The Madaraka Podcast is where you hear real people, artists, changemakers, and visionaries, share the parts of their stories most folks never ask about.

There’s nothing like stepping on stage with @onevibeband. The moment the first beat drops, everything else fades.

A good guitarist carries the soul of the song. In every band I’ve played with, especially @onevibeband, I’ve learned that the guitar isn’t just background. It speaks. It fills space. It lifts the vocals, guides the rhythm, and creates emotion without saying a word.

The drums are the heartbeat. Without them, there’s no pulse, no movement. Every time I step on stage with @onevibeband, I know the drums are going to carry us.

Music is memory. It's language when I have no words. It's how I pray. It's how I protest. It's how I love. It reminds me where I come from, and helps me make sense of where I’m going.

July 30th at Angle Lake Park will be a spiritual experience.

Recently, @onevibeband and I performed at a fundraising dinner hosted by Seavuria at MI Funny Farm on Mercer Island. I also consulted for the event, curating the music, the food, and the overall experience.

There’s a moment as an artist when you look across the stage and realize that music is legacy in motion. When Deejay Quins told me that one of the highlights of his career was being on stage at the Madaraka Festival, I had to pause.

On Monday @yuan.ru.art.center_bellevue, something special happened. A room full of visionaries gathered for a live recording of the Madaraka Festival Podcast, hosted by myself, alongside @onevibeband and Rumba DB.

I sat down with Adrian Xavier, a musician and activist who went from riding a donkey to school in the mountains of Washington… The full convo is up now. Watch the episode Get your Madaraka 2025 ticket Eventbrite

I’m honored to be featured in the current issue of Greet magazine’s Local Leadership Spotlight! The article, “Honoring Freedom, Uplifting Community: Meet Simon Okelo”, highlights my journey from the slums of Kisumu to founding the internationally celebrated Madaraka Festival.

Experience a reggae-infused night of live music, community, and celebration at Reggae @ponoranch, with @onevibeband and myself bringing vibrant energy back to Seattle.

Greetings Village! This Is Your Cue to Pull Up We’re turning Pier 62 into a whole vibe on August 30th. And trust me, Madaraka Festival only hits different when you’re in it. 🎟️ Tickets are on @ventbrite. You already know what to do.

From Midwest Grit to @madarakafestival Magic You ever hear someone speak and immediately feel lifted? That was me sitting down with Monika C. Matthews (@queencareproducts_1) on the Madaraka Festival Podcast.

Not Just a Band. Someone asked me the other day: “What’s it like working with your band?” And I laughed. Because the truth is, we don’t “work” together. We flow together.

This one? We didn’t plan it. We felt it. Zanzibar. Full moon. Bikes, boats, and beautiful chaos. youtu.be/8wUh6Hz3CbA?ut…

I’ve always believed that conversation can change everything. If you’re planning an event, need a DJ, or want to bring purpose-driven programming to your community, DM me. Let’s build something that lasts.

People ask me what I do. Here’s the real answer: - I host conversations that cut deep. - I organize shows that bring the diaspora together. - I curate music experiences that actually mean something. - And I build platforms that amplify our culture, not dilute it.

The crowd goes silent. Then the first notes of Mama Africa float out. A tribute to Mother Africa. To the women who carry villages on their backs. To the strength, grace, and fire that shape our stories.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This year, @okelojavan takes the Madaraka Festival stage as our headliner with his powerful anthem “Kata Tek”, a song that turns life’s challenges into fuel for victory. Eventbrite