This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On a mission to bridge the cultural gap among the millennial generation, Mbogi Konnection, a four-man collective of Afrocentric artistes, has been making waves in the music scene. The group, consisting of Sitonick 'Ice-Tonic' Taiyana, 27, Joash Masese, 25, Gugz' Ngugi, 25, and Abdul Sigilai, 26, has been inspired by the likes of Fela Kuti and aims to promote African art and culture through their music and Unganisha Festival.
According to Ice-Tonic, the group's name, Mbogi Konnection, was inspired by the word 'bogie,' which means a railway carriage in English. 'We are a group of people with the same values. We are a squad that holds each other's hands and moves together,' he explained.
The group's journey began when they all performed separately at a concert called Ona in June last year. However, it was after the concert that they decided to form a band to support each other. 'We started hanging out almost every day, until one September afternoon when we decided to form the band to support each other,' Gugz' Ngugi recalled.
One of the common factors that brought the group together was their belief in the mantra of love. 'All of us went through hardships, both personally and musically, something I believe made us appreciate and value our craft. Meeting people who believe in the love of giving, the craft and taking care of each other is a blessing,' Gugz' said.
The group's music is a blend of traditional and urban African sounds, with a strong emphasis on percussion. 'The beat of the djembe is always the introduction to our songs. There is something about the African drums that awaken the spirit. You cannot really explain it. You just have to feel it,' Ice-Tonic explained.
With their Unganisha Festival, the group aims to teach social responsibility and promote cultural art. 'We intend to teach social responsibility through the festival, which we have divided into three parts,' Ice-Tonic said.
The group has two upcoming projects, including a concert at PAWA 254 and a two-day Unganisha Festival towards the end of the year. 'We want to give a full experience of cultural art through manyattas, muratina, cultural dancers and drummers,' Gugz' said.
