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Mission Driven is a group that has hopefully dared to be different yet relevant with its message for today’s youth. With tracks such as How Dare You (Sex in the Temple), Super Omosh and Mapambano, MD attempts to address issues in life using comedy, poetry and predominantly hip-hop music.
At its inception Mission Driven began as friends hanging out and got together because of their love for singing. They then started a fellowship geared towards studying scripture. While on a name search they played around with names such as Mashujaa, before eventually settling for Mission Driven, which was proposed by one of the founder members, Okoth Okwemba.
Starting off, the group comprised of Tim Ndambuki , Josiah Mugambi, Okoth Okwemba, Ken Mwalabu and Timothy Makuta. Due to the rigours of education Okoth and Makuta left the group while Richard Ngugi and Reuben Okubo joined.
Today, Mission Driven is a large group comprising both guys and gals, who mostly worship at the AIC Church, Ngong Road in Nairobi, Kenya; all involved in ministries as diverse as instrumentalists, bible study and worship team leaders. MD is more than a music group. It is based around fellowship and friendship. A large amount of time is spent bonding with each other as well as praying and MD has managed continually meet for Bible study nearly every week (initally Thursday evenings then Saturday afternoon) since their inception in 1999. Anyone is welcome to come for Bible Study with the group.
MD would meet at a friend’s house (Fred) for practice, who occasionally borrowed the church keyboard to make tracks. One day, some of the group made a tight hip hop track and invited the people to rap over it. Taking the lead, Fred freestyled to show what he expected. They mucked around with different lyrics, writing in English, Kamba, Swahili and other languages. Over time he continued to make more tracks for the group, though none of the group’s members knew how instrumental their relationship with Fred would blossom into later on.
Incidentally, Fred was part of a group of young Christian professionals called The Brothers . Fred saw that he could help MD realise their dreams, and got The Brothers to pay for a full recording session. With an assignment to identify who they wanted to work with from a wide variety of music producers on offer, MD settled for Julian Macharia (aka Dr Rekebisha), who was at the time a young talented upcoming producer. They proceeded to record their first radio single titled Mapambano. It was so well received within both Christian and mainstream radio in Kenya and Uganda that the Brothers paid for another two singles. Armed with advice form their producer, Julian they decided to visit different studios. First stop was Soulchild Records, where they met Steve Ominde, who produced some of MD’s tracks. It took more than a year to finish their debut full length album which was launched on the 14th December 2002.
Mission Driven’s style is predominantly hip-hop, with a fusion of African, R&B, soul and the occasional rock tinges. Realizing that not all are called to be full time musicians there is room to support the group in other ways apart from availing one’s vocal and musical skills during recordings and performances.
MD has been nominated for KORA Awards 2003 (Best African Gospel Group), and has shared the stage with Kenya’s top gospel artistes; among them Henri Mutuku, Rufftone, SK Blue and Gospel Fathers amongst others. MD is currently working on second album with various producers. Amongst the artists that MD has worked with, the highest plaudits are reserved for their first producer, Julian Macharia (Dr Rekebisha), His honesty, high work rate and skills as an engineer place him above many of his peers. Blackman’s urban stylings also resonate very well with them. Other producers include Ben Gittx Gitau, for his openness to new ideas and Tim 'Ennovator' Rimbui for his pure talents. They look forward to recruiting more members who will stand in Truth, know God’s Word and have faith in Him to bring out the best in them.
Saks, one the groups members says that many people think that hip-hop music is only about entertainment, but at the core it really is ministry. ‘Our ministry really is an overflow of who God is to us, and it overflows to all those who are around us.’ He encourages those talented in music, to channel their gifts to accomplish God’s purpose.
Mission Driven can be reached via email: info (at) missiondrivenministry.org and cell phone: +254 721 450009 (Dann)