Blankets and Wine

Blankets and Wine is a pan-African Festival that combines music, fashion, food and family-friendly experiences. ^[1] The festival was founded by Kenyan musician and cultural entrepreneur Muthoni Drummer Queen. ^[2]

History

Blankets and Wine started in 2008 as an event to showcase emerging Kenyan musicians. ^[3] The picnic-styled event was initially held every first Sunday of the month. ^[4] Attendees were supposed to bring a bottle of wine, a picnic basket and a blanket. They would then watch performances from local artists. ^[5]

In 2012, the event was launched in Uganda. In 2017, the event was first held in Rwanda. ^{[6] [7]} The Rwanda edition would also have a segment called "New Kigali Set", which would include performances from local upcoming artists. ^[8] In 2020, amidst Covid-19 lockdown restriction, Blankets & Wine held its first online edition. ^[9] In 2025, organizers announced they would hold the first international edition of blankets and wine in the UK. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

In 2022, Blankets and Wine Uganda banned children from attending the festival. ^[13] In 2023 and 2024, the festival held four editions each year. ^[14]

In 2025, Blankets and Wine announced that it would host three editions of the festival. Each edition will feature a main stage and a second stage, known as the Onja Onja stage and the Onja Onja market. The main stage will feature seven artists who will be performing live. The Onja Onja stage will feature seven DJs. The Onja Onja market on the other hand, is where local artisans and vendors showcase and sell their items. ^[1]

Festival summary by year

Blankets and Wine Kenya

Edition	Year	Country	Venue	Date	Headliners	Ref
24	2011	Kenya	Mamba Village Leisure Garden	April 3	Thandiswa Mazwai	[15]
27	2011	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village	July 10
29	2011	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village	September 4	Mafikizolo	[16]
32	2012	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village	March 4	Lira	[17]
	2012	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village	August 5	Sauti Sol Tumi Yunasi Michel Ongaro	[18]
38	2012	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village	October 7	Juliani Fena Gitu Harry Kimani Kamba
40	2012	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village	December 2	Madtraxx Dan Chizi Aceda Makadem Andrew Wambua Afrology the Band	[19]
	2013	Kenya	Leisure Gardens, Mamba Village		Liquideep	[20]
44	2013	Kenya	Carnivore	June 2	Zahara
46	2013	Kenya	Carnivore	August 4	Kidum	[21]
50	2014	Kenya		January 4 and January 5	Mafikizolo Mi Casa Sauti Sol
	2016	Kenya	Ngong Racecourse and Golf Park	July 10	Estelle	[22]
	2017	Kenya		April 9	AKA (rapper)	[23]
	2019	Kenya	Ngong Racecourse and Golf Park	December 22	Koffee	[24]
	2024	Kenya	Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Center	April 7	Wurld Eric Wainaina Wanavokali Fena Gitu Chris Kaiga	[25]
	2024	Kenya	Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Center	July 28	Savara Nikita Kering Samthing Soweto Bensoul	[26]
	2024	Kenya	Laureate Gardens- Moi International Sports Center in Nairobi	October 6	Nasty C	[27]
December	2024	Kenya	Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Center	December 22	Nyashinski Wakadinali Necessary Noize Watendawili Njerae	[28]
	2025	Kenya	Laureate Gardens, Moi International Sports Centre	June 29	Mi Casa	[29]

Blankets and Wine Uganda

Edition	Year	Country	Venue	Dates	Headliners	Ref
3	2013	Uganda	Uganda Museum	March 31	Madtraxx Tamba The Sundowners Band Winston and Pragmo	[30]
8	2014	Uganda	Uganda Museum	December 14	Freshlyground	[31]
9	2015	Uganda	Uganda Museum		Eric Wainaina	[32]
10	2015	Uganda		September 27	Zahara	[33]
11	2015	Uganda	Uganda Museum	December 13	Kansoul Kenneth Mugabi Swahili Nation	[34]
12	2016	Uganda	Uganda Museum	March 27	Uhuru	[35]
15	2016	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	December 18	Ali kiba	[36]
	2017	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	August 20	Seyi Shay	[37]
19	2018	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	May 6	Heavy K The Ben Fik Fameica	[38]
	2018	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	December 16	Maleek Berry	[39]
22	2019	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	April 28	Shekhinah King Saha Sammy Kasule	[40]
23	2019	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	August 25	Skales	[41]
24	2019	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	December 15	Jidenna	[42]
	2022	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	March 27	Bruce Melodie Spice Diana Zex Bilangilangi Cosign Yenze Trroy Music Ebrahim Soul O Shakib Miss Deedan	[43]
	2022	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	July 24	Ayra Starr	[44]
	2022	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	December 11	Yemi Alade	[45]
29	2023	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	April 30	Cassper Nyovest Azawi Bensoul Mike Kaihura	[46] [47]
	2023	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	December 17	Konshens	[48]
30	2023	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	August 27	Johnny Drille	[49]
	2024	Uganda	Lugogo Cricket Oval	June 30	Samthing Soweto	[50]

Blankets and Wine Rwanda

Edition	Year	Country	Venue	Date	Headliners	Ref
1	2017	Rwanda	Kigali Golf Course	August 27	Lillian Mbabazi Bruce Melodie Tresor	[51]
2	2017	Rwanda	Kigali Golf Course	December 17		[52]
	2023	Rwanda	Canal Olympia	September 3	Mike Kayihura Alyn Sano Kivumbi King Angel Mutoni Sea Stars	[53]

Blankets and Wine Online Edition

Edition	Year	Date	Headliners	Ref
1	2020	August 30	Joeboy	[9]

Blankets and Wine International Edition

Year	Edition	Country	Venue	Date	Headliners	Ref
2025	1	United Kingdom	Lister Park	September 6	To be announced	[10]

References

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