Popcaan’s Easter Concert Triggers Kenyans Longstanding Love Affair With Jamaican Music

The response to Popcaan’s upcoming Kenyan concert set for the Easter weekend has brought the longstanding love the citizens of the East African country have had for Jamaican Reggae and Dancehall for years, back to the forefront.

A few days ago, the Superstar deejay announced a third date change to his Vibes Kenya-promoted Unruly Rave stage show, which was originally set for January 8 and later shifted to February 26, but has once again been changed, this time to Easter.

“Niaje Nairobi! It’s Official, finally a forward to 254 After many requests from my Kenyan Unruly fans, @vibesonly_ke will push the event in Nairobi to 16th April 2022. Forward out and let’s make this one another historic show!” Popcaan tweeted on Monday.

His post evoked a firestorm of responses, to the news of the upcoming trip, which will make him the third Jamaican artist to perform in Kenya in recent times, this on the heels of perfomances by Konshens and Charly Black two weeks ago in Nairobi.

https://twitter.com/PopcaanMusic/status/1483178625201590273?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Kenya’s embracing of Jamaican music came in for highlight in February last year, after veteran entertainment journalist Winford Williams of Onstage, told producer NotNice, during an interview, that Kenya was a massive hub for Reggae music from Jamaica.

“I went to Kenya, and Kenya’s music, the soundtrack of Nairobi, their largest city – over six million people live in that city – is Reggae.  In the airport; in every business we went into, the soundtrack of the city is Reggae music, Jamaica’s music, and they tell us; in no uncertain terms, a journalist guy looked at me and said: you don’t love Reggae like we do,” Williams said in recounting his experience.

“I couldn’t contest the man, because if I check Kingston, I don’t know that I will be hearing Reggae everywhere,” he continued.

Williams had pointed out that many Jamaican artists were failing to capitalize on the love of Kenyans and their African compatriots in general, as they were opting to go after North American markets.

“If you research Kenya when they talk about the international artistes who have visited Kenya, is a long list of Reggae names they are calling, first.  The names they are putting there as international artistes who have visited, Nairobi Kenya are a list of Jamaicans.  And we naw pay dem no mind Notnice?”  he asked incredulously.

“The national airline from Nairobi to New York, the flight music is Reggae.  So this is the level of embrace that these people have for the music of Jamaica,” he explained.

Popcaan had promised last October, that he would accede to the demands of his fans in Kenya, after Kenyan nationals rolled out in their numbers to plead with him to come to their country, after learning that he would be performing in The Gambia.

“Soon fwd a Kenya know unruly people out there,” he had stated in response to one fan.

The Unruly Boss’ Kenyan fans had taken to his Twitter page back then, telling him that they would light up their spliffs in his honor the day he arrives in their country and would also ensure the venue at which Popcaan performs is filled to capacity.  Some fans even joked that they would sell body organs in order to purchase tickets to attend the concert.

On Monday on Twitter, there was a slew of teasing comments predicated on Popcaan’s recent loss of his phone in The Gambia during his performance.

“Yahmon, member to come wit new phone. Me wanna thief it,” lia_vazzi wrote.

“Ah nuff gangsta an di yout dem deh round deh inna Nairobi asuh yuh affi care fi yuh phone dem enuh mi gee di phone ah mi concern poppy,” another commenter wrote.

“You’re welcome but please ensure that you leave your phone in Ethiopia before landing here,” callmerawnie added.

Others said Popcaan’s footwear was now the main target.

“Be ready to loose shoes this time,” fuego declared, while finekid added: “carry two phones n extra Sneakers …This ain’t no Gambia”

Other fans said they were ready to welcome the St. Thomas native with open arms.

“Kenya Was so Ready for 26th Feb.. But we Still a Wait.  psycho Bizzness,” Calypso Calypso said.

CrazyBoy047 not only gave Popcaan a Kenyan name, but he also requested that the Forever artist took female dancers along.

“Welcome to Kenya we’ve baptized you with the second name Popcaan Mogaka, the true son from the Highlands of nyanza. Also don’t leave behind the Jamaican twerking queens,” he wrote.