The Giant Ugali Experience, Cultural Makutis, The Jiko live cooking, games and challenges, the Meme Corner, Soko ya Mezani marketplace, Kenyan Street food, live Kenyan music and Hadithi za Mezani fireside stories.

Mezani Festival presents Ugali: Edition 01

Mezani Festival: A Taste of Home

Q: How do I get tickets?

Tickets drop soon. Sign up for early access on this page and we will send you first access to early-bird tickets.

Q: Can my business partner or vend at Mezani?

Yes. Mezani welcomes brands, food businesses, cultural organisations, chefs, artisans and creative partners. Use Become a Partner or Become a Vendor on this page to get in touch.

Different cultures. Different flavours. One place to call home. Come hungry. Come curious. Come as you are.

Get early access See what's on

9 experiences
1 Giant Ugali
7 hours of food & music
Bring the family

EditionUgali: Edition 01

DateSat 14 Nov · 3–10 PM

CityNairobi · Venue TBA

Festival starts in --d --h --m --s

The Giant Ugali
Cultural Makutis
The Jiko
Kenyan Street
Live Music
Hadithi za Mezani

01 Karibu Mezani

There's always a story behind the food.

Think about your favourite meal growing up. The smell from the kitchen. The familiar voice calling everyone to eat.

That's the feeling we're bringing to Mezani: a Kenyan food and culture festival where you can discover something new, revisit something familiar and share a little piece of home.

At Mezani, everyone has a place at the table.

Friends laugh together around a table of food in Nairobi — Food is how we welcome, celebrate, connect and remember.

This edition comes home to

This edition: Nairobi

On 14 November, all of Kenya meets at one table.

02 Ugali: Edition 01

Utakula ugali na nini?

One staple. Many cultures. Endless ways to enjoy it.

Ask a Kenyan what they eat ugali with and you'll get more than one answer. The ugali may be familiar, but what we serve alongside it tells a different story in every home.

Ugali served with fried fish, sukuma wiki and fresh kachumbari

03 The headliners

A cook stirs a huge steaming pot of ugali over a firewood hearth

The Giant Ugali.

Imagine one giant ugali bringing thousands of stories together.

Watch the preparation come to life, collect your serving and explore the flavours waiting across our cultural kitchens.

Save me a serving

Kenyan cooks welcome guests inside a makuti pavilion at a Nairobi food festival

Cultural Makutis.

A journey through Kenya, one plate at a time.

Step into food spaces inspired by different Kenyan communities. Traditional cooks bring familiar recipes, unique ingredients and generations of food knowledge to life. Hear the stories behind each dish and find your new favourite pairing.

Take the journey

04 More than a food festival

Your ticket gets you into…

Come for the food. Stay for everything else.

The Jiko

Where recipes come alive. Home cooks and chefs share their secrets, live.

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There's something special about watching someone prepare a meal they've made a hundred times. At The Jiko, experienced home cooks and contemporary chefs share their techniques, recipes and the little secrets that make Kenyan food unforgettable. Come watch, learn and celebrate the hands behind the food.
Play at Mezani

Cooking challenges, tasting games and friendly competition. Bring your competitive side.

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Can you identify a dish just by tasting it? Do you really know your Kenyan food? From cooking challenges and tasting games to friendly competitions, there's plenty of room to laugh, play and prove yourself. You'll need your competitive side.
The Meme Corner

Take photos, settle a few food debates and enjoy the funny side of being Kenyan.

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Because Kenyans will always find something to laugh about. From the jokes only Kenyans understand to the food debates that never seem to end, the Meme Corner celebrates our shared sense of humour.
Soko ya Mezani

A curated marketplace of local food businesses, makers and homegrown brands.

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Discover something made close to home. From spices and sauces to handmade products and everyday favourites, there's something worth discovering and taking home.
The Soundtrack of Home

Benga, Mugithi, Kapuka, Gengetone and today's biggest Kenyan sounds. Live.

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Every generation has its Kenyan soundtrack. Mezani brings together music that reminds us where we've been and celebrates where we're going. Come ready to sing along, dance and make new memories.
Hadithi za Mezani

Fireside stories, roasted maize and sweet potatoes as the evening settles.

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Some of the best stories are told around a fire. Gather around for stories, laughter and familiar fireside favourites: roasted maize, sweet potatoes, cassava, good conversations and the kind of moments you wish could last a little longer. Just like home.

Kenyan Street: the flavours we know by heart.

Mutura by the roadside. Roasted maize on your way home. Bhajia with just the right sauce. Smokie pasua after a long day.

A young man grills meat on a roadside drum grill — 01Mutura

A vendor roasts maize over charcoal at a market stall — 02Roasted maize

A cook fries in a wok over a charcoal jiko at a night market — 03Bhajia

A street vendor serves fried snacks to a seated customer — 04Smokie pasua

Nine experiences. One ticket.

Get early access

05 3 PM to 10 PM

From first bite to fireside.

3 PM · Doors open
Arrive hungry.

The Giant Ugali comes to life. Collect your serving and head into the Cultural Makutis.
Afternoon
Watch, learn, play.

Live cooking at The Jiko, games and challenges, the Meme Corner and Soko ya Mezani.
Evening
Turn it up.

Live Kenyan music and the street food we know by heart. Come ready to sing along.
Until 10 PM
As the evening settles.

Hadithi za Mezani: stories, laughter and roasted maize around the fire.

Save my seat by the fire

06 The lineup

Who's at the table?

Guest chefs, home cooks, musicians and hosts are being confirmed now. Sign up and you'll hear first.

Revealed soon
Guest Chefs
Contemporary chefs putting their twist on Kenyan classics.
Revealed soon
Home Cooks
Traditional cooks from communities across Kenya.
Revealed soon
Live Band
The soundtrack of home, from Benga to Gengetone.
Revealed soon
Your Host
The voice keeping the stories and the games going.

Be first to know

Tickets drop soon · Early-bird access

Your seat at the table is waiting.

Get early access

Our story

Kenya, at one table.

Kenya is home to many communities, each with its own traditions, flavours, recipes and stories. Yet there is something beautifully familiar about the way food brings us together.

Mezani was born from a simple idea: bring those experiences into one space and celebrate them together. The people who prepare the food. The stories passed down through generations. The music in the background. The laughter around the table. And we're starting with food.

Our vision: To become a leading Kenyan cultural festival that brings people together through food, storytelling and shared experiences.
Our mission: To celebrate and preserve Kenya's diverse food heritage while creating opportunities for cultural exchange, local businesses, culinary talent and community connection.

Partner with Mezani

Let's bring Kenya to the table.

We welcome brands, food businesses, cultural organisations, chefs, artisans and creative partners who share our passion for celebrating Kenya. Showcase your products, create memorable brand experiences or support Kenyan food culture.

Brands
Food businesses
Chefs & cooks
Artisans & makers
Cultural organisations
Media

Become a Partner Become a Vendor

07 Your seat

Mezani Festival A Taste of Home

Ugali: Edition 01 · Utakula Ugali na Nini?

Date: Saturday, 14 November 2026
Time: 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Venue: Nairobi · To be announced
Included: All 9 experiences

Tickets drop soon.

Add to calendar: Google Apple / Outlook

Good to know

Questions, answered.

What is Mezani?

Mezani is a Kenyan food and culture festival that brings people together to celebrate the flavours, traditions and everyday experiences that connect us. Edition 01 celebrates ugali, with one question: Utakula ugali na nini?

When and where is it?

Saturday, 14 November 2026, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM in Nairobi. The venue will be announced soon. Sign up for early access and you'll hear first.

Is it family friendly?

Yes. Mezani is made for friends and family. Bring your friends, bring your family and bring your appetite.

What's included?

The Giant Ugali Experience, Cultural Makutis, The Jiko, Play at Mezani, the Meme Corner, Soko ya Mezani, Kenyan Street, live Kenyan music and Hadithi za Mezani around the fire.

How do I get tickets?

Tickets drop soon. Sign up for early access and we'll send you first access to early-bird tickets.

Can my business partner or vend at Mezani?

Yes. We welcome brands, food businesses, cultural organisations, chefs, artisans and creative partners. Become a vendor or become a partner.

How do I contact Mezani?

Email mezanifestival@gmail.com, or find us as @mezanifestival on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for the ticket drop, venue announcement and updates.

14 November 2026 · Nairobi

Bring your appetite. We'll bring home.

Bring your friends. Bring your family. Come discover the dishes, stories, sounds and experiences that make Kenya feel like home.

Get early access

Tickets drop soon

Let's talk Mezani.

Partnerships, vendor opportunities, media enquiries or a question? We'd love to hear from you.

Mezani Festival: A Taste of Home

There's always a story behind the food.

This edition: Nairobi

Utakula ugali na nini?

The Giant Ugali and the Cultural Makutis

The Giant Ugali.

Cultural Makutis.

Your ticket gets you into…

The Jiko

Play at Mezani

The Meme Corner

Soko ya Mezani

The Soundtrack of Home

Hadithi za Mezani

Kenyan Street: the flavours we know by heart.

From first bite to fireside.

Arrive hungry.

Watch, learn, play.

Turn it up.

As the evening settles.

Who's at the table?

Guest Chefs

Home Cooks

Live Band

Your Host

Kenya, at one table.

Let's bring Kenya to the table.

Mezani Festival A Taste of Home

Questions, answered.

Bring your appetite. We'll bring home.

Let's talk Mezani.