This archive report was first published on 18 December 2019.
Ohangla Meets Rhumba At 28th Koroga Festival ¶
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, December 1, 2019, the Bomas of Kenya Auditorium came alive with the sounds of Ohangla and Rhumba music as the 28th edition of the Koroga Festival kicked off.
The festival, which was initially scheduled to take place outdoors, was forced to change venue due to the heavy downpour that left the grounds flooded and muddy. Despite the change, fans of both genres were not deterred and turned up in large numbers to experience the best of African music.
The lineup for the festival featured some of the best artists in the genre, including Steve Kay and Emma Jalamo from Kenya, and M'bilia Bel and Kanda Bongo Man from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Steve Kay and Emma Jalamo took to the stage first, performing for nearly an hour with a live band, dancers, and drummers. Their set was a fusion of Western and African music, with the dancers showcasing the influence of the Gengetone genre.
Before the final acts took to the stage, fans were kept waiting for nearly 40 minutes with a deejay set that failed to impress. However, the wait was worth it as M'bilia Bel and Kanda Bongo Man delivered electrifying performances that left the crowd on their feet.
M'bilia Bel, who was flanked by her two dancers, sang her most popular songs, including Nakei Nairobi, despite experiencing sound issues during her set. Kanda Bongo Man, who last performed in Kenya in 1991, finished off his set with his best track, Monie, after performing hit songs Muchana and Sweet Elizabeth.
Despite the change of venue and sound issues, the Koroga Festival lived up to its hype, with fans leaving the venue with a rhumba-like feeling in their hearts.
