In 2017, Kenyan rapper and youth activist Octopizzo released “Nu Afrika”, a single that came about as a result of the extremely violent rioting and political unrest in Kenya. Kenya was undergoing a brutal change of regime following the presidential election results. Before releasing “Nu Afrika”, Octopizzo (Henry Ohanga) spoke to his hometown Kibera, which was actually one of the first places to be hit with brutality about seeking peace. He tried to reason with the Kibera citizens by saying “Kenya belongs to all of us. Violence is not the solution”. Since the release of the presidential election results, over 20 people, including a 10-year-old girl, have been killed as well as 150 wounded by the Kenyan police department.
n 2017, Kenyan rapper and youth activist Octopizzo released “Nu Afrika”, a single that came about as a result of the extremely violent rioting and political unrest in Kenya. Kenya was undergoing a brutal change of regime following the presidential election results. Before releasing “Nu Afrika”, Octopizzo (Henry Ohanga) spoke to his hometown Kibera, which was actually one of the first places to be hit with brutality about seeking peace. He tried to reason with the Kibera citizens by saying “Kenya belongs to all of us. Violence is not the solution”. Since the release of the presidential election results, over 20 people, including a 10-year-old girl, have been killed as well as 150 wounded by the Kenyan police department.
Octopizzo uses “Nu Afrika” to plead with the government, as well as the citizens to maintain peace throughout Kenya. The hook repeats the lines “Okay, whatever the kid say; When she speak, you listen; We want peace but we keep fighting; War will leave us in pieces Jesus”. These lines appeal to the Kenyan population as well as the government.
The outro was especially poignant. Octopizzo uses this piece to emphasize the importance in investing in Africa. He encourages people to look deeper than what the Western media enforces. The lines are especially important in their plead for recognition and assistance.
“Africa is not all about animals and safaris
We got engineers, we got tech people
It’s time for you to invest in Africa right now before it’s too late
The entire world depends on Africa today
We are not the future anymore, we are the present”
This is one of many efforts Octopizzo has made to reform and bring awareness to not just Kenya, but Africa as a whole. “Nu Afrika” can be found on all music platforms, including Youtube, Apple Music, Spotify and Soundcloud.