ELIZABETH NGIGI Lifestyle, Entertainment Journalist

19 July 2022

• Mejja said many people did not expect him to turn down the offer seeing many artists would like to do a collabo with Diamond Platnumz.

• Mejja said he refused the two Tanzanian collaborations because they were Amapiano.

Kenya's celebrated Genge rapper, Mejja talked about refusing to work with Bongo superstars a few years back.

In an interview last year, our very own superstar Mejja said he turned down the offers to work with Diamond since he wants to concur Africa his own way.

Mejja said many people did not expect him to turn down the offer seeing many artists would like to do a collabo with Diamond Platnumz.

Well, speaking to Presenter Ali, Mejja said he refused the two Tanzanian collaborations because they were Amapiano.

"It's not bad but I pride in Genge music," he said.

"All songs are good but I appreciate my work. When you start mixing your genre, you are starting to admit defeat and Genge is life."

Mejja added that if any artiste wants to feature him, they should come and work on a Gengetone song.

Asked if he would accept to be paid to work on a collabo, Mejja said;

"I can't take money to sell my love for Genge. I started rapping in high school just because I wanted to listen to myself on a CD and not for money," he said.

Away from music, Mejja said he loved history and wanted to be an archeologist.

"If I got a job to work on history, I would be amazed by that," he said adding that he did not wish to do a job that limited him from traveling.

"I wanted to become a truck driver since my neighbor used to travel so much. I would have loved that. I loved music but because of my brother and because I would travel."

Mejja advised upcoming musicians to avoid being proud but appreciate the process.

"Nowadays, it's easy. Before a promoter paid a plane for me, I had to push. You would be booked and then board a matatu to go perform and we still made it this far," he said.

Mejja said he has an upcoming concert in Australia and he is very happy about it.

"People keep telling me to quit doing Swahili songs so I can go international, but Genge is life. My mum is my greatest encouragement."