Sabby Angel shares what it takes to make it in the local movie industry
Her artistic career started in 2009. She started as a young singer who drew inspiration from the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
A Dew years later, in 2011, she started acting to help boost her music career. As it turns out, acting became not only her new creative outlet but also it also changed her career path. She never looked back, however she still tries to keep her musical talent alive through various projects.
A mesmerising rendition of Amazing Grace as we took a break for lunch was enough to convince me that singing is one of her God-given talents. But for now, acting is what has brought her success and she understands the power of consistency pretty well.
When I was researching for my meet-up with her, I realised she is well known and liked all over East Africa [especially in Kenya and Tanzania]. I was curious to find out about that connection.
She was born and raised in Kenya to a Tanzanian Mother and a Kenyan Dad. Therefore, she literally grew up between these two countries.
On the question whether dual citizenship and cultural knowledge of two neighbouring states has helped her career, Sabby says, “Yes, it has made a lot of difference, educational wise and growing up among different cultures. I see certain things differently. When I act I have a wider audience in my mind. That helps”
Although her career officially started in 2011, acting is something she started doing a long time ago. She was in drama groups since school. She attended Aga Khan Nursery School for Primary School she went to Qubaa Primary School before joining Marben High School. Later on she went to Cambridge Inter College CTM in Mombasa where she obtained a Diploma in Accounting.
She later acquired a certificate in marketing something that will come handy, as she gets deeper into the business with her Sabby Angel Films.
At 25, she is independent a fact she likes about her career. She is single mother of a 5 years old boy. She lost her Dad when she was 18. She has been independent since then. She helped raise her sibling. She loves what she does…being on camera or behind the camera. This is added with a smile that transformed her face into pure sunlight.
When I asked her about one thing she doesn’t like about her career or the industry, Sabby mentions unprofessional artists, producers and directors. Artists, according to her, are taken for granted. She is now working hard to change this. She jokes with a wrath of seriousness that she is working her way to Hollywood.
If she wasn’t doing movies, Sabby says she would have been working for an NGO. She is a humanitarian. Sabby’s love for volunteering and helping people, especially the youth, led her to work for Adam Smith International. She comments that even with her robust movie career, she makes the time to work with youth empowering projects.
When asked is she were able to change a few things about Tanzania’s movie industry, what would those things be? She says she would like to open an international level drama school like the Juilliard School of USA to educate and build talent at an international level.
Sabby is also interested in social media and the role it plays in her career from marketing to the way rumours can spread like a wildfire. Her opinion remains humble…it helps artists but it can also ruin someone’s career…rumours spreads faster. They can be damaging. Sabby encourages others to cautiously proceed and choose carefully what they put out there in the media. She therefore, likes to keep a low profile.
Her Tanzania’s favourite artists are Steven Kanumba [RIP] and Monalisa. Out of Tanzania she looks after Angelina Jolie and Kevin Hart.
When she is not on set, Sabby likes to watching movies. She is a fanatic. She enjoys watching series and films. She likes dancing too…but she prefer to do most of such acts in the comfort of her home. Her next project, she reveals, is with one of Africa’s most recognised faces Noah Ramsey that will be filmed in Nigeria sometimes this year.
