Iko Nini podcast host Mwafreeka recently opened up about his formative years and the complex origin of his stage name.
The candid revelations took place during a conversation with Dr. Ofweneke on his popular Lessons at 30 podcast.
Mwafreeka, a respected figure in the industry who has been credited with positively impacting lives and achieving notable numbers in podcasting, detailed a startling aspect of his childhood family life.
Mwafreeka // Facebook
When Incarceration Ran in the Family
The podcast host revealed that when he was a child, he became accustomed to seeing male relatives imprisoned. This exposure led to a perspective he now finds humorous.
Mwafreeka recounted his family’s history with the law. He stated that his father, his father’s brother, his small brother, and his cousin all spent time in jail.
This frequent occurrence led to an unusual assumption.
“I always joke that do you know that at some point, when I was a kid, I thought that jail was a rite of passage”.
“At some point, my dad ended up in Sotik prison, and my mom used to send me to go and visit him at age 12. At this time, my older brothers were in boarding school, and mom couldn’t go because she had to hustle,” he revealed.
Although some of the stories are now recalled as funny, Mwafreeka admitted that he “used to be afraid”. He referenced visiting his father in prison during his younger years.
Mwafreeka // Screengrab (Dr Ofweneke-YouTube)
His father was in prison for 2 years and was released in 1994, but unfortunately, he died 2 years later. Mwafreeka revealed that the father struggled with alcoholism.
He shared a specific anecdote about one of his uncles. This uncle attempted to cash a cheque that was not his and was subsequently arrested. Mwafreeka has even discussed this incident with the uncle on an Iko Nini podcast episode.
The Birth of ‘Mwafreeka’
Mwafreeka also shed light on how he acquired the name that has since defined his brand. The name originated during his time at the University of Nairobi.
He was approximately 20 years old when the moniker took hold. At that time, he maintained a deep fascination with hip-hop culture.
“I was obsessed with hip-hop”.
Because hip-hop was widely associated with Black Americans, a friend began calling him ‘Mwafrika Mweusi’. Mwafreeka ultimately chose to drop the ‘Mweusi’ part of the nickname. He felt that the dropped prefix “didn’t make sense” since all Africans are black.
He decided to stick with ‘Mwafreeka,’ and the name remained. He noted that in the early days, hip-hop was sometimes associated with class distinctions.
For instance, people believed that if you came from areas like Eastlands, you were “not supposed to be listening to hip-hop”.
Career and Personal Life
Mwafreeka is now known as the host of the Iko Nini podcast. He was previously known for his involvement in hip-hop. He also co-founded a comedy show on K24 television with Rapcha the Sayantist.
In his personal life, Mwafreeka revealed that he has been married for eleven years. He noted that his marriage has been free of drama. He stated he feels lucky because of this.
He is currently enjoying podcasting. He views it as a better and more fun job than traditional radio. Mwafreeka suggests that globally, radio is transitioning towards a ‘radio plus podcast’ model to survive.
by moses sagwe
