Hot on the heels of the massive success of shows like Nai Rich and The Real Housewives of Nairobi, Showmax has followed up with the addition of an exciting new comedy.
The streaming platform notes in a statement to Habari Digital that Kalasha Award winning director Abdi Shuria returns with his latest project, Black & Blue, where he co-directs with King “Mushking” Muriuki.
“Black & Blue takes viewers into the world of the Kenyan Police through a fresh, humorous, and wholly unconventional lens.”
“This happens when the Kenyan Police attempts to rebrand and appeal to the public by enlisting a civilian, portrayed by the Kalasha winner Gitura Kamau (Lusala), as the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) of a fictional police station that is implementing a pilot programme of police reforms.”
The renowned director says in an interview that the inspiration for the show stemmed from his own experiences with Kenyan cops, noting that, although they haven’t been the best, he is keen to find humour in tragedy.
He adds that his mockumentary style on the comedy, where satirical work is presented in a documentary format, was a way to bring the fun in a manner that Kenyans can understand.
“We have seen popular shows such as Modern Family, The Office, and Parks and Recreation perfect this storytelling approach. I always found this technique to blend itself really well to comedy, offering a great slice of life perspective,” Shuria says.
The director adds: “Given that the police world in this country is quite closed off and most Kenyans don’t have access to it, I thought this would be the best way to bring the audience into that world through a mockumentary format while being funny and quirky.”
He also opens up about the production process for the show, as well as his experience working with King Muriuki, his frequent collaborator who was also involved in the production of The XYZ Show, a political satire that made waves in TV in the early 2000s.
“The series underwent a rigorous development process, with months of writing and pre-production before the cameras began rolling. The shooting process itself lasted approximately two and a half months, during which time the cast and crew worked tirelessly to bring the show to life,” Shuria says, adding, “One of my proudest moments from the shoot was when these talented actors went above and beyond what I had envisioned.”
He describes the experience of reuniting with King Muriuki as exciting and invaluable.
“He brought a lot of value on set because again we also worked together on XYZ, so this is someone I knew had a great eye for comedy. You know, giving him the reins to direct 13 episodes proves that I had a lot of confidence in him. It was also refreshing to see how differently he interpreted the story, bringing life to the production.”
