Ssaru x Fathermoh 'Kwanini' — Behind the Music Video Nataka Inc Directed
We directed the official music video for Ssaru x Fathermoh's 'Kwanini'. Here's the full story — the creative vision, the production process, and what it took to bring it to life in Nairobi.
When Ssaru and Fathermoh came to us with "Kwanini," we knew immediately that this was not a standard music video brief. The track demanded something cinematic — something that matched the emotional weight of the song and the combined artistic power of two of Kenya's most distinctive voices.
This is the story of how we made it.
The Brief
The best music video briefs don't give you all the answers — they give you a feeling. And the feeling from "Kwanini" was clear from the first listen: this needed to feel raw, real, and visually bold. The kind of video that makes you stop scrolling.
Ssaru has one of the most distinctive presences in Kenyan music — her energy is unfiltered, her persona unmistakable. Fathermoh brings a contrasting but complementary force: measured, deep, magnetic. Our job was to build a visual world where both artists could exist fully, without either of them being diminished.
That's a harder directorial challenge than it sounds. Two strong artists in one frame means making constant decisions about visual language, composition, and pacing — ensuring the video feels like a true collaboration, not a feature.
Location and Visual Direction
Nairobi gave us exactly what we needed. We drew on the city's raw visual texture — the kind of light and atmosphere you can't manufacture on a stage. Every location we chose had to feel earned: real places, real environments, with the weight of authenticity that Nairobi naturally carries.
Our approach to the visual direction was deliberate and restrained. No gimmicks. No forced spectacle. We wanted the camera to serve the performance — to find the moments that already existed and frame them in a way that made them larger than life.
Working with Ssaru and Fathermoh
The best collaborations happen when the artists trust the director and the director trusts the artists. From the first production meeting, the energy between all parties was right. Ssaru knows exactly who she is in front of a camera — she's been building that identity deliberately, and it shows. Fathermoh brings a quiet intensity that translates powerfully on screen.
Our role was to create the conditions for both of them to perform at their highest level — and then capture it.
Post-Production
The edit and colour grade are where "Kwanini" became itself. We made strong decisions in the grade — a look that feels warm and saturated in the right places, cool and cinematic in others. The edit paces with the track, giving the song room to breathe while maintaining visual tension throughout.
Sound-picture alignment is something we obsess over at Nataka Inc. When the music and the edit are in true dialogue — not just synced, but emotionally connected — the viewer feels it even if they can't name it. That's what we were after.
The Result
Watch "Kwanini" on YouTube here. It's one of the projects we're most proud of — a genuine collaboration between two exceptional Kenyan artists and a production team that poured everything into getting it right.
If you're an artist looking for a music video production partner in Nairobi, we'd love to hear about your project.
