He’s definitely the Choga Man

He was an “unknown figure” on the local music scene, but today he is a household name. His singles ‘Kikomando’ and ‘Bagambe’ made music fans realise his extraordinary voice, great talent, charming personality - simple, friendly, powerful.Born Rakifi Mpazimpaka, the singer popularly known for his trademark Choga style - sings about peace, love, culture and friendship.Rafiki started his professional singing career in 1998; and so far he has more than 35 singles and two albums to his belt. His music has great inspiring verses, with swaggerific Afrobeat vibes. At times he retrofits a ghetto-style soul groove, as he threads a trebly African-pop line through skittering beats seemingly inherited from his mentor, Ugandan music doctor, Chameleone.As for his style of music, Rafiki says that he is interested in using these very obvious, harsh realities to describe less real, less obvious, more fantastical stuff. After joining the music scene at the age of 15, Rafiki says his storytelling evolved from an early fascination with fame, through the teenage-angst phase to his current style, which he describes as “Choga”. It’s an approach that links him to some of East Africa’s famous artistes such as Professor Jay, Dr. Jose Chameleone and Bobi Wine.Having already won two PAM Awards as ‘Best Rwandan Male Artiste’ and nominated thrice, Rafiki has also claimed home titles in Rwanda’s equivalent to the Grammys- Salax Awards as Best Afrobeat Artiste.He has also shared stage with world-renowned musicians such as Sean Kingston, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Brick & Lace and Lauryn Hill during their performances in the country.On December 8, 2007, Rafiki attend the Afro-Caribbean Peace Festival at Saint Martin’s carnival village from which he proceeded to Jamaica on the invitation of Morgan Heritage and Lion Dee.

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He’s definitely the Choga Man