Akoth Jumadi

Akoth Jumadi is an architect of the future who crafts her ethereal, dulcet sound with honeyed vocals and multi-instrumental talent. Her uplifting air will enthrall you as she weaves together Luo folk, afrosoul, tribal fusion, jazz, taraab, benga, reggae, and hiphop.

Born and raised in Nairobi of Luo ancestry, Akoth Jumadi started playing at 17 at Maseno University in Kisumu when a friend loaned her an extra guitar. She gained experience from a veteran guitarist and also started teaching herself to play and began to write her own music, practicing and gaining courage to start performing. In 2016, Akoth Jumadi started to perform with a band at different bars, restaurants, weddings, and events.

As she began performing more, in 2018, Akoth Jumadi decided to move away from performing gigs based around covers to focus on her own songwriting, something she felt came naturally growing up listening to great songwriters like Nina Simone, India Arie, Suzanna Owiyo, Nyota Ndogo, Lady Jaydee, JustABand. She felt an urge to explore more forms of musicality and taught herself bass guitar to express her love for funk and jazz, inspired by Esperanza Spalding.

Akoth Jumadi started listening to more traditional and cultural music and saw a need to reflect her ancestry in her art so she decided to start learning nyatiti, an 8-stringed Luo lute that is traditionally only played by men. She met Ati Sanaa, another female nyatiti player, who agreed to give Akoth Jumadi lessons to learn. Later on she also came to learn that her grandfather had also been a nyatiti player.

As she began to incorporate her new sounds into a cornucopia of coalescence, festivals became keen and Akoth Jumadi played at Voices of the Lake Festival 2018, Nirvana Festival 2019, and Kilifi New Year 2020.

“Jangolo” was released in March 2020 as Akoth Jumadi’s first single off her Ere Yo EP, produced by Brian Robin. The song came to her when she would walk around with her guitar and people would call her jangolo or a person who makes music in Luo. In the song, Akoth Jumadi celebrates how music and the people who create it bring us together in joy.

Her second single “Aluoro” was released in August 2020 meaning “I’m afraid.” The song reflects on the feeling of being so full of love that it is overwhelming but its essence sets you free. Akoth Jumadi’s first video release, “Nyar Nam”, was animated by Mel Ogana, about the coming of age of a girl from the lakeside.

“Ere Yo” EP, which was released on 20th October 2020, is a collection of Akoth Jumadi’s experiences growing up, learning about herself and reflecting through her environment “Where is the way?”

Discography

ERE YO
October 2020
Artbeat Music

Nominations
Café Ngoma Awards 2020- African Fusion Artist of the Year
Café Ngoma Awards 2019- Best New Artist

Performances
Thursdays SSO Live at Spasso (October 2020)- Karen, Kenya
Kenyan Renaissance presents INTERSECT at K1 Klubhouse (October...