We made it to Kilele, and beyond.

Nearly two months after the final beats echoed through The Mall, we are still coming back down to earth from a week that was as thrilling as it was demanding. What unfolded was more than a summit. It was a living, breathing moment of connection. To everyone who showed up and shaped this experience, thank you. Your presence made Kilele what it was. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the Kilele team, whose care, dedication, and intention carried every moment of the summit and helped create something that felt, even briefly, like a small utopia.

In the coming weeks, we will be sharing the Kilele aftermovie, alongside videos, images, and stories from across the week. Stay connected through our channels.

We moved through stormy weather and, at times, real-world disruption, yet still found space to listen, to learn, to speak, and to dance. There was a shared urgency in every room, every set, every conversation, a reflection of the times we are living in. Above all, there was sound, and there was solidarity. Across borders, across practices, across genders, ages, and backgrounds.

Kilele 2026 took place from 23 to 28 February under the theme Sound and Solidarity, bringing together a vibrant and diverse creative community:

• 3,250 attendees across six days
• 117 active participants, including artists, speakers, and facilitators
• 48 percent of participants identified as non-male
• Representation from 22 countries

Across the week, 70 sessions were held:

• Eight panels featuring 33 speakers
• 19 workshops led by 37 facilitators
• Two installations featuring seven artists
• 22 performances and showcases
• Six presentations
• One screening
• Six sundowners featuring 12 DJs

Beyond the physical space, Kilele reached over 500,000 people online.

These milestones were made possible by a dedicated team of 26 organisers and 25 volunteers, whose work continues to shape the future of this community.

The summit also extended beyond Nairobi through broadcast partnerships. Live audio streams aired via Radio Calotropis and were syndicated to five stations across Europe, while a video livestream by Studio Can-V brought audiences even closer to the experience.

Words from the community

“The biggest highlight was experiencing the incredibly curated panels and workshops, and dancing on Friday night. The engagements I was part of, including the panel and the label mixer, received such positive feedback.”

“The programming was incredible. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and the whole experience was deeply inspiring. Nairobi has such a unique energy. I did not hear a single bad set the entire time.”

“The intermissions in the upstairs space were beautiful, and the music curation throughout was consistently strong.”

“The care theme was felt from the moment we arrived until the end. I felt seen and supported everywhere I went.”

“The Munyu Gallery exhibition bridging visual and audio was powerful. The panels were revelatory, and the final showcase was unforgettable, from Mehmet and Jim’s collaboration to the DJ sets by Kampire and others.”

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback through our post-event survey. Two randomly selected participants were awarded a pair of ADAM Audio H200 headphones and a Komplete Ultimate 13 software suite from Native Instruments.

Kilele continues.