by Naftali Mwaura
NAIROBI, April 7 (Xinhua) — Despite the chilly weather, a youthful crowd gathered at the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) dome in Nairobi on Saturday evening for the Boomfest, a music concert sponsored by Boomplay, a popular music streaming platform in Africa.
As popular artists took the brightly lit stage one by one, the atmosphere in the ASK dome became electric with the audience enjoying the performances.
A female rap artist, Sylvia Saru, headlined the show and captivated fans with her powerful stage presence and songs that resonated with popular social themes.
“The main aim of this Boomfest show is to bring us together, celebrate Kenyan music, and promote visibility for our local artists,” Saru mentioned during the festival.
Among the Chinese companies backing the event was Transsion, the parent company of smartphone brands like Infinix, Tecno, and Itel, along with Oraimo, a company that produces wearables and music-listening devices.
Boomfest was organized by Boomplay, Africa’s largest music streaming platform, co-founded by a young Chinese entrepreneur and Kenyan innovators, that brought together over ten local artists for the festival.
Martha Huro, the managing director for East Africa at Boomplay, emphasized that the festival aimed to celebrate the growth of indigenous music in Africa while acknowledging the resilience and talent of local artists. “We want to celebrate African music here in Africa, which is not always the case. As the leading music streaming app in Africa, we felt it was important to host a festival for the African market,” Huro stated.
Huro highlighted how Boomplay has transformed Kenya’s entertainment scene by enhancing relationships between artists and their fans, providing local artists with additional revenue streams, combating piracy, and offering an affordable and user-friendly platform compared to Western competitors.
With over 100 million users across Africa and approximately 4.5 million active users in Kenya, Huro revealed that Boomplay has become a favorite among local artists, attracting around 10,000 musicians to the platform.
She explained that Boomplay’s business model focuses on meeting the needs of local users, hosting live music events, and diversifying revenue streams, making it sustainable and beneficial for artists and music lovers alike.
Aside from showcasing local talent, Boomfest also created economic opportunities for vendors in the transportation and hospitality sectors, demonstrating the wider impact of music events on the local economy.
Benjamin Otwal, a recording label owner and former employee of Boomplay, observed that Boomfest allowed the music platform to directly engage with its users, enhance their experiences, and boost revenues.
Furthermore, he noted that Kenyan artists and their fans have embraced the benefits of streaming music thanks to Boomplay’s accessible platform that caters to a broad audience.
A music promoter known as Jinx praised Boomfest for elevating the profiles of local artists and providing a conducive environment for artists to connect with their fans. “It’s great to see more events like Boomfest that spotlight our local talent and strengthen the bond between artists and their audience,” Jinx remarked.
