Why Kenya's Creative Economy Policy Matters More Than Ever

How East African artists are creating Afrofuturist visions that go beyond Hollywood stereotypes and imagine truly African futures.

From Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o to Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, East African writers have long produced world-class literature. It's time the world took notice.

The case for establishing a distinctly Kenyan literary tradition — one that centres our languages, our histories, and our ways of seeing the world.

The case for establishing a distinctly Kenyan literary tradition — one that centres our languages, our histories, and our ways of seeing the world.

From colonial-era cultural policies to modern funding structures, external forces have long shaped Kenyan artistic expression. It's time for a critical examination.

From immersive performances to sold-out runs, Nairobi's theatre scene is thriving. But structural challenges threaten its sustainability.

For generations, the Kenyan dream followed a familiar script: excel in school, secure a stable job, and build a life. Creativity was a hobby, not a career. But today, young Kenyans are tearing up that script. Faced with a tough economy and an unemployment crisis, a generation of educated, tech-savvy youth is turning to digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify to monetize their passions. From beat-making and podcasting to content creation, they are proving that creativity is not just self-expression—it's a viable livelihood. While the system is still catching up, with policies slowly evolving and parents beginning to see creative work as "real work," the shift is undeniable. In this new narrative, young Kenyans aren't just making art while looking for a job; they are making art as the job.

Once the soundtrack of Kenya, benga music has faded from the mainstream. What happened, and can it make a comeback?

The internationally acclaimed Kenyan-born artist shares her thoughts on identity, displacement, and the power of African imagination in contemporary art.