Nairobi

Naomi Ruth “Nairobi” Allen is a singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, poet, theatrical and creative director, teaching artist, visual artist, entrepreneur, and activist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is blessed to use her art and empower others to use their voices and she strongly represents her brand of “Individuality, Divinity, and Purpose.” She wants to inspire the youth to know themselves through God, embrace themselves, and to never stray away from their God given purposes. Her music is timeless, purpose driven, a vibe, and openly highlights social issues that she has overcame and is presently dealing with, such as sexual abuse, mental health, and body positivity.

In 2016, she won the August Wilson Monologue competition and as a result was awarded a $20,000.00 scholarship to attend Point Park University, where she received her BFA in Acting in the Spring of 2020. The same year she was named the youngest recipient of Pennsylvania’s Most Valuable Person on behalf of the mayor and the Bill Neal Foundation. In 2018, she was the youngest recipient honored by the Pittsburgh Public Schools during Black History Month for her work in art and activism. Through this, she was featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and WAMO, giving her access to new platforms in which she could continue to grow her following and make her presence in Pittsburgh known. She has also been featured in the Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Pittsburgh City Paper, NPR, CNN, and has performed on Broadway. She has opened for Freeway and Beanie Sigel in 2017, Jessica Care Moore in 2019, Kuf Knotz and Rapsody in 2024, and Dr. Cornel West in 2024. She has also graced the Broadway stage and was briefly mentored by Denzel Washington, Kenny Leon, and Bill Nunn.