Entertainment & Business

Success in music no longer hinges on geography. A track recorded in Nairobi can land in Lagos, London, Ibiza, New York, and São Paulo within a single day. Few rising artists capture that shift as clearly as Kenyan-American musician Lovince Mckenzie.

Rather than chasing whatever trend is loudest in a given month, Lovince has spent the last several years working toward something more durable: a body of work that holds together as a whole.

Starting with tracks like “My Happy Place” and “Feel Your Vibe,” and moving through “Lover,” “I Know You Know,” “Home,” “See Me,” “Down,” “Vigelegele,” and “My Heart,” he’s built a musical voice defined by melody, warmth, and honest storytelling. Every release has widened his audience while sharpening a style that fuses Kenyan influences with contemporary global sound.

His breakout moment came in 2024 with “Light Up,” a joint effort with Nigerian artist Ayo Maff. The track did more than perform well commercially — it showed that East and West African musicians could jointly create records with genuine cross-border appeal. Public streaming figures point to millions of Spotify plays and tens of millions of TikTok views, with a wave of user-generated content backing up the numbers.

For a lot of artists, that moment would be the peak. For Lovince, it was a starting point.

His new single, “On My Way,” marks a deliberate move into Afro-house, melodic dance, and electronic territory. Where many crossover tracks lean entirely on production, Lovince keeps the emphasis on story. The song is ultimately about staying emotionally close to someone even when distance gets in the way — how love and loyalty hold up regardless of geography. That’s likely why it lands just as well in a festival set as it does on a summer playlist, a rooftop hangout, or a quiet pair of headphones.

Sonically, “On My Way” combines warm house grooves, melodic electronic textures, and Swahili-language touches into something that feels rooted in East Africa while still translating easily to a global audience. It’s part of a larger shift happening across African music, where artists are shaping electronic and dance genres on their own terms rather than adapting to someone else’s mold.

The timing works in his favor. Afro-house has become one of the fastest-growing crossovers between African music and global electronic scenes, pulling in listeners from Johannesburg and Nairobi all the way to Ibiza, Paris, London, Dubai, and Miami. DJs, festival bookers, and streaming platforms are all leaning into the sound.

Lovince sees East Africa as having a real stake in that moment — not as a footnote to the broader dance-music movement, but as a genuine contributor to it. Swahili melody, East African rhythm, and emotionally grounded songwriting aren’t obstacles to global reach; in his telling, they’re exactly what sets the music apart.

That outlook has earned him something of a nickname among fans: a bridge linking East Africa to the rest of the world. It’s a big claim, but not an unreasonable one.

Listeners everywhere have shown a real appetite for music that stays culturally specific while still sounding universal. The past decade of African artists breaking through internationally has reset expectations, opening room for musicians who bring something regionally distinct without losing broad appeal.

Lovince’s catalogue fits that pattern. Instead of banking on one viral hit, he’s kept releasing music that stretches his range while reinforcing a consistent identity. Each song adds to a bigger story instead of standing alone.

That approach matters more than ever in a streaming landscape where lasting careers tend to come from connected bodies of work, not isolated hits.

As “On My Way” makes its way onto Afro-house and dance playlists worldwide, it’s not just another single — it’s the opening of a new phase for an artist working to expand East Africa’s footprint in global dance music.

The more interesting question isn’t whether Lovince Mckenzie can deliver another hit. It’s whether he becomes one of the artists who defines how Kenyan music enters the next chapter of Afro-house.

“Light Up” proved the bridge could hold weight. “On My Way” raises the bigger question: how far can it stretch?

Eldoret City is set for a high-energy December as the iconic KOROM Festival expands its footprint with the launch of the inaugural KOROM Business Exposition and Conference, a first-of-its-kind cultural-meets-commerce experience happening from December 17–19, 2025 at the Eldoret Sports Club.

The new edition, themed “The Business of Transformation: Empowering People, Innovating Industries, Inspiring Growth,” marks a major shift for the festival—elevating it from a purely cultural celebration into a powerhouse platform blending music, enterprise, creativity, and innovation.

Gospel legend Pastor Joel Kimeto graced the Korom Festival stage with a spiritual moment with stirring Kalenjin worship and praise songs, weaving in powerful tracks like ‘Kichigili’ and ‘Kirire’ to deliver a spiritually uplifting and culturally rich performance.

And the timing couldn’t be better.

Fresh data from the KNBS Economic Survey 2025 shows Uasin Gishu County is buzzing with potential: over 44,000 registered businesses, 25,000 active SMEs, and a rising youth-driven workforce that has grown from 396,000 to 453,000 in five years.

Eldoret’s young entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping the region’s economic rhythm—making it fertile ground for the new Korom Expo.

“KOROM has always been a celebration of community and culture. This year, we are expanding its purpose by giving young innovators and local businesses a space to access markets, knowledge, and networks,” said Elvis Kittony, KOROM Festival Director.

The three-day conference will bring together SMEs, corporates, creatives, investors, youth innovators, government agencies, and industry leaders for keynote sessions, panel debates, investor roundtables, mentorship clinics, and a vibrant exhibition showcasing some of Eldoret’s most promising young talent.

Organisers expect 5,000 visitors and 500 business leaders, with spotlight sectors ranging from agribusiness and fintech to manufacturing, education, health, tourism, tech, and Kenya’s fast-growing creative economy.

Then on December 20, the beats drop as the event transitions into the signature Korom Festival—a cultural explosion of live performances, traditional showcases, artisan markets, and immersive family-friendly experiences. It’s where culture meets commerce, and Eldoret’s flair takes center stage.

“Our vision is to make the Korom Expo & Business Conference a major economic value-add for Eldoret City,” Kittony added. “We want to attract national and regional investors, inject new business activity, and position the city as a rising hub for enterprise and cultural tourism.”

Kenyan music sensation Nikita Kering took the 2025 Korom Festival by storm with a show-stopping performance that captivated the audience, keeping them glued and singing along throughout the event.

For Eldoret, the Korom Expo isn’t just another event—it’s a catalyst for jobs, partnerships, creativity, and long-term economic growth, cementing the region’s place as one of Kenya’s most exciting cultural and business frontiers.

Chrome unveiled Chromoka, a National Consumer Promotion (NCP) that doubles as a cultural initiative and a rewards program.

The company frames Chromoka not merely as a marketing campaign but as a living movement that underscores Chrome’s ongoing engagement with society’s pulse and its pledge to enrich lives beyond the bottle.

Chromoka blends the brand name with the Swahili term “Omoka,” meaning to make or create, signaling Chrome’s ambition to be a catalyst for those pushing boundaries, achieving success, and leaving a lasting footprint.

The initiative reflects Chrome’s evolution from a beverage brand into a widely recognized cultural touchstone that champions authenticity, creativity, and communal celebration. It also serves as a moment to reflect on the past decade while reaffirming a commitment to supporting the aspirations of its consumer base for the next ten years and beyond.

Andrew Kilonzo, Country Managing Director at East African Breweries Limited (EABL), commented, “For a decade, Chrome has been more than just a beverage; it’s been part of countless cultural moments, a witness to joy, creativity, and connection. Chromoka is our way of recognizing this journey, celebrating our culture’s vibrant tapestry, and reinforcing our purpose to contribute meaningfully to it. We believe in the power of individual expression and the strength of community, and Chromoka embodies that belief.”

The Chromoka NCP is a consumer engagement and prize-reward program designed to resonate with Chrome’s anniversary and its cultural pillars. The prizes are curated to empower and inspire participants, aligning with the brand’s values and broader cultural aims.

Mark Mugisha, Marketing and Innovations Director at KBL, emphasized, “Chromoka is about celebrating, empowering, and connecting. We’ve designed rewards that support the creative economy and cultural landscape. Picture an aspiring creator benefiting from a content-creation masterclass or participants receiving cash rewards to fuel their ambitions. As part of the 10-year celebration, we’re awarding ten winners with Ksh 1,000,000 each. The campaign aims to reach and reward more than 110,000 consumers nationwide, generating widespread excitement and shared celebration.”

Operational details reaffirm Chrome’s commitment to responsible consumption. The Chromoka NCP is restricted to legal drinking-age participants.

Entry requires purchasing a Chrome bottle, scratching the label to reveal a code, and sending it to short code 22110. The company invites consumers to participate in a program designed to foster connection, creativity, and celebration across the market.