The new Kenyatta Market came alive as Real Vinyl Guru marked World Record Store Day with a gathering that pulled together music lovers, collectors, bands and curious passersby.
The global event, which supports independent record stores and vinyl culture, brought hundreds into the market’s busy corridors, turning a section of the stalls into a makeshift listening space under Nairobi’s afternoon sun. Smoke from nearby nyama choma, grilled “mshikaki”, pizza and drinks mixed into the noise and movement of the day.
World Record Store Day began in 2007 in the United States as a grassroots effort to support independent record shops during the rise of digital music. It is now observed in more than 1,000 cities worldwide. In Kenya, it is hosted by Real Vinyl Guru, now in its seventh edition.
Founded in 1989 by James Rugami, Real Vinyl Guru has built a reputation as a hub for rare African and global vinyl records. Hosting this year’s edition inside Kenyatta Market placed the event directly in a working, informal setting.
“After high school, I wanted something different, so I ventured into this vinyl journey. I used to travel and walk from country to country, village to village, collecting the record, stacking them in my Peugeot 404, a tedious endeavour but worthwhile,” he said. “I still have the 404 to this day.”
The programme included live performances, informal meet-ups and vinyl-focused sessions. A younger audience mixed with long-time collectors, many encountering records and analogue equipment for the first time.
“Yes, I am Gen Z, and it is my first time being here to celebrate World Record Store Day, which is a privilege,” said George Ngingi, pointing at a typewriter. “I am fascinated by this. To think about the absolute mechanical precision it took to come up with this thing is just mind-blowing.”
Marina Shepherd, a 22-year-old from the United Kingdom, said her interest in vintage culture brought her to Nairobi for the event.
“My love for vintage things is extreme. I try to understand how those people from the old days could come up with this stuff without the help of AI and the Internet,” she said.
“They were geniuses, all generations, young or old, should historically and culturally know where everything originated from. I love Kenya,” she added.
Performances also featured underground and established acts working within vinyl and traditional formats.
“There is just something different about old school original music composed by original instruments, there is this authenticity and satisfaction that is unexplainable, real old school music lovers know what I mean,” said Jamier Adhiong, known as DJ Jam from Asili-DUB.
Beyond performances, aspiring DJs were introduced to basic scratching techniques, while others experimented with designing custom record sleeves.
The host showcased more than 200 limited-edition Kenyan, African and international pressings, including a Jane Fonda workout record and Cuban orchestra vinyl from the Buena Vista era.
By afternoon, attendance had grown to more than 500, with steady foot traffic flowing through the market as vinyl collectors and casual visitors filtered through the stalls.
Photos: Bernard Orwongo, Standard