Kenya’s iconic music production house, Ogopa Deejays, is back in the spotlight with a new hit after years of keeping a low profile.
The legendary hitmakers, known for dominating East Africa’s pop and urban music scene in the early 2000s, have released a new track, marking their quiet but notable return to the industry.
Their latest release, Nimezama, feels less like a casual comeback and more like a statement of intent. The track features talented singer Mumbua, with songwriting credits shared between her and Lucas Bikedo, the producer behind much of Ogopa’s signature sound.
Produced at the renowned Ogopa Studios, the track showcases the crisp, polished production the label is known for.
The audio mixing and mastering were handled by Lucas himself, while the video was also produced in-house, staying true to the Ogopa tradition of managing projects under one creative roof.
Mumbua, who is steadily building a name for herself with songs like Karibia, Hizi Ni Gani, and Skiza, brings her distinct vocal style to the new track.
Her collaboration with Ogopa has resulted in a sound that balances both fresh and familiar elements, something long-time fans of the production house will appreciate.
For those unfamiliar, Ogopa Deejays was formed in the late 1990s and played a major role in shaping Kenya’s modern music soundscape.
The production house was behind the rise of several iconic acts, including Nameless, E-Sir, Jose Chameleone, Redsan, Avril, Kleptomaniax, Mr. Lenny, K-rupt, Amani, and Tattuu.
The team behind Ogopa — brothers Francis and Lucas Bikedo, and their manager Banda — has always kept a low public profile, rarely appearing in the media and preferring to let their work speak for itself.
They helped develop the Boomba (Kapuka) style of Kenyan music, which blended modern hip hop and dancehall with African rhythms, revolutionising the local music scene in the early 2000s.
Ogopa Deejays also released three compilation albums, with their first in 2001 gaining widespread popularity across East Africa. Their iconic logo of a red face in a scream remains one of the most recognisable symbols in Kenyan music.
