the performing industry. But what keeps him going?

Born on the 7th of March 1992 to strict Catholic parents who were teachers by profession, neither of the two could have imagined that the chubby little bundle of joy that they held in their arms, would one day defy certain odds and navigate through life’s journey and chart his very own path in life. Against a backdrop of humble beginnings, his parents Mr. Vitalis Ikhalachi and Mrs. Geraldine Ikhalachi, would always strive to give their children the best that they could and this included advise on life and its demands. In the year 1994, Allan’s parents were later transferred from the then Nandi District to Butere (in the then Mumias District), where Allan’s educational journey began at the famous St. Peter’s Boys Primary School Mumias. It is while he was at this particular school that his interest in the performing arts got nurtured.

When did you realize you had an interest in the performing arts?

I loved watching Afro Cinema movies, and I specifically loved the actor Ramsey Noah’s Movies. I remember with much nostalgia how I would pester my mother to buy me clothes that resembled Ramsey’s. I wanted to be like him. I also loved accompanying my father to the St. Peter’s Mumias Catholic Church where I would sit adjacent to the choir during service time. I particularly loved how my Math teacher Mr. Peter Osiche would play the drums. I remember wanting to be like him too. My artistic journey kicked off subconsciously as I would draw from observation, do calligraphy and sometimes play in the rain singing ambiguous composed songs that earned me a thorough beating. You know my father is a no nonsense man…to date! For instance, my interest in art gradually developed as I joined the drama team in Class 5, in the year 2002 but I never performed because I was very shy and I was afraid of getting back home late as a result of the usual extended rehearsals that were conducted by our teachers who, coincidentally, were my father’s friends: Mr. Musonye and Mr. Mahero. I used to imagine that my father would kill me.

When did you start actualizing your passion for arts?

In the year 2004, I was in standard 7. I remember gaining courage and ultimately performing both a folk song and verse in the Kenya Music Festivals. I was in a group of other pupils and we got defeated at the Provincial Level, just one level away from the prestigious National level.

I did my KCPE in the year 2005, passed well and subsequently joined the prestigious Musingu High school as a form one student in the year 2006.

In the year 2007, I subconsciously joined our High school’s drama team…

Wait! What do you mean when you say, “subconsciously”?

Remember I told you how I admired my primary school teacher Mr. Osiche who used to drum at the church? Well, I had horned my drumming skills and now while in High school I used to play drums for the Young Catholic Students (YCS) where I was a member. Upon noticing my prowess, I was approached by the Drama Club who requested that I be their drummer for a particular Narrative play they had, since they didn’t have a drummer for their backup singers. I joined the club as a drummer and I recall that I still feared the stage but my senior students kept encouraging me to be part of the play as a drummer and partly as a backup singer. Little did I know that this move would cement my membership in the Drama Club. This is why I used the word, “subconsciously’. While at the Drama Club, my drumming skills gave me a myriad of opportunities. I would play drums for different sets of narratives or play and would start participating in some. I subsequently ended up holding several leadership positions in these clubs and societies.

All these while, what was your father’s stance on all these now that you have implied that to him, Performing Arts wasn’t his cup of tea?

My dad is a strict disciplinarian. Like most of the other parents, he harbors this belief that in this country, performing arts isn’t a reliable profession and it “doesn’t pay well”. So it wasn’t surprising when he had other plans for me career wise. On the other hand, my confidence in stage acting had grown enormously and by the time I was clearing High School in the year 2009, I knew for a fact that I wanted to be an artiste for the rest of my life. Through God’s grace, I got a scholarship in 2010 to study Theatre arts and Film Technology courtesy of UNICEF and former Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs. I yearned to advance this particular course at Kenyatta University but my parents felt that art in Kenya wasn’t yet a substantial career avenue. They advised that I enroll at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management for my main career course and then do performing arts as a hobby.

So what did you do?

My heart was crushed. With all honesty, to me, their suggested course was unpalatable to my brain. However, out of fear of looking like I had disrespected them, and for me not wanting to appear like I would have shamed them, I pursued the course and strived my best until I graduated. Here is the funny part; getting a job in the Hospitality and Tourism field has forever remained a Herculean task and has never materialized. Performing arts on the other hand has cushioned me financially all this while.

In the year 2012, I took the bull by the horns and started practicing performing arts on a professional level as an actor, writer, director and singer in various outfits namely; Ninga Melodies, Next Level Production, Millaz Productions, Apex Glint Productions and now Tontenors Entertainment. Finding my market niche has not been a walk in the park for the past ten years but this year I bring forth a revolution that will sum up the entire journey. Welcome to my new world at 30: Dzaddylutions.

What are some of your works and how can people access them (platforms)?

As an actor, writer and director in theatre; my works have been displayed on mainstream media and social media namely: Ninga Melodies Social Media platforms, Apex Glint on Facebook, Millaz Productions on You Tube, Butere Girl's Play 2018 - Runners up at Kenya Nations Drama Festivals. (It Is Well - You Tube)

Some film projects are also in the pipeline so fans better watch this space.

Without revealing much, tell us about your upcoming project; the one that has you excited and nervous at the same time.

Well, the event is titled DZADDYLUTIONS, a live music show. Its concept or rather approach is totally new in our East and Central African market. The product cuts across live music with an amalgamation of acting and dancing in a very artistic way. We tell a love story via the first track to the last one. The audience will be taken amid a roller coaster of emotions and different themes that affect humanity on a daily basis. Basically, you enjoy the music while at the same time being taken through the different emotions inherent in the pieces. It is a make or break show.

Do you feel like you have achieved your dream?

For me the dream has just began for what I have in store for the world is mind blowing. This is a revolution that I have been building for a decade now. Our industry will experience a musical mortal combat that will generate an eighth of our country's Gross Domestic Product by 2030.

What’s next for Allan?

After the concert, Tontenors Entertainment will publish an album followed by many other projects that span among many partnerships in the theatre, film and music industry. All I can say is, let us just wait in bated breath.

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Dzaddylutions will be making its advent at the Kenya National Theatre Ukumbi Mdogo (Small auditorium) on the 14th & 15th of May 2022. Ticket sales go for Ksh1000/= Single, Ksh1600/= Couples and Ksh4000/= for of 5 individuals. Tickets are available at TIKOHUB.CO.KE and for any queries the number to contact is 0701698534.

Well, we are often told to allow ourselves to dream, wish and imagine the best that could happen and Allan is doing just that. What I know for a fact is, we too can be a part of his dream too by actualizing it and what other better way is there than us turning up in numbers and attending his first major event? Over to you dear reader.