The highly anticipated September 28, 2025 edition of Blankets & Wine at Laureate Gardens, Kasarani, brought Grammy-winner Tems to Nairobi for the first time. But behind the stunning performances and Instagram-worthy fashion, attendees are calling it one of the most poorly organized editions ever. Here’s what really happened.
The Promise: What You Were Told to Expect
- Ticket Price: KSh 3,500 – 4,000 for regular entry, up to KSh 60,000 for the Hennessy Terrace VVIP Experience
- Headliner: Tems (Grammy-winning Nigerian artist making her Kenya debut)
- Supporting Acts: Joshua Baraka, Chimano, We Are Nubia, Toxic Lyrikali, Zaituni, plus 7 DJs on the Onja Onja stage
- Venue: Laureate Gardens within Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani
- Expected Attendance: 20,000 festival-goers
The marketing promised an unforgettable blend of African talent, global artistry, and the signature Blankets & Wine experience that’s made the festival a Nairobi institution for 16 years.
What Actually Happened: The Good
✅ Tems Delivered
The two-time Grammy winner absolutely crushed her set. Making her Kenya debut, Tems told the crowd: “I love you, Nairobi. This is the most enthusiastic welcome I have received anywhere in Africa. Thank you for the love.”
Her performance merged intimate vocal moments with high-energy crowd interactions. Fans who attended said her set alone justified the steep ticket price, with thousands singing along to hits like “Love Me JeJe.”
✅ Strong Supporting Lineup
Joshua Baraka: The Ugandan rising star delivered a smooth, soulful set blending Afropop, R&B, and funk that had crowds dancing from the first song. His performance lived up to the hype, closing the night with strong emotional connection to fans.
Chimano: The Sauti Sol member made his official Blankets debut as a solo artist, arriving with confidence and flair in a lilac-striped suit with exaggerated shoulder pads. His alternative mix of pop, soul, and electronic sounds backed by a live band won applause throughout his set, though his flamboyant performance and twerking drew mixed reactions on social media.
Toxic Lyrikali: Brought raw urban grit with his mix of Swahili lyricism, street slang, and dancehall rhythms – proving himself as a bold new voice in Kenya’s music scene.
We Are Nubia: The duo (Margaret Atieno and Gloria Munga) delivered lush harmonies and communal stage energy in their Blankets debut. A standout moment came when they shared the stage with Zaituni for an energized collaborative performance.
Zaituni: Made her Blankets debut with a unique fusion of urban taarab and Swahili soul, blending coastal sounds with modern rhythms.
✅ The Fashion and Vibes
As always, Blankets & Wine delivered on style. Attendees showed up in cowboy hats, designer sunglasses, African print bags, flowing dresses, and tailored custom-fitted suits. Every look was carefully curated – the festival remains a fashion showcase as much as a music event.
The Bad: Where Things Went Wrong
❌ Overcrowding and Capacity Issues
The biggest complaint: Organizers were accused of selling gate tickets after the venue had already reached capacity, leading to attendees being “squeezed like rats” according to multiple social media posts. The 20,000 attendance figure appears to have exceeded what the venue could comfortably handle.
❌ Long Gaps Between Performances
Multiple attendees complained about significant waiting times between acts. Instead of feeling like a smooth musical journey, the night felt “broken up and uneven” with the crowd’s energy dipping during long waits.
❌ Bar and Drink Service Chaos
The pre-ordering system was called “extremely devoid of logic” with some festival-goers waiting for hours just to get a drink. As the day progressed and people got into party mode, the queues became increasingly long and frustrating.
❌ High Ticket Prices vs. Overall Experience
While Tems was worth it, several attendees noted they wished the entire lineup had matched the standard of the international act given the premium pricing. Some used payment plans to afford tickets, but still felt the overall experience didn’t justify the cost.
❌ Security Concerns
While not as prominent as other issues, there were reports of stolen phones and other belongings, highlighting areas where security and crowd management need improvement.
The Ugly: What People Are Really Saying
Social media reactions were brutally honest:
- “4/10” – One disappointed attendee’s rating
- “Worst Blankets I have ever been to” – Longtime festival-goer
- “A disaster run by jokers who need to get serious about their planning and logistics” – HapaKenya summary of attendee sentiment
- “Chaos and poor planning” – Common theme across multiple platforms
The consensus: Despite incredible musical performances, the logistical failures significantly dampened what should have been a landmark edition.
Context: A Challenging Year for Blankets & Wine
June Edition Cancelled
The September edition came after Blankets & Wine was forced to cancel their June 29th edition due to nationwide demonstrations and safety concerns. The organizers issued full refunds but lost momentum heading into September.
Reduced 2025 Schedule
In 2025, Blankets & Wine reduced from four editions to three (June 29, September 28, December 21) to “focus on delivering top-notch performances, amenities, and top-notch productions.” The irony of the September organizational failures wasn’t lost on attendees.
Expanding Internationally
Just weeks before the Nairobi edition, Blankets & Wine held its first-ever UK edition in Bradford on September 6, 2025, featuring Bensoul, Boutross, Njerae, and Muthoni Drummer Queen herself. The international expansion may have stretched resources thin.
The Tems Controversy
Days after the event, Tems responded to criticism about her outfit and performance style on social media. Some Kenyan Gen Z fans on X (Twitter) called her aesthetic “too conservative” and claimed she lacked expected “aura.” Tems fired back with photos and a pointed caption: “You don’t like my aesthetic? Shurruup” – showing she won’t be changing her style for critics.
Practical Tips If You’re Attending Future Editions
Before You Go
- Buy tickets early but be prepared for potential organizational issues
- Consider season passes only if you’re confident in attending multiple editions
- Set realistic expectations about wait times and service quality
- Budget extra for food and drinks beyond ticket prices
At the Event
- Arrive very early to avoid peak crowding (gates open at noon)
- Use the pre-order system but have backup plans for drinks
- Keep valuables secure – reports of theft are consistent
- Eat before you go – food lines can be extremely long
- Charge your phone fully and bring a power bank
Transport
- Plan arrival/departure carefully – Kasarani traffic is notoriously bad
- Book return transport in advance – don’t rely on finding rides after
- Consider leaving before the headliner ends to beat exit crowds
- Budget KSh 1,500-2,500 for round-trip Uber/Bolt with surge pricing
Bottom Line: Was It Worth It?
For Tems fans: YES – Her debut performance was electric and worth the ticket price alone
For the overall experience: MIXED – Stunning performances were undermined by poor logistics, overcrowding, and service failures
Value for money: QUESTIONABLE – At KSh 3,500-4,000+, the organizational chaos didn’t match premium pricing
Would we recommend future editions: YES, BUT with caution – Go for specific artists you love, arrive early, keep expectations realistic about service and organization
What Organizers Need to Fix for December
- Strict capacity limits – Stop selling tickets when venue reaches safe capacity
- Better crowd flow management – Improve entry/exit procedures
- More bar stations – Current setup can’t handle 20,000 people
- Tighter performance schedule – Reduce gaps between acts
- Enhanced security – Better measures against theft
- Improved pre-order system – Current system “devoid of logic”
December Edition: Will They Get It Right?
The final 2025 edition is scheduled for December 21, 2025 at the same venue. Lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but historically the December edition features the biggest names and strongest production of the year.
Our advice: Wait to see if organizers acknowledge and address the September issues before buying tickets. If they make public commitments to capacity management and service improvements, it might be worth attending. If there’s radio silence about the complaints, buyer beware.
The Bigger Picture
Blankets & Wine remains an iconic Nairobi institution that showcases African talent and celebrates culture through music, fashion, food, and community. Founded by Muthoni Drummer Queen in 2008, it’s given platforms to countless emerging and established artists across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda for nearly 20 years.
The September edition showed both why people love Blankets & Wine (incredible performances, community, fashion, energy) and why they’re frustrated (organizational chaos that undermines the premium experience they’re paying for).
As the festival expands internationally and tries to scale up production quality, the September failures suggest growing pains that need urgent attention. The talent and creative vision are there – the operational execution needs to catch up.
For now, approach future editions with eyes wide open: Go for the artists, the fashion, and the vibes. But prepare for crowds, waits, and logistical frustrations that come with a festival still finding its footing at this scale.
Have you attended Blankets & Wine? Share your experience in the comments below. Planning to go to the December edition? Let us know what would make or break your decision to attend.
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