From cardboard to cosplay: Kenya’s anime fans turn creativity into culture

Thousands of anime and manga fans gathered in Nairobi for one of Africa’s biggest cosplay conventions, transforming recycled materials, craft skills and imagination into elaborate costumes. For many enthusiasts, the event is more than entertainment—it is a space for creativity, friendship and self-expression.

More than 4,000 people attended the latest Otamatsuri anime and manga convention in Nairobi, according to organiser Jotham Micah.

The event brought together fans dressed as characters from popular Japanese franchises including One Piece, Naruto and Gachiakuta, highlighting the growing popularity of Japanese pop culture in Kenya.

Micah, co-founder of entertainment company Movie Jabber, said anime and manga have increasingly crossed cultural boundaries.

"I think the different sectors or cultural aspects of entertainment, the subcultures are key," he said. "It gives people life, it gives people inspiration, and it's fun and entertaining."

Creativity on a budget

For many Kenyan cosplayers, creating elaborate costumes means finding affordable and unconventional materials.

Julius Mokaya, a 34-year-old building caretaker and two-time winner of the convention's costume competition, cannot afford to import expensive costumes. Instead, he uses cardboard and other materials collected from recycling bins.

His small apartment is filled with homemade weapons, masks and accessories. This year, he spent months creating a costume inspired by Enjin, a character from Gachiakuta, a manga set partly in a world of discarded objects.

"The message of the story is that trash and things thrown out aren't really bad," Mokaya said.

Despite the financial challenges, he sees cosplay as a way to combine research, craftsmanship and passion.

"I'm broke half the time, but... I love the creative aspect, the deep dive into research and understanding the character," he said.

Crafting takes centre stage

Cosplay often requires patience and technical skill, with enthusiasts designing costumes from scratch rather than buying them.

This year's competition winner, 24-year-old Yvonne Chockey, dressed as Angewomon, an angel character from a Japanese franchise.

She used a hot-sand technique to heat and shape PVC pipes into a frame for eight large white wings. Each feather was then cut individually and attached to the structure.

"My next step is to keep crafting because I want to be maybe I cannot be perfect at crafting, but I want to get close, as close as I can to perfect," Chockey said.

A community for like-minded fans

Beyond the costumes and competitions, the convention has become a meeting place for young people who may otherwise struggle to find others who share their interests.

Cosplayer Shalom Donga said the event gives her a rare opportunity to connect with people who enjoy the same culture.

"This event is special to me because I get to meet a lot of like-minded people," she said. "I don't go out a lot, so I don't have the chance to meet people in person."

Breaking stereotypes

Despite its growing popularity, cosplay can still attract misunderstanding in a society where the hobby remains relatively unfamiliar.

Mokaya said some relatives became concerned after seeing his costumes on social media.

"Relatives saw what I was doing on social media and asked my father if I had joined a cult," he said.

But for Kenya's expanding anime community, the costumes are more than elaborate outfits. They represent craftsmanship, identity, friendship and a growing cultural movement that is increasingly finding its own space in the country.