Fun as Nomadic Arts Festival make its debut
The inaugural edition of Nomadic Arts Festival by Content House Kenya happened last Friday at the Chandaria Auditorium, Visa Oshwal Centre, in Nairobi.
The festival brought a number of artistes and entertainers from Northern Kenya and Nairobi in a celebration of diverse art and culture, through powerful music performances, some laced with storytelling sessions responding to issues communities in the Northern Kenya region face.
Intriguing performances, blending traditional rhythms with contemporary beats and jazz music, was the order of the day with the headlining acts including artistes from Turkana Sessions–Jackson Nakuwa, Mourine Apuu, Jackson Ekori, Elizabeth Katiko and Nairobi jazz artiste Eddie Grey (also festival music director).
The artistes performed songs and medleys in collaboration with soulful singer Sanaipei Tande alongside Nairobi’s HVMND Orchestra aka Turkana Sessions Orchestra.
Other artistes from Northern Kenya who performed at the festival included Nectar Boy, Catherine Natiir, Lemarti and Akidah, who collaborated with Dylan-S, a DJ, music composer from Ewaso Records.
The festival’s after-party at Geco Central (Sarakasi Dome) saw some of Nairobi’s finest Afro-house DJs Dylan-S, Euggy and MGM impress the crowds with tribal music mash-ups alongside Mosse Percussionist, talented percussionist from Nairobi.
Jackie Lebo, the Festival Director and CEO of Content House Kenya shared, “Our vision was to create a platform where artistes from Northern Kenya could showcase their work and rich cultural heritage to audiences who had not encountered it before and that was achieved beautifully. It was amazing to showcase a music extravaganza from a place of our own cultures while incorporating modern integration at the festival.”
After the successful debut, the Nomadic Arts Festival will be an annual event.
With the aim of fostering economic opportunities through art, the Nomadic Arts Festival also had a small marketplace for local artisans and businesses who presented their regalia and products while highlighting the positive attributes of Northern Kenya.
