Matata: sauti ya Afro-Nordic inayotikisa scene ya muziki ya Oslo

Katika moyo wa Oslo, ambapo baridi ya Nordic inakutana na moto wa Nairobi, kundi la Wakenya wa Norway linafanya mawimbi kwa kuandika upya sheria za sauti za diaspora. Kutana na matata, kundi linalochanganya mitindo linalounganisha rhythm za Kenya na ukali wa Scandinavia na kufikiria upya Afrobeat katika eneo la Nordic.

Kusonga Mabara Kupitia Muziki

Iliyoanzishwa mwaka 2016, Matata ilijitokeza kwanza kama kundi la wanachama watano. Marcus Ojiambo, Freddy Milanya, Richie Mathu, Ken Kimathi na Festus Kwenda, wote ni wabunifu vijana wa Kenya ambao walikuwa wamehamia Norway hivi karibuni. Mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2025, kundi lilihamia kwenye muundo wa wanachama wanne baada ya kuondoka kwa Kimathi, lakini nguvu zao bado ni za kushangaza kama ilivyokuwa awali.

Ingawa wana makazi Oslo, dira ya kisanii ya matata inaelekea moja kwa moja Nairobi. Muziki wao unachanganya sauti ya Genge, Afrobeat na hip-hop, ukitolewa kwa mchanganyiko wa sheng, kikuyu na Kingereza. Njia hii ya lugha nyingi inaakisi utambulisho wao ulio na tabaka: umejikita Kenya, umelelewa Norway na unafikia masikio ya kimataifa.

Kutoka Mitaa ya Nairobi Hadi Jukwaa la Nordic

Kabla ya kuwa wasanii wa kurekodi, Matata kwanza ilipata umaarufu kama wachezaji. Wanachama kadhaa walikuwa sehemu ya FBI, moja ya vikundi maarufu vya dansi nchini Kenya. Msingi wao wa choreography bado unajitokeza katika kila onyesho, ukitoa makala ya umeme ambayo inachanganya maonyesho ya kuona na hadithi za sauti.

Their transition into music began in 2019 with the viral debut “Denge,” marking the beginning of their rise as one of the most exciting new voices in Genge tone. Today, they embody what it means to be Afro Nordic artists, taking the spirit of Nairobi’s streets and remixing it through Oslo’s creative lens.

Umaarufu wa Kikenya, Mtindo wa Oslo

Licha ya makazi yao Norway, matata imebaki kwa karibu na hadhira yao ya Kikenya. Nyimbo zao zinatawala hewani kwenye NRG Radio, Homeboyz Radio na Kiss FM, huku video zao za muziki zikifanya vizuri mara kwa mara kwenye YouTube na TikTok nchini Kenya.

Songs like “Mapema,” “kata,” and “Mare Mare” have become Genge tone anthems, while their clever references to Kenyan street culture and slang continue to endear them to fans back home. Matata is not just “Kenyan abroad.” They’re Kenyan enough to trend in Nairobi and bold enough to thrive in Norway.

"Mpishi" feat. Bien: Wimbo wa Kuvuka Mpaka

One of their most talked-about releases to date is “Mpishi,” a 2025 collaboration with Bien of Sauti Sol. “Mpishi,” Swahili for “chef,” has become a runaway hit. The track combines Genge tone’s cheeky, beat-driven bounce with Bien’s smooth vocals and songwriting finesse.

It was an instant hit in Kenya, having garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube, sparking a viral dance challenge, airplay dominance and praise for matata’s ability to blend tradition and experimentation. For many, “Mpishi” was a song and also a cultural bridge between homegrown legacy and diasporic creativity.

Nchi Mbili, Maono Moja

Picha za matata ni za makusudi kama sauti zao. Wakiwafanya kazi na nyumba ya uzalishaji ya Oslo, Vjus, wamejenga mtindo wa kuona unaochanganya bora ya dunia zao zote. Video nyingi za muziki wao zinarekodiwa nchini Kenya na Norway, zikilinganisha harakati za Nairobi zenye nguvu na urembo wa kisasa wa Oslo.

Njia hii ya bara mbili inaakisi hadithi yao, moja ya uhamiaji, utambulisho na ubunifu kupitia mipaka. Iwe wanacheza katika matatu ya Nairobi au wakifanya onyesho kwenye mitaa ya Oslo iliyofunikwa na theluji, wanafanya kila picha kuwa mazungumzo ya kitamaduni.

Diskografia Inayosonga

In 2023, matata released the “unaware” EP, a genre bending project featuring collaborations with rising Kenyan stars like Bensoul and Nviiri the Storyteller. Tracks like “Matatu” pay tribute to Kenya’s iconic public transport system, while the EP overall blends dance, nostalgia and lyrical dexterity with a sleek Nordic touch.

Sauti yao inaendelea kubadilika, ikiwa na ujasiri zaidi na majaribio zaidi, lakini kila wakati ni matata isiyoweza kukosekana.

Wajumbe wa Kitamaduni katika Diaspora

Kama mojawapo ya vikundi vichache vya muziki vya Kikenya vilivyoko Norway, matata imekuwa nguvu kubwa ya kuunganisha tamaduni. Kupitia maonyesho, mitandao ya kijamii na hadithi zenye nguvu, wanawasilisha utamaduni wa mijini wa Kenya kwa hadhira ya Ulaya kwa njia ambayo ni halisi, ya mtindo na haiwezekani kupuuzia.

Wameisaidia kuweka muziki wa Afrika Mashariki kwenye ramani ya Scandinavia na kwa vijana wengi wa Afro Nordic, ni alama ya kuhusika: uthibitisho kwamba unaweza kuwa hapa na pale, Mkenya na Mnorway, bila kuathiri.

Mbele ni Afro Nordic

Hadithi ya Matata bado inaendelea, lakini jambo moja liko wazi: wao ni wapiga mbizi. Kwa kuunganisha uhai wa Kenya na usahihi wa Norway, wanaunda mpango wa muziki wa Afro diasporic katika maeneo yasiyotarajiwa. Iwe ni video ya dansi, wimbo unaoongoza chati, au onyesho lililouzwa kwa tiketi zote Oslo, matata inajenga madaraja mahali ambapo hayakuwapo na inasherehekea kwa dansi.