Stanbic Bank backs Kenya’s creative economy with Ne-Yo concert sponsorship

Stanbic Bank Kenya has strengthened its support for the country’s creative economy through its title sponsorship of ‘One Night Only: Brunch Edition with Ne-Yo’, an exclusive live concert set for Mashujaa Day on 20 October 2026 at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.

The concert will headline three-time Grammy Award-winning R&B star Ne-Yo, alongside acclaimed UK-based band Sol and the Gang, bringing international entertainment to Nairobi while creating opportunities for businesses and professionals across the local live events industry.

The partnership goes beyond providing Stanbic Bank customers with an exclusive entertainment experience, with the bank positioning the concert as a platform to support the broader ecosystem that sustains Kenya’s creative economy.

This includes local musicians and performers, producers, technical crews, event suppliers, hospitality providers, vendors and small businesses that participate in delivering large-scale entertainment events.

Michael Mutiga, Chief Executive, Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan, said the partnership was intended to combine a world-class entertainment experience with opportunities for local economic participation.

“Bringing an artist of Ne-Yo’s calibre to Nairobi is an opportunity to pair a world-class experience with meaningful local economic impact,” said Mutiga.

“Our support goes beyond the performance itself: it helps create opportunities for the artists, producers, technical teams, vendors and small businesses that bring an event of this scale to life.”

He said Kenya’s creative economy represented a dynamic growth sector, adding that partnerships such as *One Night Only* could help strengthen the ecosystem, increase its visibility and support livelihoods linked to the industry.

The sponsorship comes as Kenya’s creative sector continues to expand its contribution to the national economy.

A 2021 report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) estimated that copyright-based industries contribute 5.32% to Kenya’s GDP and provide formal employment to approximately 195,000 people. The sector also supports a wider informal workforce whose livelihoods depend on creative production, distribution and related services.

Large-scale concerts and cultural events provide an avenue for this ecosystem to generate economic activity, from performers and production companies to transport, accommodation, food and beverage, security, merchandising and other support services.

For Stanbic Bank, the Ne-Yo concert forms part of a broader focus on connecting its brand and customers with experiences while supporting sectors with potential to contribute to economic growth.

Lilian Onyach, Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank Kenya, said the sponsorship was designed to highlight both the entertainment value and commercial potential of Kenya’s creative industry.

“Through this sponsorship, we are connecting our customers to world-class entertainment while creating a platform that celebrates the depth and commercial potential of Kenya’s creative industry,” Onyach said.

She added that *One Night Only* would provide a premium entertainment experience while creating opportunities for local businesses and professionals working behind the scenes.

The inclusion of local and international performers also places the event within a growing live entertainment market in Nairobi, where international acts are increasingly being brought together with local creative talent and event infrastructure.

For artists, production teams and businesses operating within the sector, such events provide opportunities to showcase capabilities, develop commercial relationships and participate in projects requiring specialised creative and technical services.

Stanbic Bank has also continued to build its corporate profile through industry recognition.

The bank was named Overall Best Bank in Kenya at the Think Business Awards, while its parent group, Standard Bank, was ranked Africa’s Most Valuable Bank Brand by Brand Finance for the fifth consecutive year.