Makadem (real name Charles Odero Ademson) brings an upbeat, celebratory energy to his latest release, Maisha. The Luo Benga artist collaborated on the track with Swedish producer Kronan.
Maisha is a single from Kronan’s EP Move, which he wrote and composed. The song is designed to stir joy and place listeners in a festive trance, serving as a reminder to embrace life’s positive moments, even in the face of adversity.
Kronan, in search of an African artist who sings in Kiswahili, reached out through Makadem’s former manager, Carolina Vallejo of World Music Production. This led to a collaboration where the two parties agreed to share equal royalties.
“I told them I am not in it for the money, but I also didn’t want to be taken advantage of. They sent me a demo and asked if I can do this. I recorded it through my phone,” Makadem recalls.
Also known as the Ohanglaman, Makadem is renowned for fusing cultural elements into his music, often incorporating the traditional Luo lyre, the Nyatiti. He reflects on his 2008 protest anthem Mapambano, a song that continues to resonate with themes of youth resistance and civic engagement. He says the inspiration came after someone challenged him to create a song that would stand the test of time.
“A musician is a normal person with the same experiences as any other. Most people don’t have the platform to express their concerns; therefore, I use mine to address what is going wrong in our society,” he explains.
For Makadem, his use of language is driven more by rhythm and musical nuance than by the language itself. He believes that culture and innovation are not in competition, but rather feed off each other.
“Language doesn’t define my style of music, but how it is arranged does. Necessity is the mother of invention; thus, I never see a war between cultural heritage and modernity. Innovation simplifies things,” he adds.
In his 20-year music career, Makadem has drawn inspiration from a wide range of sounds. While the Nyatiti remains central to his style due to its distinctive melody, he has explored other East African instruments such as the eight-stringed inānga and the one-stringed Umuduri from Rwanda. He encountered these during a Nyatiti-Inanga artist residency programme in Kigali, Rwanda, last year.
“When I don’t use Nyatiti, people still think that I am. The instrument creates a unique identity for me as an artist. For example, we celebrate how minimalistic Ayub Ogada was in his known work,” he notes.
Currently, Makadem is working on three upcoming albums: Nyatiti Jazz Experience, Nyatiti Chronik, and Nyatiti Acoustic.
The singer, composer, author, performer, and multi-instrumentalist has showcased his talent on global platforms, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (2014), Storymoja Festival (2015), African Experience Tour in Denmark (2013), Cannes Film Festival (2012), and Doa Doa East Africa Performing Arts Market in Jinja, Uganda.