African Phenomena! This Deaf Kenyan Rapper’s Music Is Moving Audiences. And Causing A Stir.

None of ya’ll was ready for this… A musician who is, eer, to say it plainly, deaf . And yet, he can actually produce music and even shoot videos.

In Kenya, Lal Daggy, real name Douglas Munyendo, is quite the phenomenon.

The 25-year old rapper is special in a way – he can’t talk and can’t hear normal speech. But he’s worked his way around his disabilities – and rose above it all in grace and wonder.

Born in Musanda, Butere, the phenomenal star, whose trademark smile and flashy dressing will captivate you soon as you spot him at a public function, grew up unable to talk and hear.

Like all kids of that nature, that was quite the struggle and he even captured it all in his single Story ya Machampions that he did, quite remarkably, with legendary Genge icon Nonini.

Recorded at the world-class Johari Cleff studios, a music production house that has hosted and worked with some of Africa’s biggest names, Story ya Machampions saw Lal Daggy recruit Nonini as his vocalist as they both worked together in one of the most poignant encapsulations of the struggle and pains of someone living with disability.

The ebullient young lad, whose appetite for life and success is infectious, schooled at Nyangoma Secondary School before he finally found his actual calling – music.

But for a deaf person, music seemed like quite a improbable dream but that’s not until Lal Daggy met up with some nice chaps – Jared Getanda and Kizito – of Signs Media Kenya who not only took him in but committed to help him pursue his biggest dreams and reach his highest Heights.

And his story changed ever since then.

Jared Getanda with his protege, Lal Daggy

“After I met Jared Getanda and Kizito of Signs Media Kenya Limited., my life changed. I knew I was meant to be a rapper. A musician. But all that seemed laughable and impossible because of my speech impairment and general disability. But then these guys changed my outlook and injected the greatest push into my life. They held my hand and asked me to dream on. And to go for the best. And now, five years later, I’ve had the best time of my life, “ the rapper says through an interpreter Jack Owiti.

A buoyant chap who loves to chat and hang out, Lal Daggy will enthrall you with tales of his wondrous exploits and journey whole speaking through his trusted  interpreter.

And when the translator is not around, Lal Daggy doesn’t fret – he simply talks to you by typing his statements on his mobile phone and then passing the phone over to you.

As we sat at a restaurant enjoying some pasta and minced meat, a celebrity walks into the restaurant.

Quickly, Lal Daggy whips out his phone and starts typing something…

He then passes over the phone to me and it’s written ‘Eric Omondi’

I look up and look around and see the celebrated comedian settling into a seat.

And even though people have not yet been very receptive to his music because of an obvious language barrier, Lal Daggy continues to push harder, record more and strive to bring his language – the sign language – closer to the people.

And no, he’s not just some random recording artist who just sits at home and watches his music gather dust.

Lal Daggy has had a series of successful shows and performances that have seen him perform at the KICC at a UN event for the disabled, and also do electrifying shows in Durban and Pretoria in South Africa.

Also, he’s staged a show at the great city of Johannesburg and also on SABC LIVE, for South Africa’s biggest television network.

Locally, he’s been across towns from Machakos to Nyahururu to Kisumu to Kisii staging pure thrills.

After having worked with Nonini successfully, the musical wonderkid hopes and dreams of collaborating with more local stars including Wyre, Kenrazzy, Nyashinski and internationally, AKA, Wiz Khalifa and Sign Mark also a deaf artist.

Going by the stars he looks up to , who are 50 Cent and Lil Wayne, the rapper is quite on track and his moves can only be watched.

While sitting in the restaurant, Wizkid’s latest song Daddy Yo comes on and Lal Daggy lights up! And starts dancing on his chair. Bobbing his head and even appearing to be adding his own lyrics to the thumping reggae-ton beat.

“Lal Daggy listens through his body. He can feel the beat and immediately jump to it and jump on it. He’s that gifted. It only takes him thirty minutes to get onto a beat and create lyrics for it. His composition skills are unmatched. Quite a feat for someone with a disability “, his handler and translator says.

Well, he’s the first artist of his special kind in Africa. And what a blessing that he’s ours. And also, that gifted.