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If you were a fan of MTV Staying Alive Ignite show Shuga, you will remember “Kennedy The Remedy” AKA Antony Mwangi or Antoneosoul as he prefers to be called . Check out Antony’s post as part of our “Right To Be Me” series, about how he exercises his right to perform as a Neo Soul artist and how he has has used his passion for performance to get himself where he is today.
If I say that it’s easy to be me, I am probably not being me.
I am an African born in this world and music is the drive in my journey through life. It is through music that I find my comfort and joy. It is through music that I am able to find my voice and through this platform I inspire, educate and entertain.
I am a Neo Soul musician and started singing since I was a child. I come from a modest home having been raised up for the better part of my life in Kawangware, slums in Nairobi.
From the get go, I knew, and my hood was a testament that it was never going to be easy for me to break out in my art. I didn’t give up pushing. I sang for anybody who had an ear to listen. I sang for free even when I knew the promoter was getting a lot of money. I got conned but I stood up strong and moved on. I never allowed any of that to bring me down.
The thing about Neo Soul is that, it’s not an easy type of genre to market. It is foreign and is very rebel like but I have managed to add afro sounds and my own unique style into it and create music that says, ‘hey, I am young, gifted, I am black’. You either have this or nothing at all.
When I am on stage, I go into another world, (people say I get high) I spread my voice to the heavens and call upon ourselves to stand for what we believe in. To tolerate those indifferent to us, to love and know that love is patient and wise. That love isn’t sex and sex isn’t love and that if you must, then please put a condom ring on it. I use the only platform that has helped me find my voice and ultimately allow me to be me.
It is through music that I have been able to get an acting jobs on the award winning Shuga and Kenyan drama, SIRI. By deciding to follow the path of finding myself, I have proved to others that what I have achieved is as a result of believing in me and others believed in me. I have chosen friends who are not quick to judge me but help me, mould me and caution me serving as a constant reminder when I try too hard to be who I am not.
It is through music that I express my freedom. Freedom to educate the youth against drug abuse, against unprotected sex, corruption, violence, excuses, laziness and ignorance and I hope that my music continues to touch on the lives of those who listen to the words from my soul that they might find comfort, inspiration and entertainment and that they may find themselves.
As a Neo Soul artist, I have used and continue to use my influence to influence a future generation of people who respect themselves that they may respect others. Who love themselves that they may love others, who pride in themselves that they may pride in all. I want the world to know that I am because they are and because they are, I am.
