NAIROBI, Kenya – September 2025 After a two-year wait, The Moth, the world-renowned nonprofit dedicated to the art of live storytelling, is set to return to Nairobi for its sixth Mainstage event, hosted by Adelle Onyango. On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa’s LRC Auditorium will host an unforgettable evening themed “Daring to Hope,” a timely reflection as Kenyans, like many communities worldwide, grapple with economic uncertainty, social pressures, and political shifts.
For more than a quarter century, The Moth has staged over 60,000 true stories, told live without notes, by all types of people. From astronauts and artists to refugees, parents, and activists, its storytellers remind audiences that the human voice remains the most powerful bridge across differences. Each Mainstage event features five voices sharing honest personal accounts filled with humour, courage, and resilience, weaving together a night that is as unrepeatable as it is unforgettable.
The sixth Moth Mainstage in Nairobi will be part of 18 Mainstage events worldwide this fall, all united under a single theme for the first time in the organisation’s 28-year history. Each evening will feature five storytellers who share moments of honesty, vulnerability, and transformation. While the theme ties the season together, every stage presents a distinct mix of voices and stories, creating a one-of-a-kind experience filled with humour, surprise, and the deep connection that comes from true, personal storytelling.
“Bringing every Mainstage together under the theme of daring allows us to do more than share stories; it invites a collective conversation across diverse perspectives. Each night adds its own layer, and together they form a powerful portrait of courage and vulnerability,” said Sarah Haberman, CEO of The Moth.
The impact of storytelling is tangible. According to research from African Leadership Magazine, dated November 4, 2024, audiences retain 65–70% of information presented as a story, compared to just 5–10% when delivered as raw data. It’s why storytelling dissolves barriers of class, culture, and geography. It heals by offering people once silenced by grief, marginalisation, or hardship a space to be heard, transforming pain into resilience and isolation into solidarity. In Nairobi, where stories of resilience amid economic hardship and a rising cost of living shape everyday life, the stage becomes both a mirror of society and a source of strength.
Storytelling also educates. Facts may fade, but a story told with vulnerability lingers. Audiences leave transformed, carrying new perspectives on what it means to be human. In a noisy world, storytelling cuts through, restoring empathy and reminding us of our shared capacity for hope. Yet, authentic African stories are often underrepresented; nearly one-third of media content about Africa is generated by foreign news services, and over 50% of editors admit stereotypical narratives persist (Thomson Foundation). The Moth’s stage directly challenges this imbalance by amplifying Pan-African voices and allowing the African nationalities to tell their own stories.
“The Nairobi Mainstage has an unmatched energy,” said Sarah Austin Jenness, Executive Producer of The Moth. “This year’s theme, Daring to Hope, carries special meaning. In a time when the future feels uncertain, these personal stories highlight the creativity people draw upon to face challenges. We are proud to continue to elevate Pan-African advocates and storytellers, with stories that inspire and deepen connection.”
The Moth’s relationship with Kenya is not new. Through its Global Community Program, the organisation has long amplified voices from across the Global South, offering a platform where local stories reach international ears. The Moth Global Community Program is made up of a growing alumni network of 800+ individuals from over 50 countries who have used their personal stories to advocate and inspire. Nairobi audiences, in turn, have embraced the tradition since the city hosted its first Mainstage six years ago.
This November, The Moth’s return is more than a performance. It is an invitation: to listen, to connect, and to dare to hope.
Event details:
- Date: Saturday, November 1st 2025
- Venue: Catholic University of Eastern Africa (LRC Auditorium), Nairobi
- Theme: Daring to Hope
