By Zadock Malika
Musa Okoth is an artist and a journalist with interests in culture. He practices film and fashion under a project dubbed “mtaaafrica”.
In 2013, he founded Mtaa Afriq, a community-based art organization to offer young people a platform to tell their story. The outfit brings together 15 artists, environmentalists and human rights defenders working independently to promote use of art for socio-economic change within communities.
Mr. Okoth is behind an organization that leverages journalism, music, film photography and fashion to give a platform to youth. He has worked across settlements in Nairobi East. Mtaa Africa Film Club is a crucial division the organization launched in partnership with Kenya Film Commission and Razeem Pamoja Foundation in 2020 in an effort to push the needle further, and mainly targets both up-coming and established artists from Jerusalem, Buruburu, Dandora and Mathare.
In the last five months, the organization have been setting up a studio equipped with basic radio and TV production equipment, music instruments, and furniture in Kayole South, Nairobi, thanks to Mr. Wafula Shakaba, a politician and environmentalist.
“Our last public appearance was at Nairobi Festivals 2022 where some of our members were feted,” says Okoth. “It was a big platform and we appreciate the governor of Nairobi County Johnson Sakaja for such an opportunity.”
However, he noted that while “public appearance” is critical to an organization like his, the county government of Nairobi should chip in especially financially to help shoulder the costs of organizing art festivals.
“So, I can’t say it was a success because the county government is yet to engage the top artists who raised funds and helped set up the festival,” says Okoth who was ranked third in category fashion and design with his “African Looku” clothing. A Mtaa Africa music artist Blakman was ranked third best artist in Nairobi County.
The biggest achievement for Project Mtaaafrica is being at peace with the people they worked with through the decade stating that the continued togetherness is what is keeping the fight for change on.
Mr Okoth, says that from the project, many youths have found a space to practice and showcase their talents. It has also become a platform for sharing information to promote and educate members of the society.
Through the organization, many talented youths have also been able to earn an income and make a living through art, by working on interior designs, clothing businesses, film as well as photography.
The group also takes pride in having created a platform and a network where members have been able to interact with artists from across the continent like Hiphop artists Pantsula from South Africa, Juliani from Kenya, Delasi from Ghana, Pilato from Zambia, Gicanda from Rwanda as well as Uganda’s Lukyamuzi.
Mr Okoth says that Mtaaafrica’s interaction with the late South African Hip hop artist Pantsula in 2013 was the beginning of Mtaaafrica’s journey.
Since then, the group has collaborated with over 50 art and humanitarian organisations that use community dialogue, art and sports to tackle societal ills while promoting community development.
Some of these organisations include Box Girls Kenya, Usikimye, Dandora Hip Hop City, Razeem Pamoja Foundation, CMETrust (Canada Mathare Education Trust), Usawa Kenya and others. Project Mtaaafrica.
Next year, the group will launch a media training program in Kayole in collaboration with Kayole South based Ben Foundation. It will also set up an online community radio and TV projects, an active workshop for fashion as well as work towards setting up an open art market in events across Nairobi.
Mtaaafrica is also mobilizing artists, activists and art lovers for a fellowship set to grow into a society dubbed Artists Rights Defenders as they enter their second decade of community service.
The project will look into artists’ welfare both financial and mental stability, put up events to promote creative entrepreneurship among artists as well form a committee that will present demands to the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage to spark a dialogue towards a vibrant art industry.
