Kenyan music lands at The Junction Mall on September 12 as Sondeka Festival returns, bringing together some of the country’s most recognisable voices in Kenyan music, film, fashion and design for a single day built around Kenya’s creative community.
Who is performing
Njoki Karu, Billy Black and Kadawa top the bill, joined by Koso Koseso, Shishi Wanj and Breathren. The lineup spans genres and generations, reflecting the eclectic mix that has defined Sondeka since its earliest editions.
Karu and Black recently collaborated on the soundtrack for the film Boda Love, and their pairing on the same stage will likely draw fans eager to hear that chemistry performed live.
What Sondeka Festival actually is
Sondeka takes its name from urban Kiswahili slang derived from the word tengeneza, meaning to create. Since launching in Nairobi over a decade ago, it has grown into one of Kenya’s most established gatherings for creatives working across music, film, fashion, poetry, dance and design.
Organised by Creatives Garage, the festival has previously run as a multi day event at venues including the Arboretum, and has expanded into offshoots such as Sondeka ALT and the Sondeka Awards.
Past editions have helped launch or elevate artists including H_art The Band, Mercy Myra and Euticus, cementing Sondeka’s reputation as a launchpad rather than just a lineup.
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Part of a bigger legacy push
This year’s edition sits inside Creatives Garage’s 2026 UKKE Season Legacy Project, an initiative the organisation says aims to build lasting networks and document Kenya’s creative output rather than deliver a one off event. In a statement obtained by Khusoko, organisers described Sondeka as one of the biggest gatherings of innovative creatives in the country, crediting it with sparking artistic partnerships that later grew into major platforms.
Creatives Garage, profiled previously by Khusoko for its work supporting Kenyan creative entrepreneurs, has spent years positioning itself as a bridge between emerging talent and the wider industry.
What attendees need to know
Doors open at noon and the festival runs until nine at night. Entry is free, though organisers are asking the public to register ahead of the September 12 date rather than turn up unannounced.
With music, film, fashion and design all under one roof, Sondeka is shaping up to be one of the busier entries on Nairobi’s September calendar, and a fitting stage for an event built on turning creative energy into something audiences can actually show up for.
