Base to Billboardz Artists Gear Up for Album Launch
Nairobi, Kenya, August 21, 2026 – The build-up to the Base to Billboardz collective album continues, as the six artists dubbed “KETEH” took over the Tusker Micro Brewery for an exclusive listening party, giving fans and industry stakeholders a glimpse of what to expect when the album, “Safari Ya Mapenzi,” drops at the end of August.
The artists Muringi Matheri, Manasseh Shalom, Zawadi, Chris Barr, Njuguna and Ras Amor, performed original music they have developed through months of mentorship, songwriting, recording and performance training. The session gave guests an opportunity to experience the artists’ evolving sounds and the creative direction of the collective project ahead of its official launch.
Speaking at the event, Christine Kariuki, Head of Mainstream Beer at Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), said:
“It has been inspiring to see how much the artists have grown throughout the Base to Billboardz journey, both individually and as a collective. We are looking forward to the album launch, where audiences will get to experience the full body of work and celebrate the talent, creativity and hard work that has gone into bringing this project to life.”
The listening party follows the artists’ Jam Session performance at K1 Klub House in July, where they performed some of their original music for a live audience as part of their journey through the programme.
The upcoming album, “Safari Ya Mapenzi,” marks a major milestone as it captures the artists’ growth throughout the programme, from refining their individual craft and experimenting with new sounds to collaborating and creating music as a collective. The six artists were selected from an initial pool of 30 musicians shortlisted by a panel of industry experts including Bien, before public participation and further evaluation led to the formation of the inaugural B2B collective.
B2B is not a traditional music competition. It is a Tusker career accelerator designed to support artists who have already demonstrated momentum through released music, live performance experience, at least one million career streams and a growing fan base. The platform provides mentorship, professional development, recording opportunities and industry exposure to help emerging artists build sustainable music careers.
Since joining the programme, the artists have undergone intensive mentorship and coaching covering vocals, songwriting, dance, performance and the business of music. They have also participated in professional recording sessions, masterclasses and curated industry experiences designed to sharpen their skills and prepare them for the realities of a professional music career.
The journey now moves into its next chapter. The six artists are set to release “Safari Ya Mapenzi” at the end of August, followed by a mega album launch concert open to the public in early September, giving fans the opportunity to experience the collective’s new music live. The artists will then take their music to audiences across the country as part of the Oktobafest 2026 tour in October, extending their journey from the studio to the stage.
Through Base to Billboardz, Tusker continues to champion Kenya’s creative talent by creating platforms that give emerging artists the opportunity to develop their craft, gain valuable industry experience and build sustainable careers in music.