| dc.description.abstract | In recent years, the creative industry in Kenya has seen a rise
in consumption of art from other countries. This is due to the
influence of global and modern trends on local media and
the Kenyan audience. Consequently, various stakeholders in
the artistic domain have taken personal initiatives to
advocate for the production, performance and airing of local
art to promote Kenyan content. They strive to appeal to the
public’s taste, create demand for Kenyan art, and influence
the media as well as government broadcasting policies.
Musicians in Nairobi (Kenya’s capital city) for instance,
elevate Kenyan music by collaborating with local and
foreign bars, restaurants, government and nongovernmental
organisations which sponsor musical events
and provide platforms for them to exhibit their music, and
that of other artists. They also redefine the country’s urban
sound by localising genres from other countries,
incorporating indigenous styles from Kenyan ethnic groups,
and reworking Kenyan oldies. By doing that, they interact
with individuals from different generations, cultures, and
geographical spaces, traversing musical and cultural
boundaries, and acquiring new audiences. Using in-depth
interviews, I explore how these musicians and other
stakeholders in Nairobi’s music scene, manage to promote
and create demand for Kenyan styles both locally and
internationally. Additionally, observing performances, and
interacting with some of the audience members aid in
interrogating urban genres that transcend time and space,
linking and appealing to various cultures while gaining new
audiences. | en_US |
