From over twenty interviews conducted in the country, this article addresses these questions: Can heavy metal music be a connection to Kenyan culture for audiences both inside and outside of Africa? Is language perhaps a way into the culture of African metal musicians, and, if so, how is African language being used in Kenya's metal communities? Furthermore, how has the cosmopolitan identity of Kenyan musicians survived the turmoil of the past and influenced their music?Īfrican Studies African Music Swahili language heavy metal Nairobi Kenya Many also feel the infusion of tradition would allow for a broader interpretation of rock and metal in their own communities with-out ostracizing their newfound global identity as 'rockers', and metalheads'. But others feel the inclusion of musical traditions is imperative and the only way the world will ever know that African metal bands exist. As accommodating as heavy metal is to such infusions, many omit tradition out of respect for their influences, or, more so, to make a bold statement in their communities: one of rejection, and defiance of their cultural upbringing. Fearful of being noted as a novelty, many acts throughout Kenya are reticent to infuse tradition into their music. One aspect that separates Kenyan rock and metal musicians from their western contemporaries is the confrontation between tradition and modernity, which is a debate also being discussed in various metal communities throughout Africa.
With an interested global audience noting the rise of rock and heavy metal through-out Africa, Internet-savvy Kenyan musicians have taken advantage of this attention by promoting their bands to audiences over the world.
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