Alternative R&B pop artist Karungari Mungai alias Karun is all kinds of stoked following her latest accolade as one of the top 30 creatives under 30 years in Africa.
The former female voice of the now-defunct BET-nominated pop group Camp Mulla was among three Kenyans named in Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 2019 list – Creatives Category, last week.
It has taken the ‘Glow Up’ singer one week to issue an acceptance statement on her socials. She says the delay might have something to do with her battle with self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud, otherwise known as imposter syndrome.
Nonetheless, Karun, who just turned 25, said she feels “so honoured” to be in the same list as great creatives in the continent such as Nigeria’s Burna Boy and South Africa’s Sho Madjozi, Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo.
“As I celebrate a quarter-century on this planet, I’m forced to reflect on what a F*cking trip this has been! This past week has been quite challenging but I can’t help but feel excited for what’s to come! What’s made this birthday even better was receiving news that I’ve been named amongst some of the greatest creatives on the continent such as @BurnaBoyGram, @PetitNoirVintage, Sho Madjozi, Shekhinah and more on the @forbesafrica 30 under 30 2019 list,” wrote Karun.
“I feel so honoured, but this doesn’t come without a touch of #impostersyndrome (and I guess that’s why its taken me a whole week to even post about it), but I’m also so so soooo grateful to be recognised among some of the previous winners such as @TinasheNow, Cassper Nyovest, Yemi Alade, Kwesta, Davido, WizKid and Nasty C being artists I’ve looked up to during my career. This only affirms to me, that I am, INDEED, doing something right, and that gives me a whole lot more motivation to keep on keeping on, as I craft some more dope content for you guys! So here’s to my own Glow Up journey.”
Karun, as part of the music & art collective Cosmic Homies( alongside Marushka, rapper Taio Trippper and poet/rapper Kiwango) has had the opportunity to perform at live festivals and shows across the globe such as the SXSW 2015 (Austin TX).
She also performed at the Madaraka Festival (Seattle), Blankets & Wine in Kenya and most recently, the Africa Nouveau Festival, Kenya’s most forward-thinking electric three-day music festival.
Forbes Africa further reports “the young artist is currently working on a full-length project, and is in the process of planning a pan-African and northern hemisphere tour”.
“The goal is to be the biggest female R&B act out of Africa. Watch this space,” she tells us.
Other Kenyans in the class of 2019 #30Under30 Creative Category are: 27-y.o Kevin Njue, producer, director, writer and founder of Rocque Pictures, and Fashion stylist and Creative Yaa Bonsu.
