Too Early For Birds is back for its 9th edition and yes, we can hardly believe it either! This time, the stage belongs to none other than Wangarĩ Maathai, Kenya’s trailblazing environmentalist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and unapologetic disruptor of the status quo.
Between 10–12 April 2026, Nairobi’s Jain Bhavan auditorium will host five electrifying shows that dive into the life, controversies, coincidences, and sheer courage that made Maathai one of Africa’s greatest heroes.
Show Schedule
- Friday, April 10 – 7:00 PM
- Saturday, April 11 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
- Sunday, April 12 – 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Tickets? They are already waiting for you.
Photo: Annalisa B. Andersson
From Nyeri to the World
Born in Nyeri, Kenya in 1940, Wangarĩ Muta Maathai shattered ceilings across East and Central Africa. She became the first woman in the region to earn a doctorate, obtaining her Ph.D. in veterinary anatomy from the University of Nairobi in 1971. By 1977, she was an associate professor and chair of her department—again, the first woman to hold those positions.
Her academic journey stretched across continents: a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St. Scholastica College in Kansas (1964), a Master’s from the University of Pittsburgh (1966), and doctoral studies in Germany before returning home. Each milestone was a declaration that African women belonged at the highest levels of scholarship and leadership.
Planting Trees, Planting Hope
In 1976, while serving in the National Council of Women of Kenya, Maathai introduced the idea of planting trees with communities. That seed grew into the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots powerhouse that mobilized women to plant more than 20 million trees across farms, schools, and churches.
By 1986, the Movement had gone Pan‑African, inspiring initiatives in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and beyond. Maathai’s vision was simple yet radical: environmental conservation as a path to democracy, dignity, and better lives.
Democracy, Debt, and Defiance
Maathai’s activism was never confined to forests. She campaigned against land grabbing, fought for democratic freedoms, and in 1998 co‑chaired the Jubilee 2000 Africa Campaign, demanding cancellation of Africa’s crushing debts. Her courage often put her at odds with powerful interests, but it also placed her at the center of global conversations on justice and sustainability.
In 2002, Kenyans rewarded her persistence with a landslide election to parliament—winning 98% of the vote. She was appointed Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Wildlife, bringing her grassroots fight into government halls.
Global Recognition
Wangarĩ Maathai’s accolades read like a roll call of the world’s most prestigious honors:
- Nobel Peace Prize (2004)
- Goldman Environmental Prize (1991)
- Right Livelihood Award (1984)
- Edinburgh Medal (1993)
- Sophie Prize (2004)
- And dozens more, from the Jane Addams Leadership Award to UNEP’s Global 500 Hall of Fame.
She also received honorary doctorates from institutions including Yale University, Williams College, and the University of Norway. Each award recognized not just her environmental work, but her relentless defense of democracy, human rights, and women’s empowerment.
A Voice in Print
Her story lives on in books like The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach (2002) and features in global publications such as Speak Truth to Power and Women Pioneers for the Environment. Through her writing, Maathai reminded us that planting a tree was never just about the soil—it was about reclaiming agency, dignity, and the future.
View this post on Instagram
Why This Edition Matters
Too Early For Birds doesn’t just retell history, it reimagines it for today’s audiences. This edition, researched and written by a powerhouse team including Abigail Arunga, Wacuka Mũngai, Ras Mengesha, and edited by Ndinda Kioko, is produced by Sheba Hirst with marketing led by Mũtwĩri Njagĩ.
It’s a chance to celebrate Wangarĩ Maathai’s audacity, her vision, and her unshakable belief that ordinary people can change the world.
A Legacy of Legends
Since 2017, Too Early For Birds has redefined Kenyan theatre with bold retellings of figures like Tom Mboya, Zarina Patel, Timothy Njoya, Field Marshal Muthoni Wa Kirima, Syokimau, and many more. Born from a collaboration between Owaahh (of owaahh.com) and performers Ngartia and Abu Sense, the series has sold out over 90% of its 40 stagings.
This ninth chapter builds on the foundation of Unsung Heroes, Dissent, Badassery, Brazen, Tom Mboya, Comeback, Mboya Encore, and Badassery Reimagined.A Legacy of Legends
Since 2017, Too Early For Birds has reimagined Kenyan history with a fresh, funky lens. Past editions have spotlighted figures like Tom Mboya, Zarina Patel, Timothy Njoya, Field Marshal Muthoni Wa Kirima, Syokimau, and even the resistance at Lumboka and Chetambe forts.
Born from a collaboration between Owaahh (of the award‑winning history blog owaahh.com) and performers Ngartia and Abu Sense, the series has sold out over 90% of its 40 stagings. Each edition redefines how stage performances are packaged, marketed, and consumed.
This ninth chapter builds on the foundation of Unsung Heroes, Dissent, Badassery, Brazen, Tom Mboya, Comeback, Mboya Encore, and Badassery Reimagined.
