Love paves way for Kenyan music to rock Europe waves

Among the selectors who performed at Jamaican reggae sensation, Luciano Messenger’s Unite The Youth Concert in Nairobi last year, was Norwegian mixmaster- Asgeir Kabuba Kjeldstad, popularly known as Selecta Kabuba, who performed alongside Gravitti Band and Binti Afrika. While the selector was on vacation in the country during the time, it was a wonderful surprise for the fans as well to meet Kabuba on stage as he is one of the industry players who has been booming Kenyan reggae music in Europe.

While his journey in the music industry dates back in 2014, where he would host reggae events in his hometown Drammen, Norway, the selector and founder of Austad Sounds has taken a great interest in Kenyan reggae music, and since played a great role in giving Kenyan artists, both established and upcoming a platform to expand their territories.

“I don’t remember the Kenyan reggae song that first got me interested in Kenyan reggae. But I must give some credit to YouTube’s algorithms who took me from Necessary Noize to Kenyan reggae artists. I remember Lucy Lugano and Black Heart were among the first artists I heard. It struck me how much quality work a lot of the Kenyan artists had, and how little credit they got. So I thought I should do my part to push the music as much as possible. I haven’t looked back since,” he shares. 

Three years down the line, he has worked on many projects featuring Kenyan reggae artists, including; The Lioness Order Dubplate Mixtape — (the first ever Kenyan Dubplate mixtape with only female artists), Three Riddims with Shamir Tadeiya, and a few more to be released this year. The riddims have artists such as Tingseh, Kevin Brown, Becky Muthoni, Lucy Lugano, Natty Konshanz, Binti Afrika and Shamir, alongside artists from Jamaica, Zambia and Norway.

Kenyan connection

Aside from music, love and family has given Kabuba an even stronger connection with Kenya. His wife of nine years, Risper Waiyego Kabuba Kjeldstad, was born and raised in Murang’a. The two lovebirds met through a mutual friend when Risper was in Norway for her studies, and as she shares, it was love at first sight.

“Asgeir had dreadlocks and he got my attention right away. We talked a bit and exchanged contact. After a couple of months, we met again at a reggae festival. The rest as they say is history. We have been together for nine years. We have a daughter (Thembi) who is six,” shares Risper, a Norway-based health worker.

Despite their cultural differences, Risper intimates that they had a lot in common, which convinced her that he was ‘the one’. 

“On our first night, we talked for hours about music, our world views— he is quite the socialist. We both shared the same values; we both knew what we wanted. He is kind to a fault, but he doesn’t let me run all over him (I can be very opinionated). Most importantly, he saw me and accepted me for who I am, I didn’t have to pretend,” shared Risper fondly.

Working together

While she might not be in the same line of business, Risper also shares in the love for diverse music genres. However, she did not have much knowledge about reggae music until Kabuba came into her life. And despite not working together on any projects, he always runs his music selections by her and she also gets to make suggestions on what she finds interesting as well. His taking interest in Kenyan music has been, especially special for Risper.

“First time Asgeir played music by Gentleman, a German reggae musician, I couldn’t believe he was white. I though reggae music was specifically for black people. I am proud of him; he has managed to find a way to connect himself with my homeland. He has made a huge network and at the same time, exposed these musicians whom we barely heard of who are quite great. I hope that our daughter can be inspired by him to know more about her mother’s land. When we came home, there was a huge welcoming committee for him  by artists and now friends whom he had only met online through music,” she recalls.

Adding to this, Kabuba intimates that it was one of the best moments he has had in the country.

“I am blessed to have a great family in Kenya. It is always nice to visit my mother-in-law’s place in Murang’a. My best memories in Kenya are made alongside my family there. Besides that, the welcome at Nairobi Airport last year by a welcoming committee of artists and friends organised by artist Stitchie Steven… that was something I will never forget. Also being part of the Luciano show was huge,” he said. 

The couple intimates to have shared many special moments together, but according to Risper, their daughter (Thembi) is by far the best of them all. 

“We both love indoors, but since our daughter arrived, we have both found a love of walking in the woods and it’s always wonderful,” shares the healthcare worker. 

His strongest trait, as his wife shares, is his kindness — the way he sees the world with a lot of possibilities. Last year, Kabuba helped his wife to mobilise funds to buy computers for her former primary school. This meant a lot for both Risper and the school. His kindness and big heart for people is positively rubbing on her as well through time. 

“It has made me a better person, especially in a world where people are becoming more and more individualistic, I feel I care more and more about inclusion,” she shares.