{"performers":[{"slug":"akinyi","name":"Akinyi Otieno","category":"comedian","handle":"@akinyi.onstage","city":"Kisumu","bio":"Former primary school teacher who still marks her audience out of ten. Best known for the twelve-minute bit about matatu touts negotiating with God.","years":6,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":2,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507152832244-10d45c7eda57?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507152832244-10d45c7eda57?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Marked Out of Ten: A Night of Stand-Up","venue":"The Back Room, Westlands","starts_at":"2026-11-07T17:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true},{"title":"Matatu Touts and Other Prophets","venue":"Nakuru Players Theatre","starts_at":"2026-11-15T16:30:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"baraka","name":"Baraka Mwangi","category":"comedian","handle":"@bazu_ke","city":"Nairobi","bio":"Nine years on the mic, three of them as the only comedian in his estate WhatsApp group. Crowd work so quick the front row signs waivers.","years":9,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":3,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1565148343401-5e4aa8f9c2cf?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1565148343401-5e4aa8f9c2cf?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Crowd Work Confessions: The Estate WhatsApp Tour","venue":"The Back Room, Westlands","starts_at":"2026-11-07T17:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true},{"title":"Front Row Signs Waivers","venue":"Kilimani Laugh Lounge","starts_at":"2026-11-09T15:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"chebet","name":"Chebet Langat","category":"comedian","handle":"@chebet.laughs","city":"Eldoret","bio":"Runs, but only on stage. Writes about growing up between athletics camps and a grandmother who thinks comedy is a type of illness.","years":3,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":true,"tone":4,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1656473031960-7401a4ae3f0e?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1656473031960-7401a4ae3f0e?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Runs Only on Stage","venue":"Eldoret Open Mic","starts_at":"2026-11-06T16:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"dida","name":"Dida Wario","category":"comedian","handle":"@didawario","city":"Isiolo","bio":"Storyteller from the north with jokes about camels, cousins and county budgets, in roughly that order of seriousness.","years":5,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":5,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771584969936-571ef1c3f130?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1771584969936-571ef1c3f130?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Camels, Cousins and County Budgets","venue":"Isiolo Cultural Centre","starts_at":"2026-11-08T14:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"esther","name":"Esther Wambui","category":"comedian","handle":"@mama_mboga_jokes","city":"Nyeri","bio":"Plays Mama Mboga, the vegetable seller who knows everyone's business and prices her sukuma according to your attitude.","years":7,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":1,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507152927179-bc4ebfef7103?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1507152927179-bc4ebfef7103?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Sukuma Prices Have Gone Up Again","venue":"Kilimani Laugh Lounge","starts_at":"2026-11-12T17:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"felix","name":"Felix Odhiambo","category":"dj","handle":"@felixodh","city":"Mombasa","bio":"Coast-based DJ who reads a room in one song. His Sunday beach sets have been quoted in at least two noise complaints.","years":4,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":2,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614023342667-6f060e9d1e04?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614023342667-6f060e9d1e04?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Sunday Sunset Sessions on the Beach","venue":"Nyali Beach Stage","starts_at":"2026-11-14T17:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"gitau","name":"Gitau wa Njoroge","category":"musician","handle":"@gitauwanjoroge","city":"Nakuru","bio":"Veteran of the Nakuru circuit. Plays benga guitar and can do a full Kikuyu church choir with only his voice and a borrowed tambourine.","years":11,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":3,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1556452576-3e2d58536f62?w=400&h=400&fit=facearea&facepad=3&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1556452576-3e2d58536f62?w=168&h=168&fit=facearea&facepad=3&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"One Man Church Choir Live in Nakuru","venue":"Nakuru Players Theatre","starts_at":"2026-11-15T16:30:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"halima","name":"Halima Abdi","category":"comedian","handle":"@halima.says","city":"Garissa","bio":"Newest voice on the list. Dry, precise and very funny about being the eldest daughter in a family of eleven.","years":2,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":true,"tone":4,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1743871698163-a2e470d8eac7?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1743871698163-a2e470d8eac7?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Eldest Daughter of Eleven","venue":"Eastleigh Community Hall","starts_at":"2026-11-16T13:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"jabali","name":"Jabali Kiprono","category":"mc","handle":"@jabali_mc","city":"Nairobi","bio":"MC, host and professional hype man. If you have been to a wedding in Nairobi since 2020 there is a good chance he roasted your uncle.","years":8,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":5,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605980776566-0486c3ac7617?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1605980776566-0486c3ac7617?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Roast Your Uncle Night","venue":"The Back Room, Westlands","starts_at":"2026-11-07T17:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true},{"title":"The Big Nairobi Wedding Roast Live","venue":"Two Rivers Amphitheatre","starts_at":"2026-11-08T16:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"kamau","name":"Kamau Kidogo","category":"magician","handle":"@kamaukidogo","city":"Thika","bio":"Five foot two of pure confidence. Close-up magician who can make your wristwatch vanish while telling you about his height.","years":5,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":1,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1596529257881-85dfcdc8f880?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1596529257881-85dfcdc8f880?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Now You See My Wristwatch","venue":"Thika Arts Hub","starts_at":"2026-11-13T16:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"kitticai","name":"Kitticai","category":"comedian","handle":"","city":"","bio":"","years":null,"verified":true,"demo":false,"is_new":true,"tone":5,"photo":"/media/p/kitticai-beb35000ba16.webp","thumb":"/media/p/kitticai-beb35000ba16-t.webp","shows":[]},{"slug":"lulu","name":"Lulu Achieng","category":"podcaster","handle":"@luluachieng","city":"Kisumu","bio":"Hosts a weekly podcast that treats every family WhatsApp forward as primary source material.","years":4,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":2,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1618298363483-e31a31f1a1e2?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1618298363483-e31a31f1a1e2?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[]},{"slug":"mwende","name":"Mwende Musyoka","category":"actor","handle":"@mwende.m","city":"Machakos","bio":"Stage and screen actor who also does impressions of every Kenyan news anchor and at least one weather forecaster who refuses to retire.","years":6,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":3,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561406636-b80293969660?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561406636-b80293969660?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Breaking News and Other Impressions","venue":"Machakos People's Park","starts_at":"2026-11-08T15:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"njeri","name":"Njeri Kahiga","category":"comedian","handle":"@njeri_kahiga","city":"Nairobi","bio":"A decade in. Headlines the Westlands circuit with stories about dating in a city where everyone knows your ex's cousin.","years":10,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":4,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1554727242-741c14fa561c?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1554727242-741c14fa561c?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Dating in a Very Small City","venue":"The Back Room, Westlands","starts_at":"2026-11-07T18:30:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"peter","name":"Peter Karanja","category":"comedian","handle":"@punchline_pk","city":"Nairobi","bio":"Known as Punchline. Accountant by day, which explains why his jokes are perfectly balanced and slightly overdue.","years":7,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":5,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614890094520-7b8dd0ec56d2?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1614890094520-7b8dd0ec56d2?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Perfectly Balanced, Slightly Overdue","venue":"Kilimani Laugh Lounge","starts_at":"2026-11-09T15:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"sheila","name":"Sheila Atieno","category":"poet","handle":"@sheila.atieno","city":"Homa Bay","bio":"Lakeside poet with a gift for fishermen's tall tales, retold in verse with the boat getting bigger every time.","years":3,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":true,"tone":1,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1530785602389-07594beb8b73?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1530785602389-07594beb8b73?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"The Boat Gets Bigger Every Time","venue":"Homa Bay Stadium Fan Zone","starts_at":"2026-11-22T14:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"tonny","name":"Tonny Wekesa","category":"dancer","handle":"@tonnywekesa","city":"Bungoma","bio":"High-energy dancer from Bungoma. Brings the Bukusu dances he grew up with to every stage he gets.","years":6,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":2,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522529599102-193c0d76b5b6?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522529599102-193c0d76b5b6?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Bukusu Dance Night in Bungoma","venue":"Bungoma Social Hall","starts_at":"2026-11-14T16:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"wanjiru","name":"Wanjiru Mbugua","category":"creator","handle":"@wanjiru.mbugua","city":"Nairobi","bio":"Corporate dropout turned content creator. Her videos on team-building retreats are played at actual team-building retreats.","years":5,"verified":true,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":3,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611432579402-7037e3e2c1e4?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611432579402-7037e3e2c1e4?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Team Building Retreat: The Live Show","venue":"Two Rivers Amphitheatre","starts_at":"2026-11-08T16:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]},{"slug":"zawadi","name":"Zawadi Mohamed","category":"poet","handle":"@zawadi.lamu","city":"Lamu","bio":"Island-paced spoken word from Lamu. Writes in Swahili and English, sometimes in the same line.","years":4,"verified":false,"demo":true,"is_new":false,"tone":4,"photo":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1793149216428-54e8e5279e91?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","thumb":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1793149216428-54e8e5279e91?w=168&h=168&fit=crop&crop=faces&auto=format&q=80","shows":[{"title":"Spoken Word at the Fort","venue":"Lamu Fort Courtyard","starts_at":"2026-11-29T15:00:00.000Z","poster_checked":true}]}]}