Pungulu Pa Productions successfully held the first edition of Pungulu PArty! Children’s Festival at the Parade Ring, Ngong Race Course, Nairobi, on December 7, 2025. Inspired by the beloved Uli & Tata African Nursery Rhymes animated series, the festival brought African culture and heritage to life through an immersive, family-friendly experience.
The inaugural edition drew over 400 attendees, who enjoyed a rich blend of music, art, storytelling, dance, workshops and interactive experiences. Families responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, firmly establishing the festival as a standout success for its first time.
The festival brought the world of Uli & Tata to life with a dynamic blend of screening, curated by the Zamaleo Storytellers, transforming the space into a magical fusion of cinema and drum circle, where children sang, clapped and moved along to the rhythms.
This energy carried into a colourful puppet show by Buni Media’s Matata and Friends, sparking laughter and imagination across the audience. The excitement was amplified by the presence of Uli & Tata’s lead voice actors: John Sibi-Okumu who voices the bird Tuki and Fadhilee, who voices Tata, along with key members of the production team, including music director of the series Fancy Fingers.
Chief Nyamweya, creative director of Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes says, “As young parents, my co-founders and I had long felt the lack of engaging and affordable activities for children in Nairobi. At the same time, parents of kids who love our show had been asking for over a year for more off-screen experiences connected to the series. That shared need sparked the idea for Pungulu Party! – an experience that not only delighted children, but also brought out the inner child in every adult in the room.”
As the day progressed, live musical performances elevated the atmosphere, with soulful sets from Kenyan music acts: Liboi, Komora and Papillon Musa, whose mastery of the nyatiti mesmerised both children and parents. Pulsating DJ sets by Santuri kept the festival lively throughout, weaving together a seamless soundtrack of African rhythms. Children also practised some Jiu-jitsu techniques from Nairobi Jiu-jitsu Academy.
Sarah Mallia, producer of the series says, “We witnessed something powerful – families reconnecting with the songs, stories and traditions that make us who we are. Pungulu PArty! reminded us that our heritage isn’t something of the past; it’s alive, playful and flourishing. The success of the event affirms how deeply Kenyan families long for spaces where our cultural heritage is honoured, shared and passed on. When children meet their heritage with joy, something extraordinary happens. Pungulu PArty! was a reminder of that magic”.
With the first successful edition of Pungulu PArty!, Pungulu Pa Productions continues to champion African storytelling, creativity and heritage, offering families meaningful, joyful ways to connect with their roots.
Pungulu Pa Productions, a Nairobi-based animation studio, is dedicated to creating children’s content and experiences that celebrates Africa’s cultural and natural heritage through entertaining, educational storytelling. The series also highlights the remarkable skills of Kenya’s burgeoning creative industry. With the majority of animation work completed by talented Kenyan animators, the studio’s flagship series, Uli & Tata’s African Nursery Rhymes, serves as a cultural bridge connecting African children and the diaspora with their heritage.
The creative team journeyed across Kenya and Tanzania conducting research and immersing themselves in local cultures to collect authentic nursery rhymes that form the foundation of each episode. This commitment to cultural accuracy and storytelling lies at the heart of Uli & Tata, making it a unique contribution to global children’s content.
Uli & Tata African Nursery Rhymes series was made possible through the support of key partners, including the French Government’s Creation Africa programme, the National Geographic Society, Afrique Créative – an incubation programme financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Kenya Film Commission, Africa No Filter and Braid Arts & Culture Fund. Pungulu Pa Productions extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in creating something truly special for the next generation of children.
