Mimi ni mmoja wenu: Redsan reveals how he convinces people he’s Kenyan
By Valerian Khakayi, August 21, 2026Kenyan dancehall star Redsan has opened up about the inspiration behind some of his music, revealing how his experiences after returning from the United States influenced one of his songs.
The veteran artiste said he writes his songs based on personal experiences and recalled how his close association with Ugandan musicians Bebe Cool and Jose Chameleone led some people to question his Kenyan identity.
He explained that the speculation arose after he returned from the US in 2004 and people began associating him with Uganda because of the time he spent with the two Ugandan artistes.
“I write all my songs based on experience, the reason why I wrote Shika Glasi in 2004 when I came from the states,” Redsan revealed.
“When I came back from the States, there was this conversation of the ground that Redsan, we know who is not in the country right now, is not a Kenyan but is Ugandan because I used to hang out with Bebe Cool and Chameleone so much.”
According to Redsan, the conversations made him think about how he could remind people of his Kenyan roots.
“So guys associated me with the Ugandan culture,” he added.
How he proved his identity
Redsan said he responded to the speculation through his music, deliberately recording a song entirely in Swahili to connect with his Kenyan audience.
He explained that his intention was to communicate a simple message to Kenyans who had begun associating him closely with Ugandan culture.
“So I was like, how am I going to tell people that I am from Kenya? So I wrote a full Swahili song, so I did Shika Glasi just to tell guys that mimi ni mmoja wenu am from here,” he explained.
The artiste’s recollection offers insight into how his personal experiences and regional relationships have influenced his music over the years.
Redsan’s three-decade music career
Redsan, whose real name is Swabri Mohammed, is one of Kenya’s veteran dancehall artistes and has remained active in the music industry for decades.
His career has included collaborations with artistes across East Africa, including Bebe Cool and Chameleone, whose influence also became part of the conversations surrounding his identity.
In 2026, Redsan is celebrating 30 years in the music industry, marking three decades since he began his journey in dancehall. He is set to celebrate the milestone with a major concert dubbed Celebrating 30 Years of Dancehall Royalty at Nairobi’s Carnivore Gardens on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The anniversary show is expected to bring together several artistes who have shaped East African music, including Bebe Cool, Jose Chameleone, Jua Cali, Wyre, Nazizi and Brick & Lace’s Nyla.
Redsan’s latest reflection highlights how his music has often been shaped by moments in his personal life, including the experiences and perceptions he encountered while building his career across East Africa.