#MCM - Yusuf Noah a.k.a Refigah, The Musical Grandpa

By Sheila Kimani (@sheilakimm)

Popularly known as Mr. Grandpa thanks to his Grandpa Record label, Yusuf Noah a.k.a Refigah has been in the Kenyan music scene long enough to seen it all.

Born and raised in Kibera, Refigah once admitted that his childhood was not a walk in the park. At Kibera most families tried to survive and it was hard for the children to come across role models they could emulate.

It was on that note that he grew up hoping to make a mark and inspire other kids from his hood to believe that they could make it. After his primary school, he got to attended Pumwani High school for his secondary, then went on to NIBS for his A levels where he scored a Diploma in Marketing.

Despite the success he has made in music, it came as a shocker to realize that Refigah’s childhood dream was to become a soldier and uphold the law. This changed overtime as he developed other interests in the arts and business sectors where he felt he could make a living.

With staunch parents who expected him to be a role model, his mother was resistant to the idea of him becoming an artiste, but he assured them that it was where his passions lay.

After joining a rappers group ‘Nubians with Attitude’ in the 1990s, he broke off to pursue a solo musical career. It was during his career and the hassle to make it, when he realized that more needed to be done to the Kenyan music thus starting off Fist class entertainment, an artiste mentorship group. On this note he went on to start Grandpa Records and signed artistes into his label.

With top of the art artistes having worked with his stable, Refigah has consistently encouraged youths to perfect their art and be the best they can. With many looking up to him and his works, it’s on this note that he is our MCM today.