Kisumu City is set to host and showcase artists in the region and give awards as a way of appreciation this weekend.
The talent show organised by Vybez Awards is an annual event that brings artists from Western Kenya region together.
Vybez Awards CEO Alex Aleki said the Kisumu event is one way of bridging the gap that has been left by event organisers in Nairobi.
Aleki said many artists from Western Kenya region comprising of Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley have been excluded from Nairobi events.
“Our artists have been locked out from Nairobi or Mombasa events. This event will give ample opportunity to our artists to compete in a cool environment where they don’t feel intimidated or excluded,” he said.
He said he came up with the idea to organise artists in this region to come together and compete in different categories as a way of building their capacity and giving them hope.
Speaking at Kisumu Tuffoam Mall on Thursday where the event will be staged on Saturday night, Aleki said there will be a new entrant in the categories this year.
He said a social media personality will be feted during the event that will bring in officials from Kisumu County government.
Aleki said the event will expose the artists and open up new opportunities for them.
“Being an artist’s should be a paying job and big companies who need people to propel their businesses and identities an pick on such artists through such events,” he said.
Winners in each category will win cash prizes and other awards.