In pink trousers and a matching puffer jacket, Grammy-nominated Kenyan musician Bien-Emi Alusa sang to a bank of fans swarming the stage, many capturing the moment on their mobile phones.
When the curtain falls on the concert in Nairobi, Alusa continues to make connections and profits through Hasalsasa, a digital streaming and payments platform she co-founded to help artists recover from lost revenue in the coronavirus lockdown Of.
Hasalsasa, which officially launched in November 2021, allows singer-songwriters and fellow creatives to stream music or sell branded merchandise, concert tickets, food, fashion and other services in a mobile phone application.
Artists or sellers sell their products directly on the marketplace, with no set-up costs or monthly fees, and receive payment instantly via bank card or mobile money, avoiding the expensive commissions charged by some apps.