About Sanaa Through My Lens
Sanaa means Art in Swahili. And that is exactly what we are about — art, seen through a personal, critical, and unapologetically East African lens.
Sanaa Through My Lens is an arts & culture opinion blog dedicated to highlighting stories around the art scene in Kenya and the wider East African region. From the pulsating beats of Nairobi's gengetone clubs to the hushed galleries of contemporary visual art, from the pages of Kenyan novels to the silver screens of East African cinema — we cover it all.
What We Cover
Music
Gengetone, benga, Afro-fusion, and the evolving Kenyan sound
Film & Video
Kenyan cinema, documentary, and the growing video content scene
Books & Literature
Kenyan literature, poetry, publishing and the storytelling tradition
Visual Arts
Contemporary and traditional painting, sculpture, photography, digital art
Theatre & Performance
Stage arts, spoken word, dance and performance art
Opinion & Commentary
Critical perspectives on arts, culture and creative industry policy
Our Mission
We believe that East African art deserves thoughtful, critical coverage that goes beyond event listings and PR-driven reviews. Our mission is to provide a platform for genuine cultural commentary — writing that engages with art on its own terms, asks difficult questions, and celebrates the creativity that defines our region.
Get In Touch
Have a story idea? Want to contribute? Just want to say jambo?