RhondaBwoy Discusses His Musical Evolution
Versatile Kenyan musician, RhondaBwoy is making history one day at a time. At this stage in his career, RhondaBwoy has plenty to say about his sound. Those who have been fortunate enough to meet RhondaBwoy, this young Kenyan artist, talk of him in the same lines as Alikiba.
RhondaBwoy
Known by his stage name “RhondaBwoy” real name Stephen Okeyo is an intriguing artist. His style is Unique where Kenyan music is concerned, he’s being compared to Tanzania’s Alikiba and some have described his style of rapping as a form of “speaking in tongues”.
His music journey picked up in early 2006 after being introduced to video director and producer Crizo Mzeyah by his cousin Le Prince Dico who is currently one of the biggest music producers in the Nakuru entertainment panorama.
Rhonda Bwoy is undoubtedly the most promising and top male musician from Nakuru Kenya, having the biggest street banger “Kigogo” that took over the streets and local airwaves making him a household name hence the alias “Kigogo”.
The Hype Magazine recently caught up with RhondaBwoy in Nakuru, Kenya for his first exclusive international interview. If you’ve never heard of him, keep on reading because it’s not the last time you’ll hear of him.
So who is Rhondabwoy?
Born Stephen Okeyo, singer Rhondabwoy also known as KIGOGO is the first born in a family of three raised in Rhonda estate Nakuru, hence his stage name RhondaBwoy.
How did you fall into music?
I can say that music is in me. But it was until my cousin @Dico producer introduced me to a video director @Crizo Mzeyah in 2006 who by then had a recording studio. I discovered I can sing and I recorded my first song dubbed ‘‘Baby girl’’. We then created a group of eight artists and started working together to push each other.
When did you figure out that this is the career path you’d want to take in life and who have been some Kenyan or international artists that motivated you to take the craft seriously?
After we had started working together as a team, every song we could produce was a hit at our level (laughs). This was motivation enough for me because the more we produced good songs, the more I wanted to go higher. I read and listened to stories of artists — like Jua cali, Alikiba, Pili Pili and — I always wanted to reach their levels.
What point did you deem the hardest in your journey?
The point of getting my music played on Radios and TV stations. It reached a point where I had to quit music for eight years before getting back to it professionally in 2020 when I recorded my 1st comeback #Kigogo.
What have been/are your musical influences? What did you grow up listening to, and has that played into your artistry?
I grew up listening to RnB, and love songs and even my first songs were love songs. But since I came back to the game professionally, I’ve been dwelling much in Afro banger because that is what I found was the game by the time I came back.
What kind of stuff are you writing about? What are the specific scenarios that have led to specific songs?
For example, when I did #Kigogo. It was about claiming my position in the game. For instance, there is this line “nataka yangu portion kama Omollo” meaning, I want my portion like Omollo (Khaligraph Jones)
The first song of yours that we heard was ‘Kenya’. What was the process behind putting that song together?
(Laughs). In writing ‘Kenya’, I had an idea then we worked on it together with @Le Prince Dico who is my producer. It is about telling my girl that I’m obsessed with her.
Do you sometimes struggle to write your lyrics?
I’m not a good writer. But I’m lucky because Dico, my producer, and other top artists in our studio always help me in writing songs. They are creative enough.
How would you describe your style?
I call my style Afro banger.
Tell us more about the Kenyan music industry. Is it a walk in the park?
It’s one of the toughest industries because there is stiff competition from every artist. Thanks to the media houses, DJs, and Presenters who have supported me up to this level. If you don’t have connections (people you know or people who know you), you will give up.
Is music your forte?
Apart from music, I do small businesses…for example, I am selling Mitumba shoes, Beads sandals among other errands here and there.
What is the secret of being successful in music?
I think being humble, patient, and ready to learn from the people who have been there before you.
Which influential rappers; either nationally or internationally would you like to work with and why?
Harmonize. He’s a singer but not a rapper. He is one of the artists from outside Kenya I’m listening to and learning from. His life story inspires me and my dream is to work with him in the future someday.
What are the three words that keep Rhondabwoy going?
I have only one option, to make it.
Your social media handles?
Twitter: RHONDABWOY KIGOGO
Facebook: RHONDABWOY KIGOGO
Instagram: RHONDABWOY_KIGOGO
YouTube: RHONDA BWOY KIGOGO
Interview By: Jackson Ngari and Maxwell Kamau
TweetAbout the Author
Jackson Ngari Jackson, is a Journalism Majors with an unbowed knack in writing. Besides writing, he’s mostly busy finding new artists to spice and spruce up his music playlist. He can as well curate a Spotify Catalog that best describes everything. Literally.
