The renowned Kenyan rapper Nyashinski was on the line-up for this year’s Walker Town event, but he did not perform.
It was a void that was hard to miss, and one that organisers later apologized for and explained.
Now, the celebrated rapper has spoken out about the circumstances that led to him not getting onto the stage.
His manager, Fakii Liwali addressed the matter in an exclusive interview with Nation Life & Style, where he noted that time management was the biggest constraint.
“American rapper Lauryn Hill went on stage at 2.57am and finished at about 4.38 am,” he said.
“You can imagine if Nyashinski was to go on stage, the earliest he would have performed was at quarter to 5am. That would have meant performing until beyond 6am, which was simply not practical.”
Nation reported that the original plan was to have both Nyashinski and Lauryn Hill performing between 9pm and 1am, with the former slotted for a two-hour performance.
“Nyashinski was excited about this show. He had been practicing for a month, especially because this was the first time he was going to perform songs from his new EP, To Whom It May Concern. It’s painful for him and the whole team. These were circumstances beyond anyone’s control,” Mr Liwali said.
Walker Town events have quickly become cultural highlights across Kenya, attracting thousands of attendees in towns like Nairobi, Meru, and Nakuru, since their inception. These events are part of Johnnie Walker’s ongoing initiative to create immersive experiences that celebrate the brand’s storied heritage and cultural significance.
