Hey music junkie,

Have you ever felt like your life is following certain threads? And situations get interconnected as you move along? That's how this newsletter will feel.

On Thursday, we hosted Hadithi Hangout Chapter 11 at Santuri Salon. Through Shades of Benga and other sources, we discovered where Akorino music came from, why they wear turbans, and what Mûkûrinû actually means.

Somehow, the conversation shifted to sampling music - what's the right way to do it? Is it through mentioning where it came from? Asking the original artist for permission? Or paying them off?

This convo reminded me of Drunken Lectures whose topic was “The Stealing Art of Kenyan music.” In case you missed it, you can catch the rerun this Wednesday at Living Rooms. If you can't attend, go through Muia’s presentation here from the comfort of your home.

Or better yet, listen to how different Kenyan musicians have sampled local and international artists over the years in this cool playlist 🎶

Speaking of music, on Friday I attended my first ever Quiz Night - which was also about Kenyan Music. After Bbyy on the Island played an all-Kenyan DJ set, she and Emm with the Vibes tested our music knowledge in four categories. And let me tell you Maina, it was so much fun!

While our group was number 2 in the zilizopendwa era, we led in 2000s throwbacks, alte season and gengetone. We won wantam!

One of our prizes was a discount on the vendors’ merchandise. I got a branded button and pendant choker from Bead Inc, and silver chain earrings from Spidey Sensei. Best 1000 bob spent!

Because the party don't stop, we went to Mia Bistro where Bbyy was also playing. If you ask the Friday Social organizers, Mia is the new Moov Cafe (which was sadly demolished). No wonder we left the Lavington venue at 10am Saturday.

Later that day, after a few winks of sleep, I finally finished my Singing Wells Mixtape. That’s a playlist you can create to showcase your favourite East African music from their YouTube channel. The theme for mine is Kenyan Trance music - probably inspired by Akorino music. But this one features traditional Kenyan music from the East Coast to Western Kenya which has a trance-like feel.

I call it the spirit of Kenyan Music. Experience it here 🙌🏾

On Sunday, I attended the second Organic Market at Soul Veg. What made it different from other organic markets is that Ammi hosted health experts from Kenya, US and Ghana to share their wisdom. My favourite speaker was Dr Eudorah whom I first met at Ubuntu Festival. She looked like royalty in her yellow outfit, sparkling jewels and brass jewellery. Oshun in the flesh ✨

And from vendors, I got simsim chocolate snacks, sea moss from the Kenyan coast, and a mint plant to take home.

All this talk about eating healthy pushed me to finally do it. That is to go organic, because that's the highest quality of food you can eat. Luckily, Greenspoon had the organic vegetables I needed, and delivered them less than 24 hours later in brown eco-friendly bags.

I love how their website is easy to use, their customer service super friendly, and the delivery option makes life so convenient. If you've never used Greenspoon, use this code joy.15633 at checkout to get 1000 bob discount off your first order. And once you for organic, it's hard to go back 💚

PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH

Music of the month - August 2025

If you're like me, you'll be smiling throughout this playlist. Why? Kenya’s music video game has gone way way up - just watch at VBe’s Amanda and mrnayed’s further you move.

Expect heavy bars from Kenyan kings Mordecai Dex, Ndovu Kuu and Nyashinski. The king of sampling Octopizzo is back with a track you can't help but bop too. And thanks to Flapah wa Nyahururu, nobody can stop Kikuyu amapiano 🙌🏾

EVENTS OF THE WEEK

KE Takeover Vol. 2 at KODA Nairobi

In August, Kenyan Pick tried a new concept. A DJ party with purely Kenyan music. And guess what, it worked!

That's why KE Takeover is back this Friday featuring faya DJ sets by Monzo, G.I Selects, Coco Kahi and T.V.I. If you’d love to experience a night with 100% Kenyan music, see you on the KODA dancefloor rocking your favourite Kenyan drip 🇰🇪 

Ngoma za Umoja Zinaita dance workshops in Nairobi

We all love to dance, whether it's kangaroo, anguka nayo or mwomboko. But did you know there's Dances of Universal Peace (DUP)?

More than just fun and sherehe, this sacred dance brings people together to build community and raise their consciousness. With chants, live instruments and evocative movement, you'll experience love, peace and unity on the dancefloor. And you can learn it from an international DUP mentor this weekend, either at Kenya National Theatre or Our Wonderhouse 😌

Amazonian concert + documentary screening at Our Wonderhouse

This Sunday, come meet the Amazonian shamans from Brazil. After facilitating their first plant medicine retreat in Kenya, they'll share their forest songs, face painting, arts and crafts with us. We'll also watch a powerful documentary about the lives, traditions and resilience of the Indigenous people of the Amazon.

Come with your percussion instrument ready to jam, and go home with a unique art piece from the forest. It's family friendly and free for children so bring them along 💃🏾

I hope you saw those intertwining threads. From Trance to Sampling to Raising Consciousness through Food, Music and Dance.

And because Quiz Night, lemme leave you with a question…

Which Kenyan artist sang these lyrics? (hint: it's in the music of the month playlist ;)

Wamestick kwa ile story ya August Alsina
Na kila August si wote hufanya dhambi we all sinners

First correct answer gets a gift from me 🙂

Until next time
Stay high on music
Furaha