Nairobi to host second edition of ‘Women In Music’ concert series

Women In Music is a regular platform for young women to showcase their stage performance skills through regular live shows. It typically features three performers staging an acoustic performance of their songs. The first concert took place in April with a line-up of Maia von Lekow, Mishel Muriuki and Prisca Ojwang'. The series is aimed at promoting mentorship and encourage cross-genre collaborations between upcoming and established female musicians in order to propagate unity, cooperation and solidarity within the broader society.

The July edition brings three versatile female performers together on one stage: Sage, Sali Oyugi and Navalayo Nazzva.

Born Barbra Chepkoech Ng’eno, Sage got her first break when she became the backing vocalist and keyboardist for Muthoni the Drummer Queen, with whom she was able to hone her skills before embarking on a solo career in 2011. Since the 2013 release of her hit ‘So Alive’, a collaboration with popular Kenyan rapper Octopizzo, Sage went on to release ‘Maskini’ as well as various collaborations with other Kenyan acts, including rap group One-Two-Five and Jay A, with whom she released the hit ‘Dumbala’. In April 2016 she released a 13-track solo album, Expose Yourself.

Sali Oyugi is a singer/songwriter and social activist with a dual heritage from her Kenyan father and Tanzanian mother. In 1997 Sali was in the UK to performed at a solar energy convention, where she met renowned Kenyan artist Ayub Ogada, who encouraged her to continue pursuing her music career. After this trip, Sali released her first solo project, a three-track EP that received rave reviews and frequent airplay in Nairobi. Her first album Vuma! was released in 2002 and got similarly strong reviews and media coverage. It was followed in 2007 by The Return: Journey Back to the Source and Uromo, recently mastered at Ketebul Music Studios. Sali has also founded an NGO, Leko Arts Initiative, which trains children from poor neighbourhoods in Kenya.

A relative newcomer on the scene, Navalayo Nazzva will bring a dose rock, jazz and classical influences to the evening. An alumni of the Nairobi-based Sauti Academy, Navalayo has been performing since the age of nine and confesses to being in loved with the bass guitar as much as the violin, cello and opera music. She replaces Ythera, who was initially scheduled to perform at the event.

The concert kicks off at 7pm and the entry fee is KES 500. For updates and more details visit the Facebook event page.