Citizen Spotlight: How Simon Javan Okelo is building an African community in the US through music

In this week’s section of Citizen Spotlight, we focus on building community in the diaspora through music.

In addressing this topic, I am joined by Simon Javan Okelo, the Executive officer of One Vibe Africa and the creator of the Madaraka Festival.

Simon is a father, musician, entrepreneur, and promoter of music. He has also worked with a range of non-profits in Sub Saharan Africa on humanitarian and volunteer work.

This interview was conducted by Professor Monda of the City University of New York (CUNY).

Prof. Monda (PM): What is the Madaraka Festival and why is it important in building community in diaspora through music?

Simon Javan Okelo (SJO):  Madaraka Festival originally was just happening in Seattle. From 2014 to 2019, actually 2018, it was just a Seattle-based event. But in 2019, it happened in Kisumu, Kenya, and it brought with it over 4,500 people together. The festival continued growing in 2020.

During the pandemic, it actually reached millions of people. This is because for over eight hours, we brought artists from all across the world online. We raised over $10,000 for women who are doing business in the informal settlements in Kisumu. Last year, the Madaraka Festival was featured on CNN because it is one of the most consistent African live music festivals across the world.

CNN was interested in learning how we produce this live music and how Madaraka Festival has been consistent for so many years. Our consistency in producing the festival supports building community in the diaspora through music.

PM: What are the dates and locations for the Madaraka Festival and what groups are you expecting?

SJO: The festival starts in Atlanta on May 21, Dallas (May 24), Seattle (May 26), Los Angeles (May 28), Berkeley (May 1), New York (June 2) and finally in Washington DC on June 4.

If you look at the venues where we are hosting Madaraka Festival, you will realize quality of the locations. Our goal has always been to bring respect to African culture and music while creating an ecosystem that allows East African artists to access some of the best venues in the US.

This allows them to increase their revenue streams from live performances. We have been fortunate to have the support of corporate sponsors including Amazon, Kenya, Airways, KEXP, Microsoft and Alaska Airlines.

PM: Who are your headliners and major music performers at Madaraka Festival 2023?

SJO: Sauti Sol from Kenya are our main act. We are also expecting King Kaka also from Kenya, Eddy Kenzo (Uganda), Draze (aka Dumisani Maraire Jr.), DJ Afreesha and DJ Lace Cadence, Freddy Muks who is an international multi-genre producer, Soca and Calypso expert Anthony Cole and the Tacoma Refugee Choir. So, it’s a full set of musicians, DJs, producers and a world acclaimed choir.

PM: What have you done to provide a platform for upcoming musicians that the public might not know about?

SJO: Thank you. That's an incredible question. So, at Madaraka Festival, we have always created space for upcoming artists. I think that is one of the unique things about the festival. If you look at the very first lineup that we had in 2014, at the Museum of Pope Culture, there was a Grammy-winning artist as the headline.

However, we still had an artist that had traveled all the way from Kisumu to perform there. The second year, we also had an artist from Nyalenda slums in Kisumu called Zac Okelo. He performed alongside Grammy-winning artists in Seattle.

This year, we are offering an incredible lineup of artists as I have mentioned earlier. We encourage Kenyans, Africans and music lovers all over the world to come to the Madaraka Festival.

PM: What are some of the challenges you faced putting this multi-city show together?

SJO: It's definitely a logistical, emotional and financial nightmare! Coordination of shows in multiple cities on different dates is a challenge. Emotionally, its hard on my family being on the road. It is also a major financial commitment from me for this event. But, you know, I always remember where I started and why I started. This gives me the energy and the wisdom to continue.

I realized that I'm not the first one to try what we are trying or to do what we are doing. Our forefathers lead and we have to follow bravely in their footsteps. We also have the opportunity to do better than them. We have the opportunity to make them proud now that they are our ancestors!

So, our job is to not complain. It is to look at the magnitude of the work in front of us, tackle it and become inspired by the potential impact of this work. You know, if I finish this festival, if I see it through, it will create many jobs and provide opportunities for many people in different industries. Our goal is to reach over 30 million people directly with the with the festival both digitally and physically.

SJO: We plan to grow the festival and have a presence in more American cities and move into the Canadian and Mexican markets. We are targeting the football World Cup in North American in 2026. This will be an excellent opportunity to showcase African music alongside a galactical sporting extravaganza like the World Cup.

SJO: The parting shot is that I ask the fans to join us physically at the shows and online to enjoy what will be a fantastic Madaraka Festival. You can read more about the festival and the locations at www.madarakafestival.com. Get your tickets from the website for the shows we are doing in Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles and Berkeley California and Washington DC. Come and see for yourself. Join us so that you can be part of this story that we are telling. Thank you very much for having me on Citizen Spotlight.

PM: Thank you for coming on Citizen Spotlight this week. I look forward to following the Summer 2023 Madaraka Festival as it tours different parts of America spreading peace, unity and love through music.