Jazzworx, Thukuthela & GL Ceejay brought the heat to Habanos and Nairobi showed up!

Sunday, November 23rd was not a regular night out. Habanos Lounge became the epicenter of Nairobi’s music scene as three of the top trending 3-step artists in the world landed in Kenya for what turned into an absolutely insane celebration of South Africa’s hottest export.

If you’ve been scrolling through your FYP lately, you’ve definitely heard 3-Step. South Africa’s latest offering in dance music borrows from Afro house, Amapiano, and broken beat, creating this addictive sound that’s been taking over clubs, playlists, and TikTok dance challenges across the continent. And on this night, the pioneers themselves – Jazzworx, Thukuthela, and GL Ceejay – pulled up to show Nairobi exactly what the hype is about.

Tickets flew fast in the weeks leading up to the event, and for good reason. These three aren’t just DJs playing tracks, they’re literally the ones creating the songs everyone’s been obsessed with. Their collabs have been racking up millions of streams, and tracks like “Bengicela” have become the soundtrack to countless nights out across Africa.

Habanos, with its outdoor setting and top-notch sound system, was absolutely packed. The crowd was a vibe: a mix of serious music heads who’d been tracking 3-Step’s rise, amapiano fans ready for the next evolution, and people who just knew this was the place to be that Saturday. The energy before the artists even hit the stage was already at 100.

When the trio finally came on, the place lost it. From the first beat, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a chill night. The music’s tempo, ranging from 113 to 120 BPM, gave it that deliberate, groovy swing that just hits different from regular house music. That signature three-kick-drum pattern combined with deep basslines, unmistakable log drums, and punchy Afro-tech percussion had everyone moving in sync.

The setlist was stacked with bangers. Every track felt like it was made for that exact moment—the kind of songs that make you forget about your phone and just get lost in the music. The artists didn’t just play; they performed, reading the crowd’s energy and building it up at all the right moments. Their chemistry on stage was obvious—these are collaborators who genuinely push each other creatively.

The crowd was completely locked in. That 3-Step bounce took over the entire venue, with people dancing in ways that felt both familiar and completely fresh. The vibe was communal, everyone feeding off each other’s energy. Even attendees who didn’t speak isiZulu or other South African languages were singing along, proving once again that good music doesn’t need translation.

What made the night really hit was seeing how Nairobi has fully embraced this sound. East Africa has always had love for South African music: from the kwaito era to gqom to amapiano—but 3-Step feels like it’s ours now too. The packed venue and the crowd’s energy proved that Nairobi isn’t just consuming trends; the city is actively participating in shaping where African dance music goes next.

The artists kept the momentum going all night, dropping hit after hit until the early morning hours. By the time things wrapped, the consensus was clear: this was one of those nights people would be talking about for weeks. The kind of event where you had to be there, because trying to explain the energy just doesn’t do it justice.

For anyone who slept on this one, big mistake. But something says Jazzworx, Thukuthela, and GL Ceejay will be back. 3-Step isn’t a trend that’s fading anytime soon, and Nairobi has clearly stamped itself as a major player in the genre’s journey across the continent.

The night proved what many already knew: when South African artists bring their A-game to Nairobi, magic happens. Habanos delivered the perfect setting, the artists brought their biggest tracks, and the crowd showed up with the energy to match. That’s the recipe for an unforgettable night.

The Verdict: If this is what 3-Step live sounds like, more events like this need to happen. Soon.