Latest news with #Kikuyu
eNCA
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Honkytonk Kenya - Africa's home of country music
NAIROBI - The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: A sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi this weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day. The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, "Sir Elvis" Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" mixed with newer hits like "Down to the Honkytonk". Sir Elvis's parents named him after another musical monarch who died a few months before he was born in 1977, and then raised him on a diet of country legends like Jim Reeves and Alan Jackson. "When I started out it was a very tiny genre" in Kenya, he told AFP at the festival. "It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today." AFP | Fredrik Lerneryd There are links, he said, to local traditions, particularly the story-telling music of the Kikuyu tribe known as Mugithi. "Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit," said Sir Elvis. "It's really crazy -- so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same." - 'Life, love, hate, forgiveness' - Anne Anene still remembers the song that turned her into a country music fan: Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?". "Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through," said Anene, a customer service representative for a health insurance firm. "I've always hoped to go to Texas or Nashville one day," she added. "I'd like to visit the ranches, I like horse riding, I like the ranch kind of life -- the quiet, the calm."
DW
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- DW
Kenya, Africa's home of country music – DW – 08/02/2025
Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images The party took place in Kenya, but the atmosphere was unmistakably American: cowboy hats, boots and whiskey-soaked tales of heartbreak and heroes. Kenya has become the new home of a growing country music scene — perhaps the largest in Africa. On July 26 in Nairobi, thousands took part in line dancing, a traditional group dance closely associated with country music. Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, "Sir Elvis" Otieno, as he performed classics such as "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and newer hits such as "Down to the Honkytonk" with his deep baritone voice. "When I started out it was a very tiny genre," the singer told the AFP news agency. "It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today." Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images Sir Elvis and his band created a great atmosphere — but there's more to it than that. The artist sees parallels with the music of the Kenyan Kikuyu tribe, known as Mugithi. "Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit," said Sir Elvis. "It's really crazy — so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same." Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images The festival was organized by Reja Manyeki, whose company "Cowboys and Cowgirls" offers fashion and events related to the country lifestyle. When he started in 2018, it was still a niche topic. Today, country music inspires people across Kenya, across all social classes. The extravagant outfits are also a major part of it. Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images Anne Anene, 26, still remembers the song that made her a country music fan: Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" "Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through," Anene told AFP. She hopes to travel to Texas or Nashville one day. Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images Known as the "dancing cowboy," Sheriff Knight also captivated the crowd and created an exuberant atmosphere at the Ngong Race Course and Golf Park, the venue for the event. For visitors, however, it wasn't just about the party. "In this world full of confusion, full of drama, country music is the only thing that makes sense to me. It has made me find peace," said Anene. Image: Fredrik Lerneryd/AFP/Getty Images 08/02/2025 August 2, 2025
CTV News
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's home of country music
The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi at the weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day. The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, 'Sir Elvis' Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' mixed with newer hits like 'Down to the Honkytonk'. Sir Elvis's parents named him after another musical monarch who died a few months before he was born in 1977, and then raised him on a diet of country legends like Jim Reeves and Alan Jackson. 'When I started out it was a very tiny genre' in Kenya, he told AFP at the festival. 'It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today.' There are links, he said, to local traditions, particularly the story-telling music of the Kikuyu tribe known as Mugithi. 'Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit,' said Sir Elvis. 'It's really crazy -- so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same.' 'Life, love, hate, forgiveness' Anne Anene, 26, still remembers the song that turned her into a country music fan: Dolly Parton's 'Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?'. 'Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through,' said Anene, a customer service representative for a health insurance firm. 'I've always hoped to go to Texas or Nashville one day,' she added. 'I'd like to visit the ranches, I like horse riding, I like the ranch kind of life -- the quiet, the calm.' The clothes are also a big part of the appeal. The festival was organised by Reja Manyeki, who runs a clothing and events company called Cowboys and Cowgirls. It was still pretty niche when he opened in 2018 but 'now people love country music. It touches all corners (of society). 'We do cowboy-themed events, birthdays, weddings, end-of-year parties... Now everyone comes, even schools.' Big farming and Christian communities also make Kenya fertile ground for country and gospel music. First to perform at the festival was Samson Maombe, who has picked up millions of streams for his Swahili-language takes on Christian country tunes. But for 'King George' Gustavo, lead MC of the festival, it is the tales of everyday life that keep him hooked and ensures he listens to Alan Jackson 'every single day'. 'The lyrics speak to life, love, hate, forgiveness, cheating, drinking...' he said. 'You identify with that, and then obviously there's a bit of dancing.' Anene, the Dolly Parton fan, says country music is also an escape. 'In this world full of confusion, full of drama, country music is the only thing that makes sense to me. It has made me find peace.'
Kuwait Times
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's home of country music
The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi this weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day. The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, 'Sir Elvis' Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' mixed with newer hits like 'Down to the Honkytonk'. Sir Elvis's parents named him after another musical monarch who died a few months before he was born in 1977, and then raised him on a diet of country legends like Jim Reeves and Alan Jackson. 'When I started out it was a very tiny genre' in Kenya, he told AFP at the festival. 'It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today.' There are links, he said, to local traditions, particularly the story-telling music of the Kikuyu tribe known as Mugithi. 'Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit,' said Sir Elvis. 'It's really crazy -- so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same.' Kenyan Country DJ Rom Ace (left) and a reveller pose for a photo during the International Cowboy Day. Revellers line dance during the International Cowboy Day. Kenyan Country artist Savannah Cowgirl poses for a photo during the International Cowboy Day. Kenyan Country artist Savannah Cowgirl poses for a photo during the International Cowboy Day. Ythera the Cowgirl (left) performs during the International Cowboy Day. Sheriff Knight (center), the dancing Cowboy, leads the line dance during the International Cowboy Day. A group of fans watch unseen Kenyan Country artist Sir Elvis perform. A crowd gathers as Kenyan Country artist Sir Elvis and the Urban Cowboys perform. Kenyan Country artist Pharry-K poses for a portrait. Kenyan Country artist Sir Elvis (center) and the Urban Cowboys perform. 'Life, love, hate, forgiveness' Anne Anene, 26, still remembers the song that turned her into a country music fan: Dolly Parton's 'Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?'. 'Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through,' said Anene, a customer service representative for a health insurance firm. 'I've always hoped to go to Texas or Nashville one day,' she added. 'I'd like to visit the ranches, I like horse riding, I like the ranch kind of life -- the quiet, the calm.' The clothes are also a big part of the appeal. The festival was organized by Reja Manyeki, who runs a clothing and events company called Cowboys and Cowgirls. It was still pretty niche when he opened in 2018 but 'now people love country music. It touches all corners (of society). 'We do cowboy-themed events, birthdays, weddings, end-of-year parties... Now everyone comes, even schools.' Big farming and Christian communities also make Kenya fertile ground for country and gospel music. First to perform at the festival was Samson Maombe who's picked up millions of streams for his Swahili-language takes on Christian country tunes. But for 'King George' Gustavo, lead MC of the festival, it's the tales of everyday life that keep him hooked and ensures he listens to Alan Jackson 'every single day'. 'The lyrics speak to life, love, hate, forgiveness, cheating, drinking...' he said. 'You identify with that, and then obviously there's a bit of dancing.' Anene, the Dolly Parton fan, says country music is also an escape. 'In this world full of confusion, full of drama, country music is the only thing that makes sense to me. It has made me find peace.'- AFP
The Australian
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's home of country music
The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi this weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day. The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, "Sir Elvis" Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" mixed with newer hits like "Down to the Honkytonk". Sir Elvis's parents named him after another musical monarch who died a few months before he was born in 1977, and then raised him on a diet of country legends like Jim Reeves and Alan Jackson. "When I started out it was a very tiny genre" in Kenya, he told AFP at the festival. "It's a dream come true to see a crowd like this today." There are links, he said, to local traditions, particularly the story-telling music of the Kikuyu tribe known as Mugithi. "Kikuyu folk music has the same kind of language, they draw from each other quite a bit," said Sir Elvis. "It's really crazy -- so many thousands of miles apart, but the messaging is the same." - 'Life, love, hate, forgiveness' - Anne Anene, 26, still remembers the song that turned her into a country music fan: Dolly Parton's "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?". "Her songs always speak to me because they always have deep messages, and they usually tell a story of what I go through," said Anene, a customer service representative for a health insurance firm. "I've always hoped to go to Texas or Nashville one day," she added. "I'd like to visit the ranches, I like horse riding, I like the ranch kind of life -- the quiet, the calm." The clothes are also a big part of the appeal. The festival was organised by Reja Manyeki, who runs a clothing and events company called Cowboys and Cowgirls. It was still pretty niche when he opened in 2018 but "now people love country music. It touches all corners (of society). "We do cowboy-themed events, birthdays, weddings, end-of-year parties... Now everyone comes, even schools." Big farming and Christian communities also make Kenya fertile ground for country and gospel music. First to perform at the festival was Samson Maombe who's picked up millions of streams for his Swahili-language takes on Christian country tunes. But for "King George" Gustavo, lead MC of the festival, it's the tales of everyday life that keep him hooked and ensures he listens to Alan Jackson "every single day". "The lyrics speak to life, love, hate, forgiveness, cheating, drinking..." he said. "You identify with that, and then obviously there's a bit of dancing." Anene, the Dolly Parton fan, says country music is also an escape. "In this world full of confusion, full of drama, country music is the only thing that makes sense to me. It has made me find peace." er/rmb/yad Breaking News Stock markets, dollar rise on EU-US trade deal Breaking News England's Lionesses head home to party after Euro glory
