Kilele Summit is East Africa’s first and only summit for music, tech and culture. Established to platform artists and collectives from the region working in diverse, under-represented styles from the folkloric to the futuristic, Kilele mixes panels, presentations and workshops with installations, showcases and after-parties over six thrilling days in The Mall, Nairobi each February. Coming together this year in its 3rd edition, from 23 – 28 February, under the theme Sound and Solidarity.
This summit is for everyone curious about what’s happening on the fringes of mainstream culture and the contests that surround the creative ecosystem. Kilele works with partners from Europe to platform new music technology in East Africa, giving artists and producers in the region direct access to tools and innovations that much of the Global North takes for granted. They welcome open-minded artists, partners, and guests who want to meet and share with others, engaging with activists, academics, and thinkers to seek new perspectives on music culture and its potential.
There is an extensive line up of events – instrument-making labs, gear & music tech workshops, thought-provoking panels, and each night there are performances from inspired, and inspiring, artists, culminating in a final showcase on Saturday 28 February.
Kilele aims to connect with subcultures from around the region and the globe — from traditional coastal Kenyan performers to cutting-edge electronic producers, sound artists, singers, bands, and more.
The summit showcases East Africa’s more adventurous and under-represented artists, collectives and movements, with international guests providing perspectives from the global underground. Kilele also brings the ideas behind the performances full circle by hosting:
- Conference sessions including panels, presentations, roundtables and readings around music, tech and culture.
- Installations from artists working in mixed media
- Film screenings from global subcultural allies
- New works via Kilele-supported residencies and collaborations
- Workshops on music technology, including the Instrument Makes Lab
- Networking and community building
You can expect panels and workshops such as “Sound in the City: Charting and Exploring the Intricacies of Cultural Spaces in Nairobi”, “Boards to Beats”, “Collaborative Storytelling and Freeform Poetry”, and “AI & Ethics in the Creative Sector”, and presentations on esoteric subjects like “Party Anthropology: A Study on Communal Frequencies and Artistic Expression” – events designed to stimulate thought, spark creativity, or start the process of contemplation.
Being an electronic music summit, you can of course expect some incredible sounds, opening Monday 23 February with mokeyanju Vinyl DJ Set and Labdi and Ogoya Nengo LIVE. Over the evenings of the summit you can catch performances by Mau from Nowhere, Mizizi Ensemble, Christos Michalakos – from Greece, Kenya’s Kichaka, and hailing from Copenhagen with Tanzanian roots, Jolie spins the vibrant sounds of Africa and its diaspora like no other. From the pulsing rhythms of Highlife to the raw energy of Gqom and the unstoppable beats of Kuduro, her sets are a journey through sound that defy the usual playlists.
Kilele’s programming and ethos are fully committed to creating spaces that are safer for women, men, queer, trans and gender-diverse people, and others who experience marginalisation. The organization meets everyone with curiosity, kindness, and openness, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, age, ability, class, religion, or background and works to remove barriers and support those who face them.
While the main events take place at The Mall, certain special performances, and off-site workshops will take place at nearby venues. Check the schedule for exact locations.
Most workshops are open on first come, first serve basis, but some require pre-registration, including: Bitwig, Boards to Beats, Ableton, Focusrite, Novation & ADAM Audio and Youth in conversation with Bizi Bingi.
Find tickets here: https://mookh.com/event/kilele-26