Photo:Shem Obara
Kenyan musicianMuthoni Drummer Queenis a cultural alchemist.
This has led her to create festivals that celebrate the likes of Kenyan performers, filmmakers, and photographers.
She asserts that creativity can build an identity for Kenyaone that it does not have now but desperately needs.
Photo:Shem Obara
We cannot build what we do not truly love, she said in her speech.
And we cannot love until we love ourselves.
Scroll down for our exclusive interview.
What is your background?
So, my first love is music.
Singing it, dancing to it, making it.
Blankets & Wine 10th anniversary in 2018
Ive sung and performed since I was a kid.
So I developed my skill set through the school choir, theatre, and debate clubs.
How did you become connected with art, music, and overall creativity?
For those unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe it?
It’s a combination of hip-hop, reggae/dance hall, and soul/blues against African drums.
It’s dope AF!
POWER is your latest single as an ode to the courage and vision of many women.
Its maddening to me that women’s contributions are often undervalued, under recorded, and often just erased!
Making music is just one part of what you doyou’ve also established festivals.
What inspired you to do this?
It grew and for a while, everything seemed ok. Also, I was desperate enough to try something different.
Blankets & Wine 10th anniversary in 2018
How have you seen them grow over the years?
We are excited to grow this into an out-of-town, camping festival experience.
What compels you to take on so many things and work in so many different ways?
I feel the urgency to solve as many things as I can connect to music.
How do you do this?
Cultural alchemy is my thing!
You gave an inspiring TED talk about how vital the creative industry is to the nation-building of Kenya.
I think this one has been very compelling.
Some favorite films from Kenya includeNairobi HalfLife(phenomenal!
What’s on the horizon for you?
Anything exciting it’s possible for you to tell us about?
Im excited to become a better artist during these coronavirus #stayathome times!
