TL;DR: Fashion shows, markets, film screenings, concerts, and parties all happened the same weekend. Here’s what actually went down.
If you felt like every Instagram story was a different event this past weekend, you weren’t imagining things. October 18-19 was absolutely packed. Here’s the honest breakdown of what happened, what was worth it, and what you missed.
Kenya Fashion Week: The Main Event
When: October 17-18
Where: Glee Hotel
The Draw: Designers, runway shows, gala dinner
Kenya Fashion Week brought together designers, models, fashion enthusiasts, and that one friend who always claims they “know someone in fashion” for two days of runway shows and networking.
Day 1 kicked off with a gala dinner—the kind where people spend three hours getting ready and the dress code is “interpret elegance however you want.” Industry people showed up, connections were made, and everyone documented everything for the ‘gram.
Day 2 brought the runway shows. Multiple designers showcased collections, some hit, some were experimental (which is code for “interesting choice”), and a few had people asking “where can I buy that?”
The vibe: Professional but accessible. Not as intimidating as you’d think a fashion week would be. Actually felt like a celebration of Kenyan design rather than just a flex.
What people are saying: The production quality was solid. Venue worked well. More local press coverage than international (which makes sense, we’re still building). Designers got genuine visibility.
Should you go next year? If you’re into fashion, design, or just like seeing creativity in action, yes. Tickets aren’t crazy expensive and it’s one of those events where you actually feel the creative energy.
Pop Up & Chill Handmaker’s Market: Shopping With Vibes
When: October 18-19, both days 10am-6pm
Where: Ngong Race Course and Golf Park
The Draw: Local artisans, handmade goods, live music
This is the kind of market where you go planning to “just look” and leave with three things you didn’t know you needed and a lighter wallet.
Two full days of locally made stuff—jewelry, art, home décor, kids’ items, clothes, accessories. Different vendors each day so if you actually wanted to see everything, you had to commit to both days.
What made it different from other markets:
- Quality control—vendors were curated, not just anyone with a table
- Vibe—live music, kids’ activities, actually felt like a community thing
- Pricing—mix of budget-friendly and “I’m treating myself” options
- Christmas shopping angle—smart timing for people starting their gift hunting early
The crowd: Families came through in the morning, young professionals showed up afternoon, and some people treated it like a whole day out with the food and music situation.
Should you have gone? If you support local and actually like discovering new brands, yes. If you just wanted Instagram photos, regular Maasai Market would’ve been fine.
NBO Film Festival: The Culture Move
When: October 16-19 (all weekend)
Where: Multiple screenings
The Draw: African cinema, indie films, filmmaker Q&As
While everyone else was at markets and parties, the film people were locked in at NBO Film Festival watching back-to-back screenings.
Multiple African films, indie projects, documentaries, and shorts played over four days. The kind of festival where you actually learn something between the entertainment.
Who this was for: Film buffs, aspiring filmmakers, anyone tired of Hollywood’s recycled plots, and people who genuinely appreciate storytelling.
What we heard: Good selection of films, Q&As with filmmakers added value, and the crowd was actually there for the films not just to be seen at a film festival.
The only issue: Promotion could’ve been stronger. Some screenings weren’t full when they should’ve been packed.
Coster Ojwang’ Live: Closing Night Energy
When: Sunday, October 19, 8pm-3am
Where: Fairways Hotel
The Draw: Luo AfroFuturism, closing the Dala Afrolatin Festival
While everyone was recovering from Saturday, Coster Ojwang’ closed out the Dala Afrolatin Festival at Fairways Hotel with a performance that blended traditional Luo music with Afrofuturism.
For those who went: You got to see one of the artists leading the “Luovolution”—that current wave of Luo music getting mainstream attention. His 10-piece band (The Fishers) brought live instrumentation, and the collaborations with festival artists added surprise moments.
The vibe: Intimate, cultural, less “party” more “experience.” If you know Coster’s music (Nyakachieng, Ting’amalo, Wabiro), you were singing along. If you didn’t, you still felt the energy.
Who showed up: Music lovers, Luo community representing, and people who appreciate live instrumentation over DJ sets.
Everything Else That Happened
Because apparently October 18-19 wasn’t busy enough:
- GHEDIBAE (Sat-Sun, 10pm-6am) – All-night party for those who had stamina after a full day of events
- Masinga TT 2025 (Sat-Sun, 7am-6pm) – Motocross for the early risers and adrenaline seekers
- Shorts, Shorts & Shots (Sun, 2pm) – Short films with a twist, part of NBO Film Festival
- We House Sundays (Sun, 2pm-11:45pm) – The regular Sunday session for house music heads
- Junior Chess Workshop (Sat, 10am-1pm, Village Market) – For parents looking for kid activities
- FIFA Collect Tournament (Sat, 10am-3pm) – Football meets Web3 for the tech crowd
The Honest Question: Was It Too Much?
Having five major events plus ten smaller ones the same weekend? It’s a lot.
The good: Options. Whatever your vibe—fashion, music, film, shopping, sports—something was happening.
The bad: FOMO was real. You couldn’t do everything. People were choosing between events they actually wanted to attend.
The reality: Nairobi’s event scene is growing. Organizers don’t coordinate dates. Weekends will be packed. Get used to choosing.
What We’d Have Done Differently
Saturday:
- Morning: Pop Up & Chill Market (10am-12pm)
- Afternoon: Break, lunch, prep
- Evening: Kenya Fashion Week runway shows (if we’d planned ahead)
- Night: GHEDIBAE (if we had energy)
Sunday:
- Afternoon: Back to Pop Up & Chill for different vendors
- Evening: Coster Ojwang’ at Fairways
Film Festival: Would’ve caught 2-3 screenings across the four days, not tried to marathon them.
What’s Next
If you missed this weekend, October’s not done:
October 25: Tusker Oktobafest hits Kisumu (Lake Edition)
October 26: More events dropping
November 1: Oktobafest closes in Nanyuki (Mountain Edition)
Plus regular weekend stuff—Blankets & Wine dates, club events, more markets, more concerts.
The Takeaway
October 18-19, 2025 proved Nairobi’s event scene is thriving—maybe too thriving. Multiple quality events competing for attention. The city is growing up.
Best event of the weekend? Depends what you’re into:
- Fashion lover: Kenya Fashion Week
- Support local: Pop Up & Chill Market
- Culture head: NBO Film Festival
- Music enthusiast: Coster Ojwang’ Live
- Party person: GHEDIBAE
What did you attend? Drop your reviews below.
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