Willy Paul questions Jalang’o over his absence from Luo Fest lineup
Kenyan singer Willy Paul has publicly questioned why he was not included in the performance lineup for the recently concluded Luo Festival 2025, despite his roots in the Luo community.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, August 11, the award-winning artist shared a video addressing Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, who was one of the event’s organisers. In a playful yet pointed tone, Willy Paul asked,
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“Jalango, kulikua na Luo festival. Lakini niko na swali. Sikuwangi mjaluo? Mimi si mjaka?”
The comment quickly drew reactions from fans online, with some agreeing that his absence from the lineup was surprising given his popularity and Luo heritage.
The festival drew thousands
The Luo Festival 2025, held on Saturday, August 9, at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, was a vibrant showcase of Luo heritage and culture. The event featured a lively lineup of music performances, cultural displays, and entertainment that highlighted the traditions and pride of the Luo community.
According to Jalang’o, the event attracted an impressive crowd of about 16,000 attendees, making it one of the most successful editions of the festival to date. Sharing the milestone on his Instagram Stories, Jalang’o posted a video of benga star Prince Indah performing to an ecstatic audience, captioning it:
“16,000 strong…This is Luo Nation.”
While there has been no official response from the organisers, Willy Paul’s remarks seemed more playful than confrontational, adding a humorous twist to the post-festival conversations.
Known for blending music with a vibrant public persona, the singer used the moment to remind fans of his Luo roots and his readiness to take part in cultural celebrations. Whether he will feature in the next edition of the Luo Festival remains an open question, but his Instagram post has ensured that the discussion will go on for some time.
The festival featured top Luo musicians, DJs, and cultural displays. The attendees enjoyed performances from Iyanni, Javan Macajudo, Khaligraph Jones, Okello Max, Coster Ojwang, John Junior, Musa Jakadala, Osito Kale, Odongo Swag, Prince Inda, Tony Nyadundo, and Emma Jalamo (final performance), with DJ Joe Mfalme entertaining them for the rest of the event.
