Blankets & Wine brought its 2025 calendar to a vibrant close on Sunday, December 21, with the Kenyan Summer 2025 edition lighting up Laureate Gardens at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The festival, produced by GoodTimes Africa, wrapped up what organisers described as a transformative year marked by growth, collaboration and deeper cultural exchange.
Thousands of revellers turned out for the end-of-year showcase, which was held under the theme “Come We Dance!” in partnership with the British Council’s UK/Kenya Season 2025.
From the moment the gates opened, the atmosphere was one of joy, rhythm and togetherness. Across two buzzing stages, Blankets & Wine delivered a bold pan-African and international lineup that celebrated both the present and future of African music.
The Main Stage was packed with memorable performances from Kenyan favourites including Shad Mziki, Bridget Blue, Elsy Wameyo, Okello Max, Ssaru, Matata and Iyanii.
The energy soared even higher with appearances by continental heavyweights, led by South African Amapiano giants Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, who performed in Kenya together as Scorpion Kings for the first time.
Tanzanian star Marioo and South Africa’s celebrated group Mi Casa added to the global flavour, taking fans on a genre-spanning journey through Afro-fusion, Amapiano, Gengetone, soul, house, R&B and contemporary African pop.
Meanwhile, the Onja Onja Stage kept the party going from early afternoon into the night with an eclectic mix of electronic, Afro-house and alternative sounds.
UK dance music icon Donae’o was a major highlight, sharing the stage with Kenya’s own Darkfruit, Shishi, Foozak, Tina Ardor and Ms. Mika. A high-energy back-to-back set from Aly Fresh, Mura and Big Nyagz closed the stage in style, reinforcing Onja Onja’s reputation as a hub for discovery and dance culture.
The December event also followed a major milestone for the festival earlier in the year, when Blankets & Wine hosted its first-ever UK edition in Bradford.
The continued partnership with the British Council has helped strengthen a two-way cultural exchange between Kenya and the UK, with Donae’o’s appearance in Nairobi seen as a natural extension of that collaboration.
Reflecting on the year, Creative Director Muthoni Drummer Queen said 2025 had been a defining chapter for the festival.
She noted that from Bradford to Nairobi, Blankets & Wine had proven it was more than just an event, but a cultural platform that travels, evolves and connects communities through music and joy.
GoodTimes Africa Communications Manager Diane Ywaya echoed the sentiment, thanking the festival’s community, artists from Kenya, South Africa and the UK, and partners for making Kenyan Summer 2025 a powerful and unforgettable close to the year.
Head of Festivals Justine Mbugua added that every edition in 2025 reflected months of careful planning and a strong focus on service excellence, from production and hospitality to artist experience and audience flow.
Beyond the music, festival-goers also explored the return of the Onja Onja Market, themed “Made in Kenya” for this edition.
The market showcased Kenyan fashion, food, art, wellness and lifestyle brands, rounding out a holistic festival experience that celebrated local creativity.
As Blankets & Wine heads into its 17th year, the Kenyan Summer 2025 edition stands as a confident finale to a successful year, reaffirming the festival’s cultural legacy while setting the tone for an even more ambitious future.
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