Refigah is no doubt one of the most popular artistes in Kenya today. His videos,Bana Kampala featuring Ugandan artiste Butcherman, and Kadumalahave seen him climb the great heights of Kenyan music. - By Caroline Nyanga (East African Standard)
Refigah whose real name is Yusuf Noah, was raised in the Kibera slums, Nairobi, Kenya. This Kibera based rap artist has been on the Kenyan hip-hop scene for a while now. His music is well known for social, cultural and moral restraint while still entertaining in lyrics and beats. This talented rapper has been praised for his ability to rap and sing in the Nubian language, Swahili and English.
He first started out as a dancer in various clubs in Kenya, when later together with his cousins they formed a group known as Nubians With Attitude; they choose the name, which represented their origin as well as inspirations from the Nubian tribe in Kenya.
He quit the group in November 2000 to pursue a solo career. His achievements since has been awarding. He released a single in Kenya called Kabala gala gonja, a Nubian folk song with a new brand type of hip hop, which has enabled him to highlight some problems faced in the Nubian community. This hit single beamed through the airwaves of most FM stations in Kenya and East Africa. He released a single in collaboration with Ugandan artist Buchaman; the single hit airwaves in Uganda, its called Bana Kampala. He worked on another single with well-known Ugandan artist called Chameleon.
He has been doing city-to-city tours in Kenya and Uganda.
His greatest achievement was an award he received as the most influential artist after performing in June 2002,for the United Nations Ancillary body charged with responsibilities of cubing drugs and trafficking. The concert was to highlight the wide spread stigma of drug abuse that had caught up with Youth in the slum. He also performed during the Aids awareness concert, the Celebrate Life concert last October in Kenya where several international pop groups, including US-based Kool and the Gang performed.He has been lately in Tanzania, Arusha, performed at Worlds Aids day, also at Punguza Ubao Concert in Nakuru.Apart from making TV apperances in East Africa he is also working hard on creating awarness against Drugs and the Youth.
In January 2004,he released a song Mtoto wa Kishua a blend of Zouk and Ragga, which unfortunately didn.."t do well.Later, he collaborated with upcoming artists Holy Thug in his song .."Ngima Tek..", which did well in the Kenyan charts.In July,Congolese singer King of Dombolo,Genral Defao featured Refigah in his song Wandera which will appear on his upcoming album scheduled for release end of 2006 in Paris.
Refigah was one the seven artists approached by Red Cross to write a song on famine, they recoreded the song Kwanini Njaa at Tedd Josiah Blu Zebra studios with artists like Mercy Myra,Alahola,Boboz Mcs,Poxi Presha, Kasha and Wyre from the group Necessary noise.
in sept 2004 he released a single plus video of the hit song Kadumala, which topped the East African Charts. Its a song about the virtue of womanhood and is a Nubian name.It.."s a blend of Ragga and Benga. .."Fans really appreciate the song even though most of them have no idea what the song means..",he says. .."They even know the words of the song which is so good and encouraging !
His 1st album titled mtoto wa kibra released 2006 is no doubt one of the greatest album ever to come out of east africa he is currently working and looking forward to release his 2nd album before the end of the year. In his own words, he says, .."in the light of the foregoing, I am confidently geared to carry on with my ambition and attain intervention and recognition, thereafter contribute to social empowerment and economic of those living under absolute poverty.."
/STRONG.