Makadem

Makadem is a Kenyan musician and tour guide-turned-performer who begins his music career in Mombasa after finishing high school at Jamhuri High School in 1992 and studying French. He starts performing for tourists in Diani Beach hotels, replacing much of his guiding work with live music as his profile grows.

Early recordings and live appearances

By 1999, Makadem records his first single, Mr. Lololova, a reggae song that becomes closely associated with him. He also appears as a supporting act for a number of established artists, including Maxi Priest at Beats of the Season, Awilo Longomba at a later Beats of the Season event, and Gregory Isaacs, Mighty Culture and Glen Washington in Nairobi in 2001, 2002 and 2004 respectively. In December 2004, he travels to Djibouti with the Nairobi City Ensemble for the Fest-Horn Festival. He is also listed as one of the finalists of Spotlight on Kenyan music and supports Lokua Kanza at Alliance Française in Nairobi.

Style and instruments

Makadem’s music develops from reggae into a style he describes as Anglo-Ohangla, a blend of Ohangla, nyatiti and dodo, with other modern African rhythms and strongly accented Luo-English vocals. Ohangla is a traditional Luo style from western Kenya in the Lake Victoria region. He plays the Kenyan Luo lyre nyatiti, as well as kalimba and acoustic guitar.

Albums and recordings

He records a twelve-track album called Ohanglaman, which is released in 2005. He later releases Koko Rio in 2015, Unplugged in 2024, and several EPs. He also has an earlier album project of ten tracks planned in 2000, but it does not appear because the producer is not fully paid.