Beneath the Baobabs Festival has announced its first wave of performers for this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration, promising a diverse mix of sounds and global talent as it marks over a decade of music and culture in Kilifi.

The festival, now one of East Africa’s leading alternative music events, will feature South African Amapiano star Vigro Deep as the headliner. 

He will be joined by DJ LAG, a pioneer of the Gqom sound, and MUZI, the genre-bending South African producer and vocalist.

Making her Kenyan debut will be Alewya, a British singer-songwriter of Ethiopian and Egyptian descent, known for her fusion of Afrobeats, Kwaito, and Indie influences. 

From New York, house duo Musclecars are also set to bring their soulful, deep-house energy to the coastal stage.

Kenya’s own talent will be well represented, with performances from Tina Ardor, one of the leading voices in Afro-House, and Lil Maina, who will bring his signature Arbantone sound. 

Resident DJ Ghedi will usher in the New Year with his signature Afro-House and Gqom mixes, while Mura continues his impressive rise in Kenya’s dance scene.

Festival curator Ola Akinyemi said this year’s event will take a broader, more inclusive approach.

“People can expect a world-class festival experience with something for everyone,” he said. “We’ve taken a more holistic approach that captures the full spectrum of sounds and stories shaping music right now from emerging local acts to global influences.”

The festival has also announced a collaboration with the Outlook Festival, which will bring its signature global bass sound, strengthening ties between the local and international music scenes. 

Umojah Soundsystem will also return with their powerful dub reggae setup, taking over the Valley Stage.

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Set across five stages, this year’s Beneath the Baobabs promises a rich blend of Afro-House, Hip-Hop, Amapiano, Arbantone, and live traditional performances.

What started as a small gathering along Kilifi Creek has now evolved into a vibrant global celebration, a place where music, culture, and community meet beneath the stars to welcome the New Year.