R&B icon Karyn White has officially landed in Kenya ahead of the highly anticipated “One Night Only” concert set for Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi.
The black-tie event, scheduled to run from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM during the Madaraka Day long weekend, promises a high-end Las Vegas-style production bringing together four legendary acts on one stage for the very first time.
Organisers have positioned the concert as a strictly exclusive experience, with no gate tickets available once advance sales are sold out.
The show also builds on the success of the sold-out 2025 Kenny G concert, which recorded 93.75 per cent excellent/good audience feedback and an 81 per cent return interest rate from attendees.
White arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where she was welcomed by Mpasho’s Kalondu Musyimi before sharing her excitement about finally performing in Kenya for the first time.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things about Kenya, so I know this is going to be special,” White said shortly after her arrival.
Karyn White Brings a “Magical Era” of Music to Nairobi
Best known for classic hits including Superwoman, Romantic, and The Way You Love Me, White said the upcoming concert is about more than nostalgia.
According to the R&B legend, the performance is meant to celebrate an era of feel-good music that defined the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Drawing comparisons to icons such as Michael Jackson and Prince, White said she hopes Kenyan fans will experience the same soulful energy that shaped the music of that generation.
The singer also joked about her youthful appearance, saying she is “ageing backwards” at 60 and wants fans to leave the concert feeling joyful and inspired.
“I want people to just feel inspired like we Africans do anyway, or joyful,” she said.
Special Collaboration With Kirk Whalum
White also revealed that one of the standout moments of the Nairobi show will be her special collaboration with Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum.
The two artists share a musical history, with Whalum previously recording a rendition of White’s Babyface-produced duet Love Saw It on one of his albums.
According to White, they are currently preparing a unique live version of the song specifically for the Nairobi audience.
“I thought it was a good pairing,” she said while discussing the collaboration.
A Strictly One-Night-Only Experience
The concert will feature four major acts sharing the stage for the first time in what organisers describe as a premium live entertainment experience inspired by global Las Vegas productions.
The black-tie event is expected to attract lovers of jazz, soul, and classic R&B during the Madaraka Day weekend.
White ended her arrival interview by practising a few Swahili phrases, warmly responding “Asante” after being welcomed to Kenya with “Karibu.”
Her final message to fans was simple:
“There’s only one place to be and that is at the Sarit Expo for the One Night Only. It’s going to be lit.”
Tickets for the concert are available via: TicketYetu
