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Call me Furaha - Kenyan Music Journalist

@lamusicjunkie

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📣 Event Host/ Digital Marketer/ Freelance Writer
✨ Helping creatives grow their community
🎶 Playlist curator/ @djraha.ke
👇 Let's get high on music

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Yoh, what a journey Hadithi Hangout has been! In September 2024, Amondo and I started our community book reading session at @santuri_east_africa. The first ever book was the revolutionary Ngugi wa Thiongo play The Trial of Dedan Kimathi. And then there was a request for Kenyan music history.In December, I invited @ketebulmusic founder Tabu Osusa and friends to read his book #ShadesofBenga together. And we just couldn't have enough. Since then we've covered 10 Kenyan music eras/genres from the 1900s.Here's a timeline recap:Jan 25: Kenyan Twist 💃🏾Feb: Kenyan Taarab 😌March: Rumba in Nairobi 🎸April: Resident bands & clubs 🎙️May: Pre independence era 🇰🇪July: Mwomboko Music 🎹Aug: Akorino aka African Trance Music 🥁Sept: Ohangla 🪘Oct: Kenyan Jazz 🎷Jan 26: Kenyan Funk (party!) which we'll recreate at @chronos_nairobi 🕺🏾And in February, we closed the Kenyan music chapter by reading the book 10 Cities at @kilelesummit 2026.15 chapters and 120 attendees so far, we are SO GRATEFUL for every single person who's made #HadithiHangout the amazing community it is. The deep discussions, the conscious conversations and the funky dance moves have all been worth it! Can't wait for us to co-create Season 2 together this year.If you've ever attended, what was your favourite part about Hadithi Hangout?#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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4 months ago

Last year, I was disheartened. I’d see other people get emceeing gigs and wonder - why not me? Why don't they see me too?Have you ever felt like that?But just in the past 2 moons, I've hosted so many gigs I'm in awe. You truly get what you ask for. These are...* Hadithi Hangout at @santuri_east_africa (twice)* @singing.wells panel discussion at Santuri * The Demo 2 at @the.livingrooms * @labdiofficial concert at Weal House * Karaoke Night and even Speed Dating at @marakua_woodmereFrom the heartwarming feedback I've received, there's no doubt that I AM an amazing MC. Especially for intimate crowds. Hapo najiaminia. Now, I'm womanifesting more emceeing AND deejaying gigs. Because y'all know I'm also a dope DJ with so many Kenyan gems to share with you across different eras and genres. Whether it's benga, rumba, funk, reggae, R&B, genge, kapuka, Afrofusion or Afrohouse, I play them all.If you give me a mic, I'll also emcee and sing on top of deejaying. Making the experience even more fun for everyone. In short, @djraha.ke is here to give you raha raha raha 🎶Moral of the story: If you love something, do it. And if you want something, ask for it. The universe always provides.Also, this is my self praise. My Pakruok. 📷 @rich_allela at Labdi Live last Thursday #LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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4 months ago

Have you listened to Sirudi?What did you think of our Kenyan fusion sound #TaaRnB? Listen on @bandcamp and lemme know 🙂#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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4 months ago

I will shout this from the top of Mount Kirinyaga because THE KENYAN SOUND we've been looking for is BENGA.Why?Because #Benga is the biggest Kenyan sound that cuts across Kenya, Africa and even urban music - from @ericwainainamusic to @itsmefancyfingersAnd it's all in the special way we play the guitar 🎸Do you agree with this theory?#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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5 days ago

How did Nairobi transform from the entertainment capital of East Africa to the deathbed of live music in the 1980s?Blame it on casettes, discos, and Moi.In case you ever wondered why there's such a huge disconnect between the old and new generation of Kenyan music, this is where it all started.Full story on YouTube or bit.ly/kenyanmusiclecture 🙂#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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10 days ago

Part time lecturer, researcher and comedian 😁My Drunken Lecture which I did exactly 5 weeks ago at @254beerdistrict is finally live on YouTube. And on that Monday evening on 15th June 2026, I took this vibrant room through the 100-year evolution history of Kenyan Music in less than an hour. What an unexpected challenge it was!But fun all the same.During this section, we remembered the golden era of Kenyan Music where Nairobi was the entertainment capital of East Africa. And how this attracted Congolese musicians who took over Nairobi clubs with their high fashion and stage showmanship. While running away from...Have you watched the full lecture on YouTube? 🙂#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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13 days ago

Previously on MC Furaha duties…On one Saturday in June, I got to emcee my first awards ceremony. Wanderer's Path Publishers had launched their first short story award of the year. And we gathered at @shifteyestudios to discover the top 3 winners.But first, we watched a short documentary film by @georgegathiani about Wanderer's founder. #FranzOwano has such an inspiring story, evolving from a frustrated medical student at UoN into an accomplished author of 12 books and counting! And he writes about the most interesting themes, from men’s mental health to Afrofuturistic sci-fi.Next we had an engaging panel discussion featuring @olaveorawo and @joanthatiah about everyone's favourite topic: AI. And how to use it (or not) as a writer. I was also quick to remind the audience how its negative environmental impact cancels its convenience, as we discussed during the previous @wll_the_worldsloudestlibraryAnd finally, it was time to meet the top 10 shortlisted writers. Who all shared what their short stories were about. The overarching theme: non-romantic love in an African context.Even though everyone is a winner, 4 young writers won cash prizes. And the top winner is… Dismas Okombo. Who I actually knew from my @writersguildke days. And guess what, he learnt about this writing opportunity from my weekly newsletter!Talk about a full circle moment. And to give my vote of thanks, truly grateful to @wandererspath.ke for this opportunity to host their first awards ceremony. I cannot wait to see how many indie African writers they publish in the coming years. And of course, to read Owano's highly-praised books which are also available at @nuria_thehoneststoreAlso shout out to Kinsley for making me look this good on camera. Ama its the Shifteye lights? 😌#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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24 days ago

Could this be the biggest revolution on earth? More impactful than any protest or maandamano?These are the kinds of conversations we've been having at #HadithiHangout after reading "Mathare" by @gathanga_ndungu. If you're ready for this reasoning, listen to the full recording on Soundcloud (link in bio). And join for the next hangout this Thursday at @santuri_east_africa 🙌🏾#LaMusicJunkie by @lamusicjunkie

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24 days ago

New date, same hadithi!Karibu to #HadithiHangout Chapter 19 as we continue reading "Mathare" by @gathanga_ndungu.This chapter explores the often-overlooked role of women in Kenya's struggle for freedom—from Field Marshal Muthoni wa Kirima to the mothers of Mathare. Together, we'll also trace how the spirit of the Mau Mau lives on today through Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and social justice centres.Join us for an intimate evening of thought-provoking conversations and revolutionary music.🗓️ Thursday 2nd July 2026🕓 5:00–9:00 PM📍 Santuri Classroom 💸 Donation-basedSee you soon at The Salon! by @lamusicjunkie

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a month ago

This was a dream come true!After attending @lasaucela at Chronos 5 months ago and experiencing that sweet pan-African flavour, I knew I wanted to play here. And on Saturday night, I finally got to do it. And what a party it was! From kapuka to genge(tone) to benga, I played some of my favourite Kenyan sounds. And even non-Kenyans who had never heard of them really vibed. Bila jashoooAnd @blebrave brought the whole sauce, mixing everything from ndombolo to singeli. African music to make us shake everything we got. And he reminded us that Ohangla and Mugithi isn't just for Umoja and Githurai, it's for Lavington too.It was such an honour to play again at @chronos_nairobi under that dazzling disco ball. And to play alongside Bbrave who is honestly such a legend. I cannot wait to dance again with this beautiful crowd. Here's to more dreams coming true 🙌🏾 by @lamusicjunkie

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a month ago

It’s on this Sat!!!! We’re excited to welcome Nairobi’s own @djraha.ke aka @lamusicjunkie who will take us on a journey through the many sounds of Kenya. She’ll share the decks with @blebrave in town from Accra. @chronos_nairobi is the spot and @azzasatti your hostess with the mostess! 1000 KES at the door - presale link in bio. ..#enjaillement #enjoyments #africanparty #panafricanparty #staysaucy by @lamusicjunkie

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a month ago

The song on this post is Kenyan! So is the most recent Kenyan song you listened to. Kenyan music and the Kenyan sound has always been an abstract. No word can describe it, no feeling particularly. Do you think you Can you define the kenyan sound? what does it sound like? is it genge tone? Is Kenyan music doomed to be swallowed by its diversity? what is the history of Kenyan sound? how has kenyan music evolved, if it has? This Monday’s lecture, we cover the journey of Kenyan music, the genres that have blessed our fore father’s ears and ours and how they tie to each other. We get on a musical journey together to try answer the old age question: is there one distinct kenyan sound?Our lecturer is a Kenyan music journalist and Dj, she has studied and researched cultural sounds of our nation. Furaha Ruguru @lamusicjunkie .Link in bio for tickets.See you in class!#drunkenlectures #lecturesinnairobi #socialevents .Reach out if you need help with the tickets :) by @lamusicjunkie

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a month ago