Synopsis

In the streets of Nairobi , the people lament the plight of their country KENYA where it seems that the ideals that lead to the fight for independence have begun to disappear. The time is the 70's. Enter our heroine Maria and her friends, Zena and Kiki. The three have just finished ‘finishing school' (pardon the pun), and they recall their school days and the endless rules with the song NININO NI NINI ? The three decide to celebrate this milestone in an unorthodox way at one of the more ‘uncouth' clubs in the city. At the club where Zena's activist brother and his friend Setai play, a commentary on the emerging twist culture is given in MAONI YA TWISTI led by the band. Carried away by this exciting atmosphere, Maria finds herself having to sneak back into the house where she fins her parents in the middle of prayer. After some chastisement by her father, her mother gives Maria advice - EWE WANGU - on life and the compromises one must make. However, a few days later, she is back at the club enjoying a light camaraderie with the others in WANIUA UA . A police raid interrupts the heated-up dancing, after which Maria learns some unsavory things about her father. Act one ends with her expressing her troubled state of mind- MAJARIBU .

Act 2 begins with Setai's speech on the inevitable differences in our society. As the people get more incensed, Maria walks in prompting Setai to direct his speech towards her. Setai mockingly refers to her as an angel- MALAIKA - whom he is unable to marry due to his financial status. An argument ensues between the two in which their true feelings for each other emerge. The next day at the BARAZA , the government and the people hold a discourse on land rights, which leads to a riot where Konza (Setai's father) and Onesmus (Zena's brother) are arrested. Setai meets Maria, begging her to persuade her father (Josephat) to drop the charges. In the background, images the people being tortured torture Setai's thoughts. Their pain is expressed in a chilling cry- WOI - as death moves silently, finally laying its hand on Konza. The Inspector convinces Josephat to drop the charges against Onesmus as news of Konza's death is sure to result in chaos. Maria comes onto the scene, pleading for Konza's release only to learn of his death. As she tries to, absorb this news, Setai enters. What follows is a confrontation in which, Maria must choose between the life she knows with Setai, and her father. Following her heart, she joins the fight for justice, but leaves it before her time as the chorus joins in glorious rendition of MALAIKA .