“Nairobi Nights: The City’s Best Spots for an Unforgettable Evening” from ANA Travel Editor in Nairobi, Kenya

From 2nd– 4th October 2024 the 14thedition of Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) took place at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi. It was a platform for B2B meetings between leading African products and top-producing global buyers. It was a good opportunity for the exhibitors to generate new business and to interact with international trade. The event attracted more than 5,000 delegates who could as well participate in seminars and market presentations in order to gain valuable information about the newest trends.

Asia 728x90

However Nairobi is not only good for business, it is also known for its exceptional nightlife.
Even after a long day at the trade fair, there is still plenty to do in Nairobi.

AfricaNewsAnalysis’ Travel Editor, Niels Bartels interviewed Tash Mutunga. She is the CEO and founder of “Invisible Men Investments Agency“ and “Clash of the Hoods Events“.

In a very interesting interview we found out how Tash started her career as MC and which Kenyan artists are taking the nightlife scene by storm. And of course, we also found out which clubs are the must visit nightclubs in Nairobi.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: What type of events does your agency organise?

Tash: We do different types of events. >From organising business dinners, themed parties, club events, hosting karaokes, concerts and club appearances for artists.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: Which type of services does your agency offer? What does your work day look like, which tasks do you have to fulfill for your clients?

Tash: We offer a variety of services which include club/event hosting, karaoke hosting, artist management, talent scouting/search, mixologists and also we have a department for transport this week that offers transportation services to artists, companies and individuals as well.

My day depends on how my previous night was like. There are days I work at night so some days I spend sleeping and resting. But if I don’t have work at night then my typical day starts at 5:30am. Do my morning routine which includes a workout and cleansing. After that I go to the office and take care of pending issues from bookings, planning the daily tasks not only for myself but other hosts we have onboard. Making calls and taking meetings to expand our portfolio and also get new clients on board. For our clients we organise transport for those booked with us, go to venues and make sure all is in order especially for clients who do private and themed parties with us ( birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, divorce parties, masquerade parties and so much more).

AfricaNewsAnalysis: Which artists have you worked together with so far?

Tash: I would say I have worked with a few names in the industry and I am forever grateful for them working with me.We have done a few collaborations with other agencies, event organisers, marketing agencies and individuals as well like CFA Events, Hit Kenya, Nairobi Street Food Festival, to make our events successful. Some of the artists we have worked with include Zzero Sufuri, Unpredictable JGB 100, Wakamba Wawili, Gabu, Ambassador, Chris Black, Rain Jax, Ukoo Flani, the late Fred Omondi, just to mention a few.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: You have worked with many artists. Is there any “fun story” you can tell us? Maybe anything unusual that happened where you had to improvise?

Tash: Yes I have a lot of them to tell but I don’t want to embarrass anyone so I’ll tell you mine instead. When we were starting out we had this community event we did at Dandora Stadium and our main MC of the day was late and the other MC wasn’t as engaging to the crowd as he wasn’t the main act. An hour and half had passed by and he was no show. So I had to take the mic and talk to the crowd. I cracked like two jokes and I had the attention of the crowd. Next thing I know I was running the show. That’s when I realised I could actually MC and since then I have never looked back. So that’s how Tash the MC was born. Oh and I fired the other MC and ran the show till the end.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: To which countries have you been to ? Either for collaboration, organising events or scouting?

Tash: Most of the events we have hosted are mainly local, that is just in Kenya, but we have plans to expand and grow our portfolio. So far I have been to Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana, Zambia, Dubai and the UK. Our goal is to be able to host and organise events in these places especially South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana as the music scene in these countries is huge as Kenya. We hope to tap into these markets soon and do a lot of collaborations with artists, agencies, and individuals as well to keep growing entertainment in Africa as a whole.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: What is special about nightlife in Kenya ?

Tash: The entertainment industry, especially in Kenya, has evolved over the years and grown so much that it’s one of the top employers to many people. We have seen growth and an embrace of live music culture, concerts, live performances and clubbing as well.

What makes nightlife in Kenya unique is that when we party we give it our all. We have a variety of scenes that cater to everyone’s needs and wants. From new and hot clubs that have DJs playing, live music performances, karaokes, live bands, themed nights, whatever you want in Nairobi you will get it. And the best part of it all is that there is always something happening every night so you have choices.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: Which Kenyan artists are taking the nightlife scene by storm?

Tash: The entertainment industry is usually a tricky one because mostly whichever artist is hot and has banging music usually dominates the scene at that moment. But I would say Nyashinski, Bien, Kaligraph Jones, King Kaka, Nviiri the Storyteller, Buruklyn Boys, Nadia Mukami, Nikita Kering, Bensoul and Otile Brown just to mention a few. Music is timeless and there are artists who just get it right everytime they release music and these are just some of the best we have in Kenya.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: So let’s now also talk about nightlife in Nairobi. What makes Nairobi’s nightlife so unique?

Tash: The mere fact that you are just in Nairobi is a unique experience of its own. But I would say that we have spots that accommodate everyone. From travellers to locals there is always a place open to cater for their needs. And also we have some of the best street foods and delicacies in the world. Whether it’s 2pm in the afternoon or 2am in the morning I can assure you that you will have a place to cater both for entertainment and food.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: Who are the hottest DJs in Kenya right now?

Tash: Wow. There are quite a number of DJs that are really killing it right now in Kenya. I have to say my top ones are DJ Joe Mfalme, DJ Kris Darling, DJ Moh Spice, DJ Grauchi, Blaze The DJ, DJ Lisney, DJ Pierra Makena, DJ Mochi Baybee, Deejay Mr. T, JT The Drone and DJ Tibs.

These are some of the DJs that will always bring a house down. Good music and good vibes through and through.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: What are the must visit nightclubs in Nairobi, what unique experiences do they offer to both locals and tourists?

Tash: The good thing about night clubs is that there is always one that is new and shiny. There are night clubs being open every now and then but also we have some that are just timeless and have dominated the market for the longest time. We have Quiver Lounges, Kentwood Address, Bar Next Door, Habanos, The Tunnel, 1824 Bar and Restaurant, The Alchemist, 40Forty Lounge, K1 Club House, Bar XO Runda, Art Club, Milan. The list is endless. Nairobi has one of the best and vibrant nightlife. The experiences you get out of these entertainment places is that if you want quiet and slow music you will get, if you want a vibrant, loud and electric experience you will get. If you are into live bands and live performances you will get. If you are into cultural music and performances you will get a variety and choices for everyone.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: How is the after-hours culture in Nairobi evolving, particularly with the rise of live music, themed parties and rooftop bars?

Tash: The nightlife scene in Nairobi is just one to admire and love. The evolvement has been exponential and people have embraced it to the fullest. There is even a joke among folks that nightlife in Nairobi is all the therapy one needs to reset and get things moving forward. With the increase of live bands and performances, karaoke nights and even themed parties (i.e Masquerade parties and pool parties), have given people something to look forward to after a busy day at work and the best part of it is most of these establishments operate throughout the night. With some of them being rooftop bars they actually give people an amazing ambience and service capped with some of the best scenes you can enjoy on a clear night any day.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: We have just recently had the travel expo “ Magical Kenya 2024“ – with a lot of visitors in Nairobi (who might wish to go to a club after the event) Which places in Nairobi do you recommend visitors of a trade fair after a long day at a trade fair stand ? Does  your agency profit from such events ? Do you have any collaborations in that area? Or do you see any possibilities how your agency can profit from such trade shows / trade fairs ?

Tash: Depending on what one might be looking for, then there are quite a number of places to visit. We have two types of scenes in Nairobi nightlife. We have chilled spots with low music and cool ambience and we have vibrant and more fun spaces with bustling music. So this one depends more on what a revealer might be interested in. As an agency we don’t profit from such fairs because we don’t have a partnership with the organisers. We haven’t done any collaborations yet with trade fair organisers but it’s something we are looking into in the future. The possibilities in the entertainment industry are endless. One of the things we are working on is a collaboration with such organisations so that we can be able to lift the pressure from them on organising where their clientele will go after the day’s activities. With us we are able to book these places in advance and also ensure that they get the maximum experience by the end of the night. We also offer transportation services so a collaboration with such a fair would mean we can organise for transport for their clientele as well.

AfricaNewsAnalysis: Thank you so much for your time. This has been an amazing interview!