Prolific Kenyan disc jockey DJ Pinye is bringing the beat back – all pun intended! The long-running turntablist and one of the founding figures of Kenya’s vibrant DJ culture, Pinye is mostly synonymous with his years-long syndicated music show, The Beat, that famously aired on NTV for over 15 years. The show became a cultural staple for its high production standards and influence on the Kenyan music industry.

He is often credited with setting high standards for Kenyan music videos, though he faced criticism for “gatekeeping” by refusing to play music he deemed poor quality. To mark a record 23 years since its inception, Pinye recently announced that The Beat will return as a live stage experience slated for February 7, at the Carnivore Grounds.

The upcoming show is a live stage revival of the legendary music program The Beat, hosted by DJ Pinye. The event, titled Playback – The Beat Live, celebrates the 23rd anniversary of the show’s launch and DJ Pinye’s 55th birthday. 

“I did the Kulture event in October last year, and the reception was overwhelming. People couldn’t stop telling me how they watched all the songs performed on stage on The Beat for going up. That buoyed me to purpose on bringing the show to the live stage,” Pinye tells Capital Lifestyle.

“I will be playing on stage, accompanied by a few other DJ industry friends. Fans can expect a myriad surprises throughout the show and a great dose of nostalgia. You’ll hear songs that you probably forgot, as well as many popular songs that did not necessarily get high rotation,” He promises.

Record Labels

During the heyday of The Beat, Kenyan record labels reigned supreme. That has since changed as most artists operate independently. The likes of Ogopa Deejays and Calif Records would be the prime examples. Pinye reckons: “I prefer the older model of record labels. There was better structure and organization with releases and all other aspects. The lack of structure does not sit well with me.”

Would he ever bring The Beat back on the screens? “Never say never. I will not divulge much, but there’s something I’m working on as regards bringing it back. Watch this space,” Adds Pinye.

Tickets are available through platforms like TicketYetu, PataTix, and Get-A-Ticket.