Mogi Moggs: The street is my office

Who are you?

I am the last born in a family of six. I am a gospel artist and my music is called hip-hop worship. My goal and purpose is to praise God and let the world know about God’s love out in the streets. I minister to people and sell my music CDs outside IMAX 20th Century building on Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi.

How long have you been selling your music CDs on the streets?

I have been coming to the streets for six years now. I ended up on Mama Ngina Street because the people traffic is great, plus the people are friendly.

Why not distribute your music through traditional channels?

Mainstream radio often caters to artists who are well known and those who often fit into certain boxes, but if you’re new and your sound is a little different it may not work for you. This is something God asked me to do.

He asked me to take a risk and put myself out there. At the time I was going through financial problems; I had just finished high school but there was no money for college or university. So I got my savings together and produced my EP which contained five songs and began coming to the streets.

Are you able to earn a living from selling on the streets?

Proverbs 10:22 says that: the blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Through selling music on the streets I am able to take care of myself and I even paid for theology school between 2010 and 2012.

Isn't it tough?

It is. When I first started, people thought I was a con man, but later they got to understand what I am doing. I work every day from Monday to Saturday from 8-6. Other times people are just mean. Once, this guy intentionally hit the CDs in my hand and I had to pick them up myself... then he came back later with a mug of hot water and threw it at me.

Luckily, the water missed me. However, what I love about working on the streets is that I get to meet people from all walks of life and share the gospel with them. I have even been privileged to lead people to Christ.

Do you ever get tired of it?

Of course I get tired. It’s not easy to wake up every day and sell your music from 8 to 6 on the streets from Monday to Friday, but I remember Luke 12:31 which states: but seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

And away from music?

I grew up without a father at home since my parents separated before I was born, and it was tough. When I was young, I would see other kids and their fathers at school it would hurt me because I never knew the love of a father... and it did not help that things were hard as my mother really struggled to take me to school. I remember I once got so fed up, I ran away from class and went to sit by the roadside;

I wish fathers knew the hole they leave in a child’s life when they are neglectful. You grow up without that affirmation and assurance that only a father can give and not having that made me really withdraw into myself. And then when I was 22, I learnt that my father had died yet I had never met him, my only memory of him is a picture.

How did you come to terms with his death?

Dealing with his death was hard for me because I never got closure. In fact, the only way I was able to deal with it was because of my relationship with God. In that season, I came to realise God is not just God who sits in heaven but also a father to the fatherless. Also God has been faithful and has blessed me with Pastor George Mathu of Eagle Faith Christian Centre who has been a father figure to me.

Advice for any person out there who grew up without a father and feels rejected?

Firstly, go to God he will be the best father you can ever have, and also look around you and look for father figures, someone who can be there for you whether it is an uncle, pastor, even family friend, someone you can emulate and stand in that role. And remember God will always make a way. I have been able to make my peace with my father and it has set me free.

What can we expect from you this year?

I am working on my second album with a producer called Rhymex. I also plan to start doing school and church tours soon.