Watendawili has returned with “Hekaya,” the Nairobi duo’s sophomore EP, released on February 25. The title is drawn from the Swahili word for “story” or “tale,” a choice that speaks directly to the group’s name, which is rooted in vitendawili, the Swahili tradition of riddles used to pass down wisdom, test wit and entertain across generations.
With “Hekaya,” Israel Onyach and Ywaya Tajiri extend that tradition into the present, drawing on classic folklore and the sharp, lived observations exchanged in the neighbourhood spaces where young Nairobi residents have always gathered to make sense of the world around them.
The six tracks move across Swahili, Luo, Kikuyu, Sheng and English, reflecting the layered, multilingual reality of the city the duo calls home. It is a sonic portrait of contemporary Nairobi that refuses to flatten its contradictions.
The EP opens with “Tumia Pesa,” a meditation on presence and pleasure, arguing for the value of living fully today rather than deferring joy to a future that is never guaranteed.
“Lavender” : Inspired by Kenya’s popular radio mediation culture, in which couples air their disputes publicly on breakfast shows, this track follows a relationship so fractured it can only be addressed with an audience. It is among the sharpest observations on the project.
“Naogelea Mbali” : Translating as “I’m swimming far,” the track shifts the mood into a Tarab-influenced love ballad, smooth and emotionally layered, capturing the feeling of being so deep in love that there is no clear shore in sight.
“Ngai Enda” : Meaning “God willing,” this record brings Afro-house energy and Kikuyu identity together in a motivational statement about perseverance and the discipline of beginning again.
“Ex Wangu” : A more narrative approach: a character caught in a familiar but unhealthy relationship, choosing the comfort of what they know over the risk of growth.
“Mafrrrmbanya” : The EP closes with a high-energy reggae-raga fusion record delivered in Sheng, capturing the humour and unpredictability of modern Nairobi love with the kind of warmth that makes it instantly dance-ready without sacrificing the story.
“Hekaya” is a reminder that the best stories have always been the ones that make you think while they are making you move.
