This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
June 21st marks the celebration of World Music Day, a global event that brings together music lovers from around the world. The day was first celebrated in France in 1982, and has since become a global phenomenon.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's celebration moved online, with Alliance Francaise in Nairobi hosting a live concert on their social media platforms. The concert featured some of Kenya's best artistes, who performed a diverse range of music styles.
Among the artistes who performed were Lulu Abdalla, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who fuses traditional African rhythms with salsa, reggae, and Latin music. He performed songs such as Lekha, Saleh, and Thembassa.
"Music is my life. I have been doing music for more than 16 years. I also teach kids in Kibera and Mathare how to sing and play instruments. I love what I do and music is the food to my soul," said Lulu on what the World Music Day means to him.
Another notable performer was Karun, an alumni of the Berklee College of Music, who combines neo-soul, contemporary, and alternative RnB. She performed songs like Glow Up, Hit Me Up, Roses, and Make Believe.
The celebrated King of Ohangla, Tony Nyadundo, brought on stage his traditional music style from the Luo community with hits such as Dawa ya Mapenzi, Obama, and Ndoa ya Machozi. He launched his career performing for the local fishing communities in the late 1990s and released his debut album Ayaki in 2002.
The reggae band Gravitti, formed in 2004, performed Africa and Sweetie among others songs. They have recorded more than 33 songs and released their debut album titled The Force of Grravity in 2016.
Music lovers watching online had a great time, going by their comments. "Ohangla nonstop. No breaks, kaende kaende it goes it goes. If bad bad," @Lorella A. Jowi commented. "African music is food for the soul," @Ian James Mburu said.
