Madaraka Festival CEO Simon Javan Okelo joined The Sauce on an insightful IG Live video, sharing insights into the upcoming shows for the year and all the plans he has up his sleeves as the days draw closer.
The ambitious musician and mastermind of the premier Diaspora festival cites Coachella as one of his influences during his run at the helm of the festival so far. The debut year of Madaraka Festival kicked off on high gear, staging a headline performance from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
One of the highlights of his career so far, Okelo snagged an enviable feature on CNN. “As I was preparing for the 8th year of Madaraka in 2022, I received an email from CNN saying they wanted to attend Madaraka Festival. They stayed in Seattle for 3 days following me around, capturing the entire essence of the festival. That was one of the biggest reminders that I was on the right path,” He speaks of the experience.
“2024 is our most ambitious year and we’re likely to have 50 shows in total for the concert series. In May and June, we will have in 13 cities across the US, with some of the top artistes from Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon and South Sudan. Between July and August, we will also have shows in 13-15 cities and we will replicate the same modus operandi in October 15 – November 15. We’re looking to reach over 150, 000 people in person this year and 50, 000, 000 people digitally,” He asserts.
True to its top calibre, Madaraka has attracted a myriad sponsors among them Kenya Airways, Alaska Airlines, Amazon, Microsoft and Live Nation – a huge feat for Madaraka as its the only African festival to partner with the live events company.
Tickets go on sale on February 15 as well as the performers’ lineup announcement. Check out www.madaraka.festival.com for updates and tickets.
