While country music and cowboy culture are often associated with the US, what was billed as Africa’s first ever International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day showed how popular the genre is becoming in Kenya.
Held last Saturday at Nairobi’s Ngong Racecourse, the event drew hundreds of fans dressed in boots, cowboy hats and denim. At the heart of the festivities was Sir Elvis, Kenya’s beloved country music ambassador, whose performance was a major draw for both longtime fans and curious newcomers.
Alongside the performances, attendees enjoyed mechanical bull rides, shopped for Western wear and took part in cowboy-themed games that brought a touch of the Wild West to Nairobi.
The brainchild of Elijah Manyeki, who runs local clothing and events company Cowboys and Cowgirls, the event was a sign of country music’s popularity in the country. The East African nation has a relationship with the genre stretching back to the 1920s and ’30s.
“You can listen to country music in small bars around Nairobi, but not on this scale. It was amazing to see how many fans of the genre Kenya has,” said photographer Fredrik Lerneryd, who documented the event.
Lerneryd described the atmosphere on the day as “absolutely electric” and added that “people really went all-in” on their attire.
“I hope I managed to capture the love, passion and joy the fans have for country music. It was all love,” he added.
Leila Awuor, the organizer, told CNN that “the event has strong potential to bring art and culture to a larger platform and with significant momentum,” adding she thinks it will likely become a regular fixture on Nairobi’s social calendar.