Foundation & Series

AFRICA IS NOW

Africa Is Now was founded by James Masai — the conscious Hip Hop artist Jay MauMau. He started in Mtongwe, Kenya, by empowering the youth to stand for a creative and conscious, drug-free, non-violent environment. Grown out of Jay's own travels through Uganda and Tanzania and the Back to the Source project, it's since become both a foundation for social change and an editorial home for the stories that come out of it.

JAN 11, 2026

JayMauMau Drops Gritty New Visuals for "POLITICS"

Produced by grapejce 020 — the official video that's got everyone talking.

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PRESS FEATURE

Beyond The Mic — Newspaper Feature

A documentary Jay worked on with Dr. Willy Mutunga, on hip-hop and marginalised people during judicial reforms, gets picked up by the press.

FEB 2, 2025

New Release: Jay MauMau ft Chege Chigunda — Mtongwe

A homecoming record, named for the Mombasa neighborhood where Jay's story started.

Hip-Hop Beyond The Mic

WE ARE MORE THAN MUSIC

Africa Is Now is a Pan-African cultural movement using hip-hop as a tool for expression, education, empowerment, entrepreneurship and social change.

We believe hip-hop is more than music. It is a voice for communities, a bridge between generations, a platform for young people and a creative economy capable of creating real opportunities.

From the streets to the stage, from the classroom to the community, we take hip-hop beyond the mic.

OFFICIALLY REGISTERED

A Community Based Organization registered with the Republic of Kenya's Directorate of Social Development.

OUR VISION

To build a strong, united and professional African hip-hop ecosystem where culture is respected, artists are empowered, young people have opportunities, and Africans tell African stories.

WHAT WE DO

Music & Live Performances

Creating powerful live experiences through hip-hop, live bands, collaborations and cultural performances.

Education & Hip-Hop Academy

Workshops and training in lyric writing, MC skills, DJing, beatmaking, hip-hop history, branding, artist management and creative entrepreneurship.

Stories & Documentaries

Documenting the people, pioneers, communities and movements that have shaped African hip-hop and preserving our cultural history for future generations.

Culture & Heritage

Connecting hip-hop with African identity, indigenous knowledge, language, spirituality, heritage and community traditions.

Environment & Community

Using culture to inspire environmental responsibility, community action and a healthier future.

Creative Economy & Employment

Promoting hip-hop as an industry that creates jobs, businesses, skills and sustainable income for young people and creative professionals.

Partnerships & Brand Activations

Working with governments, institutions, businesses, NGOs, cultural organisations and brands to create meaningful projects around African youth and culture.

HIP-HOP IS OUR LANGUAGE

Hip-hop has always been about more than entertainment. It is storytelling. It is resistance. It is education. It is identity. It is business. It is community. It is opportunity.

Africa has its own stories, sounds, languages, struggles and victories. Africa Is Now creates a platform where those stories can be heard, documented and transformed into opportunities.

THE MOVEMENT

We are building bridges between artists, communities, institutions, businesses and the next generation.

We believe the future of African hip-hop must be professional, united and sustainable — while remaining connected to the streets and the cultural roots that gave birth to it.

One Culture. One Voice. One Movement.

JOIN AFRICA IS NOW

Whether you are an artist, educator, creative, institution, business, community organisation or supporter of African culture, there is a place for you in the movement.

Africa Is Now.
Hip-Hop Beyond the Mic.

Get Involved

The Mission

CONSCIOUS HIP HOP AS COMMUNITY ACTION

A political radio show, events, workshops, cooperation with health services, media, public relations, and political education boosted the foundation's impact, visibility, and reputation. Adding Austria as a connection point, Africa Is Now focuses on bringing awareness to society's struggles, radicalization, and youth impoverishment through the art of conscious Hip Hop.

Sharing experiences from East Africa, the diaspora, and Austria — Africa Is Now promotes a creative cultural exchange, collaborating with artists from Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and beyond to prove that Hip Hop is a universal language that connects and inspires people worldwide.

Read the founder's full story

On The Ground