November 2, 2010 – Sudanese rapper based in London, Emmanuel Jal is organizing the Gatwitch Festival, to take place on December 2-4 in Nairobi. The festival is comprised of a two-day conference at Silverbird Westgate on December 2-3, and a day of music at Makini School Grounds, off Riara Road on December 4.The list of acts set to headline the show include Arama Mara, a nu-jazz, rockabilly and ska performer also known as an excellent lyricist, is arriving for the festival from New York. Al Agami, a Danish-Ugandan phenomenon whose music has stirred up Europe, is arriving from Copenhagen.

Jal will also headline the event, performing the old favorites as well as his new tracks, choosing Kenyans to be the first audience to hear his new, not yet released fourth album.

The event will also feature the best of local talent, such as Daddy Owen, Atemi Oyungu, Juliani, Chris Adwar and the Villagers band, Harry Kimani, Abbi, Mutinda, Winyo, Dan Chizi Aceda and Nina Ogot, among others.

The concert will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 4. The conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, and Friday, December 5.

Kenyan film, Togetherness Supreme, which has won many international film awards, will be screened during the conference, along with an American documentary, Cultures of Resistance, and Emmanuel Jal’s documentary, Warchild.

Among confirmed speakers for the conferences include Ishmael Beah, an author of the New York Times bestselling book, A Long Way Gone, Jeffrey Kimathi, founder of the New York based African inspired clothing line worn by Akon and the likes, Jamhuri Wear, Julie Church, environmental scientist who turns discarded flip flops into art; head designer of Kikoromeo, Anne McCreath, Mark Somen, the general manager of the Tribe hotel, Kenyan producer Mercy Murugi and Carolina Vallejo, a designer from Denmark, among others.