Belfast singer buzzing for Mela Day debut ahead of launching her first single

She’s already established herself as a key figure on Belfast’s vibrant cultural scene and beyond

Excitement is building ahead of the traditional Mela Day this Sunday, August 24 in Botanic Gardens, marking the finale of this year’s 19th Belfast Mela Festival.

Get ready to see the Botanic Gardens transformed into one massive global party. Move to the rhythm of the world as global beats, vibrant dance and cultural fusion come alive for Mela Day, bringing you the best in music, dance, food, theatre and art to celebrate our city’s culture and communities.

Those attending will be treated to vibrant live performances from many musical artists. Kenyan-born musician Njambi will be performing on the Showcase Stage on Mela Day.

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While it’s her first Mela performance, she’s already established herself as a key figure on Belfast’s vibrant cultural scene as a regular singer at Bert’s Jazz Bar and other notable Northern Irish venues.

Njambi Njoroge, 26, grew up in Portadown and went to university in Belfast. Today she is well-known for her numerous contributions to art, culture and social advocacy and her journey into the spotlight has focused on her passion for both creative expression and community engagement.

While Njambi’s emergence onto the local cultural scene as a singer has drawn attention, her impact extends far beyond music. She is also an event organiser and social advocate, using her platform to celebrate and promote cultural diversity.

And as a successful photographer, her portfolio captures the essence and diversity of her subjects, telling compelling stories through visual art. And it has become another way she engages with her community, creating spaces where stories of underrepresented groups can be seen and heard.

Alongside this she has also been involved in numerous other creative projects including film production and promoting Black History Month.

Njambi says her creative inclinations were largely inspired by her mum, who introduced her to soul, jazz and gospel music, as well as classic films like Laurel and Hardy, igniting her love for black-and-white photography and storytelling.

Speaking to Belfast Live ahead of her Mela debut this Sunday, Njambi said: “I’m feeling really excited and honoured to be a part of the Mela, Belfast’s biggest and most beautiful and colourful annual festival celebrating global diversity. On the day I’m going to be performing a few original songs that I’ve written and some covers as well.”

And an appearance at Mela isn’t the only debut for Njambi this year as her first single, ‘5AM in Rio’ is set for release on September 6.

She said: “This song is a vibrant ode to my experiences, the people I met and overall inspired during my 2.5 month solo travel trip in Brazil. I hopped on multiple buses from 16 to 30 hours long – crisscrossing the country from the all down north east coast starting in Natal, down to Chapada and all the way to Rio.

“Every minute was worth it. The adventures were wild, messy, and full of music, dancing, and unforgettable moments. To all the wonderful people I met during my years of solo travelling, much love to you and all the fun times we had. I’ve not forgotten all those memories.”

You can follow Njambi’s journey on her Instagram page.

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