Timeless or outdated? Kenyans divided over 90s and 2000s music

Music is a mantra that soothes the soul and mind. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life.

In Kenya, music remains a significant part of cultural expression.

A walk along the streets of Nairobi on any regular day reveals just how embedded music is in daily life, blaring from matatus, shops, and roadside businesses.

And when it comes to the debate on whether the 90s and early 2000s were the golden era of music, Kenyans are deeply divided.

Speaking to The Star, John King’ora, a millennial, recalls how his love for 90s and early 2000s music began at a young age.

His parents, both local musicians, constantly played music in the background at home.

“The morning alarm would always be the cassette player starting up,” King’ora recounts.

Initially, he found the constant music irritating. But over time, it became therapeutic. Soon, he found himself more at ease as long as music filled the air.

Even in university, King’ora’s love for that era never faded. It led him to host his first music event, albeit in a cramped hostel room.

The goal was simple: create a space where people could enjoy each other's company while soaking in nostalgic hits from the 90s and early 2000s.

Although his first event only attracted a small circle of close friends, King’ora remained undeterred.

By the time he graduated, he had built a following and gained experience as an event organiser.

Confident in his path, he decided to pursue music events as a full-time career.

Today, he still hosts events centered around 90s and early 2000s music.

“There have been times when people discouraged me from investing my life in this music,” says King’ora, “but I can confidently say it has paid off.”

For Fridah Mwende, a Gen Z, the love story with 90s and early 2000s music began during a high school trip.

On a school bus buzzing with excited chatter about food and boys, the driver turned on Classic 105, perhaps to drown out the noise.

That ride marked the first time Mwende listened to old-school hits for more than fifteen minutes.

Previously, she would quickly change the station, assuming such music was for "old people." But on that day, she found herself humming along and enjoying the romantic tunes, especially as she anticipated meeting her high school sweetheart at the event.

From that moment, Mwende began tuning in to old-school stations during school holidays. Today, her friends know her as the “old soul” of the group.

During road trips, she's the go-to DJ when her friends want a 90s or early 2000s vibe.

“I feel more connected to music from that era, the lyrics, rhythm, and musical prowess of the artists just hits different,” she says.

But not everyone shares that sentiment.

Lenny Kibor, also a millennial, harbours a deep dislike for music from that era, rooted in a painful personal history.

As a child, Kibor admired his parents' relationship. Every Friday evening, they would blast 90s and early 2000s music while preparing for their at-home dinner date.

Though Kibor was usually sent to bed, he often snuck downstairs to watch them dance and sing to each other.

To young Kibor, it was a picture of true love.

But everything changed when his parents divorced due to infidelity on both sides. The music that once symbolised love turned into a painful reminder of a broken family.

“After the divorce, the love sung in 90s and early 2000s music felt like a façade,” he says. “I can’t listen to it without feeling anger.”

Then some simply don’t relate to the era's lyrics and themes.

Diana Atieno, a Gen Z, says the music doesn’t resonate with her, despite her best friend's efforts in her first year of campus to get her on board.

“I respect the artistry of that era,” she says, “but I struggle to connect with the lyrics.”

She finds it difficult to relate to songs portraying men going above and beyond to woo women. In today's world, she notes, love dynamics have shifted; women are now making the first move.

“Atieno says, ‘Without lyrical connection, I find it hard to fully relish a song, 90s and early 2000s music is not my cup of tea ,but that doesn’t discredit my impeccable music taste.’”

As Kenya’s music fans remain divided, one thing is clear: the 90s and early 2000s continue to stir powerful memories and emotions, whether of joy, nostalgia, or heartbreak.