Eldoret’s music scene came alive over the weekend as different generations and genres shared one stage, bringing together sounds ranging from Gengetone and Arbantone to hip-hop, Amapiano, Afrohouse, R&B and Oontz.
The gathering at Tamasha Eldoret on September 20 marked the launch of Smirnoff Sound Nation, a music series that is set to travel to different parts of the country.
DJs Gibbz Daqchild, Daffy, Kaytrixx and Kryptic took turns behind the decks, with MC Gogo keeping the programme moving as the music shifted between styles and eras.
Rather than being built around a single genre, the night reflected the way Kenyan audiences increasingly move between different sounds, with newer genres sharing space with established styles.
Gengetone and Arbantone have become prominent in Kenya’s youth music culture, while hip-hop continues to influence successive generations. Amapiano and Afrohouse have also become increasingly familiar on local dance floors and in DJ sets.
For Veronicah Waweru, Brand and Innovation Manager at EABL, that constant change is part of what makes Kenya’s music culture distinctive.
“Kenyan music has always evolved, and that evolution is part of what makes our culture exciting,” she said.
"We celebrate that journey and give consumers an experience where different sounds, generations and musical influences can come together in one space," she added.
The platforms builds on larger Why Change A Good Thing campaign, which celebrates how culture, music and social experiences can evolve while retaining the energy and connections amongs people.
The Eldoret event was the first of several planned stops, with the series expected to move to the Mountain region, Nairobi, the Lake region and the Coast.
Each location is expected to have its own line-up and musical character, reflecting the differences in taste and sound across the country.
The regional approach comes as Kenya’s music scene continues to borrow from multiple influences. Local artists and DJs are increasingly moving between genres, while audiences have become accustomed to listening to very different styles alongside one another.
That has also blurred some of the boundaries between generations. A night that begins with an established hip-hop sound can quickly move into Arbantone, Amapiano or Afrohouse, with audiences following the changes without necessarily treating the genres as separate worlds.
The Eldoret gathering therefore offered more than a succession of performances. It provided a snapshot of a music culture in transition, where familiar sounds continue to coexist with newer influences.