Last year in December, Kenya was rocked by post-election violence that saw lives lost and property destroyed. Other people were displaced from their homes, while still others affected have not been able to get back to their normal lives or return to the place they used to call home.

Nine months later, Nairobi residents enjoyed an extravagant music concert at the Uhuru Park grounds. A capacity crowd of more than 10,000 people was rocked by an explosive performance by Jua kali, Admiral T from France, Ukoo Flani, Texta from Austria, Viola from Finland, Makadem, and many more local artistes at the Europe-Kenya Unity in Diversity concert.

Music was the universal language as the audience danced to the different types of music ranging from Hip Hop to Afro-fusion. Ukoo Flani, a hip hop group from Nairobi, made the concert lively as the weather changed and started raining. They later collaborated with Texta from Austria for at least thirty minutes of a pulsating show. Little known to the Kenyans, Admiral T, a French reggae artiste, conquered the airwaves at the venue. “I am very pleased with the turn out of people to this event despite the weather,” said Helene Bekker, the executive director of Alliance Française in Nairobi, one of the main organizers alongside the European Union, the French Embassy to Kenya, and the Department of Culture in Kenya to name a few.

Jua Kali was the long awaited sensation as he stormed the podium with lines from his new song, ‘Ngeli ya Genge’. The 29 year-old has been a fixture in the Kenyan music industry  the last few years and growing internationally. He has been nominated for the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards alongside a fellow female artiste, Wahu. His name, Jua Kali, literally meaning ‘hot sun’, failed to make sense at the event as rain showered the ever cheerful fans of Nairobi. He instead came up with a slogan, ‘wachaa inyeshe‘, (Swahili for ‘let it rain’) as he performed.

Despite the heavy down pour of rain, an excellent show was experienced by many Kenyans and they were still ready to party longer even after the event closed down an hour after the scheduled time. “We will continue to support the Kenyan musicians and help build peace in Kenya,” added Helene with an expression of satisfaction.