Njoseh: Musician with a different conviction

SOC’s Njoseh poses in this edited studio photograph. Njoseh is strongly convicted that celebrities should not embrace flamboyance. Photo: Courtesy

Do you know Njoseh? You are not alone. Not many people know the 21-year-old Njoseh, whose full name is Joseph Ndaka, a celebrated gospel musician. 

Njoseh is amongst the trio behind Saintz of Christ, SOC, an urban gospel group whose composition Bila Yesu we Kwisha bagged the Hip Hop Song of the Year in the 2013 Groove Awards. Mugikuyu254 and Edu Dontez complete the group. 

“Does fame change a person?” quipped Ndaka, and, before I could fashion a response, briskly nodded his head sideways, unequivocally expressing his disconfirmation on what is until now the dogma with celebrities.

Ndaka, a Moi University sophomore, is unconventional.  

 “For now, I am a minnow in the sea of gospel musicians,” he offered, when I sought to know the motivation for his reserved lifestyle. 

Immediately after graduating from secondary school, Njoseh joined his colleagues. Early 2011, Dontez discovered Ndaka’s  prowess in choreography during a Badilika Festival event in Kiambu High School into which Ndaka  had gatecrashed.

“Henceforth, we have done great numbers, attended gigs, performed in corporate functions, travelled the country and bagged a couple of awards,” offered the smiling Ndaka, adjusting the bill of his snapback to reveal “Kakitu” creatively embroidered on the crown. He regretted that he had lost count on the number of interviews in the Kenyan mainstream media he has attracted. 

Valary Ochieng’, 25, a soi-disant fan of SOC admits that the group has been exceptional. “Bila Yesu” said Ocheing,’ “last year dominated countdowns in popular radio stations for a record 2 weeks.” She admitted that the Ndaka’s demeanor stood out. 

 “Heights do not change people,” this mantra, according to Ndaka, is what armours the trio against the challenges that come with fame, “heights” here referring to the exaltation that comes with stardom. “Mentorship has been instrumental too,” he confided, then went on enumerating, on his left hand fingers, Talanta Crew, Saintz and pastors as some of the mentors. 

Jesus, according to Ndaka, modeled the ideal behavior for celebrities. That Jesus resisted excitation from multitudes typifies what celebrities should behave at the helm of stardom. 

“Nevertheless, we recognize that talent blossoms with recognition,” he owned, before quickly clarifying that that this need for recognition should not make celebrities lose traction.