Last year, Soon-to-be Kenya’s former President, William Ruto, announced that the Kenyan government had paid 500 million Kenyan shillings to host the Grammy Awards in Kenya. However, neither the Kenyan government nor the Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, has been able to provide proof of payment or a legal agreement to verify whether the Kenyan president's statement has any validity. Can you imagine what 500 million shillings could […]
Every year, thousands of Kenyans follow the select few golfers who qualify for Kenya’s prestigious Golfing tournament, The Magical Kenya Open. Despite the sporting event’s huge turnout every year, in the thirty years that I have attended the Kenya Open, a Kenyan golfer has never won the tournament, and even worse, each year it seems like fewer Kenyans can make the cut. So, the question is, what will it take […]
The truth is that it’s not that radio stations don’t want to hire you; it's that they cannot afford to hire you. Radio has never been a low-budget business. When the COVID–19 pandemic happened, less advertising budgets were allocated to radio and more allocated to digital advertising. It is amazing to see that most of the major podcasts in the 254 have advertising. With less advertising on the radio, radio […]
Kenyan Trumpeter Mackinlay Mutsembi attempted to set a Guinness World Record for the longest trumpet performance in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 31, 2025. The attempt was to play continuously for 24 hours, which Mackinlay managed to complete. Mackinlay Mutsembi is known as the African Trumpeter. His Guinness World Record attempt was inspired by Mutsembi’s previous 12-hour performance at Geco Cafe in Nairobi. For his Guinness world Record Attempt, Mackinlay returned […]
We at Radio 254 do not advocate or promote violence of any kind but by looking at the success Kendrick Lamar had last year culminating in 5 Grammy wins and a Superbowl performance, you cannot help but think about all the perks that winning a rap beef especially if you also get to have the bragging rights. Don’t know what I am talking about? Let me bring things back home […]
Sometimes, I wonder, "Where did Tetu Shani go?” I had the amazing privilege of knowing and meeting him when he walked into Radio 254’s studios in 2021. The truth is that at the time, I had never heard any of his music but remember seeing his red car in a Junior Nyong’o music video, so it was cool to see it parked outside the studio. One day, I will tell […]
Sampling in music is using a portion of an existing recording in the production of a new song. The sampled material can be a rhythm, melody, beat, vocals, or speech. Most Kenyans became aware of sampling as an art form when the arbantone genre began to be popular. Arbantone became a popular genre in Kenyan music between 2023 and 2024, with producer Sound Kraft and his Like a Boss records […]
There is no denying that Diamond Platnumz is the biggest artist in and from East Africa. To say that Diamond is the biggest artist in Tanzania or Kenya would be an understatement. You can play or book Diamond Platnumz at an event in any part of Kenya, and you are guaranteed that people will be willing to pay money to see him perform and know the lyrics to his songs […]
There is no denying that in 2025 Gengetone is back! However, there are questions on everyone’s mind: will it last and where had it gone? In the last month, we have received new releases from breakout Gengetone groups Ochungulo Family and Boondocks Gang. We now wait to see whether the comeback will be long or short-lived, with many people’s prayers answered by the comeback of Gengetone. In 2020, as the […]
There is no denying the global reach and impact that Afrobeats and Afro-fusion have in the global music industry. It is no longer shocking to hear African music playing as you walk down the streets of New York, London, Dubai, Amsterdam, and even Beijing. As a result of the internet, African music is not just limited to Africa or its specific country of origin but is available to anyone with […]
