Kelis encourages Black entrepreneurs to invest in Africa not America

Kelis’s Bold Statement About Investing In America

In a critical Earn Your Leisure interview, Grammy-nominated artist Kelis revealed why she left America to purchase a 300-acre farm in Kenya. Sharing candid thoughts on why black business owners should stop investing in America. Specifically due to not being valued for their contributions.

Known for her 2003 hit “Milkshake,” Kelis has spent two years documenting her farm life on Instagram, showcasing crop cultivation and sustainable living in Kenya and Rwanda. From visiting Lake Elementaita’s hot springs to learning chapati-making in Nairobi, Kelis’s journey reflects a deeper connection to Africa. This article explores Kelis’s Kenya farm and her real thoughts on America.

Kelis’s Career: From Music to Farming

Born in Harlem, Kelis Rogers rose to fame with Kaleidoscope (1999), followed by Tasty (2003), featuring “Milkshake,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her six albums, including Food (2014), blend R&B, pop, and soul, selling 6 million records worldwide. A Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, she launched Bounty & Full sauces in 2015 and authored My Life on a Plate.

Kelis’s farm life began in California in 2020, managing 100 animals, per E! News. Her Kenya move, post-2022 loss of husband Mike Mora to stomach cancer, reflects resilience. Mother to Knight, 15, Shepherd, 9, and Galilee, 4, she balances farming with music, performing at Glastonbury 2023. Kelis’s Kenya farm marks a new legacy of land ownership and cultural reconnection.

Kelis Kenya Farm: A New Chapter

Kelis’s Kenya farm, spanning 300 acres, began with a 150-acre purchase, as shared in her Earn Your Leisure interview. “I’m in Africa, farming, living, and growing businesses,” she said, detailing her shift from California to Kenya. Her Instagram videos, posted from Nairobi and Rwanda, show her planting crops and building a solar-powered fence to protect them from elephants. She’s also developing a luxury wellness retreat and restaurant, hiring local talent to drive economic impact, as noted on X.

Her farm, adjacent to a wildlife park, sparked backlash in December 2024 for alleged encroachment, but Kelis clarified the land was privately purchased. Navigating Kenya’s land ownership as a foreigner, she emphasized transparency, spending less than $200,000 for 150 acres, per X posts. Kelis’s Kenya farm embodies her vision of sustainable living, inspired by her California farm experience during COVID, where she grew kale, tomatoes, and pressed olive oil.

Why Kelis Stopped Investing in America

In her June 2025 Earn Your Leisure interview, Kelis explained why she no longer sees America as a place worth investing in. “As a Black woman, I don’t benefit from living or investing in the U.S. the way others do,” she said, pointing to systemic racism and limited generational returns. Instead, she’s focused her efforts on Africa—specifically Kenya—where she says opportunities feel more accessible and rewarding.

Kelis described Kenya as a rising tech and cultural hub, noting its fast-growing economy and connection to heritage. She added that after over 20 years of touring, she was ready to live somewhere that offered peace and purpose. “I needed something real. Not just money,” she shared.

Her frustration with the U.S. isn’t new. In a 2020 Guardian interview, Kelis expressed burnout from L.A. life and the need for something slower and more intentional. On different social sites, fans applauded her latest move, calling it “the new American Dream.”

Still, not everyone is convinced. Some X users questioned whether Kelis had political ties in Kenya—claims she quickly called “smokescreens” meant to distract from her mission. Her bold decision reflects a larger trend: more Black Americans exploring life—and wealth—outside the U.S.

Earn Your Leisure Interview: A Deep Dive

The June 5, 2025, Earn Your Leisure interview, hosted by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, showcased Kelis’s entrepreneurial shift. She discussed Kenya’s mortgage system, costing $2,000 monthly for her farm, and the benefits of local hiring, which keeps 95% of her investment in the community. Kelis also highlighted Africa’s investment potential, citing lower land costs and growing markets, per YouTube.

Her interview, viewed 200,000 times on YouTube, sparked comments from all over. With fans applauding her transparency. “Kelis is showing us how to build wealth in Africa,” an X user posted. She also addressed skepticism about her 2018 California farm purchase, noting COVID validated her vision. The Earn Your Leisure interview cements Kelis as a trailblazer in sustainable entrepreneurship.

Investing Overseas: A Passion for Africa

Kelis’s passion for investing overseas stems from her belief in Africa’s potential. In Rwanda, her Instagram videos highlight coffee farms and markets, emphasizing cultural connection. In Kenya, she visited Rift Valley’s tea farms and Lake Elementaita, learning local recipes like chapati, which she shared online. Her wellness retreat aims to attract global visitors, boosting tourism, as noted on X.

She advocates for diaspora investment, telling Earn Your Leisure, “Africa is where wealth can grow for us.” Her approach—buying land, farming, and building businesses—contrasts with America’s high costs and systemic issues, per IOL. Despite criticism on Reddit’s r/Kenya for “fresh colonialism,” supporters argue she’s using legally purchased land productively. Kelis’s investing overseas journey inspires fans to explore global opportunities.

Music Artists Investing in Other Countries

Kelis joins music artists investing overseas to build wealth and impact. Akon, through Akon City in Senegal, envisions a $6 billion futuristic city powered by his cryptocurrency, Akoin. Launched in 2020, it aims for completion by 2030, offering housing, education, and jobs. Rick Ross owns property in Ghana, supporting local businesses. Snoop Dogg invested in a cannabis venture in Jamaica. Further promoting agricultural innovation.

Burna Boy funds community projects in Nigeria, including schools. Beyoncé partnered with Cécred to support haircare training in South Africa. Like Kelis’s Kenya farm, these artists leverage global markets for legacy-building, though Akon City faces delays.Their efforts highlight diaspora-driven economic empowerment.

Mixed Sentiments From All Over

Fans on social media, specifically X shared varied views on Kelis’s move. “Kelis Kenya farm is goals—she’s living free!” one posted. Another wrote, “Earn Your Leisure interview was fire; Kelis is building wealth!” A third said, “Investing overseas like Kelis is the future.” However, one cautioned, “Her thoughts on America are valid, but Kenya land deals need scrutiny.” Another noted, “Kelis Kenya farm is inspiring, but is it sustainable?”

A Prosperous Future

Kelis’s Kenya farm continues to grow, with plans to expand to 300 acres and open her wellness retreat by 2026, per Earn Your Leisure. New music, possibly her Dirt album, is slated for 2025, per i-D. Her Instagram will likely feature more Rwanda and Kenya adventures, building on her 2024 Lake Elementaita visit. With Earn Your Leisure amplifying her story, Kelis’s investing overseas mission could inspire more diaspora investments, despite land controversy.

Kelis Redefines Wealth and Wellness Abroad

Kelis’s 300-acre farm in Kenya, revealed during her June 2025 Earn Your Leisure interview, represents more than just a relocation—it’s a powerful statement about ownership, sustainability, and freedom beyond U.S. borders. Her move reflects growing sentiments among Black Americans seeking alternatives to systemic limitations at home, choosing instead to plant roots in Africa.

Documented through her vibrant Instagram posts from Rwanda and Kenya, Kelis has embraced global citizenship and agricultural entrepreneurship. Her journey mirrors larger diaspora movements, joining trailblazers like Akon, whose Akon City project in Senegal symbolizes a Pan-African vision for innovation and generational wealth.

By investing in African land and self-sufficient living, Kelis is crafting a legacy rooted in cultural reconnection and long-term impact. In 2025, her Kenya farm isn’t just a personal escape—it’s a blueprint for what success can look like when freedom, purpose, and heritage intersect.