Sawa Sawa 2009
The three day Sawa Sawa Festival was again a huge success, with thousands of energized listeners crowding the new Sarakasi Dome. Though housed in a smaller venue than previous years, the festival still brought the same level energy and excitement, while at the same time reinvigorating a troubled neighborhood.

The VIP Reception, held Friday May 29th was a sensational affair with rooftop and stage performances by several amazing artists. In attendance was Tourism Minister Najib Balala who spoke of the importance of promoting the arts.
Strewn with international and Kenyan artists, the next two days of the festival offered music for every taste.

The Festival had a great mix of artists from several continents. Sarakasi was thrilled to have the HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) artists from the United States grace the stage during the festival. Among them were Renee Wilson, Big Kenny, Damien Horne, and DJ Troublemaker- all crowd favorites. BOOM FM from the Netherlands performed on our spin stage to thousands of revelers. Presenting music seldom heard in any Kenyan venue was Mariachi singer Omar Arreola, who had that classic Latin flair that dazzled the audience.

Sawa Sawa 2009 was also highlighted by several of Kenya’s best musicians and performers. The soulful songs of Nina Ogot, and Maia performed in the new Sawa Sawa bar, were enjoyed by all. In addition, the ladies swooned over the scintillating Sauti Sol boys who performed several of their hits for the eager audience. The Sarakasi All-Stars, who never disappoint, also entertained the audience with both traditional and contemporary numbers.
Sarakasi would like to thank all sponsors, contributors, artists and staff who made the Festival such an outstanding success!

Sawa Sawa 2008
During the first part of 2008 not only were we finalising renovations and moving into the Dome, we were also busy organising the 2008 Celtel Sawa Sawa Festival, which was held on the weekend of the Dome opening. Not content with the massive success of the 2007 Festival we worked tirelessly to stage the biggest and best Sawa Sawa Festival to date. The two-day festival was held in perfect weather over the weekend of May 31st/June 1st at two Nairobi venues, The Arboretum and Kasarani Stadium. The festivals were graced with international greats Baaba Maal (Senegal), Black Uhuru (Jamaica), Habanasax (Cuba), Percus Nomades (Benin), Mahotella Queens (South Africa), Ustaad Rafat Khan (India) and Beef (The Netherlands), along with some of Kenya’s hottest artists such as, Atemi, Heart ‘N’ Soul, Makadem, Kanji Mbugua, General Onyx, The Warriors and Jua Kali Drummers, to name but a few. Naturally the Sarakasi Artists were on hand to wow the crowds with their gravity defying physical feats.
The two-day extravaganza attracted a record attendance of over 80,000 people from all walks of life united simply by music. Sarakasi has always had a goal of bringing arts and people together through culture. Through this festival, people come together
across gender, age, economic standing, culture and tribe. The 2008 festival was not only a chance for all these communities to come together and enjoy 2 days of world-class entertainment, but for all to begin to heal from the recent trauma. We are most grateful for the support we received from the Royal Netherlands Embassy an Celtel Kenya for this significant event on Kenya’s cultural calendar.

Sawa Sawa 2007
The 2007 Sawa Sawa Festival organized by Sarakasi Trust was a great success by all terms setting new records in attendance, sound and production. The event surpassed all expectations by revelers and organizers alike by bringing together a grand collection of artistes from all over the world and one of the biggest gatherings a musical event has ever attracted.

Sawa Sawa Festival 2007 was put together by Sarakasi Trust in an effort to bring quality entertainment to all Kenyans indiscriminative while at the same time celebrating the diversity of culture. The two-day event received massive support from local and international partners among them The Royal Netherlands Embassy, Celtel, Mundial Productions, KCB/ Metro, Stadia Management, KLM, Capital FM and the Ministry Of Culture. Invited to spice up the event was South Africa's jazz maestro Hugh Masekela and Jamaica's Burning Spear. Others included Dutch Reggae Luie Hond and pianist Mike Del Ferro and Kenya's very own Eric Wainaina, Harry Kimani, Ayub Ogada, Cheche and Bad Man Kollege.

Saturday's event at the Nairobi Arboretum that attracted over 7000 music lovers began just after midday with tantalizing performances from Cheche, Harry Kimani, Mike Del Ferro, Eric Wainaina and London based Ayub Ogada. Harry Kimani then came back accompanied by orphaned children from Wema Center in Mombasa and delivered a powerful introduction to Africa's Jazz ambassador Hugh Masekela who did not fail to impress either. He belted out tune after tune under the twilight sky and into the darkness of the night as crowds refused to let him go. The location further added great intimacy to the performance which had to be stopped, albeit ruefully, at half past eight. Nevertheless the attendees had their fill of the ever youth full Jazz legend.

Crowds started trickling into the Kasarani Stadium the following day by 8.00 am with a few mistaking the ongoing sound check by reggae icon Burning Spear as the actual performance. By the time the event officially began there was an eager crowd of over 50,000 peacefully chanting as they awaited the maiden performance of the African Teacher (as Burning Spear is fondly referred to by his fans) while hundreds more continued swarming in and to warm them up was Kenyan reggae band Bad Man Kollege and Holland's Luie Hond who are currently on a Sarakasi Trust supported exchange program. MC's Kris Darling, Junior Dread, Bayo and DJ Lastborn also kept the crowds on their feet in between performances.

When he finally arrived, Burning Spear thoroughly endeared his fans with over two hours of non-stop playing and candidly delivered messages through his already popular music. The crowd chanted along to every song and even as he prepared to leave the stage they screamed his name and forced him back on for a much deserved encore.

The much anticipated chaos did not materialize as the 60,000 strong crowds peacefully made their way home, happy to have been accorded a chance to meet their icon at no charge.

The event also witnessed the biggest sound and stage in East and Central Africa with absolutely no hitches much to the relief of the fans.

Sarakasi has raised the bar yet again in event production and succeeded in bringing the finest of world talent to our doorstep in the biggest cultural celebration ever witnessed and promises to give nothing less in upcoming events.