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Honkytonk Kenya: Africa's home of country music
AFP ^ | 7/28/25 | AFP

Posted on 07/31/2025 4:59:58 PM PDT by DallasBiff

Nairobi (AFP) – The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good ol' boys.

Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi this weekend for International Cowboys and Cowgirls Day

The festival crowd went wild for the king of the local country scene, "Sir Elvis" Otieno, as his deep baritone belted out classics like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" mixed with newer hits like "Down to the Honkytonk".

(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: countrymusic; kenya
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To: Organic Panic

I forgot about them all wearing jeans, and with their boots, I bet that place is a ball.

By the way, do Kenyan cowboys wear alligator skin boots, or crocodile skin boots?


21 posted on 07/31/2025 7:08:14 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: DallasBiff

Well I’ll be damn. That is so interesting.


22 posted on 07/31/2025 7:49:17 PM PDT by Migraine
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To: GreenHornet

As a guy actually born in Muskogee, I busted a gut at your comment.. Hilarious!


23 posted on 07/31/2025 7:50:36 PM PDT by Migraine
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To: Pocketdoor

We don’t mind sharing.


24 posted on 07/31/2025 8:10:32 PM PDT by xp38
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To: All

Is there a video?? I couldn’t find one - just pics.


25 posted on 07/31/2025 8:12:31 PM PDT by jackibutterfly ( )
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To: jackibutterfly

I found these two videos:

https://x.com/BBCAfrica/status/1949872635313291395

https://x.com/AFP/status/1949736410128237004


26 posted on 07/31/2025 9:19:46 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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To: DoodleBob

I had an LP album of “Olatunji and His Flaming Drums” when I was in elementary school. I haven’t kept up. Whose music do you like?


27 posted on 07/31/2025 9:36:38 PM PDT by Silentgypsy (In my defense, I was left unsupervised.)
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To: DallasBiff

Now I have a place to go if Tennessee goes down the tubes.


28 posted on 07/31/2025 9:38:10 PM PDT by Silentgypsy (In my defense, I was left unsupervised.)
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To: DallasBiff

What happened to Osibissa?


29 posted on 07/31/2025 9:39:46 PM PDT by nwrep
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To: Pocketdoor
Cultural appropriation? I’m loving it.

Good culture is meant to be shared.
30 posted on 07/31/2025 11:18:45 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: Dr. Sivana

“Good culture is meant to be shared”

You’re right.. that would make an excellent T Shirt.


31 posted on 08/01/2025 12:24:22 AM PDT by Pocketdoor
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Lots of redneck mamas from SE Asia when I went out to the Lao temple north of Sacramento years ago. On Rio Linda Boulevard. It wasn’t actually IN Rio Linda, but you could see it from there.


32 posted on 08/01/2025 12:31:47 AM PDT by Flash Bazbeaux
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To: Mariner

Russian first gen Americans country music, sung in America 3:44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bH2vqzT29k&list=PL1NMQ1lHuiRU4mN8wtiNr5lZqlSV2H5aW&index=14

Wayfaring Stranger sung in Russian, recorded in Nashville:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaRDa7syPpU&list=PL1NMQ1lHuiRU4mN8wtiNr5lZqlSV2H5aW&index=13


33 posted on 08/01/2025 12:48:28 AM PDT by Norski
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To: DallasBiff

Amazing and wonderful! Shared with my several naturalized citizen Kenyan neighbors, who are more American that many people born here. Thanks, DallasBiff!


34 posted on 08/01/2025 6:25:45 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (If [mortals] are so wicked with religion, what would they be without it? —Benjamin Franklin)
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To: DallasBiff

They know where the good music is, and having fun with it.


35 posted on 08/01/2025 11:13:34 AM PDT by Rappini ("In hoc Signo Vinces" In this sign, you shall conquer.)
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