Muki Garang is a Kenyan hip hop artist and a perfomance poet. Muki was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts in Africa that emerged during early 2000 . He has never been signed to any label and he was formerly a member of ICU Infinite Cipher Unknown. Which included Mwafrika, Dj Zaq and Jesus Omieri. Regarding his name Muki says : "I have a deep passion to fully know my history which has been destroyed over time. In my curiosity I sort to identify with the nearest source of my people's history –The Luo of Sudan. Thus i acquired the name Garang –A fierce huge leading bull. Muki in my Luo my mother tongue means 'breaking' . The connection created Muki Garang the leader breaking away from the norm.
Careeer
This Mombasa, Kenyan coast town born MC has not done any album but recorded singles and carried out performances. His positive activism in the Kenyan art scene, has seen him engrossed in artistic development and working with organizations to promote young talent. Garang is the brainchild to one of Africa's most successful artist's social forum in Africa - WAPI (Words & Pictures) currently run by the British council.
In 2002 Muki recorded and self released efforts Tabia zetu which is considered the first Undeground Hiphop track to ever hit the Kenyan Mainstream radio. Tabia Zetu played on Capital Fm's Top 9@9 for a year. It continued to dominate other mainstream airwaves and is currently a reference pillar to Swahili rap fans. Listen to (Tabia Zetu on track list above)
2003 saw a creative year for Muki when he was featured by Swedish crew, Forgotten –Abel, Attila The Hun & Tony Skafte in the creation of Nebula . During this period Muki was a Help Desk technician for a Telecommunications firm firm.
Other works in collaboration with friend and producer Akili Blaq Sun – Mafikeng, South Africa saw the creation of 'State of mind'. During this year Akili Blaq came back to Kenya. With Akili Blaq and Mwafrika the trio of friends from Eastleigh, Eastern part of Nairobi formed a coalition called M.A.M. (Mwafrika Akili Muki) however the only release from this project that received an astounding reception was 'Upuzi' – A distinct style never seen in Kenya before, where these MCs talked about explicitly different issues in their respective verses.
2005 saw Muki release a tribute to the late Col. John Garang with Swedish Producer, Abel the Hun. He identified with the struggle of the Sudanese people from Nothern oppression. Muki realized the need to reach out to an elderly audience and embarked on his n poetic career. This saw him as a key performer for Kenya's literal forum KWANI? that led to his elating presentation at the Ecofest festival in 2005.
A strong upholder of the Panafricanism school of thought. Muki participated fully in African affairs by participating as a delegate at the British Council Pan African forum – Culture leadership and development. It is here where Muki broke bread with the current Minister for Tourism Najib Balala. Muki and Najib worked on the same production group in the forum. Discussing on matters affecting economically marginalized youth in Kenya.
In late 2005 Muki begins blogging, an encouragement that was set by long time friend and web engineer Bartholomew Sullivan. From the popular mukigarang.surfacescan.com to the recent contentlowswagger.blogspot.com
The late Angela 'Angel' Wainaina, Muki's personal friend introduced Muki to Maarten Brouwer. One of the chief administrstors of Ghetto Radio. In characteristic advocacy speech Muki got a hold of Maarten's attention, in addition, to selling him a mixtape he had made, for US$ 2. Maarten loved the track Tabia Zetu and included it in the soundtrack for a Ghetto Radio documentary 'Noise is my voice' – This showed the song's prominence since its inception in.
2006 Garang continued rapping this time collaborating with Kenyan Boston underground reps Shida mingi (Problems) - this effort saw the release of Transatlantic alliance – . Abel The Hun resurfaced on the scene wit a collaboration on 'My motion of embrace'.
For the nomination of the International Young Music Entrepreneur of the year Award -2006. The British Council Kenya short listed Muki Garang, Out of 100 applicants. Garang was shortlisted as part of the 3 finalists along with renowned music producer Tedd Josiah & musician Eric Wainaina.
This was an active year for the productive poet. It is this year when he founded Words & Pictures a cultural fete that has seen the British council win accolades in Lagos, Kampala, Nairobi and Johannesburg.
Muki blogged a lot this year. His blogging set trends to many Kenyan writers. Many if not all subscribed to his thought process making mukigarang.surfacescan.com the most hit url since 2005.
2007
Early 2007 an altercation arose concerning ownership of Words and Pictures (WAPI) between Muki and the British Council. This saw Muki's artistic passion subside. After his exit from British Council, Muki went opted for employment in a state corporation as a Telecoms engineer.
There was no significant artistic production during this period. Muki fully indulged in Online reporting for Ghetto Radio. Whilst continuing with his day job.
Muki receded on active participation in the forefront of the Nairobi artscene. He did not record anything during this period. At the end of the year during the elections skirmishes. Muki Created Hiphop Parliament where he brought together Nairobi's Hiphop MCs from different ethnic backgrounds . To converge and discuss to create a solution that would end the ethnic violence that was escalating. Under his guidance and gift of gab a declaration that was to be handed to the former UN secretary general Kofi Annan was drafted – The Hiphop Parliament's Peace Declaration 2007.
2008
2008 did not see any production from Muki Garang. It saw a more behind the scene effort instead. He went ahead to reorganize MAISHA YETU to Hiphop Parliament – still serving with the same mandate as a National Non Governmental organization. While consulting with activist and community worker Salim Mohammed of Carolina For Kibera on the best way to reach out to urban youth irrespective of economical background.
Muki returns to South Africa for training in Journalism. During this period he strengthens his working relationship and friendship with long time friend Akili Blaq Sun who is now engrossed totally in the South African Hiphop scene as a major producer in Mafikeng and organizer in Soweto's most sort for event Black Sunday.
Muki stopped blogging during this year as his web engineer and personal friend Bartholomew Sullivan loses his mom. Both friends are extremely through their adversities. Muki pursued legal counsel to reclaim back WAPI.
2009
Muki is censored and cautioned against his blogging pattern which contravenes precedents set by the media house he is affiliated to. He then proceeds to blog on music, and culture.
In his return to Kenya Muki embarked only working on his Album. Aliki Blaq Sun from SA & Producer Mela9 are the main Producers. Angell Mphaphi Thoi an Undeground MC will also be included in this sophomore. This independent release is widely anticiapted for in the underground scene world wide.
Muki goes back on the drawing board to rejuvenate his performance stint as a poet. In collaboration with the French Cultural Centre In Nairobi. Muki is selected to participate at the Jukwaani Festival. In a whole different showcase, Muki in his bid to put a stamp on Africanism. Created a piece that saw the merging of spoken word and African folklore. African ritual becomes Muki's dimension into good perfomance and articulating issues affecting Africa.
Personal life
Louis Xavier Aoko grew up in Nyali, Mombasa , South B Nairobi ,his folks finally settled in in Kisumu where he went to High school. He has tattoos on each forearm referring to the death of his Grandmother who he saw pass as she struggled to retain her life on his left arm "Yearn for solace". His right arm says the words "Yet obliged to death". He has published the poem on his blog http://contentflowswagger.blogspot.com . He also has another tattoo on his right shoulder a symbol of acknowledging the loss of loved ones never met.
Muki studied creative writing at the University of Northwest in Mafikeng Province South Africa.
Lyrics
The lyrics Muki uses are most of the times poetically metaphorical for example in his song 'Justice' Muki says ' Love your frustrations as you love yourself so I befriend the devil and the demons in me,to harness and equiliburim between wrong and right" .
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Waz Up ! I think it is high chance to tell like it is how the Wapi thing was brought down to some bull sheet .Coz the Guzy who did it are braging so much with fucking money there making and claiming they are real hip hopers. we need to tel them off. one love
Peace,stay tuned Whyz Ruler Is Brooklyn alive?Fk u thank! My Showcase -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IRON GOD CHAMBER!!!!!A MUST LISTN MASTA KILLA FEAT.U-GOD.RZA AND METHOD MAN!$$$$ PRODUCED BY WHYZ RULER;IBI.----------------------------------------------------------><------- I B I Productions
Nuff Respect Fam,IBI Productions .WhyzRuler.com Much more done and in the works,Check a Sample... <div .."text-align:center;width:425px;"><div></div><div></div></div>
What's happening on that end? I seen that new video...dopeness, mayne. Y'all got shit on lock. Get them radio station to blast your shit or we might have to start our own stations.
Word-Up Papi?Whats Good?Saw Them WAlanguzi Cats Last Week.Them Niggaz Is Still Bent-Out-Of-Shape.They Want You To Reply They Diss.Some Sill Shit.I was loughin My Ass Out When They Were Tellin Me That.
muchluv to my elder,
the [wapi?] brainchild, surfacescan platform .. off the hinges! looking out for the 2nd mxtape, much luv to mwafrika, he's a deep cat. keep the mental alive, ~peace~
