Birth of Muthoni Drummer Queen’s Blankets and Wine: Picnic, Wine, Grooves

• The inaugural Blankets and Wine event took place in Kenya on November 1, 2008, at the Carnivore grounds in Nairobi.
• The event was orchestrated by Muthoni Ndonga popularly known in the Showbiz circles as Muthoni Drummer Queen, a Kenyan musician and entrepreneur.
• Her objective was to establish a platform to endorse and celebrate emerging live Kenyan music.

📸 OJWOOK – Blankets and Wine Kenya – 2022, December

The debut edition of Blankets and Wine showcased an array of budding Kenyan musicians, including Muthoni Drummer Queen, Eric Wainaina, and Kanjii Mbugua.

The event experienced a sold-out turnout, marking a pivotal moment in elevating the recognition of Kenyan music.

The event has expanded over time, featuring performances by international artists as well. The Kenyan installment of Blankets and Wine has showcased talents including Mafikizolo, Mi Casa, and numerous others.

Over the subsequent years, Blankets and Wine has flourished into one of Kenya’s most prominent music festivals.

It has encompassed a diverse spectrum of artists, ranging from local emerging talents to international luminaries.

Beyond its musical significance, the festival has also garnered attention as a favored destination for tourists, thereby contributing to promoting Kenya as a cultural and artistic hub.

In 2012, the Blankets and Wine concept extended its reach to Uganda, subsequently making its mark in Rwanda.

This expansion transformed the festival into a multi-disciplinary platform spanning the African continent, spotlighting the finest aspects of African music and culture.

Muthoni Ndonga’s impetus for initiating the event stemmed from her aspiration to provide a prominent stage for the music produced by a band she was collaborating with.

We wanted our work on a visible platform. We started with night events in Westlands but we didn’t think it was reaching the right crowd.

So we flipped the script, literally, and turned this event from night to daytime, where people could bring their own food and beverages and simply sit back and enjoy the music offered.

MDQ

Consequently, the event has evolved into a premiere music platform within East Africa, evolving into a dynamic creative nexus that celebrates diverse talents from the creative sector, resonating with open-minded and innovative individuals.

The recent milestone observed was the 30th edition of Blankets and Wine held in Kampala, Uganda.

The upcoming Kenyan edition of Blankets and Wine is slated for October 1st, 2023.

It promises an engaging lineup – featuring artists such as Wakadinali’s Scar Mkadinali, Muthaka, Wangechi, Charisma, Suzanna Owiyo, Buruklyn Boyz, among others.