In 2016, Mutati realised a lifelong dream — hosting the very first Salsafari Festival in Nairobi, Kenya. Over four extraordinary days, international artists flew in from across the globe to teach, perform and celebrate Latin dance culture in East Africa.

The idea had been brewing for years. Kenya had a small but passionate salsa community, and Mutati had spent years travelling to festivals in Europe, Asia and the Americas — watching how a well-run festival could transform a city’s dance scene overnight.

Salsafari 2016 featured workshops across multiple styles — Salsa On2, Bachata Sensual, Kizomba and Afro House — led by instructors who had never before performed on Kenyan soil. Nightly social parties ran until sunrise, with guest DJs flying in alongside the artists.

The feedback was overwhelming. Students who had only ever learned from YouTube videos suddenly found themselves dancing side by side with the very instructors they’d been watching online. For Mutati, it was proof that world-class dance culture belongs everywhere — not just in New York, London or Madrid.

We are already planning future editions. Stay tuned to this blog and our social media channels for announcements.