Hey music junkie

I know why you're here. Kilele Summit 2026 is over and you wanna know how it really was. But first, here's the prep for our 6-day climb to the top!

It all started last last Wednesday, our final Kilele meeting before the festival. I also met Pwani Tapes residents - mwanzele singer Mazera, marimba player Mrezi and Nairobi producer Hot Keys. They were recording new music in Santuri Studio they would perform at Kilele for the first time.

On Thursday evening, I hosted the Introducing Singing Wells hybrid panel featuring the cofounder Tabu Osusa, sound engineer Stevo Kivutia and videographer Sapat.

The main takeaways?

Kenya has musical identity outside of Nairobi (mwanzele for example). And contemporary musicians should tap into East African sounds and get inspired by our own instruments, melodies and rhythms. That's why the Singing Wells archive is there.

On Friday, I played the opening DJ set at Zahabu Sundowner. I sang and talked throughout the one & a half set, but not like those vulgar hilarious MCs in matatu mixes. Rather, it was commentary on the coastal music I was playing - Flava za Pwani ranging from taarab, bango, Taarnb, Mijikenda fusion to disco chakacha.

After watching my son skate for the first time on the rooftop, we left the Mall. I crossed the Ngara bridge and walked to The Living Rooms. Talk about one gig to another.

From 9pm, I emceed The Demo by Daraja Studios (see what I did there). This second edition spotlighted conscious Kenyan rapper Trabolee. My first time seeing him live with a band, Afrikan was almost singing bar for bar.

HR Messenger and Asum Garvey joined Tra for the final song. And Mr Lu* played an interlude DJ set. Meanwhile I ate popcorn and drank bunna. Yes, an Ethiopian lady from Gursha restaurant served a traditional coffee ceremony complete with incense.

Coffee is the new jaba juice ☕

I now had the energy to introduce returning champion Kürïbã and his collaborator KODA (not the club) who I first met when they played together at the Spotlight Session back in 2024. For 2 hours, Kuriba played his original productions, from dowlofro aka African downtempo to Thatched House with Gikuyu and Giriama lyrics. My favourite part was junzele - his fiery fusion of jungle music from the UK with mwanzele music from the coast. A true bridge between traditional African sounds and modern electronic music.

What an honour it was to witness this unreleased and authentic Kenyan music!

On Saturday afternoon, I visited Mathare Social Justice Centre to meet Adrian, the Ecstatic Dance DJ from the USA. He was back in Kenya from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to the top. And was busy teaching the children how to deejay using the new gear he brought them, plus how to record music using instruments and Ableton Live. It was a dream come true for both him and the centre - setting up at a music studio in Nairobi as part of Dance The Change project.

Fun fact: 8 children from Mathare Creative Hub also attended Kilele Summit on day 5.

And then we ended the evening at Our Wonderhouse. Pwani Tapes residents sampled the 4 songs they produced in the past one week live. Afterwards we had iftar i.e. breaking Ramadhan thanks to their manager Nassoro. The Swahili food from a Somali restaurant was so much we carried pilau to share with others.

The calm before the climb 😌

Meanwhile Andika Writing Workshop was going on at Santuri Salon. With an intimate set up like Hadithi Hangout, the conversations were so hot I had to join in. About why we don't use Swahili and our mother tongues in the bedroom. How sheng can also be sexy eg. Nataka kukurarua. Or how you can use Gikuyu proverbs like these in erotica as sexual innuendos.

And after making love to my bed all Sunday long, I was ready for Kilele 2026:

Day 0: Spent the day sprucing up The Salon which I would be co-ordinating. And in the evening, we attended the opening ceremony at The Mall rooftop where Labdi and Luo matriarch Ogoya Nengo sang dodo together. And then we danced to mokeyanju’s vinyl DJ set.

Day 1: Tuesday started with impressive opening remarks by Bizi Bingi and a panel on music spaces in the city. In the afternoon, we went for a walkthrough of Sonic Commons sound exhibition at Munyu Space. KMRU’s sound project Temporary Stored II about repatriating traditional African music was quite interesting.

In the evening, we attended Tales and Tides, which I've always wanted to experience live. It was a storytelling session led by Malindi-based poet Ogutu Muraya connecting different African revolutions, with the All-Turn-Natives providing an immersive soundscape with voice, instruments and beats. Some people closed their eyes for the full sound journey.

Day 3: Wednesday was all about music rights. From Hannah’s workshop at The Salon, I finally understood what publishing rights are. Jinx and Anyiko taught us how to release music like a pro - tease, build, arrive.

At 8pm, we walked to The Rift on Mpaka Road to experience Mizizi Ensemble. Like their first performance in 2024, they moved from one space to another and between people - the lights guiding us. Nyokabi made beats by hitting her techy costume while Monrhea moved with her musical suit from BlackRhino VR. After Bernt got electrocuted on a bed (or that's what it looked like), Labdi dressed in a sisal skirt, ostrich headgear and fly whisk brought him back to life while chanting in Dholuo. Jowi!

Their experimental performance ended with them playing live instruments together, drinking Kenyan tea in a seated circle, and laughing their heads off. And I was ready to go home.

Day 4: Pwani Tapes held a panel on reissuing African music with insights from Matt Swallow and Tamasha Records. The Wellbeing workshop by Gravitopia featured calming meditations and conversations about how we take care of ourselves, our community and nature. While in Party Anthropology (the study of partying) we breathed, sang together, and watched a snippet of their documentary film. Perfect way to spend a low-energy day.

And while I relaxed further in the cosy Care Room, Bizi Bingi and Moige took The Clearing back to The Mist due to the rain upstairs.

Day 5: I caught half of Adam Yawe’s Nyadebe presentation at The Salon. And later played his electric instrument which is basically a nyatiti with a matatu speaker on top (aka debe). A Kisii obokano player joined us at Calotropis Radio clock tower for a surprise jam session.

Hadithi Hangout presents 10 Cities at The Salon was short and sweet. We read, listened, and even sang “Pole Musa” together. Na baada ya kazi, sherehe.

Zahabu Sundowner presented Pwani Tapes mwanzele set where I started a dancing circle. Odd Okoddo's folk electronic fusion was so spiritual it bewitched us on the dancefloor. South African DJ producer Mxshi Mo played gqom and bass even though he's visually impaired.

Sisso and Maiko from Tanzania electrified us with their hypnotic high-octane singeli that made me move like I was in aerobic class. They were showmen too, playing and dancing with their keyboards on stage. Even blind folded.

At the Mist experimental night, Sam is finally in Africa, Tyresse and DJ Shock made us dance to 2-step, drum & bass. During Kichaka’s set, I was reminded that Techno ni tamu when you close your eyes. And dancing with friends freely is my favourite part of partying 💃🏾

Day 6: For the Kilele showcase at the Mall parking lot, Mehmet and Chuchu performed experimental music they made during their residency. The visuals were enchanting, and Chuchu singing almost made us cry. While I missed mau from nowhere’s live set, I bought his rafiki button and spiced Tanzanian coffee from Pwani Club.

MC Yallah, as always, killed it with her bass-heavy hiphop which you could feel all over your body thanks to Umojah Sound System. Ugandan producer Maganda Shakul and UK’s Mina sampled their Bakimbunu sound which was a fusion of traditional Bakisimba polyrhythms and live electronic music. And for The Mist afterparty, Mehmet played Turkish sounds, Itex deejayed Kenyan throwbacks, and Maganda ended the 4am party with Bakisimbatronics.

In short, Kilele was incredible. A space for creativity, imagination and experimentation, as Afrikan put it. I met a lot of unique creatives - some of you are reading this right now.

The only downside? Fatigue from working and running around Monday to Friday. Without jaba juice especially at night, I don't know how I would have survived. Asante Petiole 🥂

EVENTS OF THE WEEK

AI x Podcasting masterclass at Santuri Classroom

In the Kilele spirit of learning together, Creatives Garage is hosting a hands-on masterclass. This Thursday, we'll explore how AI tools can support podcast creation, from ideation and scripting to production workflows. Because why spend a lot of time and energy when you can do it faster?

Whether you're an experienced podcaster or want to start one, this masterclass is for you. And bring your laptop for practical application 💻

Watchdogs of The Night exhibition at Munyu Space

Remember that giant rubber metal sculpture I shared a while back named Avatar (like the incredible film we watched)? The Kenyan artist behind it Njogu Kuria has a new exhibition opening this Saturday noon at Munyu Space.

For him, the watchdogs are the spiritual guides, the elders, the ones we pray to, the ones we call when things fall apart. They are family, friends, and ancestors that help keep us steady when life feels unstable. Come meet these guardians made from discarded rubber, metal, vinyl, light and shadow 👀

Music centric breathwork and ice bath ceremony at Performance Medicine

Sunday is International Women’s Day, although everyday should. If you're looking for a special way to celebrate the women in your life, karibu to this music centric breathwork and ice bath ceremony by Nathan.

There will be specially curated music, free roses for ladies, plus discounts if you come with a fellow sister. Brothers are welcome too in this celebration. Just make sure you RSVP before Saturday 8pm 😌

If you attended Kilele Summit 2026, I’d love to know what your highlight was. And if you're attending Labdi's sold-out concert this Thursday night, see you there. I'll be emceeing 😉

Until next time
Stay high on music
Furaha