Kenya, Africa's home of country music
Hundreds of people recently celebrated the first African edition of International Cowboy Day in Nairobi. Country music has a loyal fan base in Kenya — and its popularity is growing steadily.
From Texas to Nairobi
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.
'Sir Elvis' wows the crowd
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."
Musical kinship across continents
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."
Cowboy hats, fringe and glitter
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.
Cultural crossover
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.
'Country music is the only thing that makes sense'
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.