NAIROBI, Kenya — Thousands of country music enthusiasts gathered at the Ngong Racecourse on the outskirts of Nairobi to celebrate the second annual International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day festival on the last Saturday of July. The event drew a diverse crowd donning western attire, including hats, boots, and leather jackets, as they danced to classic country hits, enjoyed barbecue, and raised glasses of beer and whiskey.
Country music, though originating in the United States, has been steadily gaining popularity across Africa, particularly in Kenya and South Africa. The genre has long featured on African radio stations and inspired local artists, especially among the Afrikaner community in South Africa, where musicians such as Bobby Angel and Lance James have made notable contributions.
Among the attendees were Purity Melubo and Fatuma Isaack, both in their twenties and first-time festival-goers. Melubo, who identifies as Maasai—a pastoralist community in Kenya—highlighted the cultural parallels between her community and the cowboy ethos, though noting differences in traditional attire. The festival atmosphere was energized by performers such as Nigerian country singer Ochiora Okogeri, known professionally as the Country Man. Decked out in fringed leather, he captivated the audience with renditions of classic songs like Don Williams’s “I Believe in You,” encouraging enthusiastic participation in line dancing.
Okogeri, who originates from Nigeria, explained that performing in Kenya was comparatively easier than in his home country, where audiences predominantly favor Afrobeats—a genre blending jazz, funk, and traditional African folk elements. Speaking days before the event, he and festival organizer Elijah Manyeki shared their passion for country music over a conversation near a Nairobi shop specializing in cowboy apparel. Manyeki, who grew up enjoying western films and country tunes, opened the store after a visit to Texas and subsequently created the festival to provide a family-friendly venue for country music, which had previously been confined largely to bars and clubs in Kenya.
The inaugural festival last year primarily involved local performers and audiences, but this year attracted international attendees, including visitors from Europe. Among them was Krzysztof Gwozdzianski from Ireland, who traveled expressly to attend after viewing previous festival footage online.
Kenya’s country music scene continues to evolve, with many artists performing covers while increasingly incorporating local languages and cultural influences. At the festival, Ythera the Wildflower performed Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” in Kikuyu, Kenya’s largest ethnic group language, a move she said helps bridge country music to local audiences and promotes language appreciation internationally. This blending echoes similarities noted between Kikuyu folk music—particularly the Mugithi genre featuring a solo guitar and singer—and country music traditions.
Okogeri recounted his initial aversion to country music during childhood, only growing to appreciate the genre through exposure to his father’s playlists. He taught himself guitar, initially performing classic country covers in church before gaining popularity online. Currently, he writes original songs inspired by personal experiences, including “Loner in Limbo,” which he debuted at the festival to a receptive crowd.
Looking ahead, Manyeki expressed ambitions to expand the festival with tours across Africa, aiming to further cultivate interest in country music throughout the continent.