The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
Graffiti artist Solomon Muyundo alias Solo 7 who gained fame for his messages of peace during the 2007 post-election violence is dead. News of his passing was broken by fellow Kibera resident and musician, Stivo Simple Boy on social media.
READ ALSO: City ‘cryptic’ graffiti artist flourish despite kanjo's objection
“It’s sad that we have lost Solo 7. The artist used his talent to bring clam in Kibera following 2007 and 2013 General Elections. My God rest his soul in peace,” Stivo wrote.
Messages of peace
Solo 7’s spate of graffiti captured the attention of the international press, being featured by AP, DW and Reuters. In one image captured at the time, Solo 7 is seen with a bucket of white paint and a brush inscribing the words: “Give peace a chance,” on the road.
In 2015, Solo 7 was among the speakers at the Nairobi Peace Talks held at the United Nations Office. The artist and peace campaigner estimated that he’d painted his art in over 4,000 location around Kibera on stones, fences, electricity poles, toilets and even dogs.
READ ALSO: Tunaogopa Miguna kushinda corona- Willie Oeba in hard-hitting ‘Mr President’
Who is Solo 7?
The artist was born in Webuye, Bungoma County and attended Sirungai Primary School. After sitting his KCPE exam in 1994, he couldn’t join high school for a lack of school fees. He turned to his love for art to earn a living, relocating to Kibera in December 2003 where worked as a signwriter and sculptor. He chose the name Solo 7 as the number seven was special to him: both his names have seven letters each, he was born in July 1977 and he was the seventh child in his family.
Recounting to Eve Woman what led him to write the peace messages, Solo 7 said: “After voting peacefully, l saw the delay in announcing results start to create tension and eventually degenerated into chaos. At this point, people start looting, destroying and setting properties aflame. Some turned against neighbours they had lived with for years. I have learned that art speaks, and l resolved to use the only means within my reach - a brush and paint.”
Hostility, no government recognition
Looking back, Solo 7 wondered how he got the courage to do the graffiti as relatives and neighbours in the ODM Party stronghold warned him about it. According to the artist, he was accused of receiving payment from Mwai Kibaki’s PNU Party to calm them down saying: “At one time, they captured me and forced me to paint ‘No Raila No Peace, Mwizi wa Kura, No Ugali No Peace, You have stolen our elections, We want our Rights’”
READ ALSO: Githeri Man to be awarded by President Uhuru for outstanding services to Kenya
Despite the fame that accompanied his noble cause, Solo 7 said he didn’t receive any recognition from the government. He had a brief stint as the community mediator for a local NGO and received visitors from all walks of life “but not in monetary terms.”
R.I.P Solo 7.
