By Oscar Odhiambo

Even though the album was never officially launched we managed to have released a couple of singles which in reality caught the heart and mind of many of our listeners. Two of the best amongst them were known as; Mashetani Watu (Devil Incarnates) which thematically was a dedication to the High School students who perished through a series of fire outbreaks in their dormitories set by their fellow students (Kian’guli, Bombolulu and Nyeri High Sch). The other one was Roho Juu (Brave Hearts) - which was of coarse a mind provoking single - it was basically a song dedicated to socio-political activists whom fell victims to the chrome due to their strong conviction to stay committed and true in their pursuit for a just and liberal society. Though the single is commended by almost every single person who gets a chance to listen to it, the main stream media on its part saw it best to ban the song from being played on air claming that its lyrical content were too radical to be allowed to flow freely on air.

IAs a group we also individually engage in solo projects as it’s the case at moment. Such is the case because there are those of us who have had to move into foreign countries in pursuit of expanding their scope artistically. These are; Blak, who is currently in the US after successfully finishing his poetry book whose title is, Blaks Poetry: Mtoto Chao, who also apparently is in the States having done his solo album (Microphone Vol.1) early last year: and Lwanda Magere, who now resides in Arusha, Tanzania where he has been sojourning for the last three years while serving and recording as a volunteer and artist at the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC). The rest of us who are still based in Nairobi have continually enhanced forth with recording music while at the same time engaging in voluntary progressive community initiatives. Last year alone in the month of January, Kafiri and Ran-D joined other activists at the world social forum while working alongside Indymedia and Prometheus Radio Project and helped establish an independent media outlet (IMC-Kenya) by facilitating the setting up of Radio HURU which successfully aired at the forum and its sister station at Maseno University.

Kafiri is currently an Independent Activist Journalist. Ran-D, who late last year collaborated with fellow artist Sinpare and Angel on a single known as “Revolution,” is one proud individual due to what he confides was the break of a new dawn when the main stream media went ahead and televised The Revolution. He is still in the process of working on his solo album which he intends to brand as; “Maisha ya Hustler” (Life of a Hustler) - which of coarse shall feature members from his group and other relevant Artists. He is a freelance writer and hopes to soon finish writing his own poetry book. As part of our many endeavors we are currently in the process of establishing a Local Chapter of Nairobi Food Not Bombs currently being spearheaded by Kafiri.

This and many other activities that we employ our energies in only go forth to confirm our commitment to both our talents and community service. Our goal as artists and activists is to empower our people by providing them with alternative view(s) using Hip Hop and Poetic Prose as the vehicle, which in essence is the fabric of conscious Hip Hop. The future to us is important because we still intend to put together a group album. Ours is a struggle pegged on our firm believe in a Revolution led by the People themselves for the betterment of their conditions and that of their posterity.

Oscar Odhiambo