Otamatsuri is an annual festival in Nairobi, Kenya dedicated to anime, manga, gaming, cosplay, and Japanese popular culture. The event brings together fans of Japanese entertainment—from animation and comics to video games and pop music—creating a vibrant gathering for enthusiasts of East Asian pop culture. The name combines two Japanese terms: otaku, referring to passionate fans of anime and manga, and matsuri, meaning festival.

Held annually at venues such as the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Otamatsuri features a variety of activities typical of international anime conventions. These include cosplay competitions, gaming tournaments, artist markets, fan-art exhibitions, live performances, and interactive workshops. Vendors sell anime merchandise, manga, figurines, and themed collectibles, while performers and fan groups showcase dance routines, music covers, and stage acts inspired by Japanese pop culture.

Although anime fandom in Africa is relatively young compared with regions like Japan or North America, Otamatsuri has grown rapidly since its early editions. Thousands of participants now attend the festival each year, making it one of the most prominent anime-focused events on the continent. The festival also highlights the growing influence of global pop culture among African youth, particularly the popularity of Japanese animation, comics, and gaming communities.

Today, Otamatsuri is widely regarded as the largest dedicated anime and manga festival in East Africa. Beyond entertainment, it serves as a platform for artists, cosplayers, and creators to connect, exchange ideas, and celebrate shared interests in Japanese popular culture, contributing to the expansion of anime fandom across the region.

According to the internet