Best Kenyan art: #PlayKenyanMusic! This was the popular hashtag that dominated Kenya’s social media in the month of January. The hashtag was generated following claims by Kenyan artistes that their music does not receive good airplay in comparison to their Tanzanian and Nigerian counterparts. Granted, these claims have been bubbling under the surface for ages, until they exploded in January. But their explosion was countered with accusations that Kenyan artistes do not have adequate quality worth putting on air, an accusation whose jury is still out in the open. While music may not be Kenya’s strongest export, the country has a wider genre of art.

Unfortunately, like its music, Kenyan art seen as subdued, without concrete steps to show case it locally or abroad. None the least, from music to photography and general art, the Kenyan art story has been changing significantly. This change and growth has been largely anchored by art platforms such as the Safaricom calendar and art centres such as the Michael Joseph Centre, which have been at the forefront in the promotion of Kenyan artistry.

Take the Safaricom calendar for instance. It was established and opened up to Kenyan photographers in order to authenticate and magnify Kenyan art. “For too long Kenyan art has been whispered about. But we believe that now is the time for its magnificence to echo far and wide! There is talent to be discovered, there are treasures to be unearthed, and there are stories to be told,” says Safaricom. This is the inspiration behind the Safaricom Calendar which is the premier journal for Kenyan art. “Through this calendar we have a chance to celebrate our country through the eyes of gifted Kenyan artists. A chance to explore our beauty, wildlife, love, aspirations, hope, laughter and more,” says Safaricom.

The calendar was launched in 2013 and first called Capture Kenya. In 2014, it transformed into Unexpected Kenya. “A bigger picture came into view from the shooting of the calendar. This project has now grown to not just capturing images for a calendar but also showcasing the remarkable and inspiring lives of Kenyans,” says Safaricom.

Since the calendar started in 2013, over 15 Kenyan photographers have been given a chance to show the world their skills set. This exposure has gone on to give Kenyan artistes a platform on which they have launched their careers internationally. For example, in 2013, photographer Allan Gichigi bagged the prestigious Sony World Photography Award for a photo that he took at Lake Victoria. In 2015, Osborne Macharia was ranked as the sixth most influential photographer in the world.

Last year, Safaricom partnered with popular international channel, National Geographic, to enable photographers travel across the country capturing Kenya in a raw and undiluted form. Subsequently, National Geographic Wild featured vignettes of animal species that are found in Kenya and which are almost extinct. These animal species were also featured on the Safaricom calendar.

This year, the calendar is shifting its theme from photography to 2D painting. “For the past 5 years, the Safaricom calendar has been used as a platform that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Kenya through photography. But this year we have come up with the Kenya on Canvas theme,” says Safaricom. Under this theme, the best artist will get to make it on the 2019 calendar which will act as a moving gallery. Similarly, Kenyans will have a chance to  to bid and buy the original paintings by visiting the TIMK website https://thisismykenya.co.ke/.

In any given instance, efforts aimed at promoting Kenyan art such as the Safaricom calendar have not been in vain. “I have seen the value of artists’ work increase very much over the last 10 years,” says Danda Jaroljmek, the founder of Circle Art Gallery. “While we would probably never ask people to buy art simply as an investment, we can definitely show the increase in value of an artist’s work.” Currently, small works that are printed on paper or limited edition prints will cost anywhere from Sh. 15,000 to Sh. 80,000. “A good painting will cost between Sh. 80,000 and Sh. 300,000,” she says. “Additionally, senior artists with an international command can fetch up to Sh. 1.8 million for a work of art.”

In the Safaricom calendar, the selected artists will be lucratively rewarded Sh. 200,000 each for their work. “We have endeavored to open up the calendar as encouragement for Kenyan artists and a national platform for them to showcase their talent,” says Safaricom. Apart from painting and photography, Safaricom has also opened up spaces to nurture other forms of art such as music and exhibitions.

One of these spaces is the Michael Joseph Centre. The area has been set aside at Safaricom House and comprises of four functional areas which include the art space, the technology space, the corporate social responsibility space, and the tele-presence space. “The centre hosts primary events such as art exhibitions, theatre, poetry, music, fashion and creative forums,” says Safaricom.