Nairobi’s growing reputation as a creative hub received another boost last month as emerging East African artists gathered for the first-ever Fresh Finds Sessions in the region, an initiative aimed at connecting rising talent with experienced industry players beyond the pressure of commercial releases and chart success.
The two-day session brought together musicians, producers and songwriters from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for two days of collaboration, recording and conversation about the realities of building sustainable music careers in Africa’s rapidly evolving industry.
The Nairobi edition followed previous Fresh Finds Sessions in Lagos and Cape Town, but this one carried a distinctly East African identity.
The artistes who took part included We Are Nubia, Hood Boyz, Ila Nia, Zaituni, Hildah Watiri, Kahuti and Genes1s, alongside Uganda’s Vyroota and Tanzanian singer Phany Love.
What made the sessions stand out was not simply the access to recording facilities or high-profile names attached to the project, but the atmosphere of exchange between artistes at different stages of their careers.
