Bamboo’s Biography

Simon Kimani, aka Abraham Bamboo, is a well-known Kenyan rapper who has made a significant impact on the US music industry.

Bamboo was a young child when he moved from Nairobi, Kenya, to the notorious Inglewood neighbourhood in California. At the age of 15, he was rapping on the streets of Los Angeles with a style and flow that impressed his peers. At the age of 17, his parents realised they had no choice but to send him back to East Africa; otherwise, he would wind up like the rest of his childhood friends—dead or in prison.

Bamboo was promptly sent to a strict boarding school in the Kenyan capital, and the dangerous and violent streets of Los Angeles, California, became a distant memory.

Bamboo’s Height and Weight

Bamboos height and weight is currently not in our database.

Bamboo’s Career

Simon Kimani, also known as Abraham Bamboo and Africa’s Hip-Hop King, is the first African rapper. Bamboo’s passion for the music that shaped his formative years remained strong, and by the age of 19, he was competing in regional rap competitions at the best venues in the capital of Kenya.

His personal style, flow, and lyrical content created a buzz in the underground Hip-Hop movement, and young people from all of the capital’s townships would fill clubs to see him perform. Bamboo was discovered by local recording studio executives who were taken away by his talent, and he quickly obtained a recording contract, releasing his debut album ‘Nairoberry’ in 2001.

The album sold out in a matter of weeks, and endorsement agreements quickly followed as corporations recognised the marketing value that Bamboo could bring to the region. Within months, Bamboo received significant endorsements from entertainment in Kenya pundits in the region.

Bamboo was hired by Kenyan Brewery to promote new products as part of their television campaign and by Coca-Cola to promote their products during an aggressive radio campaign, utilising his music, lyrics, and sound. These corporate endorsements were broadcast in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the top three markets in the region.

Regional networks such as Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), Nation Television, and Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) played Bamboo’s music videos frequently. Bamboo was a frequent guest performer on the popular daily hip-hop programme Rap’em’, and when he was unable to perform, his music videos were played.

Bamboo launched a four-month tour of Kenya in 2005, sponsored by Chandaria Industries, Kenya’s largest provider of household goods, during which they performed 185 shows. At the conclusion of this tour, Bamboo became a ubiquitous name in the region and was crowned the first Hip Hop King of Africa.

Since returning to the United States earlier this year, Bamboo has been featured in exhibits across the nation and has headlined shows in New York, Washington, Texas, and California. He has also been featured in New York-based industry publications and is the star of the award-winning hip-hop documentary film Hip Hop Colony. His tune “Compe” is featured in the Hollywood film ‘Primaeval’.

Bamboo’s success to date has resulted in the release of four albums, including the extremely successful ‘Nairoberry’ in 2001 and ‘Nairobism’ in 2002, both of which are regarded as African hip-hop classics. His success has led to tours in major European markets and radio exposure in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Rapper Bamboo is now a born-again Christian who is eager to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world “by every means possible.”

Bamboo’s Marital Status

Legendary Kenyan rapper bamboo is married to Ugandan Erica Mukisa.

Bamboo’s Family & Siblings

Rapper Bamboo’s sister is a celebrated Kenyan female artist, Victoria Kimani. When asked if she would ever drop a collaboration with his brother, she said, “No. My brother is a pastor now.”

Why is Bamboo famous?

Bamboo’s first album, “Nairoberry,” was a huge success, and his name became a household name. The album sold out in a matter of weeks, and endorsement agreements quickly followed as corporations recognised the marketing value that Bamboo could bring to the region. Within months, Bamboo received significant endorsements in the region.

Bamboo’s Children

Legendary Kenyan rapper Bamboo and his Ugandan wife, Erica Mukisa, have two children. They welcomed their second child in 2022, whom they named Wisdom Victor Kimani.

Bamboo’s Videography

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