Over the past 10 years, Kenya Nights has become the largest electronic music entertainment company in Kenya, delivering the phenomenal events with A-list artists. Starting out as an events photography service in 2009, KN’s founder, Rizwan Ibrahim, quickly realised that there was a huge unmet demand for electronic music events in Nairobi. His vision was to create a space for young Kenyans to express themselves at his shows, and in doing so, turn Kenya into an internationally-renowned destination for electronic music events. Kenya Nights events attract an average turnout of 800+ people per show at smaller inner-city venues and 6000+ for large-scale events. Of his audience, Rizwan says, “something truly special happens when young people come together at one of our shows. Any prejudices or tensions melt away, and if only for a few hours, we remember what it is to live in true communion.” Rizwan is proud not only of the healing power of his shows, but also their job-creating possibilities. The Kenya Nights team is 100% Kenyan born and raised, consisting of 12 permanent staff, and 12-part time staff, all of whom have received high quality internal training in event management, security, finance and PR & marketing. At shows attended by around 800+ people, Kenya Nights sub-contracts between 35 and 55 young Kenyans to work within the event. With a show of 6000+ people, an average of 250-350 staff are sub-contracted. Kenya Nights’ founder and MD reflects on the future of electronic music in East Africa, “young Kenyans increasingly live their lives through a digital lens, showing each other and the outside world what it means to be a young African. Kenya Nights is proud to play an active role in this conversation; in our own small way, through social media, music and live events we are showing the world what ‘Africa rising’ really means.”