Coster Ojwang': 'Fisherman' bridging Luo tradition and modern sound

From the peaceful shores of the lake to the busy, noisy streets of Nairobi, a unique voice is heard. It's not loud but soft, a voice that soothes the soul and awakens all the musical strings in a listener. The voice belongs to Coster Ojwang', also known as Jalupo, meaning "fisherman" in Dholuo.

Ojwang' is not just a musician; he is the reincarnation of all the great Luo and African artists who embraced a culture that was slowly fading. He sings Luo songs in a style that fits all generations, something only those with a divine ear might fully understand.

Whether you're in the noisy streets, riding in a matatu, or driving solo on a highway, his songs hit like water quenching a deep thirst.

Beyond celebrating culture, Ojwang's lyrics don't treat love as something distant or foreign. You'll feel it, fall into it and when you land, the soft reception that awaits will make you embrace the lyrics and the notes all over again.

He is a young man standing on the shoulders of great musicians, a bridge between the old and the new.

Born in Migori, Ojwang' was initially set to become a medic. However, when that path didn't materialise, he pursued a talent he hadn't expected would open doors that once seemed out of reach: painting.

He says his art has no specific name. As a visual artist, he creates freely and explores a variety of media. "The mediums I work with now, those can be named. I work with canvas, acrylic paints, oil paints, charcoal and graphite."

His new EP, Mbak Ndalo, is another beautiful piece of work, from the songs to the cover art, which he illustrated himself. The cover shows a fisherman (himself) in Pan-African regalia, walking toward a homestead. In his right hand, he carries a whisk; in his left, he drags six books tied with a rope.

Ojwang' says he is pulling a library of music into the past, each book marked with a single letter from the word Mbak Ndalo.

"So, the figure walking back is dragging a library of music that's gone through all those phases but is now remodelled and repackaged to fit the current moment."

A turquoise-blue line at the far end of the artwork represents the different stages of Luo music. At every stage of life, there is always someone, a torchbearer of that sound.

"We've had the era of nyatiti, a time of traditional instrument dominance. Then came the guitar, followed by Benga, Rhumba and Ohangla, before it morphed into what we have now. Then came Ajawa. There's a new, I don't know if I can call it an awakening, but a new desire for a fresh sound. You see it in artists like me, Sigu, Okello Max, Watendawili, Serro."

Right now, his music has no specific name; it's simply a reflection of the fishing community, carrying their stories forward.

"My music doesn't follow a lot of the rules the market demands. I make what I feel is necessary. And then to find people who are buying into that and giving genuine feedback, it's humbling. A few years ago, I was just a farmer in Migori."

Originally, Ojwang' wanted to sing in English until a music producer named Gitonga advised him to try Dholuo. That's how his first single, Oriero, was born, a song about a new dawn. There's always a sense of nostalgia when he performs it live.

"How I present myself on stage follows a consistent pattern. I want to reimagine how Kenyans would dress back then. We used to wear hide; we don't have a heavy history of fabric. But there's a Pan-African way of dressing that cuts across the entire continent."

2025: His Year

2025 has been a good year for Ojwang'. In February, he held an open studio exhibition showcasing his art. In March, he hosted his first live music show, The Fisherman's Experience, a performance where the audience fully grasped the theme.

He went on to perform in Mombasa and in May, the Kisumu edition of The Fisherman's Experience took place. Just like in Nairobi, the show left many wanting more.

He later performed at the Luo Festival.

In August, he released his EP Mbak Ndalo. And in early September, he performed at Blankets & Wine UK.

"So playing in England as my first show in Europe was a big highlight. We had a lot of people. The show was in a park on a beautiful stage. People even travelled from Ireland and Scotland for the show."

Next, he's expected to perform at Kenny G's One Night Only concert on September 27. The event will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

"We're rehearsing. I want to give people a beautiful show. It's a beautiful time to meet people."

Past and Future

When asked what advice he'd give to his younger self, Ojwang doesn't hesitate.

"I'd tell him to worry less about life," he says. "Just make sure you're working. If you genuinely seek knowledge, you'll naturally position yourself better. Just look for knowledge and live."

And when the conversation shifts to the future, to the man he hopes to be, his tone turns reflective.

"I hope I'm building a legacy that he'll be proud of," he says. "I hope I'm inspiring people. I hope I'm leaving a trail of consciousness behind me."

With three albums to his name, Ojwang's journey in music began with live performances not of covers, but of his own original songs.

Faith is another thread that runs quietly but strongly through his work. "I love God," he says simply. "At least in a project of five, six, seven songs, I try and give God one."