Continuing Its Mission To Support and Connect Emerging Women in Music
The Leading Vibe Initiative (LVI), founded by two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter Tems, in partnership with Hennessy, has successfully concluded its Kenya edition on September 29 at The Social House, Nairobi.
Following its inaugural program in Lagos in August, this edition brought together a dynamic group of 20 emerging female artists, songwriters, and producers across Kenya for a day to connect and learn from each other and experts across the music industry. The program featured curated sessions on songwriting, production, and the business of music, alongside hands-on workshops and studio experiences with some of the region’s most influential voices in music and culture.
The day opened with Patricia Kihoro (creator, storyteller, actor, performer & host) setting the tone as the host for the day, followed by Amina Rabar (TV host and Nation Media Group presenter) who moderated “The Power Behind the Vision”. This panel featured Anyiko Owoko (publicist and founder, Anyiko PR), Dunsin Wright (creative director and brand strategist), Chiki (Bien’s manager), and Wale Davies (Tems’ manager), who unpacked how strategy, branding, and industry infrastructure shape an artist’s career.
Masterclasses were led by award-winning talents like Viola Karuri (singer, songwriter, producer & recording engineer), Sharon Anyango Obbo (producer, audio engineer & educator), Monica Kemoli (Platoon project manager & EIC of TANGAZA Magazine), Muyiwa Awoyini (Tems’ management), and Xenia Manasseh (artist, songwriter, producer & engineer) guiding participants on production, career sustainability, and songwriting craft. Emma Mbeke Nzioka (Coco Em) (DJ, producer, curator & community organizer) also led a Collab Lab studio session, guiding participants through hands-on
collaborative music-making. Native Instruments provided cutting-edge music production software Izotope, allowing participants to experiment in real time.
“Seeing the energy and talent here in Nairobi has been so inspiring,” said Tems. “When I started out as an artist, I had to teach myself everything, from production to navigating the music industry. Today, I’m fortunate to have a team that shares my vision, but I know my story isn’t unique. There are many women with the same drive and potential, but without access to the right tools or network. That is why I started The Leading Vibe Initiative. Seeing the second group come together in Nairobi, support each other, and grow through the experience, reminded me exactly why this matters. We’re building pathways for women to lead, thrive, and take up space across the global music industry.”
Later in the day, a panel titled “If I Could Tell Her” brought together powerhouse voices including Nikita Kering (singer, songwriter & entrepreneur), Karun (Karun Mungai) (singer, songwriter, producer & founder, Karun Music), Victoria Kimani (recording artist & founder, Kimani Records), and Hennessy’s Friend of the House and Cypher alumni Femi One (rapper), with Muthoni Ndonga (artist & founder, Blankets & Wine) moderating. The panelists reflected on breaking barriers, navigating visibility, and balancing authenticity with industry pressures.
The program culminated with a fireside chat between the initiative’s founder Tems and Global Impact Strategist Tsehaitu “Tubi” Retta, where Tems shared her personal journey, lessons learned, and her vision for the Leading Vibe Initiative’s future across Africa and beyond. The day concluded with a networking mixer, giving participants the opportunity to connect directly with mentors and peers alike. The atmosphere reflected the initiative’s core mission – to build a community where women can share their stories, sharpen their skills, and amplify their voices across Africa and beyond.
Hennessy reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the voices shaping Africa’s cultural landscape by joining once again as an official partner of LVI.
“We are proud to partner with Tems by supporting the Leading Vibe Initiative, as part of our mission to stand beside the communities and creators who shape culture in Africa and across the world,” said Vincent Montalescot, Hennessy Global Chief Marketing Of icer.
The Nairobi edition marks another milestone in LVI’s journey to expand across Africa and beyond, addressing the underrepresentation of women in the global music industry.
