Iyanii, Matata, Okello Max, Marioo, Ssaru, Bridget Blue, Micasa, Elsy Wameyo, and More Will Light Up Wine and Blankets Edition for December
The GoodTimes Africa production Blankets & Wine is preparing for the Kenyan Summer 2025 edition, which will take place on Sunday, December 21, 2025, starting at 12 PM at Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Tickets can now be bought through Mookh.
With an incredible Kenyan lineup of artists including Iyanii, Matata, Okello Max, Ssaru, Bridget Blue, Elsy Wameyo, and Shad Mziki, the Kenyan Summer 2025 edition is expected to feature one of the most daring and musically varied lineups in Blankets’ history. This lineup will create a potent fusion of Afro-fusion, Gengetone, soul, R&B, rap-dance, and contemporary African pop.
Tanzania’s chart-topping sensation Marioo of the “Nairobi” hit fame, whose smooth, melodic anthems have defined a regional sound; South Africa’s Scorpion Kings (Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa), who are leading the global Amapiano wave; and the UK’s Donae’o, who is bringing London’s distinctive dance energy to Nairobi with his iconic hits “Party Hard” and “I’m Fly” at the Onja Onja Stage. Mi Casa from South Africa will finish off a continent-spanning roster designed to electrify the main stage with their trademark blend of house, jazz, and soul.
In collaboration with the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025, this year’s theme, “COME WE DANCE!” encourages Africans and Kenyans at home and abroad to immerse themselves in happiness, rhythm, and connection. The festival invites attendees to find solace and joy in the music and vitality that characterize the contemporary African sound in the midst of global unpredictability.
With a diverse lineup of electronic, house, Afro-house, and alternative music from Foozak, Tina Ardor, Ms. Mika, Darkfruit, Shishi, and a thrilling back-to-back finale from Aly Fresh, Mura, and Big Nyagz, the Onja Onja Stage keeps the momentum going into the night. This ensures that every area of the festival pumps with unstoppable rhythm.
The collaboration is now expanding its cultural interchange back to Nairobi after Blankets & Wine’s triumphant and historic UK debut in Bradford earlier this year as part of the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025. By connecting artists and audiences in Kenya and the UK, this ongoing partnership demonstrates a dedication to reciprocal creative engagement. As part of this interaction and to further the artistic discourse between the two creative ecosystems, Donae’o, a pioneer of British Funky House, will be a co-headliner at the festival.
“Our debut in Bradford, UK this year proved that the Blankets & Wine experience travels and that African creativity resonates globally,” says Muthoni Drummer Queen, Creative Director of Blankets & Wine. For us, bringing Donae’o to Nairobi is a complete circle celebration that demonstrates that the UK/Kenya Season is a movement rather than a single event. Additionally, a representative for the British Council stated: “We are thrilled to maintain this collaboration. Blankets & Wine is a perfect example of the creative innovation and reciprocal trade that the UK/Kenya Season was designed to promote.
With a renewed dedication, Blankets & Wine is improving user experience and manufacturing as it begins its 17th year. “We’ve worked tirelessly for years to delight audiences through exceptional artistry and dependable production,” says Muthoni. We are currently honing our operations, sound, staging, hospitality, and accessibility to provide a top-notch experience at every point of contact.
“Every edition enhances the cultural ecosystem,” says Justine Mbugua, Head of Festivals at B&W. We have a strong commitment to providing exceptional customer service and a smooth transition from arrival to departure.
The Onja Onja Market, a varied holiday marketplace including Kenyan fashion, food, art, wellness, and lifestyle companies, is back this season. The market is designed to honor regional ingenuity and business, allowing festival attendees to learn about and help Kenyan craftspeople while taking in the entirety of Blankets & Wine. The December 21 Kenyan Summer edition is expected to be one of the most thrilling and musically impactful Blankets & Wine events to date, with two exciting stages, a star-studded pan-African roster, a sophisticated production design, and a more vibrant cultural marketplace.
Blankets & Wine has been a shining example of African music, culture, and lifestyle for seventeen years, featuring both up-and-coming and well-known performers from all across the continent. The festival has grown to be a cherished quarterly Sunday ritual that promotes community and discovery thanks to its high production standards, curated food, fashion, and crafts market, creative installations, branded experiences, and exciting two-stage programming. Since its founding in 2008, Blankets & Wine has developed into a prestigious worldwide outdoor music event that promotes African talent. It is still a genuine platform that celebrates African culture through music, art, human interaction, and lifestyle, and it has now spread to Uganda and Rwanda. In order to provide top-notch experiences for both artists and fans, the festival occasionally hosts outstanding international acts in addition to importing and exporting African music for African audiences. Its goal is to connect outstanding African performers with audiences around the continent.
