Kenya: Music and poetry pair up at Love Made in Eastlando concert

The seating arrangement maintained social distancing regulations at the venue and the attendees were required to wear face masks.

The concert was organised as part of the ongoing Made in Eastlando installation by stylist and visual artist Kevo Abbra in collaboration with Teardrops. The two artists use house installations made out of iron sheets and poetry lines to tell the story of the different people, cultures, preferences and beliefs that make up the working-class neighbourhood of Eastlands in Nairobi. The language used to describe the installations is mostly Sheng (slang), which is the dominant tongue in Eastlands. The neighbourhood boasts areas like Baba Dogo, Dandora, Mathare, Huruma, Kariobangi, Buruburu, Umoja, Utawala and Kayole.

“The exhibition portrays these areas as real cultural hubs and symbols of diversity and expression,” Mandela, who grew up in Eastlands, told Music In Africa. “Most of the things used are second-hand. So what do we do? We live in a second-hand world where we make the old look good because we do not need new clothes – we need clean clothes.”

In a changing world defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, these artists invited the public to experience new forms of solidarity and to explore the available spaces for social engagement. For instance, a shoe repair shop (kinyozi) installation not only represents the act of fixing and remodelling footwear but also symbolises a safe space where anyone can open up to strangers and get advice. “In all these spaces that are showcased, people are comfortable enough to share conversations, thus not only repairing shoes or fixing hair but also touching souls,” Teardrops said. 

About 4pm, Mandela got on stage as the first main act. The former member of the celebrated Sarabi band, which is mostly based in Dar es Salaam, brought humour, offsetting his serious demeanour. He played a gentle semi-acoustic set, and towards the end of his set he was joined was by guitarist and former bandmate Adam ‘Dushman’ Mwadama to perform ‘Msalimie’. Mandela’s setl explored social, economic and political problems. “There is no point of performance without truth,” he told the crowd. 

Next on stage, armed with a semi-acoustic guitar, was Teardrops. With more than a decade of experience writing poetry, his works have come to be recognised as engaging the urgency of our times and the surroundings he lives in. His performance was poetry-driven and accompanied by background instruments including a saxophone, guitar and percussion. Each poem had highlights of humour and moments of truth. He eloquently touched on a confluence of themes that many Kenyans living in Eastlands can relate to, and reflected on his commitment to community. He celebrated gender, religion, love and politics.

An outstanding poem was ‘Daughter When You Are Grown’ – a letter to his daughter full of pop culture references: “Daughter when you are grown, and a man older than your father ... wants to court you, I want you to tell him this, ‘I am diabetic, I don't do sugar daddies’.”

The concert also showcased upcoming poets, and it was Anthem Republiq who stole the show. He performed with attention to rhythm and gesticulations while the audience members responded with supportive finger snaps.