“Mwaki” is a track by Brazilian DJ and producer Zerb from his third EP Surrender (2023), featuring Kenyan artist Sofiya Nzau.
In an interview with Kikuyu YouTuber Jeff Kuria, Sofiya opened up about the inspiration behind her voice, her distinctive look, and her musical journey.
Sofiya Wanjiku Maina, originally from Muranga County, Githumo, has always been drawn to music and sought inspiration from African culture. She began her music career in 2021-2022, writing songs alongside her husband, Nzau. Together, they started selling their compositions on various apps, a move that proved to be a wise decision.
“We quickly realized that producers and DJs preferred my singing in Kikuyu over English, so we focused on AfroHouse and started learning how to create it,” Sofiya explained.
She added, “AfroHouse is relatively easy because it’s often about freestyling. We uploaded some samples on the apps, allowing interested buyers to decide if they wanted the full version.”
The couple then explored another avenue—selling vocal packs. “In English songs, there are background vocals that can be sold,” Sofiya shared. She produced around 200 vocal packs initially, which increased to 600. It was from these vocal packs that Zerb sampled the vocals for “Mwaki.”
Sofiya sold her first set of vocals for $700. “It was all trial and error—learning about royalties, failing, and trying again,” she said.
Despite not being active on social media, Sofiya started receiving a flood of messages from fans on TikTok. “I didn’t even know the song was trending at first,” she admitted. “But eventually, Zerb reached out, and we met online due to the growing curiosity from Kenyans about the song.”
Their collaboration led to a video shoot and performance on the coast in December.
Sofiya also discussed the financial aspect of the song, acknowledging that while Zerb is the producer and owns the song, she earns her percentage as a featured artist, with others in the industry also receiving their share.
She highlighted the challenges faced by Kenyan artists, particularly when it comes to travel and international opportunities. “Getting a visa is incredibly difficult. Despite having gigs lined up, I’ve missed many opportunities because I couldn’t get a visa. It’s frustrating, especially when you’re an artist and still face these barriers.”
She expressed gratitude for the support from her fans, which helped her earn royalties for “Mwaki.” “When you sell vocal packs, the producer has the right to use your vocals without giving you anything. But the online buzz really helped me.”
Sofiya also revealed her upcoming collaborations, including with Nigerian artist Fireboy DML and Nocebo from South Africa, known for the hit “Jerusalema.” “There are many more songs coming soon,” she added.
