By Matilda Nzioki

You have probably been bobbing your head to Bumpy Ride by Mohombi but did you know he is half African? Bumpy Ride is one of US-based Mohombi Nzasi Moupondo's latest hits. The musician, born in August 1986, released his debut solo single Bumpy Ride in August last year and it took the world by storm.

Mohombi collaborates with Norway based Kenyan singer STL in the song Hula Hoop of her 2011 album Kinanda.

Mohombi was born to a Swedish mother and Congolese father and was raised in Congo. His family escaped the war-torn country for Stockholm, Sweden in 1999 when Mohombi was 14. He developed a passion for music as his parents regularly exposed him to varied musical influences from early childhood.

In Sweden, Mohombi got into music and he met friends who later introduced him to his current producer RedOne a fellow African, formerly based in Sweden and the man credited with ‘making’ Lady Gaga.

Before moving to US to pursue music, Mohombi and his brother Djo Moupondo, a club DJ known as DJ Djo formed the group Avalon combining the dancehall and hip hop of the time with the African beats between 2004 and 2008.

The group sold over half a million records and won the All African Kora Awards. He has also collaborated with Nelly, Akon and Nicole Scherzinger, among others. His other songs include Miss Me, Dirty Situation and Coconut Tree.