Tides, a new Kenyan music romance drama feature written and directed by Reuben Odanga, premiered earlier this week.
Set at the Kenyan coast, it follows Salma and Biko, a musician couple pushed to their limits as dwindling gig opportunities collide with mounting financial pressure brought on by their daughter's serious medical condition.
As survival becomes increasingly uncertain, the choices they make threaten to change their relationship forever.
Tides stars Sarah Hassan, Brian Kabugi, Minne Kariuki in her feature film debut and South African actor Dumisani Mbebe. As well as Sikukuu Hamisi Jumaa, Zippy Okoth, Andrew Muthure and Muthoni Gathecha.
“In a world where poverty can strip people of dignity and opportunity, moral choices are rarely black and white,” Odanga says.
Tides, he says, was inspired by the realities of relationships between tourists and locals at the Kenyan coast and how they often remain surrounded by judgment, secrecy and moral discomfort.
“I wanted to explore the human realities behind these relationships and the complex intersection of poverty, desire, power and survival,” says Odanga.
“This film invites audiences to look beyond easy judgments and engage with uncomfortable truths.”
As a music-driven narrative, Tides features original songs created specifically for the film.
For Odanga, music was not an addition to the story but a necessity because "the story demanded it."
The decision to create original music for the film, however, came after encouragement from award-winning singer-songwriter and actor Silayio, who serves as the film's music director and composer.
"She convinced me and I love being challenged," says Odanga. "I was glad to collaborate with her."
Known professionally simply as Silayio, the artist has represented Kenya on several international stages, including winning Best Female Artist (East Africa) at the 2005 Kora Awards and competing on The Voice of Holland in 2017, where she finished seventh.
Most recently, she appeared on the Dutch singing competition The Winner Takes It All in 2026.
Working on Tides allowed Silayio to explore musical genres she had never actively engaged with before. “I can feel the growth in skill and confidence in myself from taking on the vision,” she says.
The project also allowed her to combine several of her passions: acting, singing and songwriting.
"I wrote and sang the music from the active perspective of what it would feel like to perform it on camera," says Silayio, whose acting credits include Odanga's Nafsi, Philit Productions' comedy-drama Untying Kantai and Maisha Magic's telenovela Kina.
"That point of view was inspired by my experience as an actor, and it was fun to explore that intersection."
Tides is produced by Winnie Adisa, with Jim Bishop serving as director of photography, Shiko Daisy as production designer, Angela Ciruma as head of styling and wardrobe, and Nice Githinji as intimacy coordinator.
Odanga and Jaqueline Kalekye serve as executive producers, while Odanga's Multan Production serves as the production company.
Through his production company Multan Production, Odanga has spent over a decade in the industry and is best known for Maisha Magic's long-running Swahili telenovela Selina, among many others.