International cowboys and cowgirls celebrate in Kenya

While country music and cowboy culture are often associated with the USA, what was announced as Africa's first international cowboys and cowgirls day shows how popular this genre becomes increasingly in Kenya.

a big festival in Nairobi

The event took place last Saturday on the NGONG racing area in Nairobi and attracted hundreds of fans who were dressed in boots, cowboy hats and denim clothing. The focus of the celebrations was Sir Elvis, Kenya loved ambassador of Country Music, whose appearance attracted both long-time followers and curious newcomers.

an unforgettable experience

In addition to the musical performances, the participants were able to ride on mechanical bulls, browse into western clothing and take part in cowboy games that brought a touch of the wild West to Nairobi.

The roots of country music in Kenya

The idea for this event comes from Elijah manyki, who heads a local clothing and event company called Cowboys and Cowgirls. The event is a sign of the growing popularity of country music in the country. Kenya has a relationship with this music genre, which extends to the 20s and 30s of the last century back.

an electrifying ambience

"You can hear country music in small bars around Nairobi, but not to this extent. It was surprising to see how many fans of this genre Kenya have," said photographer Fredrik Lerneryd, who documented the event. Lerneryd described the atmosphere of the day as "absolutely electrifying" and added that "people really gave everything in their clothes".

a promising future for the event

"I hope I could capture the love, passion and joy that fans feel for country music. It was all the best," he added. Leila Awuor, the organizer of the event, said CNN that "the event has great potential to bring art and culture to a larger platform and to grow with a significant impetus". She is convinced that it will probably become a regular part of the social calendar in Nairobi.