Historical archival analysis reveals the widespread cultural adoption of Congolese music in Kenya, suggesting a cosmopolitan framework for national identity.
Key Points
Examine the role of Congolese popular music in shaping post-independence national identity and nation-building processes in Kenya from 1963 to 1993.
Conducted a qualitative historical analysis using archival back issues of Kenya's national newspaper, the Daily Nation (founded 1958).
Applied theoretical frameworks connecting music to nation-making to assess public reception, trans-ethnic engagement, and media coverage.
Demonstrated that Congolese music was widely embraced across ethnic divisions as an unofficial national soundtrack in Kenya, despite being performed in Lingala by foreign musicians.
Identified that media representation and public discourse actively integrated foreign musical forms into the national cultural imaginary, reflecting a cosmopolitan model of nationhood.