Beneath the Baobabs Festival (formerly Kilifi New Year) is an annual New Year’s Eve celebration unique for it’s location; above the source of Takaungu Creek in Kilifi’s baobab forest. Thousands of music lovers, creatives and artists have gathered for over a decade now in this iconic music festival, where music and nature unite. Beneath the Baobabs remains committed to providing a world-class boutique festival experience that reflects the pulse of the scene today, while championing the emerging sounds shaping the alternative world. Although it has always had a variety of musical genres, this year’s edition stands out for its mix of international and regional headliners, staying true to it’s committment.
Inside Beneath the Baobabs Festival 2025/2026 First Wave Lineup
Leading the charge is Amapiano’s most well-known artist, Vigro Deep, who will perform a two-hour live set following a series of albums that redefine and advance the sound with his distinctive depth.
The Kenyan scene is well represented with Lilmaina’s arbantone energy, marking one of the first artists from the genre to feature in the festival. His creative journey from skits to making music inspires hundreds of thousands of fans. His style, lingo, catchy music and relatability have made him a Kenyan household name.
DJ Ghedi is a pillar in the festival and has featured previously in many sets . He will be helping the Main Stage see in the New Year with his signature blend of Afro House, 3 Step and Gqom. His experience as one of the festival’s resident DJ’s is vital.
Tina Ardor, one of Afro-House’s most sought-after voices, will also join the festival on the morning of the 1st January. She featured in last year’s lineup and her soulful live vocals helped her rank #76 in Traxsource’s Top Trending Artists of 2024.
Mura’s 2025 momentum continues with new releases fusing house and tribal rhythms, garnering him accolades as the next big name in East Africa’s Afro-house scene after a breakout 2024 filled with critically acclaimed tracks and remixes that dominated Kenyan radios.
Alewya is a British singer-songwriter of Ethiopian and Egyptian descent, who redefines genre borders with her blend of Kwaito, Afrobeats, Alté, and Indie music. She will be making her Kenyan debut during the festival.
In addition, the festival is thrilled to have Muzi, a multi-talented South African singer, producer, and songwriter, present his own rendition of contemporary Kwaito, driven by catchy vocal hooks and Kaytranada-style beats.
The festival sound system will be pushed to its limits by fellow South African innovator DJ LAG, a pioneer of the GQOM movement who is enjoying the buzz surrounding a new generation of the sound.
The event is thrilled to see the New Yorkan pair Musclecars make their Kenyan debut. This is a show not to be missed as the two producer DJs are returning House Music to its roots as Deep Future Soul Music!
Furthermore, Beneath the Baobabs is thrilled to collaborate with their friends at Outlook Festival, who will bring their distinctive Global Bass sounds and resident DJs to Kilifi. This takeover, which includes Kenyan bass movement pioneers, will strengthen the festival’s position as a platform for Kenyan artists to flourish.
Lastly, the event is excited to bring Umojah Soundsystem back to power the Valley Stage with their powerful sound system and a takeover from their group of local Dub Reggae DJs and MCs.
This year’s roster adheres to that goal by providing something for everyone across five stages, including fans of Afro-House and “oontz,” Hip-Hop and Arbantone purists, Bassheads, Amapiano, Live & Traditional Music, and more. The inclusive spirit that has characterized the event for more than ten years, where everyone is genuinely welcome, is still embodied by Beneath the Baobabs. Read another article here.
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