Muthoni’s agenda, no longer hidden

Last Monday saw the launch of 22tracks’ twenty-second playlist, Africa. It’s a co-production with Africa Unsigned, a new web initiative to help finance recording projects from aspiring African artists. Whether you want to invest in the musical future of this dynamic continent or not, there’s some great music to listen out for. One of my favourite tracks #nowplaying on the Africa playlist is “Mikono Kwenye Hewa” by Kenyan singer Muthoni the Drummer Queen. To my ears, its rhythm sounds like beats broken on the surf of the Indian Ocean. “They exchange the names,” she sings, “And they play the games with a poker face / And they make a pact on their undone act.” It’s a tale of sexual politics many people can identify with, regardless of location.

Muthoni, according to her bio on Africa Unsigned, sings in English, Swahili and Kikuyu, Kenya’s three main languages. “Mikono Kwenye Hewa” and “Round Off” (also on the playlist!) are taken from her 2009 album The Human Condition and the title translates as “distractions and hidden agendas”. She is looking to raise $ 10,000, which should be possible, right? Read how it works here.

Convinced yet? Here’s another Muthoni song:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCp5hOfIHh0