A Plea to Kenyan Artists. Please Save This Date on Your Calendars. It Might be the Only Chance You Will Ever Get to Air Out Your Concerns

A couple of months Elani rattled a snake and I have to say the Kenyan music industry has never been the same again. They addressed the elephant in the room and that is Kenyan artists were not getting rewarded accordingly for all their tenacity in creating.

This is they did with a video on YouTube and what followed was a pandemonium across the board with accusations being shoved left, right and centre. A lot of this however was being directed at MCSK with accusing finger being pointed at the body for mismanagement and massive graft.

Elani for example couldn’t understand how their hard work only amounted to a check valued at Ksh 31,000. And it came out, that theirs was even better as some other artists complained of getting a meager 5k.

A month or so later, I doubt if anything has changed. I had actually given up until I came across an initiative by Sawa Sawa festival meant to restore sanity back into the industry. You all know Sawa Sawa right? The unique festival with a unique cultural industry?

Well, they are holding another one this year at  Sarakasi Dome and it promises to be bigger and better. And this time around is not all about the fun and the glitz but also topical issues that are meant to make the industry better. It will start on the 16th with press networking session between artists and the media creating an opportunity to discuss the issues of moving the industry forward. Hosted by Arthur K and Emmanuel Ntoyai .Lunch and transport will be provided.

Yet another forum will go down on the 17th at the same venue involving key stakeholders and policy makers in the industry. It will be hosted by Anyiko Awoko and Anitah Mbuguah and again Lunch and transport will be provided.

So if you are an artist and you looking to get your voice heard, then hit up Anitah on +254 721865166 0R +254 722814133 for more details.