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marked Kenya’s biggest 3 day international music festival stunning 4th
year of bringing together a wealth of live music and Dj’s from around the
world, over 3 stages, 3 days, at fisherman’s camp on the shores of lake
Naivasha. This year round, going even a notch bigger; they joined forces with
Blankets & wine
But
fast-rewind… how did the idea to throw an international party in the bush come
about? My research led me to an old issue of up magazine that saw Wanjeri Gakuru
trace the history of Rift Valley Festival.
Ideas
are strange things. They can even be rude things. Usually, they pop up in the
most inopportune of times, flash incredibly fast before your eyes, then poof,
gone but sometimes, that light bulb moment comes at the perfect time.
“In 2008, my brother Ivan and I were stuck in
the middle of the night on a stationary train between Mombasa and Nairobi when
an idea struck us,” says high-spirited 34 year old Sean Ross, co-founder of
Rift Valley Festival a musical jamboree that brings back together local and
international artists for a common humanitarian cause.
As
the train leapt to life in the small hours of the morning, the brothers had
even come up with a slogan for their three day funfest: a musical experience in
the cradle of mankind. Fisherman’s camp seemed the idea location. It’s surrounded
by mountains, sits right on the shores of Lake Naivasha and is just a two hour drive
from the city. Plus, it didn’t hurt that the brothers were the proprietress of
the popular joint.
In
March 2010, they tapped into their years of experience in organizing concerts
in the UK. ”For 16 years I worked with
different deejaying outfits House 4 Rent, Ample sound system and performed as
House Djs. I’ve toured Thailand, Australia and Hawaii as well as promoted
upcoming artists. I also organize themed nights in clubs around London,”
says Sean.
Sean
and Ivan founded the first festival out of pocket but sourced the help of a
massive network of organizer, promoters, marketing experts and friends accrued
over the years. The first show brought in musicians and djs from Kenya,
Tanzania, and Zimbabwe and across Europe. The sounds were energetic with
everything from traditional to world music. T6his created an amazing musical
experience for the 2,000 revelers who attended the festival.
Determined
not to let it be just fun and games, the brothers decided to dedicate the
events proceeds to local charities and involve the surrounding community at all
levels. “At the heart of the Rift Valley
Festival, ethos is our continued support of local community projects,” he
says.
Some
of the projects supported by RVF include: the Eburu and Mau Bongo surveillance
and community project (BSP). The project aims to secure Mau forest, Kenya’s
remaining indigenous forest, through a flagship species conservation
initiative. This is also geared towards saving the world’s last remaining
mountain Bongo, a unique species of antelope that are critically endangered.
By
using music to generate green for green, the brothers were also supporting the
local music industry.
“We
aim to move the festival to other parts of Kenya throughout the year with one
night. ‘Rift Valley Festival sessions’ at the coast and other major cities,” Sean says. “We are also working on taking Kenyan and East African artists to tour
the UK and European festivals over the coming years.”
Our
friends at Up Magazine had a new pop-up Zone and a fabulous food chill-out zone
at the 2013 edition. Read the story on your mobile phone via www.upnairobi.com-http://www.upnairobi.com/dt_portfolio/rift-valley-recap/
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