Kenyan Rap Pioneer And One Third Of Kalamashaka Released From Prison After Serving A Sentence For Theft

Kalamashaka were one of the first Kenyan groups to start rapping. Back then the only genre that got airplay was RnB and gospel at that. But they dared to dream. They dared to be different. And that cemented their places in the annals of Kenyan musical history. If anything, it cements them firmly at the heart of it. They were the first to make rap cool and to do so with a gritty underground feel as they wove words to tell their inner-city stories.

They put Dandora firmly on the artistic map and in doing so and doing so well, got the attention of Africa and certainly the world too. they were actually the first Kenyans to feature on a Channel O chart with the song “Tafsiri Hii“. Pure joy! But they have since fallen from grace as the Kenyan entertainment scene wasn’t as well organized and structured as it is today -not to say that it’s in awesome shape but I am admitting that it was none existent back then.

The group found themselves shackled to the slum and it’s ways and the lack of education and knowledge on how to turn their talent into a solid business venture cut them and left them jaded. They are all now reported to have had serious issues either with the law or alcoholism.

Vigeti is the man whom I speak of, he was the member of Kalamashaka released for remand after serving 6 months for stealing car-parts. Ironically, it was reported that he was released on the same day Jaguar went to Industrial Area Remand Prison to shoot a video about being incarcerated under false charges.

Talk about life being stranger than fiction!

Source: The Nairobian