Film producer Abel Mutua opened up about his YouTube journey, which eventually led to hosting sold-out shows. He shared that his success wasn’t just about the content, but also about creating an atmosphere that resonates with his audience. “My kind of content doesn’t attract hooligans,” Abel said, emphasizing that his events are all about positive vibes, where people come to enjoy the experience, not to cause chaos.
His focus on quality and professionalism has allowed him to stand out, both as a content creator and event organizer.
Abel Mutua credited his growth to several factors, sharing insights over a meal of sushi and dumplings with media personality Betty Kyallo. Abel joked that if he were hanging out with his bestie Njugush, he’d have opted for a plate of mukimo instead.
He also touched on the issue of the lack of arenas for major events, referencing recent incidents where fans stormed concerts. Betty asked if he ever doubted himself when it came to hosting big events and the anticipated turnout.
“Maze, I’ve seen events flop. In fact, the day we held our event, there were two others happening. Wasee wamekuwa wagumu, hawataki kunua matickets, wanataka vitu za free. That’s actually something we addressed a lot at our event.”
Fiercely shaking his hand to emphasize his point, Abel said, “Na si ati najipiga kifua, but my kind of content doesn’t attract hooligans. Hooligans want a place where you can stand, raise your hands up, and then rob people. At my event, people sit down, there’s space, everything is organized.”
He added, “When we say gates open at five, by two, people have already filled the auditorium. They’re sitting down, waiting. Hooligans look at this and think, ‘We can’t rob these people, we don’t want to sit down and listen to stories. We want a place where people are standing, hands in the air.’ So they can’t come to our event.”
Before YouTube, Abel was known as a filmmaker. “That’s what people know me for. So when I entered content creation, I was already on a pedestal, and I couldn’t operate like any other content creator.”
His background in film production fueled his determination to level up. “Imagine being asked who the top filmmakers in Kenya are, and they check my YouTube, and it looks like it was shot with a calculator? That’s not happening, so that’s why I push myself. But I did things that way at first.”
He also wanted to show Kenyans that it’s a process. “When I was shooting with a phone in the forest, I kept telling people, ‘This is not how it’s supposed to be. We need to do this professionally.’ But doing it professionally, especially for YouTube, which let’s be honest doesn’t pay much, is very expensive.”
Despite the financial strain, Abel found it rewarding. “The least you can do is subscribe.”
He credited Betty and Jalang’o for inspiring him along the way, saying, “You have to go big or go home.”
So does it pay? “Well… let me say it’s an avenue for other opportunities. There are other jobs that come through the YouTube channel.”
