Hey music junkie,

How have you been since our Embu adventures? Last Wednesday, we had a full moon towards the end of the month. Which is quite ironic, shouldn’t it be new moon new month?

I’ve had the most eventful time from Wednesday to Sunday. Which I honestly wouldn’t have hacked without jaba juice. Someone get me a Petiole brand deal already 😏

On Wednesday, a lot was happening at The Mall. Billy Black was serenading his audience (mostly ladies) at Santuri Salon with his soulful tunes. The Munyu team was getting their two spaces ready for their grand exhibition The Great Repair. And at the rooftop, people were screaming in ecstasy.

I found Aming singing on the Zahabu stage, with Kiptala on sax and Moige on violin. Next Kenyan hiphop producer Akili Blaq sat behind his laptop playing around with beats. I felt the call to go on stage and play the drums because that’s what you do at Sote Disko. Everyone can make music.

And some are born to do it, like Afrikan who took the mic and freestyled on the beats. Shamso the oud player, Kamore the freestyler/ guitarist and others joined the jam session. And when the lights went out for a hot minute, we kept drumming until we got into a trance - percussion discussion style.

And the final guest act was Jo Disko, a duo singing Dholuo on Afrohouse beats. Kamore finger-picked his guitar until we said “oh yes.” They should make love in the studio, if you know what I mean.

On Thursday, I was up and early for Sports Day! Can you remember the last time you did those? I remember doing a relay race barefoot while I was in class 7 or 8. And I got a foot injury that made the younger kids go through the whole field collecting any stone they could find. 

This time, I was on the bleachers. I watched my son do a relay race which backfired. And he struggled to sit and pop a balloon until a teacher had to help him a million times.

Somehow he won a silver medal 🥈

I also witnessed millennial parents kissing their children on the cheeks repeatedly. I wonder if our parents did that. What I know is these adults let their inner children come out to play. So many vuvuzelas, World Cup SA would have been jealous. And so many volunteers showed up for relay race and tug of war, the MC proposed a sports day just for parents. 

My favourite part was hearing Swahili MCs alongside the English speaking ones. Wazazi, tunawaomba kwa heshima na taadhima msonge nyuma. Also, shoutout to Kibonzo, our giant bouncing mascot.

After running after my son all day long, it was time to go home. And attend my next event - Sister Salon at Cheche Bookshop. I did not know what to expect except open mic. When I walked in at 7pm. I found a group reading a poem about Mekatilili wa Menza’s story, complete with Mijikenda outfits, instruments and songs. Which was so serendipitous as her cultural festival is happening next week in Malindi.

With more poetry readings, it felt like The Clearing but inside a library instead of The Mist. We listened to more stories, stand up comedy and an audio film on mangrove planting at the coast. In between the bubbly host Ekumbo of LAM Sisterhood ran a fun trivia, book raffle and guessing game.

Even though I couldn’t eat Aleya Kassam’s highly-praised samosas because of wheat, I got to confess my undying love for her writing. And Melissa of Radio Workshop highly recommended Fela Kuti: Fear No Man podcast. Have you listened to it?

On Friday, we hosted KISS at Santuri. That's the Kenyan Institute of Social Sophists (Angana’s idea). While setting down, I missed the East African artivism band playing song covers at Zahabu. At least I ate a snack, drank jaba juice, and danced to Naniwho’s set. 

We couldn’t miss MAGMA at The Mist as it was Rheina’s final gathering before she relocates to Godknowswhere. And what a techno dance we had. After the red lights went off at 5AM, the remaining crew walked to Shelter Ke for the afterparty. And we stayed there until we were kicked out at 11AM - just like one weekend ago after Shock n Friends. When I played this faya Kenyan bass set.

After a few winks of sleep, The Mall called again. This time for Just A Band’s album preview party at the parking lot, because The Mist would be too small for this big act.

This wasn’t your usual listening party - JAB played short clips of them talking with each other on the multiple screens followed by an unreleased song - from house to RnB to rumba. I’m sure you can guess which was my favourite.

The band then transformed into DJs. Iamsiwas who’ll be playing alongside me and Bbrave at La Sauce gave me background info about JAB. I confessed to Mayonde that Rise is one of my favourite songs ever as DJ Shock played the closing set.

And how we survived the night until 6AM? JAB.A.

Remember when I mentioned Mekatilili wa Menza up there? There’s a festival that’s been celebrating this Kenyan legend since 2004, and the 23rd edition is happening this August. Imagine 5 days of live Mijikenda music, dance, storytelling and full-on cultural immersion.

My first time attending this Kenyan festival, I’m super excited to learn all the traditional dances, eat jora (muhogo wa nazi) and wear kisutus like a Giriama woman. If you’ve always wanted to experience true coastal culture outside the beach hotels, this might be the experience you need 🌴

Before Malindi, we’ll gather in The Mall basement for one final reading of Mathare which has sparked the most revolutionary conversations we’ve ever had at Santuri. And this Thursday we’ll be talking about The Unreformable Police Force and whether we should abolish it or not. 

Because this is a special Hadithi Hangout, come meet the author, get a signed copy of the book, and learn more about Mathare Social Justice Centre. And after the discussion we’ll have an open mic for artists to share a conscious piece of their (he)art with us. Then we’ll continue the party at World’s Loudest Library at The Mist next door 🙌

I don’t know if you can tell, but I’m so thrilled to be playing at La Sauce again this Saturday. Because the last one was so much fun, we danced and danced until we wondered if it was legal.

And I’m even more thrilled to play alongside 2 GOATs - iamsiwas from South Africa and Bbrave from Ghana. Expect Kenyan hits, West African bangers and Bengatronics too. If you know you know 😉

And after we dance, we’ll let our inner children run free. This outdoor healing session will be guided by my Ethiopian sister Key who I met at Kisima Wellness Festival last year. Together, we’ll reconnect with our younger fun-loving selves through meditation, reflection and play with others.

If you feel like you’re too serious in life and don’t know how to let loose, this 2 and ½ hour workshop will help you feel lighter and freer. And afterwards you can stay in the garden drinking kombucha, soaking in the sun or even climbing a tree, hehe 🙂

Time to gear up for another eventful weekend. If you see me somewhere, you know what to get me. Hint: It starts with a “j”

Until next time
Stay high on music
Furaha