Drive-In Festivals: Silver Lining For The Entertainment Industry?
Posted on Thursday, October 8, 2020
Author: Absalom Mulama
Kikwetu Festival Poster.
Kikwetu Festival, Kenya's first socially distanced outdoor concert, was held at the Carnivore grounds on October 3-4. This was the first weekend after the president extended the nationwide curfew. Revelers could not wait, after going over six months without the social release they enjoyed on usual weekend outings.
Since the first corona virus case in Kenya was reported back in March, the sports, culture, entertainment and events industries have been the most affected. Due to the government banning public social gatherings and enforcing the curfew rule, some entertainment joints were forced to lay off workers.
However, now that we have found ways of handling the pandemic with measures such as wearing masks in public and practising hand hygiene, the government has loosened up restrictions. Schools are set to reopen in phases and the nationwide curfew has been extended from 9 pm - 4 am to 11 pm - 4 am. Entertainers did not hesitate to organize the inventive drive-in style Kikwetu Festival.
The aim of the festival was to celebrate the different cultures within Kenya and to lead the revival of the cultural, entertainment and events industries. Attendees enjoyed samples of food from different cultures, various versions of local music and live performances by local artists, all while inside their cars. Performances included big names such as like newly BET nominated Khaligraph Jones, local dancehall artist Wyre, Eric Winaina, Fena Gitu and Nina Ogot.
Concept of the new Drive-in festivals to help maintain social distance.
According to the event organizer, as long as partygoers observe the pandemic safety measures, the entertainment industry can fully recover. “We are using Kikwetu festival as a trigger to kick-start the cultural and creative industry. It’s a very special event and we are trying to keep everybody safe. You drive in, keep some safe distance and enjoy the music,” he said.
Drive-in movie theatres and festivals may make a comeback in Kenya as the entertainment industry tries to recover. This inventive drive-in idea may be a silver lining to the pandemic, an opportunity for event organizers to exploit. Drive-Ins automatically fulfil the social distance rule, which was the main cause of the government banning social gatherings.
Back in late September, we saw the premiere of star-studded Kenyan movie, ‘Uradi’ at Galleria Mall Drive-in Cinema. The action movie starring Mwaura Bilal, Shiks Kapienga, Mannaseh Nyagah and Peter Kawa was said to be ‘a one of kind drive-in movie experience’. Graced by the presence of Cabinet Secretary Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Joe Mucheru, the film received extensive support.
Since no one knows when the pandemic will end, will the drive-in music concerts become the new norm? Probably so. Professionals who earn a living through the entertainment industry should not starve while waiting indefinitely when they can creatively go around the pandemic. Since drive-ins observe all the pandemic regulations for social gatherings, we might be seeing more music festivals go this route.
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