A moment of local musical pride erupted at the recent Nganya Awards, where fans firmly rejected East African hits in favour of Kenyan urban tunes.

A DJ on the decks faced immediate pushback when he tried to spin Tanzanian Bongo Flava tracks.

The DJ was playing Mbosso’s ‘Pawa’ and other Bongo songs when the crowd loudly made its preference known. Fans were heard calling out for local content, specifically requesting music by Kenyan rapper Toxic Lyrikali.

This impromptu protest highlighted the attendees’ strong allegiance to the Kenyan music scene, particularly the energetic and raw sound that forms the backdrop of the ‘Nganya’ (highly customised public service vehicle) culture.

The Nganya Awards, which celebrate the artistry and craftsmanship of Kenya’s matatu industry, are typically held at large venues capable of hosting both a massive crowd and the fleet of souped-up vehicles.

The event was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, which is a popular and spacious location for major public events.

The Nganya Awards recognise the best-decorated, loudest, and most innovative matatus and individuals within the industry. The awards are highly coveted and showcase the incredible creativity of Kenyan youth involved in vehicle customisation.

Some of the notable winners at the event included:

Kenya One (Best Overall Matatu): ‘Opposite’ (Umoja Route), which successfully defended its title for the third consecutive year.

Best Sound: ‘Phenomenal’, notable for being the first matatu in Kenya equipped with a Starlink receiver.

Riko of the Year (Best Makeover): ‘Detroit’ (Ongata Rongai Route).

Best Maintained: ‘Stung 2’ (Komarock Route).

Long-Distance Bus of the Year: ENA Coach.

Driver of the Year: Ostoh Ranking (Driver for the matatu ‘Money Fest’).

Crew of the Year: Baba Yaga.

The awards serve to recognise and formalise an artistic sub-culture that is unique to Nairobi and Kenya.