Word on the Street

Video

Oscar Mizani is a young rapper and a serious hustler. Eschewing the normal routes, he has carved himself a unique niche in the city by using Matatus – Nairobi’s (in)famous public transport vehicles – as the locations for his music performances and outlets for sales. Oscar’s music has a social message, addressing issues in common with the young and restless of the city.

Keep up with Mizani on Instagram or on his YouTube channel.

This video is part of the virtual exhibition «Norient City Sounds: Nairobi» curated and edited by Raphael Kariuki and Kamwangi Njue.

Biography

Victor Mutali is a graphic designer and photographer working in Nairobi, Kenya. Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Behance.

Biography

Raphael Kariuki, aka djrPH, is a Nairobian electronic musician, sound artist, and DJ. He is a resident DJ and curator at The Mist, Nairobi’s first venue dedicated to underground and experimental music. His latest EP, hope/currency, is a collaboration with the spoken-word artist Kins of Spade. Raph is a long-time collaborator with Norient. In 2022, he curated the online publication «Norient City Sounds: Nairobi» together with author and writer Kamwangi Njue. Follow him on Instagram, Mixcloud, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, or Facebook.

Biography

Kamwangi Njue is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and experimental beatmaker working with artists and others from Nairobi, Kenya. He has developed, participated, and delivered a range of collaborative projects and events including performances, shows, exhibitions, texts, and readings. For Norient, he curated the virtual exhibition «Norient City Sounds: Nairobi» in 2022. Follow him on LinkedIn, and Bandcamp.

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NairobiConscious

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Not your usual matatu ride. New flow from Kalamashaka OG’s Roba and Githingithia. New sounds from Nyokabi, Kaharibu Records, Al-Shaverb, and names you’ve never heard before. We hope this compilation of music by our friends takes you to interesting and unexpected places.

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Published on May 06, 2022

Last updated on August 25, 2022

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Nairobi Surround

Podcast

by Raphael Kariuki

The curators of the Norient Special Norient City Sounds: Nairobi, Kamwangi Njue and Raphael Kariuki, meet with a diverse cast of artists from Nairobi to discuss their everyday life experiences, as well as thoughts on political and social messages in music. In a typically tumultuous election period in a city of stark wealth inequality in early 2022, and against a backdrop of growing discontent over the rising costs of food, fuel, and more, these conversations reveal similarities and differences in the outlooks of different artists, a clue into the experience of the different people of the city.

A podcast produced by Raphael Kariuki (DJ Raph).

Featuring

Otieno Gomba, founder of Maasai Mbili art collective (M2) from Kibera, Nairobi, leader of the M2 band, known for their improvised percussion and vocals, and lover of the traditional dance ohangla.

MC Sharon aka AlShaverb aka Decibelle, rapper, singer and producer. Her song «So Special» from her latest album, The Last Will and Testament, is featured in the Norient City Sounds: Nairobi compilation album.

Juliani, rapper and founder/director of Dandora HipHop City, a community center based at the Dandora dumpsite, Eastlands, Nairobi.

Nyokabi, a classical and experimental composer based between Nairobi and New York. Her debut EP Peace Places: Kenyan Memories was recently reviewed by The Guardian.

Dennis Muraguri, a visual artist whose work is mostly focused on matatu culture. He also works with sculpture. Dennis designed 100 hand-printed t-shirts for Norient City Sounds: Nairobi, available for sale in Nairobi.

Listen and Follow on All Platforms

Tracklist

Otieno Gomba/M2 Band: «Untitled Improv Session»

MC Sharon: «So Special»

Nyokabi: «Galu»

Juliani: «Fanya Tena (Kilio Cha Haki)»

Citysynthesis: «Traffic Jazz»

This podcast is part of the virtual exhibition «Norient City Sounds: Nairobi» curated and edited by Raphael Kariuki and Kamwangi Njue.

Biography

Raphael Kariuki, aka djrPH, is a Nairobian electronic musician, sound artist, and DJ. He is a resident DJ and curator at The Mist, Nairobi’s first venue dedicated to underground and experimental music. His latest EP, hope/currency, is a collaboration with the spoken-word artist Kins of Spade. Raph is a long-time collaborator with Norient. In 2022, he curated the online publication «Norient City Sounds: Nairobi» together with author and writer Kamwangi Njue. Follow him on Instagram, Mixcloud, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, or Facebook.

Published on May 06, 2022

Last updated on August 25, 2022

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A City on My Mind

Photo Series

by Emma Mbeke Nzioka

Nairobi often appears at the top of lists of «best cities for expatriates» and the like. It has a cosmopolitan reputation and is home to the African and even global headquarters of multinational organizations. All this hype hides the facts of hardship and stark inequality on the ground, where the majority struggle in a city with few amenities and little if any social support, as captured by photographer/DJ Emma Nzioka.

Click on the title image to explore the photo series.

Photos by Emma Nzioka, texts and song selection by Kamwangi Njue.

Photographer’s Note

For this series of images I explored double exposure photography. I would base the city within portrait images of Kenyans going about their daily routines. I feel that Nairobi is always bustling with activity, a sort of organized confusion. Most people have three of four things on their minds at the same time. Some move hastily with some sort of purpose, whereas others observe. Either way, their minds hold the city.

The Songs to the Photos

Most of Emma Nzioka’s photos are multi-layered and elicit different sensibilities when you encounter them. In relation with the imagery found in Nairobi music, I try to locate lyrics that resonate with the photos to create a sound that playfully bounces off the rhythm of expressions found in Emma’s work. The quoted lyrics are in Swahili/Sheng or Dholuo, with an English translation that is either literal or a pop cultural pun.

01

Shuku macho zinazokuangalia
(On Doomsday)
Taken from: Kitu Sewer/Mashifta: «Pesa, Pombe, Siasa na Wanawake» (2004)

02

Kisham sham kinyam kitam-tam
(Stop with the politics already, I’m only here for the campaign money)
Taken from: Joefes, Mejja, Mbuzi Gang: «Shamra Shamra» (2020)

03

Mi huwanga na dinga, lakini bado mi huenda rotejo huko Mtindwa
(Who needs a car for psychogeography?)
Taken from: Wakadinali feat. Dyana Cods: «Morio Anzenza» (2019)

04

Niko hustling, nifike njati ya cafling
(I should have made enough by now for that new dress)
Taken from: Mbogi Genje: «Ngumi Mbwegze» (2019)

05

Nalo jino lako gani linalo mistari ndani
(You think you’ve got bars?)
Taken from: Judge N L-Ness: «Msanii» (2006)

06

Kuna deal inaivana, ikijipa nitaku-show
(Salvage)
Taken from: Khaligraph Jones: «Tuma Kitu» (2020)

07

An adwaro kenda, onge ng’ama tera
(It is I who wishes to go, no one is taking me there)
Taken from: Suzanna Owiyo: «Kisumu 100» (2002)

08

Fahamu kila kitu kinapanda nakinashuka
(Today’s price is not yesterday’s price)
Taken from: Pili Pili feat. Lady S: «Ukimwona» (2005)

This photo series is part of the virtual exhibition «Norient City Sounds: Nairobi» curated and edited by Raphael Kariuki and Kamwangi Njue.

Biography

Emma Mbeke Nzioka is a multifaceted artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Winner of the Cinematographer of the Year 2021 WIFA (Women in Film Award) and primary Director of Photography (DOP) in the award-winning feature documentary «No Simple Way Home» (2022), Emma is also an activist and educator. She is the founder of «Pass Pass», an initiative dedicated to empowering African artists, promoting free movement, global collaboration, and sustainable livelihoods, with a focus on restoring dignity to cultural practitioners. Emma works for Sim Sima and is a DJ and producer under the name Coco Em. Nzioka is the artistic director of the 13^th Norient Festival edition in 2024. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, X, Spotify, or SoundCloud, Localeur, and 500px.

Published on May 06, 2022

Last updated on August 25, 2022

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Norient City Sounds: Nairobi

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