Juliani, Salim Mohamed. Mudamba Mudamba And Sasha Kinney; The Brains Behind Mtaa Challenge

Mtaa Challenge is currently underway as teams from different hood in Nairobi battle it out for the ultimate prize. 100,000 Kshs. await the winning team together with the bragging rights as being the most happening hood in Nairobi. So who are the people behind this social conscious movement?

Firstly, there is Juliani, the award winning artist, and a prominent leader for the new Kenyan youth generation. Mtaa challenge is his initiative and aside from that he is the face of the campaign. He has remained connected to the streets more than any other artist and seamlessly fits social activism into his music. He has become a significant voice for this generation a fact he attests in his lyrics ‘huwezi command umati na influence’, walking his talk. He has participated in a number of initiatives informal and formal both locally and across Africa. He is definitely a catalyst for change.

Salim Mohamed is an expert in social development expert. He co-founded and served as the Executive Director of Carolina for Kibera. Most recently he led Ashoka, the global social entrepreneurship organization for East Africa. He was involved in the development of MYSA, the largest youth sports program in Africa, launching the community-based programs in Kenya, Ghana, Gambia and Nigeria. He has served on boards including the Diversity for Peace Advisory Board, alongside Nobel laureates.

Mudamba Mudamba specializes in youth development, facilitation, peace building and participatory theater. He has served as Head of Mbalamwezi Theatre and directed a Youth Survival Tactics show for The National Museums of Kenya. He is also a trained accountant and actor.

Sasha Kinney is a grassroots political organizer and consultant. Currently, she advises Pawa254 which is a collaborative space for creative artists and journalists on social movement training and collaborative development. In the US she has worked with groups such as Obama for America and the New Organizing Institute.

With such a group, it is no coincidence the Mtaa Challenge season one was a success and the current one is set to be bigger. This is the team that brings together other mentors and leaders who guide the participating youths.