From Swahili Nation to Kenso

Swahili Nation is made up of Andrew Muturi, Robert Muturi, Ken Kayongo, Charlie Todwong. They are known as the premier group to outdoor R&B music from East Africa. It was the brainchild of the Muturi brothers, Andrew and Robert, and the late Cool James.

Andrew and Cool James started off rapping together but it was not until Robert joined them that the group ‘Swahili Nation’ came into being. Cool James went solo in during the life of Swahili Nation. They were joined by a new member, Ken Kayongo, in 1992. Robert Muturi founded Groove Sounds in 1994 while in Sweden (his father was a diplomat). Robert eventually left the group and Charlie King helped Ken and Andrew work on their first album. In 1996, they teamed up with Dr Alban of Dr Records fame.

Dr. Alban helped them release Hakuna Matata, which is one of the biggest R&B hits ever out of East Africa. They were nominated for the Channel O Music Awards in South Africa for Hakuna Matata in 2003. They could not achieve the same level of success with their subsequent albums after Hakuma Matata.

Swahili Nation Biography at kenyanlyrics.com

We recently caught up with Kenso aka Ken Kayongo as he promoted his latest video One in a Million.

Colin: Ken Kayongo aka Kenso!!! Tell us about life growing up! About pop locking in Nairobi and all…

Kenso: I had the most amazing upbringing. It’s got all the hotchpotch of a hollywood story. Sorrow, war, pain, dreams… travel and love. I grew up in Kampala, Nairobi and Stockholm... My parents were born-again Christians and life under their roof was very strict but amazingly happy. I was your typical beatstreet electric boogaloo generation. I started pop locking in Nairobi when I was 9 years old with my big brother Derreck Kayongo, and we basically grew up with a pretty modern lifestyle of BMX’s, skateboarding, breakdance battles, graffiti and weekends at Good Shepherds’ Church. I moved back to Kampala as a teenager but after a few years there I was shipped off to Stockholm.

That was in 1992... What differences, from Nairobi, did you experience there?

Well, to start with the language was a serious obstacle. I had a lot to learn and the weather did not make it any easier either. I didn’t have my folks with me and I was still very juvenile and untested by life. The food, was different but great. I learnt how to live by myself at such an early age. It was a total difference from Africa coz now I had to learn how to fend for myself.

I was reading your Bio… and there I got lost for a moment! Before you went to Sweden, had you already secured yourself a deal with the then Sweden based Swahili Nation Muturi brothers? [Swahili Nation is the brain child of the Muturi brothers, Andrew and Robert together with the late Cool James from Tanzania] Or you actually just bumped into them when you got there?

The Objective before getting on the plane was America... Sweden was just a stepping stone to my promised land. As far as Swahili Nation, I bumped into them in Stockholm. They needed reinforcement as far as a good performer with different skills. I had the skills and they asked me to join the crew. I did not hesitate coz I was high on music...

Kenso

When did you actually have your first touch with music?

High School was a definite testing ground as far as performing in front of an audience. The truth though is my living room with my family was my first test with music. My mom used to make us perform for everybody. It was an amazing rush every time. We performed and saw the reaction on peoples faces. We were like the African Von trapps. My big brother was also part of a university choir called Amambazo in Nairobi and watching them tour the world gave me hope and a new love for entertainment.

Your professional career was on the fast track with Swahili Nation. Soon you acquired the status of lead member, writing hooks, verses and choreographing dances at the same time. What qualities do/did you have that differentiated you from others?

Well, I was the most diverse member in terms of what I could do. I was an all around artist and that was something most artists lacked. I was business savvy, creative and skilled in every area apart from production and technical stuff.

What challenges did the group Swahili Nation face while earning top accolades in rap competitions?

It’s always hard to sustain a group because you are dealing with a lot of ego’s. Our biggest hurdle was finding a harmonious way to work without stepping on each others’ toes. One of the biggest obstacles before the rap competition was the fact that Swahili Nation was run by the Kenyan brothers as a family business. This is the reason why Cool James had exited the group. After the rap contest, we changed up everything. Kicked out Robert and kept Charlie King. We signed a deal to an independent label and released our first single ‘Nasty Booty Bacs’. Soon after that, things started flowing.

Released in 1996, how influential was the infamous song (Mpenzi) Hakuna Matata? I remember those good old days. Anyone born in the mid nineties might not recollect. It’s mostly viewed as initially the gateway for East African pop to the outside World back then. Who penned the lyrics?

Myself and Andrew Muturi wrote the song. I wrote most of it except for Andrew’s rap verse. Mpenzi was definitely the most dynamic song of its time. I still believe Swahili Nation was way ahead of it’s time and should be recognized as a poineer group for opening up the airwaves with a song produced by a union of East Africans. It was produced by Charlie King, written by Kenso and Drew and performed by Swahili Nation...

Well Hakuna Matata is one/if not the best hit ever to come out of East Africa to the outside World, receiving nominations for Channel O Music Awards in SA 2003. However, Swahili Nation could not achieve the same level of success with subsequent albums following Hakuna Matata. What could have gone wrong?

Kenso

Swahili Nation was the victim of a western world music machinery that most African artists have never experienced. We were signed to a major label and thus had to basically wait for the label bureaucracy to play out before we could release a 2nd single and the album. The world didn’t have youtube yet and the web was not the place to be. The label did not believe in Africa and thus cut off any opportunity for us to market ourselves outside Sweden. They eventually let us go after suffocating any possibilities of the group making it.

Is that how Swahili Nation come into non-existence? Or is it actually completely non-existent?

Swahili Nation was formed in 1991 by Robert Muturi and Cool James and Andrew Muturi in Stockholm Sweden. Ken Kayongo joined the group in 1992 and has carried on the Swahili mantra since then. The concept of the group still exists and I believe that we will make a comeback one day...

We are well aware of Cool James’ (R.I.P) passing in Tanzania in August 2002. What eventually became of the others in the group? Andrew and Robert?

Cool James passed away (R.I.P) way after he had left the group. As for Robert, he left the group in 1994 and moved back to Kenya where he runs his private business. Andrew Muturi left the group in 2005 and also moved back to Kenya to work in private business.

What about Wayne Beckford? Heard he’s one of the producers at AKONS KONVICT?

Wayne Beckford joined in 2005 and made a few records with the group. Pole, So Hot and Chakacha... In 2008 I signed him to my management and then signed him to Konvict Muzik as a producer... He is now working on his own solo career in Paris where he has found lots of success.

What do you mostly miss about those good old days with the group?

I miss the tours... The screaming fans, interviews at radio and TV and the whole celebrity lifestyle. Most importantly I miss working with all my boys in Swahili Nation... It’s the best part of my music career...

About Kenso now, where are you currently based?

I’m currently based between in Atlanta and Stockholm...

Out went Swahili Nation and in came AYKONIC, a blend between a rapper and vocalist. What were you up to from the time Swahili Nation “closed up” to the birth of AYKONIC?

Well, Aykonic is not a replacement for Swahili Nation. That’s just me and my dude coming together to do something Iconic between rapper and vocalist. Aykonic is a merger of 2 talented and passionate friends who combine hip hop, R&B and African sounds to venture into a whole new area of sound. We came up with the idea after myself and Da Griot found out that we work very well together. We hope to drop a single together next year.

After Swahili Nation, I’ve been involved in a number of projects including doing business with Konvict Muzik. I also started my own production company called Encore Media Group and I signed a girl band called HardKandy as the first project on it. They will release their 1st single top of next year.

One In A Million is the first single off your upcoming album The Traveller and features Da Griot! How have you found working with him? What’s specific about him that made you an affiliate to his style?

Da Griot is from Togo and I’m from Uganda but we both have an American, an African and a European experience and that means we understand each others’ styles pretty well and we compliment each other. I call it the East-West connection and when it gets together its definitely iconic.... I hope to do more collabo's with West African artists in the future.

Who’s behind the production of One In A Million? Great video I had to ask!

The One in A Million was produced by my long time friend and producer Ari Lehtonen. He’s the cat that produced Dr. Alban and some of the old Swahili Nation joints...

Talking about The Traveller album! When is its launch due and where? Give our readers full scoop on the details.

The Traveller will be released mid-December in Kampala. We are still working out the details of the launch event and who will feature on the album and the show. That info will appear on my website which is still under construction...

What then happens after The Traveller? After its launch and all…

After the release of the full album, the goal is to do a worldwide tour and to take our message to everybody out there that loves what we do.

Which top cats in the game do you idolise the most?

I look up to certain people but never idolize anyone. I really like Akon for what he’s done for Africans in the industry in America and for building an amazing brand that is recognized around the world. Diddy is also hot for keeping himself relevant after so many years in the game. Most importantly Jay Z for re-inventing himself from a hip hop star to an amazing business man who has changed the face of hip hop and put the smarts to it’s ghetto image.

Is there a chance Swahili Nation fans could ever get to hear at least one more hit single from the group? You guys should gather up in the studio one more time and do a number for us?

I believe that 2012 might see such an opportunity come to life. For now, I’m gonna focus on KENSO and AYKONIC...

Anything else that you might want to add on?

I hope that my project gets support even though its not as vernacular driven as other products on the market. I’m trying to keep quality in the game and I hope cats out there realize that we have to compete beyond those African borders.

Kenso