Oral East Africa>Ol school RnB is queen of Kisumu parties At the hut of the story

Written by Oral East Africa

Kisumu Old School Brunch, the hottest show in Kenya’s lakeside city, just can’t seem to be able to estimate its popularity.

The R&B Brunch stole the show last weekend despite the party scene having drawn big names like Prince Indah who perfumed at Club Da’Place’s Kikao Sunday, Emma Jalamo who was at Black Pearl Lounge, Odongo Swag in Kakamega, and Okello Max who returned to his city with a gig at The Otro Lounge.

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The organizers Brenda and Chef Bakhita have held this event twice and each time it has sold out on space, food and drinks spilling onto the road and next-door neighbour establishment just to stay close to the hum of R’n B.

It is clear that this show can fill a stadium and there goes what the entertainment scene has been asking of this market. Here’s a show that will pull even outsiders across East Africa to the shores of Lake Victoria.

Squashed like Alleyways

We have been to Radio City, home of Urban Radio for events and none had announced itself as this. As you approached cars lined up the side walk for stretches forcing revelers to make the venue walking a bit of a stretch.

The fashion sense was hot despite temptations of the heavens to sog us, with weather predictions projecting showers at some point.

A lot of thought had gone into trying to make the space at Radio City accommodate as many people as it could, creating a food court, a photo booth, sitting space, and a small dancefloor for when you have to get your back off that wall.

But it simply was not enough. By the time we arrived, the place was full to capacity while behind us more throngs of people were arriving and a boda boda stage had quickly been created pulled by the crowds of people picking rides to the event.

A lorry had been backed up to the entrance bringing in more tables and chairs that were now being perched anywhere and everywhere to create more sitting space for the overwhelming crowds.

In no time Radio City resembled Alleyways- the popular city party sport owned by one of the organizers, Brenda; the way revelers had to skirt in between the crowded tables in the space was just not enough, but the music was too good to leave.

We noticed that most of the people who were waiting for extra seats and tables were Kisumu residents who thronged the venue way after 2 O’clock, meaning, most revelers from neighboring towns had arrived at the venue by morning and had secured the best spots.

The deco was also top-notch complete with unique flower arrangements, hanging bandanas, and a black-and-white photo booth. The food was also tasty and the portions were decent. We had to go find out where Chef Bhakita was based just to go and eat that food again.

A pause

Old School RnB does something to us women. Our voices rose to the lyrics as the DJ transported us to our younger selves in front of mirrors practicing vocals to become famous singers one day. Some of us went into those old days when we wrote down these lyrics in books and dedicated them to our first lovers.

The songs that made us hopeless romantics and carried us through heartbreaks. We sang along and danced all night. It truly felt like a time-pod at the RnB brunch. Like home. It was no wonder the place was packed.

Being at the old-school brunch brought a lot of nostalgia. The music they played was the ones we listened to growing up, those Saturdays when everyone was home cleaning, with loud RnB music and stories and laughter; the sounds you could hear were the best.

Older sisters would dance listening to the radio and had books full of lyrics where they would write down every word in each song and make cutouts of the lyrics from the local dailies pasted on the walls and cupboards.

Then the DJ took a pause in the music and the ladies took over, sticking to the lyrics and the tone and letting go into the communal chant like it was the most exhilarating thing they have done in a while.

At the end of the song, the DJ kept it quiet, letting the crowd chatter, friends catch up, and remember. Like they wanted the crowd to relish this experience and what had really brought them out here.

Then the music blasted back and even though the show had run out of space, food, and drinks, it had surely kept on giving in terms of music that would make this and an even bigger crowd return.

Having cracked the market through well-calculated social media marketing, including hosting The Old School Brunch podcast, fans, and R&B enthusiasts are eager to know what's next, where- preferably a bigger space and what new promises the event holds for them.