For a genre many had already written off, Gengetone is getting another shot at the big stage. SolFest 2026 is bringing the sound back into the spotlight with a dedicated Gengetone set, potentially giving a new generation of fans a chance to experience the genre that once dominated Kenya’s youth music scene. Organisers say the move is part of the festival’s effort to celebrate the genre’s contribution to Kenya’s contemporary musical identity.
Solfest 2026 is scheduled for December 17–19 at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, with the festival expanding its programming across different sounds, including Afro-fusion, Gengetone and electronic music.
The return of a dedicated Gengetone segment comes at a time when the genre’s biggest wave has cooled from the explosive period that produced acts such as Sailors, Mbogi Genje and Boondocks Gang. Rather than treating Gengetone as a nostalgic throwback, SolFest is positioning it alongside other contemporary African sounds, giving the genre a dedicated platform within a major festival.
The decision also builds on SolFest’s broader approach of bringing different generations and styles of Kenyan music together. Its 2025 edition included established names and newer acts, with the festival describing itself as a platform for celebrating African musical talent.
The move could reignite conversations about whether Gengetone still has the cultural pull it once enjoyed or whether its strongest era has already passed. For artists associated with the genre and the fans who grew up on its sound, however, the dedicated set offers an opportunity to put Gengetone back in front of a large live audience.
With SolFest 2026 expected to attract music fans across different age groups, the Gengetone stage will be one of the festival’s interesting tests: can a sound that once ruled Kenyan youth culture command the same energy again, or is this simply nostalgia dressed up as a comeback?
The answer will come when SolFest takes over Uhuru Gardens in December.
