Nadia Mukami's Journey: From Church Choir to Taking Over Africa

Nadia Mukami has offered insights into her journey in music, her evolution, and the global artists currently topping her collaboration wish list.

Nadia, known for her unique voice, revealed that her musical journey began at a remarkably early age.

In a recent conversation with Maina Kageni via Let Me Tell You Maina podcast, the self-proclaimed "queen" pinpointed standard 4 as the time she started singing.

Having gone to boarding school when she was very young, like many singers, she began in church. Nadia describes herself as having always been a very spiritual and "church girl," singing in church and often trying to lead worship songs and praise.

“I think I started at an early age when I was in standard 4. I went to boarding school when I was very young. So I used to be as many singers as I like to say I started in church. I've always been a very spiritual lady,” she revealed.

Her path continued through her academic life. Fast forward to her time at Maseno University. During her first year, while taking a communication skills unit, students were required to read a speech about Martin Luther King.

When no one else wanted to tackle the task, Nadia volunteered. This led to her lecturer mentioning a local radio station, where she then started doing radio work and received a little training.

She revealed that during a long holiday in her first year, she started taking on hustling jobs and promotion gigs. It was during this period that she was simply singing one day, and a colleague suggested she needed to start recording her music. Unsure of how to find a studio, she learned her colleague knew a pastor who had one.

While many people associate her breakthrough with the hit song "Mombi," even leading some to believe she was a gospel artist, Nadia clarified that she has never been a gospel artist.

“People think I used to be a gospel artist. I've never been a gospel artist. I was always a secular artist. I had songs before that. ‘Maombi’ was just a song that was part of my catalogue and it was a point where I was famous but I was broke and then I just and I didn't know that it was going to work out,” she explained.

Nadia also touched on her songwriting process, which she believes is crucial to her craft. For her, writing usually starts with the melody, which then guides the lyrics and song structure. She believes the core idea of a song, which could be the bridge or the chorus, comes first, and the verses are built around it.

Turning to future aspirations, Nadia spoke passionately about her dream musical collaborations. At the very top of her list is none other than Fally Ipupa. She expressed her love for him and stated that collaborating with him is her absolute dream.

“I really love Fally Ipupa and he's on my dream list. He's one of the artists that, you know I want to work with because you know I want to do this thing till I'm 80s or I don't know maybe. So, there's no retirement for me. I'm here to stay. I really want or hope and pray to work withFally Ipupa,” she said.

Another respected artist she mentioned as a potential collaborator, should the opportunity arise, is Rude Boy of the famous Nigerian Boy band, PSquare.

Acknowledging his status as a big, respected artist and one of the pioneers of Afrobeats, Nadia believes a collaboration with him would be a great connection.

With an EP reportedly on the way, Nadia Mukami continues to build on a career that started with a young girl singing in church, guided by melody, and now looks towards collaborating with some of the biggest names in African music.