Hey music junkie

I know I know. I've been quiet for quite a while. Maybe you noticed, maybe you didn't.

Well the universe did. Because last weekend two different people confessed how much they love this newsletter and my consistency. That was enough reason to stop making excuses, fix the tech issues I was facing, and get back to it 💪🏾

And now we're here.

And as always, I have fun interesting and entertaining stories to share with you.

Starting with Thursday which was Kulture Klub night. Meaning at 7pm, we huddled inside The Mist’s dark dungeon and watched Afrikan sinema. This time KK screened Teza, an 2008 film set in the late 1900s about an Ethiopian intellectual who went abroad to study, came back after Haile Selassie's fall, and the dire effects it had on his country and personal life.

It's a film about family, war, and injustice. Even though it was super dramatic, it had a happy ending. And the music made me want to go back to Ethiopia and learn this crazy shoulder neck dance called Eskitsa.

During the post-film conversations, we talked about language as a tool for liberation. And I shared my intention to start at Swahili Book Club/ Swap. Reach out if you’d like to join us, I'm recruting…

On Friday evening, I attended Industry Talks at Goethe Institut about Nairobi's DJ culture. It was a panel discussion led by Anyiko between Schwarz Isaboke, Coco Em and Njerae. The main lessons learnt were

• Always be professional and on time in order to get more gigs

• Create networks with diverse people who might help you when touring

• We need cross pollination between uptown and downtown. The same way I play benga in Westlands, someone should play qgom in River Road CBD.

Before midnight, I caught Munyasya’s Zahabu closing set at The Mall rooftop. Just like the KWOTE anniversary party, the rain brought us together near the stage where we danced to African electronic music. And speaking of, my Kenyan house DJ set is live on Mixcloud in case you missed that epic show.

On Saturday, I attended a chill walkthrough of the ongoing exhibition A Catchment for 1000 Waters at Munyu Space. Which is a mix of sound, visuals and ritual spaces. Definitely going back to experience it fully.

At the rooftop, I watched skaters fall and rise again, ate my rare mango (because off season) and basked in the afternoon sun like a plant that needs to make its own food. Later I edited and uploaded the previous Hadithi Hangout - which had the most revolutionary conversations yet!

It wasn't the plan, but I got a complimentary ticket to attend Metamour’s Whine and Release. Before the party, I filled my tank at my favourite Mpaka Road kibandaski. And fulljoyed a wholesome hearty meal of ndûma, kamande and cabbage (na firifiri) for just 100 bob!

When I arrived at The Rift at 10pm, Nabalayo was playing fast-paced ndombolo tunes. I was so relieved it wasn't dirty dancehall. Vuta Pumzi by The Longombas caught us on a chokehold, when's the last time you heard it in a club? 🎶

Agose played sensual music such as Afrobeats which made us whine our waists. Kiptala went hard with Bouyon music from the Caribbean island of Dominica. Where African folk meets electronic meets dancehall music.

I was in for a proper shoga show. My virgin eyes saw things I had never seen before. Ladies in the shortest, tightest and sexiest outfits grinding and twerking on each other.

Talk about freedom and sexual liberation.

I took a break from this crazy twerk energy to speak to my SiStars and Father Sky. This rooftop gave another view of Westlands that is different from The Mall’s. You could see traffic on Mpaka Road below and hear music leaking from the opposite club - from Hindu music to new school Ohangla.

Because THIS is the Original Ohangla.

Finally, Gek0 took us on a spiritual musical journey through Afrohouse, 3 step and its cousins. After whining and releasing all that excess energy, the house music penetrated my body and washed my soul clean. At some point I felt like Michael Jackson in Thriller, my brain was dead but the music still moved my body.

At 6am, we cleared out The Rift. Which impressed me with their free water policy. The only thing missing was jaba juice 🍹

I thought I’d sleep for a few hours, go to the Museum's garden and enjoy a nice nap under a mugumo tree. Instead, Sunday kept me at The Mall rooftop. I watched the golden sun set (and sang to it), danced to deep house by Ugandan DJ Masaka Masaka, and interviewed Maganda Shakul about his unique sound called Bakisimbatronics. Downstairs, I sang along to American RnB music while shopping in Naivas, talked to friends over the phone, then went home at midnight.

Three days and nights out. A record me thinks.

Moonday was probably the chillest day of them all. At 11AM, I was in a house somewhere in Runda for the first Moon Collective meet. It started off soft with Njoki Karu leading a meditation on the floor, before advising us on authenticity as an artist. We finished by writing down why we make music, who we are, and what we want to leave behind.

After lunch outside in the garden, I lay on the grass to bask in the sun. And realized that even though the clouds cover it, the sun is still there. A metaphor for the clouds that sometimes cover the light in our own lives.

And after listening to each other's original tracks, 6 of us went into the open studio and played two cover songs LIVE. I played the bamboo percussion during “Man Down” and sang “Mama Papa” with a shaker in hand. I think African instruments are my thing now 🪇

It was so beautiful being around other women in music who are also starting. There are already talks about collaborating with each other during our 6 month-long music incubator.

Kenyan music to the moon!

ARTICLE OF THE MONTH

Meet the Cultural Heroes Preserving Traditional East African music

Speaking of African instruments, you've probably seen or heard me talk about preserving traditional music. Such as in December when I hosted an online panel with Singing Wells and other cultural organizations who are already doing this.

To make it easier for you to learn from their journeys, I condensed our 1 and ½ hour conversation into a 5 minute read. You'll discover why they started this expensive job, their best recommendations for field recording music, and how communities can earn money from music preservation. If you're interested in reviving our African culture, this one is for you 🙌🏾

EVENTS OF THE WEEK

Hadithi Hangout at Santuri Salon

As it's the last Thursday of the month, Hadithi Hangout is back! And so is our book of the season, Mathare, which has been inspiring the most powerful revolutionary conversations about how we can change our country for the better.

This Thursday, we'll read about how Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru’s governments shaped this Nairobi settlement. From Mungiki crackdown to post election violence to forced evictions, Mathare residents have gone through A LOT but still stand strong. And there's so much we can learn from them together ✊🏾

MAGMA Launch at The Mist

After celebrating 5 years of championing techno music education in Kenya last month, TCHNO has started a brand new event series. MAGMA is all about celebrating the diversity of techno while giving artists freedom to express themselves without limits.

The first edition this Friday night will feature a live techno discourse by Odera who played one faya electronic set during The Mist’s fundraiser two weeks ago. Followed by deep DJ sets by Eric K, Maria, Rheina and Coco Kahi. Just like magma, we'll melt into the bass-heavy vibrations and flow as one community 🌋

DJ Shock and Friends at The Mist

And in the same beat of electronic dance music, there's another genre shaking up Nairobi. Garage is the poppy cousin of Drum & Bass, also made by black people in the UK. And it's now made its way to the motherland thanks to DJ Shock and friends.

For the past couple of months, these DJs have been playing monthly sets of UK Garage music at Studio CanV. And this Saturday night, they're finally bringing the party live to the Mist 🕺🏾

I hope this catch up has helped you forgive me for my unprecedented silence. Lol, I've always wanted to use that word. Stay tuned because more music magic coming soon 😉 

Until next time
Stay high on music
Furaha