This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
Published on October 12, 2019, Iguassu AC, a Venezuelan-born artist, has been living in Kenya since 2010, where he initially came to explore his music passion.
Today, he has not only mastered the local music scene but has also immersed himself in the Kenyan culture, learning to speak and sing in multiple local languages, including Swahili and several Kenyan dialects.
According to Iguassu, his motivation to learn local languages began after he paid some Kenyans to teach him how to speak Swahili, only to discover he was having Kikuyu lessons instead.
He made the discovery when he went to a shop and addressed the grocer in Kikuyu, thinking he was speaking Swahili. Despite the initial confusion, Iguassu does not regret this experience.
He has since mastered at least seven Kenyan dialects, including Swahili, Kikuyu, Kamba, Kisii, Luo, Luhya, and Kalenjin. His favorite song, 'Emoyo', was originally sung in Kikuyu but he has translated it into the other four languages.
Iguassu has also released songs in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, among other languages. In one of his albums, 'Golden Kenya', he sings in different Kenyan vernaculars such as Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, and Kalenjin.
When asked about his favorite Kenyan dish, Iguassu mentioned mutura served with ugali and hot pepper. He first tasted it seven years ago and still enjoys it to date.
