The Kenyan events space has albeit come of age. There is a myriad events that bring the country to a standstill at different times spread across the year.
Each serving varied purposes and demographic, they come in different packages and specifications designed to bring forth unique experiences to their buffs.
Like diamonds wrapped in the rough, some are underrated gems that deserve to be accorded their flowers, while their counterparts are not exactly worth the hype. The Sauce sought to round up a list of top events that revelers live for, in this Mt. Rushmore of Kenyan events edition.
Blankets & Wine
What better soiree to kick of this rundown? With more than a decade since its inception, Blankets & Wine still sits at the pinnacle of Kenyan outings. Just two weeks ago, the festival once again made it clear why it is what it is. Nyashinski put on a strastophere-level headline performance with a live action of his major hits catalog, as did his fellow entertainers like Les Wanyika, Boutross and Nviiri the Storyteller. After two years in a borderline oblivion by occasioned by the pandemic, B&W made its comeback in December last year to a warm welcome reception. After the last all-Kenyan lineup edition a fortnight ago, there will be 3 more editions this year; on every first Sunday of every quarter and on the last Sunday before Christmas.
Nairobi RnB
Popularly dubbed ‘Kenya’s response to Colors but with live music,’ the top-shelf rave breathes a wind of fresh air to the country’s urban music consumers. It is a mastermind of lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Faiza Hersi, who devised the initial idea out of identifying an existent void in the entertainment space – a conspicuous lack of enough RnB showcases in Nairobi, buoying her to curate a show that stepped into the same space. Since then, Nairobi RnB has seen popular names in the genre like American crooner Masego, Kenyans Kagwe Mungai, Karun, Xenia Manasseh and Blinky Bill among others.
Jameson Connects Kenya
JCK follows closely in the steps of Blankets, in intricacies of arrangement and festival status. Call it Kenya’s marquee HipHop concert, Jameson has had the rap aficionados thoroughly entertained for years on end. Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz, T.I and Designer are some of the rappers that have taken to the stage over the years. Last year, for their comeback, Jameson enlisted an all-DJ lineup hemmed by DJs Envy, Mannie Fresh, MGM, Adrian, G-Money, Maphorisa, Stylez, Charlie Sloth and Musa Keys. The refined status in production, a high-end appeal and well-orchestrated performers make JCK a HipHop monopoly on the Kenyan scene.
Sol Fest
Kenya’s biggest boyband Sauti Sol have proved time and time again why they have stood the test of time and amassed colossal success. Their Sol Fest concert not only rakes in enormous figures by means of revenue and attendance, it is also one of the most anticipated concerts in the country. It does not hurt that it typically has a December slate, which sees the prevalent partying atmosphere culminate in the success of Sol Fest. Sol Generation artistes among a horde of other artistes, both local and regional, open the show before the foursome take over the night.
Side note: The above list is subjective and solely based off of the writer’s judgement.
