- Bujra Mohamed, a trained teacher from Kwale County, has built a career in content creation, releasing films including Shaghala in 2022 and Majuto in 2023.
- Mohamed began earning tangible financial returns from content creation in 2024, which now serves as his main source of livelihood.
For Bujra Mohamed, the classroom was supposed to be the beginning of a career in teaching. Instead, the education he received became part of the foundation upon which he built a different career in content creation.
Born and raised in Mwabungo, Msambweni, Kwale County, Mohamed is today among the emerging content creators on the Coast, having turned a childhood passion for acting and storytelling into a source of livelihood. His journey was shaped by both education and determination, even though his decision to pursue content creation instead of teaching initially faced resistance from his parents.
A trained teacher, Mohamed said his interest in acting started while he was in primary school and continued through high school and college, where he actively participated in drama clubs. His performances earned him recognition in drama festival competitions, where he was named among the best actors and won several awards. While still in high school, he also got an opportunity to learn film production and casting, further strengthening his interest in the creative industry.
But after completing Form Four in 2013, his parents wanted him to pursue a more conventional career and enrolled him at Mikindani Teaching College in Mombasa. By 2015, Mohamed had completed his teacher training. In 2016, he travelled to Yemen, where he secured a teaching job, gaining practical experience in the profession he had trained for. However, his passion for acting and storytelling remained alive. Mohamed said his experience in Yemen gave him time to reflect on the direction he wanted to take in life, and he resolved that after returning to Kenya, he would pursue content creation.
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In 2018, he came back home, and his parents again encouraged him to obtain a Teachers Service Commission number and pursue teaching as a long-term career. But Mohamed had other plans. He asked his parents to support his decision to pursue content creation, despite the uncertainty surrounding the industry at the time. “I told my parents that I wanted to follow my dream. They were against me because they thought I was throwing my life away and wanted me to be a teacher,” he said.
Rather than abandon his education, Mohamed drew on the skills he had acquired throughout his academic journey, including communication, performance, discipline and confidence. He began experimenting with digital storytelling and eventually established an online TV platform using savings he had accumulated while working in Yemen. The platform allowed him to develop his skills, understand his audience and gain experience in producing digital content.
His breakthrough came after the 2022 General Election, when he became involved in the opposition campaign for the Kwale gubernatorial seat. The experience increased his visibility and encouraged him to rebrand and venture fully into content creation. Towards the end of 2022, Mohamed released his first Swahili film, Shaghala, marking a major milestone in his journey as a filmmaker and content creator. In November 2023, he released Majuto, which expanded his audience across East Africa and beyond.
It was, however, in 2024 that Mohamed began seeing tangible financial returns from his work. The earnings gave him confidence that the skills he had developed over the years could support him professionally. Today, content creation is his main source of livelihood. “I solely depend on content creation as my main source of livelihood. I have built houses, and I drive just because of it,” he said.
His teacher training, he said, did not go to waste. Instead, the discipline, communication skills and confidence gained through education have continued to influence his work. He has also taken his experience a step further by mentoring young people interested in content creation, helping them develop their talents and understand the importance of patience and continuous learning. Some of those he has mentored have gone on to establish themselves in the Coast’s growing creative industry.
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Mohamed urged young people interested in content creation to take education seriously, saying academic and professional skills can complement talent and open additional opportunities. He cautioned aspiring content creators against pursuing the industry solely because of the money associated with it. “So many people come to me, but they expect to become successful within a short period, which is impossible,” he said.
According to Mohamed, young people should first develop their skills, understand their craft, build an audience and remain committed before expecting financial rewards. He also urged parents to listen to their children and support their interests while ensuring they receive the education and skills needed to pursue their ambitions. “Let the child do what he or she loves most. It can open doors to success and wealth,” he said.
By Shaban Omar
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