Music, culture and creativity are taking centre stage at the inaugural Voices of the Lake Festival, as fans turn out in large numbers for an electrifying four-day celebration of music and the creative economy at Dunga Hill Camp in Kisumu.
The festival is supported by Safaricom Hook, with the partnership focused on empowering young creatives and unlocking the economic potential of the Lake Victoria Basin by connecting creativity, mentorship, technology and entrepreneurship.
“Kenya’s young people possess extraordinary creative talent, and Voices of the Lake demonstrates the impact of giving that talent a platform and the right ecosystem to thrive. Through our partnership, we are empowering young creatives by connecting them to mentorship, technology and entrepreneurship, while unlocking the economic potential of the Lake Victoria Basin. Supporting the creative economy is an investment in the future of our young people,” said Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom.
The inaugural Lake Basin festival, which opened on Thursday and runs through Sunday, has brought together established and emerging artistes, creatives and music lovers for a packed programme showcasing the depth and diversity of talent from the region and beyond.
The opening day on Thursday set the tone for the festival with a colourful opening ceremony presided over by the Chief Guest, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, before audiences were treated to live performances from Michael Ongaro, Muthaiga and Eddie Grey.
Friday continued the musical momentum, with fans enjoying performances from Otos Jalambwe, Atisanna, Kake Wakake, Kamwana, Keynotey Odera Jr. and Apesi, further highlighting the breadth of musical talent represented at Voices of the Lake.
Today, Saturday, the festival is once again alive with music, with Mufana & Lokoband, Shamir, Checkmate Mido, Udulee and The Mushroom taking the stage as audiences gather to experience an eclectic mix of sounds and performances.
“The main purpose of Voices of the Lake is to celebrate talent, showcase Kisumu and give young people a platform to share their experiences and perspectives through music. This region has produced incredible talent, but talent alone is not enough; we need an ecosystem that creates opportunities and livelihoods for creatives. We are proud to partner with Safaricom Hook and invite more corporates to join us as we build this platform into an annual event with lasting impact,” said Isaac Gem, Festival Organiser.
The festival will culminate on Sunday with a powerful closing line-up featuring Sango Soul Band, Siba Sarabi, Soul Band and Les Wanyika, bringing the four-day celebration to a fitting close.
Beyond the performances, Voices of the Lake is creating a platform for young creatives to connect with audiences, industry players, mentors and opportunities that can help transform creative talent into sustainable livelihoods.
“This is a very important platform for young artists to showcase their talent, connect with new audiences and inspire the next generation of creatives. As an artist from this region, I am proud to be part of a festival that is creating visibility and opportunities for local talent while putting Kisumu on the map as a vibrant hub for music and culture. I believe initiatives like this can help young creatives turn their passion into sustainable careers,” said Jennifer Atieno, alias Atisanna, musician.
Through the Safaricom Hook partnership, the initiative aims to identify 2,000 creatives across 10 creative disciplines, enroll 100 participants in the accelerator programme, and provide full fellowship support to 50 programme fellows.
The festival comes at an exciting time, following the launch of Safaricom’s Pata More Popote Ulipo Na Safaricom campaign, which has doubled the value customers receive on both data and M-PESA. This enhanced value benefits customers, including young creatives, by enabling them to stay connected, access opportunities, and support their growth and potential.
In its first year, the festival is targeting 10,000 physical attendees and an online audience of 10 million, with more than 120,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries. Over five years, the programme aims to directly support more than 5,000 creatives, with an indirect reach of more than 1 million young people across East Africa.
Voices of the Lake is a regional creative economy movement built to unlock the economic potential of the Lake Victoria Basin, connecting creativity, culture, technology, entrepreneurship, tourism and environmental sustainability into one integrated ecosystem across the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB).
Hosted at Dunga Hill Camp, one of Western Kenya’s established creative and cultural spaces, operational since 2013, the platform identifies, develops, digitizes, finances and commercializes creative talent, supporting young people through the journey from talent discovery to enterprise growth.
