Kenyan Statue Man's Secret: How Collins Ekutan Stands for 15 Minutes

Collins Ekutan, known across social media as the "Kenyan Statue Man," has captivated audiences with his extraordinary ability to stand perfectly still for extended periods, leading many to initially mistake him for a real statue.

In a candid interview with Citizen Digital, Ekutan himself asserts that he can maintain this motionless state for a full 15 minutes.

Ekutan's journey is one marked by early hardship and resilience. He was born and raised in Turkana, a region often perceived as challenging.

Tragedy struck when he was very young; his father passed away when he was three years old, and his mother died in 2002, followed by his sister in 2003.

Growing up without his parents, Ekutan was raised by his sisters, who supported his primary and secondary education. He completed Form Four but was unable to proceed to university or college because his sisters, except for the eldest who had some education, were not in a position to support further studies.

Following secondary school, Ekutan decided to "hustle" to support his family.

He began investigating potential content ideas, specifically looking for unique concepts.

He observed that statue performances were popular, but primarily done by individuals in the US. Seeing an opportunity to introduce this unique form of content locally, he decided to try it.

“So, if you go online, common content is this person doing this, many are similar, but this one I saw first before starting. I first researched and saw, ah, there was none, and those guys I saw were only from the US. I said, why not me try it? That's when I started."

Ekutan started creating statue content in January, meaning he has been doing it for about five months as of the time of the conversation.

Initially, he tried performing in Turkana, but the content didn't gain traction. It wasn't until he moved to Eldoret and began performing there that his content went viral, with people and media outlets starting to take pictures.

He notes the uniqueness of his content in Kenya, mentioning that statue performers are typically seen abroad ("majuu"), and Kenyans have been impressed by his local rendition. He even saw a post comparing him to US statue men, realizing he was one of only two known practitioners in the US and himself in Kenya.

"Kenyans were happy, First, I saw another guy who posted, he said 'Kenya statue man versus US statue man'. That's when I realized what... I knew that I was representing... that guy, we are two in the SA, and I now. That's why people are very happy,”he said.

His unique presentation includes distinct costumes and props, which he designs himself. However, some tailoring work is done by a fundi (craftsman) to ensure the pieces fit together. A notable element is his tie, which stands upright.

He mentions there's a secret to how it stands, possibly due to something he has placed inside, but he avoids giving full details due to potential copyright issues or others copying his technique.

Preparing for his performances primarily involves practicing the act of standing still. When he first started, it was difficult, and his legs would get tired.

However, through consistent practice every day, his body has adapted, and now he is accustomed to it and no longer feels tired after a performance.

He currently performs one shoot per day, having learned through observing social media trends like TikTok that posting one viral piece is more effective than many.

Content creation has proven to be financially rewarding for Ekutan. He recounts arriving in Eldoret with no money, even needing help with transport. He initially placed a small can ("kamkebe") in front of him while performing in Eldoret town, and people would put money in it.

“I came from Turkana without even a shilling. I was just put in a car, or it was just fans who brought me to Eldoret. When I arrived there, I was even doing the statue and putting a small can in front of me, and people would put a little money.”

After his content went viral online, companies began contacting him for work. He has since worked with various entities, including a travel company and others, and has been paid for these engagements. He feels stable now and is no longer worried about going hungry.