Halloween, a Western tradition marked by costumes, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating, is quickly gaining popularity in Kenya, with young people hosting and attending costume parties this weekend.
Numerous Halloween events are scheduled for Friday, November 1.
One such party will be hosted at Club Gemini and will be headlined by South African Amapiano sensation, Eemoh with tickets going for up to Kshs. 2,000.
At the Nairobi Street Kitchen, another Halloween experience dubbed ‘Rock Riot’ is also set to take place with tickets priced at Kshs. 1,500.
The line-up for this event includes several rock DJs and artists, including the popular rock band Crystal Axis.
Meanwhile, SK8City is also hosting a Halloween party with tickets at Kshs. 2,000 per person and a Kshs. 20,000 cash prize for the attendee with the best costume.
Businesses across Nairobi are also tapping into the Halloween trend to attract Kenyan customers embracing the holiday.
Garden City Mall joined the festivities with an Ad posted on Thursday saying, “Trick or Treat? Either way, we have it all. Happy Halloween!”
The trend is particularly popular among younger Kenyans, with university students hosting costume parties featuring spooky performances and horror movies.
A viral TikTok video by @Creativephill captured this spirit, showing three creators in Halloween makeup strolling through Nairobi’s CBD.
Their costumes, which included red face paint and artificial horns, garnered surprised reactions from passers-by and security guards.
The Halloween tradition has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people wore costumes to ward off ghosts.
In the 8th century, the Catholic Church incorporated the festival into All Saints’ Day on November 1, with the night before becoming All Hallow’s Eve, later known as Halloween.
Although most celebrated in the U.S., Halloween’s influence has grown internationally, particularly among younger generations.
