Celebrating our heritage
The Madaraka Day Nyatiti Jazz Experience is coming to you this June 1st, 2025 live from Nairobi and it features the best of African Jazz by yours truly, His Nyatitiness – Makadem.
In partnership with Two Grapes – Wine & Friends, off George Padmore Road in Kilimani, this unique concert will walk music lovers through an epic 20 years of Makadem’s dynamic musical journey.
On their socials, Two Grapes – Wine & Friends, the hosts of the event, describe themselves as “a warm and relaxing space, where friends, families or colleagues can get together, relax and share good times over a glass of wine and good food. We toast to life. And we are more than a wine bar. We are an experience.”
And what better way to celebrate Madaraka Day than with family while sipping on a glass of wine, as you wile the time away with African Jazz at its best? Well, Makadem has now given you a perfect weekend plot.
The reinvention of Makadem
Makadem, fondly known as His Nyatitiness, is a master of reinvention whose career has blossomed through four distinct musical personas, each unique but with a touch of African routes.
The celebrated artist stepped onto the music scene as Mr. Lololova, a dancehall star who captivated Kenyan audiences with his unique version of dancehall music.
He then transformed into Ohanglaman, the Benga beat maestro. And when the fans thought he had found his niche, he again evolved into Mganga Mkuu, the pioneer of NyatitiTronik — a bold fusion of traditional Nyatiti and electronic house music.
Today however, Makadem is deep into his latest phase – The Nyatiti Jazz Experience, a genre-bending celebration of Kenya’s musical heritage with a futuristic twist.
It is safe to say Makadem has contemporized Nyatiti music, giving it his own Afro futuristic unique style.
Backed by a talented 8-piece band — including two female background vocalists, a saxophonist, drummer, lead guitarist, percussionist, bass player, and keyboardist — this Afro-fusion performance promises to bridge generations.
His unique style also honors the ancient sounds of the Nyatiti, a traditional eight-stringed plucked bowl yoke lute from the Luo people of Kenya, which are then blended with contemporary African jazz and electronic influences.
Through this unique blend of Nyatiti Jazz, Makadem will celebrate Madaraka Day by symbolizing the freedom Kenyans gained in 1963 — not just political freedom, but the creative liberty to preserve, transform, and joyfully express African culture in bold, contemporary ways.
“This show isn’t just about music; it’s about preserving and reimagining culture. It is about the freedom to blend ancient rhythms with modern beats, to tell our stories in new ways, and to let African heritage grow, breathe, and thrive through sound,” says Makadem.
By contemporizing Nyatiti music, Makadem hopes to keep this rich Kenyan and global heritage alive for future audiences. And what better day to celebrate this than on Madaraka Day!
What is Madaraka Day?
Madaraka Day is one of Kenya’s most significant national holidays, commemorated every June 1st. It marks the historic day in 1963 when Kenya gained internal self-rule from British colonial powers, a crucial milestone ahead of full independence later that year.
The word Madaraka means ‘authority’ or ‘self-governance’ in Kiswahili, and the day celebrates the country’s journey toward freedom, resilience, and nationhood.
It’s a time for Kenyans to reflect on their past, honor those who fought for liberation, and embrace the diverse cultures that make up the nation’s identity.
Happy Madaraka Day folks!
