Julius “Juliani” Owino
Juliani (born Julius Owino, 22 May 1984) is a Kenyan hip-hop artist, social entrepreneur, and activist whose blend of Sheng, English, and Swahili has made him a leading voice of urban consciousness since the mid-2000s. Raised in Nairobi’s Dandora estate, home to East Africa’s largest dumpsite, he broke out with Kilio cha Haki (2004), an album that married gospel-tinged rhymes with street reportage. Subsequent releases such as Mtaa Mentality (2009) and the anthemic single “Utawala” (2013) cemented his reputation for fearless commentary on corruption, inequality, and civic duty.
Beyond music, Juliani co-founded Dandora HipHop City, a creative hub that has trained more than 3,000 young artists in production, business skills, and environmental stewardship while running weekly food-waste–to–biogas workshops. In 2020 he launched Hustle Sasa, a mobile marketplace that helps Kenyan creatives manage orders and receive mobile-money payments; the platform now hosts 35,000 users and has processed over KSh 400 million in sales.
His 2021 album Masterpiece explored mental health, fatherhood, and spirituality, while 2024’s EP “Green Dreams” partnered with UNEP to promote plastic-free lifestyles. Juliani serves as a UN SDG Talent Ambassador, sits on the governing board of the Kenya Copyright Board, and directs proceeds from his annual Taka Taka Festival to recycling cooperatives in Nairobi’s informal settlements. His mantra, “mapinduzi bila damu” (revolution without bloodshed), continues to inspire a generation to create, question, and transform.