A different kind of nightlife: Nairobians turn famous CBD area into an entertainment spot

Many who spoke to Wananchi Reporting said open air entertainment is fast becoming part of Nairobi’s CBD furniture as young people innovative ways to have fun.

“I no longer have visit a pub or a concert in the middle of a pitch far from town. It’s all coming to us in the CBD, and for free,” said Valenta Wangai who hails from Nairobi town.

The Archives is becoming the epicentre of quick street entertainment; with events featuring gospel and secular artists.

The events, which characteristically happen between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, are already pulling massive crowds, mostly young men and women returning home from their hustles in the CBD and its immediate surroundings.

Rather than line up for years waiting to catch a bus home – many would rather join the night chorus and shake their legs to pass time.

Javan Kamau who works in Upper Hill is already a regular at some of these soft events.

He told Wananchi Reporting that the events are therapeutic – and often helps him wind down time as he waits for traffic to dissipate.

“You come here around 7:30pm and you will find a large crowd of people consisting of both young and the old. All we do is listen to live performances and dance to good music,” says Javan.

“Other times we just watch football on a giant screen, then proceed home later at night,” adds Javan, referencing World Cup and the African Cup of Nation games that were aired on giant screen at the same spot. Sometimes it’s just prayers and worship events.

The street performances are often hurried – but are good quality.  The audiences are usually electric; made up of young blood.

The same dance floor is shared equally by people hurrying home after a long day at the office.

Many don’t care about the music – and will only throw that occasional side look.

One has to literally squeeze through a mass of people busy shinning their phones to the skies and dancing, to make it to the other end of the street.

You will hear many signing to tunes they are already too familiar with – and while at it – showing their dance moves to strangers.

Nairobi streets have not experienced many out-door gigs of this nature, attracting hundreds of people, at no fee.

“It’s not uncommon to find one or two people plucking their guitars and singing to audiences who don’t even listen. This one is big, and many people are loving them,” says Henry Osito, who has attended a handful of these outdoor concerts here at Archives.

Henry says he is getting used to the new form of entertainment – and does not mind attending live shows two or three times in a week.

“Just yesterday I watched this incredibly talented performers give an electric performance to a rapturous audience at Archives. All the people were there randomly… no connection save for the love of music and dance,” says Jenvey Mwema, a regular attendee of these town events.

“It is almost same quality of gig, with a varying type of audience, mostly people clad in office wear, heading back home from work," says Mwema.