ONE ON ONE: Kenzo Matata reveals where he has been and shares his thoughts on Gengetone

Kenyan singer Kennedy Odhiambo, popularly known as Kenzo Matata and famed for jams like Mama, Mama Milka, Zam Zam, Kidogo Tu and Nyoso was a household name in the mid 2000s to the early 2010s.

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After topping charts for a long time, Kenzo left his stable – Ogopa Deejays – and his fans have been wondering where he disappeared to but as it turns out he has never stopped releasing music.

Kenzo Matata

We reached out to Kenzo a few days ago and he told us that he has been around it’s only that he has not been pushing his music. We also spoke about Gengetone, his musical journey, latest song titled Prayer and future projects.

He revealed that his mum bought him a guitar before she died and that was a sure sign that she wanted him to follow his dreams though she often encouraged him to maintain good grades.

Kenzo also spoke a bout his latest song titled Prayer and he revealed that he met a Germany-based Kenyan producer known as Hopetone Blaze and they have been talking and that is how they ended up working together.

Kenzo

I also wanted to know his thoughts on the Gengetone wave and the singer told me that although he wouldn’t hesitate to work with the artists who are pushing the sound, he also doesn’t want to do something just for the sake of it.

Kenzo’s story is really. He wanted to be a footballer but ended up in a gospel group which he later ditched because he did not want to live a double life.

One day after he performed at a wedding Lucas Bikedo of Ogopa Deejays approached him and gave him his card and asked him to give him a call and that was how his musical journey began.

Listen to the full interview below.

Eric Musyoka, the iconic producer who took Kenyan music to greater heights

It’s hard to talk about Kenyan music without mentioning the name of Decimal Records CEO Eric Musyoka, popularly known as Musyox. He has been very instrumental in shaping the Kenyan sound.

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In the early to mid 2000s when Calif Records and Ogopa Deejays were beefing, the award-winning producer, who is now 38, was working at Homeboyz Entertianment.

Musyoka

While at the stable which is owned by the Rabar family, Musyoka produced songs for the musicians like; Prezzo, TID, Mr Lenny, Nameless, AY, Wyre, Peter Miles, Nikki, Nonini, just to name a few.

He then took a break and went for further studies at the SAE Institute in the US in 2006. Upon his return, he formed Decimal Records and signed P-Unit.

If you ask me, I will tell you that the group that was made up Frasha, Bon Eye and Gabu is one of Musyoka’s greatest achievements to this day. He literally propelled them to greater heights.

Musyoka and Bon Eye

What most people do not know is that the three started off as Nonini’s dancers and back-up singers and by 2010 they had won several awards including a MTV Africa Music Award (MAMA). Take a moment and let that sink in.

At Decimal, Musyoka has also worked with Just A Band, Juliani, Daddy Owen, Sauti Sol, Elani, Octopizzo and many more. Put simply, there is a high chance that he has produced a jam for your favourite Kenyan artist.

When all is said and done, he will be remembered for nurturing talents and taking Kenyan music to the continental stage because he started  producing music at a time when most artists were just focusing on their local audiences.

Musyoka is one of the producers who changed the game by ensuring our music could transcend our borders and this led to artists getting so many shows outside the country.

He’s a legend in his own right and it saddens me that most people will realize this after he hangs up his boots because as they say, you never miss something until it’s gone.

Watch one of his most popular jams dubbed Furahi Day by Nonini and Nameless below.