FEMI ONE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Femi One Exclusive Interview-KENYA'S BIGGEST FEMCEEBy Wanjiku Thuku

Who is Femi one and how did you start off as an artist?

Femi one is an Artist ,actor,philnathropist.Ive been very consistent, built my brand from the ground, I and my team are kaka management who have really built my brand from Ground and How I started as a cypher Artist we slowly started as a cypher Artist. We slowly started building the brand. I did my first mainstream song which was ‘Tippy Toe’,’Kaingiza’ mainstream and from there we have just been building my sound becoming better and better with practice or with research and my team helping me through the process. It has been a long journey and I think with consistency, persistence and having a team around, we have managed to dominate the music industry.

Which corporate brands have you worked with before?

I have worked with several companies throughout the years, SAFARICOM but for a short term, Guinness ,Tusker,Peptang,Zingine I have worked with I have forgotten, mostly for a basis of short term, being a brand ambassador the official brand ambassador for monster energy-I am their first female brand ambassador-east and central Africa, it feels nice, it feels great especially to be recognized with

such a huge brand like monster a worldwide brand. It felt nice, I felt like I am really doing something, and people are watching yah!

What criteria was used to pick you as the official brand for all these corporate brands (what things stood out about you)?

I am not sure, we ask them, but one thing I know is they love my music,they love my image,they love how I carry myself. So, I am one of the cleanest brands in this country and anyone and any company will be immensely proud to be associated with me,im very hardworking, I have good numbers, I have a good following, interact with people, I relate well with people so yah!!!

Which huge festivals have performed at as your best shows and why?

My favorite was soul fest,ilikuwa KICC,watu wa Nairobi Wali turn up Mazee, the lineup was Kenyan artists, I felt happy and immensely proud of Kenyan artists, and I was really encouraged by the turnout. Kenyans Wana support Kenyan artists, it was the first one to show that we can have a lineup of Kenyan artists na watu watokee,its all about just doing good music, branding yourselves and just being talented artists and Kenyans will support. That was my highlight and nyashinski’s concert I was a surprise act, and the crowd went crazy when I stepped onstage. So those were my two favorites because they were from Kenyan artists and it was very encouraging kuona like Kenyans would really turn out for Kenyan artists, it was very encouraging and inspiring.

Where do you see yourself 10-20 years from now?

Where I see myself 10-20 years...(chuckles) I never know how to answer this question, so I am really trying to make it to Friday maze(hehehehehehehehe)

How do you manage to remain so humble and grounded in this music industry in Kenya?

Uhm...I think having the right people around me kusema ukweli sometimes kichwa inafura,you do not want to do this, you want to do interviews, you do not want to do this. But having the right people around like my manager atakwambia like Femi you need to do this because of this and this and this, and it clicks,inakuground ,it keeps you grounded,inakumbusha pahali umetoka and how much you have worked for your brand. I think for me it is having the right people around, it is not like I am perfect, or I am humble, Saa zingine kichwa inafura.But having the right people to remind you how far you have come and who you are and ile purpose unafanya hii kitu,they just keep you grounded, that works for me.

What things stand out about you as compared to other artists in Kenya?

I think I have always been myself kutoka niingie kwa industry,ive always been myself,ive never tried to be anyone else apart from me.I'm incredibly unique...its Femi one. I am not trying to be Nicki minaj,im not trying to be nazizi,im not trying to be anyone else other than myself, that’s one-two think have a good team,ive been with my team tangu nianze,so I have an exceptionally good management team. Three, the kind of songs nafanya,nimekuwa nikifanya na sheng ninakuwa very consistent with it representing the streets –you know matatu, the dancing culture in Kenya, so hiyo inafanya nistand out. I think my image as well. I would really try to put in so much effort in how I look, my hair, my nails and how I dress up. The fifth thing...I think...uhm...uhmmmmm..I'm very hardworking and just involving my

family and my friends from day one and my team throughout the process. I do not make the decisions alone; I make sure I involve them...so I think those things really me stand out.

What is your favorite motto or slogan in life?Jiamini...uaminiwe.How do you manage to separate your private life from your celebrity life?

I do not think I really put that into mind...nikishare what is share on social media...I just share my work on social media. My private life is secret like the people who are close to me know my private life, social media is just for work.

Do you consider yourself to be a family person?Yes, I am a family person.Do you consider yourself to be a fashion icon?

No, I do not consider myself to be a fashion icon, I just wear what I am comfortable in, my style is quite simple, it is a 90s kind of style. The big hoops, sneakers with jeans, I wear sneakers with everything. I think on my wedding day I will be in sneakers(hahahahahahahaha)...it is quite simple...uhhhhmmmmmm...I know how to dress my body, so when I am working with stylists, already I know how I want to look like, I have me. The whole picture in my head, so I will just share ideas with the stylist anitafutie this and this......I have my style figured out which I think so many artists do not and that is why I stand out as a fashion icon, but I am not.

What inspires your fashion sense?

I think Aaliyah has really inspired my fashion sense. Her fashion is 90s hip-hop...sneakers...baggy jeans...crop tops. Bralettes and puffy jackets and colored jackets. So, I think its hip-hop 90s colorful, with the hair colorful, the big hoops. Its sexy hip-hop.

Which fashion brands have you worked with closely?I do not think I have worked with any fashion brands...not one that I can remember. Not yet!!!!!What other career path would you have taken and why?

I think I would still be in the entertainment industry and my younger self thought I would be in media. I would do something in the media.

What is it that motivates you plus what accolades do you have to your name?

The money is good...no I'm playing (hehehehehe).I think my greatest achievement itakuwa and what really keeps me going like Nataka madame wa eastlands,mtaani,wakiangalia Mimi they feel very inspired knowing that I was born and raised in mwiki...nimekuwa mdame wa sheng kutoka niingie kwa music industry.Watu wlaikuwa wananiterm as very ghettoish...so nataka wakiniangalia Mimi wajue like they can achieve anything...naweza achieve dreams zao by just being themselves venye Wako, Hao na mtaa yao yote na hiyo sheng Yao. People wakiambie they are too ghetto...wako na utaa mingi...they can put that into something by them just being themselves, they can go for their dreams and kuna watu

watawalike hivo vile wako and they will support them. The moment you go for your dreamt. So, I think that will be my greatest achievement and I want wadame wa mtaani wakiniangalie mimi wafeel very inspired that nimeachieve all those things just by me being myself and working hard.

Any advice to aspiring young producers, artists, and fashionistas?

You know they should just believe in themselves,wakuwe very patient with building their Brands, Kwa sababu it takes time you know, be very consistent with it, with whatever wameamua kufanya and they also,wakuwe na a team ya kuwasupport wakuwe open minded,wakuwe ready kulearn,wakuew ready kulisten,wakuwe very grounded na wakuwe na patience na wakuwe very consistent ,na wakuwe very persistent and they just keep doing it and they’ll make it maze, I believe there’s no way yo can be doing something or building something for years na God akose kureward.You know God is a very faithful God and atakureward kuungana na ile kitu tumeamua kufabya.Yah...so they just keep doing it and they’ll get there!!!!

Any last words for your superfans in Kenya and worldwide?

Thank you so much for the support over the years,im very grateful,munainspire everyday,contiue interacting with me on social media, subscribe to my YouTube channel,conitnue supporting me and sitawahi waangusha maze...Thankyou yah!!!!!!!!