Micshariki Africa Mamtoni With Mowa Olodumare From The United States Of America: Philosopher, Librarian, Community Leader, Poet & Emcee

In this second episode of Micshariki Africa Mamtoni we flew all the way to South Carolina, USA to meet brother Mowa who is a man of many hats. Apart from being a husband and a father Mowa Olodumare is a philosopher, librarian, community leader, poet and last but not least emcee.

We linked up with him to talk about his life as an educationist for his community and the Hip Hop community and to find out more about his recently released album Griot.

Karibu Micshariki Africa kaka/brother Mowa. First things first, kindly introduce yourself.

Greetings, I am Mowa Bioluwafe Olodumare. I am a husband and a father, primarily everything else are embellishments, but some of those include being a philosopher, librarian, community leader, poet and emcee.

Mowa Olodumare, I started hearing you from some tracks you did with Kunta Official Beats and Romi Swahili. The name caught my eye. How did this name come about and what does it signify?

Mowa comes from the Yoruba Mo Wa meaning “I AM” my middle name Bioluwafe meaning “The Works of” and Olodumare being the name of God in the Yoruba Culture. However, we have built a culture in America called “The Mowa Temple” where our philosophy aligns with the concept of self-creation and affirmation. Therefore, we teach people how to think for themselves and define themselves in an environment that will dictate their value and worth if left to them to do so. The first chains to fall off from my ancestors were the ones on their minds, subject to European definitions and perceptions. Determining who we are is the foundation of freedom.

You also call yourself the People’s Librarian, kindly expound on this…

I am a librarian by trade and I focus on literacy rates of my community. I team up with schools, community organizers, parents and others to come up with innovative ways to make reading accessible and cool to our children. Unfortunately, African American youth rank last when it comes to literacy in reading, math, and science. Therefore, to be a black man in a position of running the library gives the youth (and community) a different perception of what a black man is and hopefully through our community outreach they can see themselves in me and use that as a catalyst for change.

How did you connect and work with these brothers from Kenya?

It started with my brother MC Spook about a decade ago and my Brother Ill Flow from South Africa that got me into the African Hip Hop scene. Then just through word of mouth, being willing to work with almost everybody. I have been able to meet and collaborate with the likes of Kunta (Official Beats), Shazzy B, Drunken, K Force and others. That is the power of social media; it makes the world very small.

Mowa, share with us a brief history of your life; where you were born, how many were you in your family, educational background and how your childhood was growing up…

I was born in Columbia, South Carolina. I am the youngest sibling of three. I have an older sister and brother. I grew up with a loving mother and father in a middle-class neighborhood. I was very blessed. However, things changed when my father died when I was about 11 years old. Depression was a burden until about 23 years of age. However, even still, there were lessons that my father left to me before he died that helped guide me. His last message was “Be someone who makes me proud and STUDY” that lead me to becoming a philosopher.

When he died, I studied every religion and every philosophy I could get my hands on to understand the pain I was dealing with. From Christianity to Hinduism to Ifa. By doing this, it helped me also become a World Citizen in the sense that I could understand other perspectives of how people viewed the world and the purpose of Spirituality.

How did you get into music?

Writing has saved my life in so many ways. It is a therapeutic exercise for me. I started with poetry and then spoken word when it came to actually expressing my feelings. I was always into rap, but I started using that for battling. When I decided to fuse the two, I became the conscious emcee...that carries a battle-axe just in case battle arises.

How is your musical journey so far? How many projects have you released be it eps, mixtapes or albums?

My first album goes by the name The Lyrical Alchemist this was before streaming was as popular as it is now, so I only had physical copies of that album. No, wait, I had another before that is called The Heart Of The Poet which was a horribly mixed album where I just plugged in my mic, used a few loops from garage band and pressed record, but still my most sentimental album.

Then I dropped A Brief History Of Rhyme I think in 2015, and a few mixtapes here and there in between the time like Black Kiss: An Ode To Black Women under my name Saymo at the time and another that I can’t remember. It used to be on the original mixtape website DatPiff, but I do not think that website exists any more.

I also heard that you are a poet and an author of some books. We would like to know more about this…

I have written 3 books. The first is The 3 Degrees of Knowledge: An Introduction to the Mowa Temple which was our introductory class on the Philosophy of the Mowa Temple. The second is called  The Purpose and Power Of Prayer which was a follow-up to the first book and the third is called Nazareth which is a book of poetry that competed in the Pulitzer Prize competition.

How’s the Hip Hop Kulture scene in America?

The Kulture is always good. Rap music on the other hand on the mainstream level is in an age of copycats which makes it boring, but that will not last forever.

What can you advice the people who are into the Kulture in these times of commercialization of everything Hip Hop?

If you hold down the Kulture, commerce will come to you. Do not be fooled by the idols on tv. most of them are broke and cannot write what comes from their soul. In addition, there are other ways to represent the Kulture outside of its performative acts. There are 9 elements of Hip Hop: Breakin (Break Dancing), Emceein, Deejaying, Graffiti Art, Street Knowledge, Street Fashion, Street Language, and Street Entrepreneurship.

If you master all nine, that is nine streams of Income. If you master one, let us say graffiti art, use that skill, turn it into a school, and teach the community how to draw. Sell it for more for those outside of the Kulture that want to be down.

If you can draw, you can graphic design or draw up clothes for fashion designers, create billboards, the possibilities are endless!

If you’re a Deejay, link with a new club opening up that needs one, offer your services for free and then for a fee when you pull the crowd.

If you are an emcee, use that same skill to write jingles for companies, write songs for people who need to express themselves to the person they love.

If you breakdance, become a choreographer and make videos of your talents.

Again, there are 9 elements, but countless ways to profit from them.

Let us delve into your new album Griot. Tell about the project, the concept and theme behind it, the persons behind the production and the features if any.

The Griot is the storyteller, I am just telling stories of how I felt at that time hoping that just like from the Griots of the past you will gain a message or two from the stories. I did most of the production except for Uliza and South Carolina To Kenya which were done by Kunta Official Beats. The only features were Kenyan artists: Drunken, Kunta Official Beats, Shazzy B, and Kayvo Kforce.

Why name your album Griot? What is the story behind the album cover?

It is funny, I have been working on this album for so long that I forgot what initially led me to call it Griot. However, the Griot is the human library of the community, and I used the artwork to pay homage to the Griot, the Librarians, the Archivist, the Keepers of Knowledge and Divine Secrets.

In this project, you worked with some artists from Kenya. How important are these connections in relation to the Kulture?

It is vastly important because the Kulture of Hip Hop can be the vehicle for Pan-Africanism! Through our skill, we can relate to one another and break negative stereotypes we might have held about one another. Barriers have been broken because you can rap and I can too, then next thing you know, I am telling you I have a child on the way because you are family.

Mowa you are a spiritual person too. What is the connection between your music and music generally and spirituality?

Great question! The act of writing itself is a meditation. This is why I rarely, if ever, use my phone to write my lyrics. There is a bond between the mind, the pen, and the notepad, that creates these poems out of “nowhere” for it to manifest itself physically as a song. That process is something spiritual that I do not take for granted.

How important is it for us to know the history of the music and Kulture that we are into, Hip Hop?

It should be a requirement for anyone who participates in any of the elements to know the history of the Kulture. When we do not, that is when you see people worshipping corporations and dissing the elders of the Kulture. Today you have so called DJs whom you have never seen spin one record! That is an outcome of having no respect for the Kulture.

How well do you know the East African Hip Hop scene? Which emcees are you familiar with, listen to and would like to work with?

Well, I have come to learn that collaborating with K force is a big deal and I am honored to have worked with him. In addition, I have listened to some of his track and he is definitely an emcee. But, I’ve said it once and will say it again...You guys have got some fire in Shazzy B! I asked all the emcees on the South Cack To Kenya track to bring their best, which we all did, but Shazzy had the best verse on that record, even better than mine! Keep elevating that pen game, sister...But, you aren’t besting’ me in any future collabs! 😁

But much respect to MC Spook, Kunta Official Beats, Johnny Span-One, Musiq Jared, Drunken, Romi Swahili, Plate Mdaijasho and others from Kenya and Tanzania that I have had the honor in working with.

Music in now more accessible to the listeners easily via Dsps, the question is does this benefit the artists? What is your personal experience and advice on this?

It is good in the sense that it is easier to get your music to a wider audience, quicker. However, the amount you get for streams are less than the crooked record deals artists normally have to deal with. I was opposed to releasing my album on streaming sites for that reason, but decided I would at the last minute.

One challenge that underground Hip Hop artists from East Africa face is not being played in mainstream media. How is the situation over there and how do you guys deal with this?

It’s the same thing over here. The internet is the great equalizer though if you can make a skit and make your music as the sound track, then you have ways you can circumvent the system.

Do you have a side job or are you full time into music?

I am a librarian by trade. I manage one of the county’s libraries. I am a philosopher by vocation and a Poet/Emcee by passion.

What can we expect from Mowa next?

Well, right now I am in school for my Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. I should be graduating in 2024. Outside of that, I might write a book or begin the workings of another album.

How can our readers get in touch with you and find your music?

Facebook: Moma Olodumare
Instagram: The People's Librarian
Spotify: Mowa Olodumare

Final thoughts kaka?

Never underestimate your power because you feel weak in the moment. The fact that you made it to this moment is a testament to your strength.

Thanks for your time brother Mowa, it was a pleasure having you on Micshariki Africa.

Thank You. Peace and Love.