Musa Balabala known as King Moses is a fast rising HipHop force to watch out for. ‘’ I would find myself singing, sometimes when I am sleeping I dream that I am singing a new song and when I wake up, I can still remember the lyrics in my head’’ he says with a surprised look. ‘’By 17 he started playing hip hop music in bars and private gathering for entertainment without payment ’’ adds Musa’s father. Popular belief to African parents is that music is never a good way to earn a living. Most believe that all their children should get employment in a more formal set up with a monthly income and sometimes it does not matter how much they earn in employment so long as it has a more steady flow. For Moses’ parents, they did not disapprove of his involvement in the music industry even though he hardly made any money. Unlike many upcoming musicians in most urban setup, King Moses had to memorize all his music as he had no electronic devices to record his music and rehearse with it. To start him off, Moses asked his father for a radio which his father pleasantly gave him. With the radio, he listened to music and imitated some rappers while trying to write his own music therefore boosting his confidence and moral. ’’ As a refugee I play music not only to entertain but also tell the world what happens to refugees and how it hurts to be a refugee, in another side I am not different from a teacher or lawyer,’’ he says.
