Karisa uses music to promote Giriama culture
Popularly known as VKV by his fans, Wilson Karisa alias Vidze Kaladze Vidze seeks to use music to promote his Giriama culture while at the same time rooting for peaceful coexistence. PHOTO | PAULINE ONGAJI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Already, he has ten songs to his name, with efforts underway to release his debut album ‘Simba wa Nyika’.
- Some of his singles include ‘Piga Uwa’, a hit that he sang in collaboration with Risto Bsb and Ghunter, ‘Kadzo Mudzo’.
- In 2006 he moved to Nairobi where he enrolled for his degree and it was during this time that he recorded his first single, ‘Vidze Kaladze Vidze’.
He has a degree in marketing but that has not in any way deterred his efforts of making a name for himself in the music industry.
It is a passion that has seen Wilson Karisa alias Vidze Kaladze Vidze revitalise his music career from just an entertainment platform into an educating forum especially about his beloved Giriama culture.
Already, he has ten songs to his name, with efforts underway to release his debut album ‘Simba wa Nyika’, which translates to the lion from the wilderness, later on this year.
“I called the album ‘Simba wa Nyika’ because as an artiste struggling to get my break in the industry, I see myself as a lion in the difficult Kenyan music industry,” he says.
Some of his singles include ‘Piga Uwa’, a hit that he sang in collaboration with Risto Bsb and Ghunter, ‘Kadzo Mudzo’ a song that featured the likes of Nafsi Huru and Sharama, and ‘Dzana Naona utu’, a hit that he once again featured Nafsi Huru.
STARTED IN CHURCH CHOIR
Like many artistes growing up in the coastal region, VKV, as he is also known by his fans, began singing as a little boy in church choirs.
“However, it was only until 2002 that I was able to fully realise my potential after moving to Mombasa where I joined Hiphop group Skani-flani, an affiliate of Ukooflani,” he says.
In 2006 he moved to Nairobi where he enrolled for his degree and it was during this time that he recorded his first single, ‘Vidze Kaladze Vidze’ a Giriama song that speaks about everyday life.
Besides music VKV is also the founder of the Kenya Artistic Youth Association (Kaya), a group that gives upcoming artistes a platform to grow in the ever indulging and difficult music industry.
He is also a member of PAU (Pamoja Amani Upendo), a community based organisation whose main mission is to nurture peace and coexistence among the youth.
