East FM and Radio Africa are presenting Mehfil Unplugged, an evening of live music and community gathering in Nairobi. The event aims to bring presenters, listeners, and friends together to sing, dance, and relive Asian and Bollywood music.
The word mehfil originates from Arabic and Persian culture, where it literally translates to "gathering" or "assembly.” The term is deeply embedded across South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan.
The Cultural Heritage of the Mehfil
Traditionally, a mehfil is a gathering or evening of courtly entertainment featuring music, poetry, or dance, traditionally performed for a small, intimate audience.
Historically associated with the royal courts of the Mughal Empire and Nawabs, the gathering usually takes place in a living room, courtyard, or private salon.
Guests often sit on floor rugs and cushions, creating an interactive environment between the performers and the audience. The artistic focus traditionally centres on classical music, semi-classical genres such as Ghazals and Thumris, or poetry recitations known as Mushairas.
Mehfil Unplugged adapts this classical gathering for a modern live event in Nairobi.
The live musical performance features Team East FM alongside the Rhythm & Raga Live Band. DJ Juggy Virdee will take over the decks to close out the evening. The musical programme combines classic Bollywood tunes with current popular tracks.
Organisers highlight movement, nostalgia, and live energy as the event's central pillars.
"Come for the songs you know. Stay for the ones you’ll discover."
Date, Venue, and Ticketing Details
Mehfil Unplugged is scheduled for Saturday, 26th September 2026. The gathering begins at 4:00 PM and runs till late.
The chosen venue is the Bao Box restaurant is located along General Mathenge Road, near next to Russell Bedford, Nairobi.
Tickets are sold digitally through the TicketYetu platform, with early bird tickets going for Sh1,000 each, advance tickets at Sh1,500, while gate tickets will be sold at Sh2,000 each.
