FALSE: Photo does not show the drought situation in Embolioi, Kajiado County, in October 2022
The first online performance for artists was launched on Saturday afternoon at Ruben Center, Mukuru slums in Nairobi County.
Thomas ‘Odhis Odhat’ Odhiambo, Ruben Fm station manager and also the event organizer was a jovial guy.
“This is the very first online platform for our artists here in Mukuru. Our aim here through Salama Center, is to try to bring on board all artists in Mukuru for the purposes of creating awareness of mental health and also emphasize on the importance of social distance and personal hygiene as our communities try to fight the Corona virus pandemic,” said Odhis who also added that Ruben Center’s Salama Center is available and open for any artist from Mukuru.
The event brought together five musicians among many other artists who entertained and made use of their talents at the open mic session.
Among them, gospel artist Love Child, dance hall singer TJ, Mc Mkare and KO did make use of their talents.
“The most important thing for us at Salama Center, is to try and use these artists to pass important messages to the rest of the youth. They are our role models and their influence in this slum is amazing. The level of mental health issues amongst us is growing day in day out, but the positive thing is that we have people with influence in Mukuru like our artists here. We are aiming to spread mental health awareness through them,” said Jared Omae, lead coordinator at Salama Center.
Salama Center is a department that was created by Thomas Odhiambo and acts within Ruben Center.
It is a safe place with different programs that young men and women can engage in as the Center brings out the whole vision of empowering the community that resides in Mukuru slums.
Now station manager Thomas Odhiambo is also embarking on a new project that will see the center have its own studios, where musicians can record their music albums and later market them.
The weekly event is becoming popular and attracting all sorts of artists from Mukuru slums and its environs. Any artists that would like to participate in the event is highly encouraged to visit Ruben Center’s Salama Center for more information about the online artists performances.
By Shadrack Andenga Odinga