"When they say you can’t make it, never give up"
Most of his friends were strongly convinced that he would never become a musician, but Jasigan, internally knew that they were all wrong.
This young Kenyan musician is now the talk of the town, as tracks from his new LP, the “Engluo Doctor” continue to be aired by most radio stations in the country. The LP has been dominating local charts for several weeks.
Jasigan was born Nelson Odhiambo in Kisumu City, in 1988. His artistic name, Jasigan, is a word coined from Luo language meaning a story teller. He says that as a musician, he is focused on narrating the daily life stories and this is what makes his music appeal to many people.
He started playing music while in high school and recorded his first single ‘Nipe Mkono’ (Give me a hand) in 2005 while in Form 2.
Jasigan recalls how his friends used to discourage him from pursuing his musical career. But he used to tell them: “I know it is difficult but through hard work and persistence, I’ll make it.” And he was right. Now the same people who used to discourage him are his fans.
G-graham, his former classmate has been Jasigan’s producer since he began recording. G-graham owns the Shyning Records Company.
Jasigan’s music is full of humour and energy. He raps in English, Swahili and Luo, at times using the three languages within the same sentence as commonly done by Kenyan urban youth.
Taking advantage of the youth’s love for his music, Jasigan never misses an opportunity to advise them to avoid careless behaviours and focus on their future.
Jasigan is grateful to God for helping him achieve his childhood dream of becoming a musician. Having grown up in the slums, he knows the sufferings of ordinary people and uses his music and fame to appeal for support for local organisations helping the needy, especially orphans.
Jasigan mainly sings about love. He also composes praise songs and as a patriotic Kenyan, helps promote the country’s good image by praising its touristic sites and people. In the track “Welcome to Kenya,” he is appealing to tourists to come and visit Kenya which he describes as a very peaceful land, with friendly people and youth full of live. He tells them to come and visit Kenya, the land of President Obama’s father.
“I mainly use my music to promote love. Husbands should love their wives and be faithful to them. Wives should also do the same,” he says.
His message to people at the initial stage of their careers is: “When they say you can’t make it, never give up.”
JASIGAN’S LINKS & CONTACTS
www.igrooves.net/jasigan
www.showcaseyourmusic.com/552211
www.myspace.com/jasigan
Email:
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Tell +254-72030149
By Stephen Ogongo
