For those in Nairobi, or those who will be in Nairobi on the 12th of December, a group of Kenyan artists have put together The Nairobi Kinanda Arts Festival™. This will be an annual festival showcase of the best, in music, dance, creative writing, spoken word and film from Kenya, Africa and the rest of the world.

The Nairobi Kinanda Arts Festival takes name “Kinanda” from a Swahili word, used to refer to a small transistor radio and also that also refers the marimba (xylophone); it is a universal word that invokes joyous music performance.

The festival brings together some of the finest local and international talent in an event that is set to be the highlight of the Nairobi’s cultural calendar. The ethos of The Nairobi Kinanda Arts Festival™ is guided by the vision to be the premium source of an authentic, wholesome live entertainment (festival) experience in Nairobi.

Multi-Platinum selling and internationally acclaimed South African band, Freshly Ground will grace this year’s inaugural festival, on the Jamhuri Day Weekend i.e. 12th of December 2009. This will be first time the band is performing in Kenya! Not to be out done Kenya’s top billed performers Eric Wainaina, Sauti Sol, Dela, Atemi Oyungu, Kanji Mbugua, Aaron Rimbui and others are also confirmed performers for this event.

Tickets to the festival are available at the Junction and Westgate Silverbird (Numetro) Stores in Nairobi at a cost of Kshs 1,500 per person. Check out www.kinandafestival.com for more information.