Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali has, for the first time, revealed the motivation behind buying and running the Coast-based radio station, Mo Radio.
For over a decade, numerous creatives from the Coast region especially musicians have complained about the lack of platforms to air their work and propel their careers to greater heights.
Many have insisted that most radio stations, particularly those based in Nairobi, rarely feature music by artistes from the Kenyan Coast, a situation that has significantly hindered their growth.
Mo Radio For Coast Creatives
It is for this reason that former Jicho Pevu host and current Nyali MP Mohammed Ali found it necessary to invest in a state-of-the-art urban radio station in Mombasa, with the aim of ensuring local creatives have a platform to showcase their work.
Speaking recently during an interview with Yuge Bwize on Mo Radio, Ali disclosed that he invested in the station to give Coast artistes a fair chance to compete with others across the country by placing their music on nonstop rotation.
Mohammed Ali emphasised that he launched Mo Radio to bridge the existing gap and provide Coast-based artistes with an avenue to showcase their diverse talents.
He noted that the station’s main mandate is to amplify music from Mombasa, adding that Coast-based artistes should take advantage of the opportunity by engaging with the station to reach a wider audience.
“We started the first urban music station at the Coast and decided it would cater to everyone. Whether it’s the youth or the older generation with classic hits, we play them. Whether it’s Kenyan hip hop or East African music, we feature it. At the same time, it gives Coast artistes an opportunity. I’ve heard many complain that they aren’t given chances and that their songs aren’t played, so we created this station to promote music from the Coast so our artistes can be recognized,” Mohammed Ali said.
Mo Radio Thrives At The Coast
His sentiments were widely welcomed by many Coast-based artistes and music lovers, who praised him for being among the few leaders committed to nurturing talent at the Coast.
Nairobi News understands that Mo Radio recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.
Unlike most Coast-based stations, Mo Radio reportedly plays about 80 percent music by Coast artistes, placing them on a strong platform to compete on the national stage.
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