🏔️ A Homecoming in the Hills of Murang’a
This past weekend, Ngemi 5.0 – Homecoming turned the hills of Murang’a County into a cultural pilgrimage, as hundreds of revellers travelled to Magic Mountain Resort for a full-day celebration of Kikuyu music, art, poetry and heritage.
Under the theme “Going Back to the Source,” Ngemi 5.0 invited attendees to reconnect with their roots — not just as a party, but as a homecoming for people who wanted to experience Gikuyu culture in a modern, creative space.
🎶 Music, Spoken Word & Storytelling
The program blended live music, spoken word, poetry and artistic showcases, with performers exploring identity, language, love, land, and spirituality. From soulful live sets to powerful poetry pieces, the day felt less like a “gig” and more like a curated cultural experience.
Social clips from the venue showed crowds spread out across the resort — singing along, wrapped in shukas, dancing under the hills and soaking in the views as the sun went down over Maragua.
🥘 Food, Art & Kikuyu Aesthetics
Beyond the stage, Ngemi 5.0 leaned heavily into Kikuyu aesthetics and taste:
- Traditional and local-inspired dishes from Murang’a and Central Kenya
- Vendors showcasing art, crafts and fashion rooted in Gikuyu culture
- A natural backdrop that made Magic Mountain Resort feel like a literal “source” — hills, greenery and open sky framing the entire festival
The event’s concept is clear: Ngemi isn’t just entertainment, it’s a cultural reset button — a chance to step away from the city and remember where you’re from.
🚌 From Nairobi to Murang’a: Vibez on Wheels
To make the journey easier, organizers partnered with Little (Little Ride) to offer shuttle transport from Nairobi CBD to Murang’a and back, turning the road trip itself into part of the experience.
Groups met in town, boarded branded shuttles, and hit the road together — music on, outfits on point, content rolling from the moment they left the city. It really leaned into that “Nairobi to shags” homecoming energy.
Tickets for Ngemi 5.0 were listed at KSh 3,000 for entry and KSh 2,000 for the transport package (round trip), and advance listings showed the event selling out ahead of the weekend.
🌱 “Going Back to the Source”
At its core, Ngemi 5.0 positioned itself as a spiritual and cultural check-in more than just a festival:
- A space for young and older Kikuyus (and friends from other communities) to sit with music and stories from “home”
- A platform for artists who create in Gikuyu or around Central Kenyan identity
- A reminder that Kenyan culture is not only urban and digital — it’s also hills, rivers, language, and memory
“Ngemi is more than a festival — it’s a homecoming. It’s about reconnecting with who we are, where we come from, and the art that continues to shape us,” organizers said in a pre-event note.