Gloria Munga (left) and Maggie Akinyi, the duo that make up the musical group We are Nubia.
What happens when two young women choose a path far from what they studied in university and rise to become AFRIMA 2025 nominees?
We are Nubia’s Maggie Akinyi and Gloria Munga speak about how their journey began in a five-member singing group at Uhuru Park and evolved into a determined duo whose vision, faith and courage define their sound.
Who is We Are Nubia and how did the two of you come together as a duo?
We Are Nubia is a girl music duo from Nairobi, Kenya. We are two young women, Maggie and Gloria, and we are gifted singers and performers. We first met in 2020 when we were part of a group of five girls who loved singing together. Over time, the group discovered that everyone had different goals in life, and slowly the number reduced until only the two of us remained. That is how the journey of We Are Nubia began.
What part of your upbringing shaped you most as artistes?
The church played a very big part in shaping our musical journey. I, Maggie, grew up in the Catholic church where music was always part of mass and worship. I was exposed to many songs, voices, and instruments from a young age, and my siblings loved different types of music, which made me curious about sound.
I, Gloria, grew up in a Pentecostal church at Valley Road in Nairobi, and my family has a long line of musical people: from my grandmothers to my aunts and even music teachers. I was always given chances to sing solos in school and church. We both believe that the church gave us a soft landing and helped us discover our gifts.
What do you do outside music?
We are business women and farmers. We have ventured into poultry farming, and we take it very seriously. We consider ourselves entrepreneurs and enjoy having activities outside music that help us grow financially. These ventures allow us to build stability and explore other passions.
What are your education backgrounds?
I, Maggie, studied law at Strathmore University.
I, Gloria, studied a Bachelor of Business Information Technology at KCA University.
Gloria Munga (left) and Maggie Akinyi, the duo that make up the musical group We are Nubia.
We are not working in those fields at the moment, but we value the knowledge we gained. Our education helps us make better decisions and understand different aspects of life and business.
How did the original group of five form, and how did it reduce to two?
We first formed as a group of five through a girl choir in Nairobi while we were in university. We used to practice every Saturday and Sunday. After leaving the choir, we still needed something joyful to hold on to, so we formed a small singing group for fun. We met at Uhuru Park to sing covers and record content for social media. People on the internet began to notice us. As time passed, the other members followed different life goals. The two of us stayed because we shared the same vision for our craft. We kept the dream alive.
How did you come up with the name, We Are Nubia?
We came up with the name while we were still five. We wanted a unique name for our Instagram page. One of the members searched online for a word that meant gold and found the word Nubia, which is a region in the northern parts of Africa known for its gold deposits. The name felt special because gold represents value, strength, and beauty. We felt that We Are Nubia represented us perfectly because we believed our talent was precious.
What challenges did you face when forming the duo?
One of our biggest challenges was merging our individual sounds to create one unified identity. We also struggled to find a producer who understood our vision instead of pushing their own style onto us. We often say that finding the right producer feels like trying to get a perfect phone deal.
Another challenge was learning the realities of the music industry. From the outside, it looks simple, but on the inside it has many layers. We had to learn about contracts, production, and how to navigate industry spaces.
What was the first song you ever made together?
Our first song together was a fun experiment that we posted on Tiktok. It never went live on official streaming platforms, but it marked our first attempt at writing our own music. We wanted to transition from covers to original songs. This writing experience helped us learn how to express ourselves through original lyrics. It was created around 2022. Even though the song was never released, it played an important role in building our creative confidence.
When did you realise listeners were connecting to your sound?
We realised this connection with our song “Niko Sawa”. Although it was our fifth release, it introduced us to a wider audience. During Nakili Sessions, which was our first major show after releasing “Niko Sawa”, we saw the crowd singing our lyrics loudly. We were very emotional because before that, people only sang along to our covers. Hearing the audience sing our original music showed us that our sound had found a place in their hearts.
How do you balance two creative personalities into one?
We believe that compromise is very important. We balance our energy by switching styles. If we create an upbeat track, we follow it with a slower one. We make sure each of us brings her ideas to the table, and we do not limit ourselves to one style. We listen to each other, respect each other, and ensure both voices shine equally so that harmony is maintained.
How would you describe your breakthrough era?
Our breakthrough began with “Niko Sawa”. It helped us gain wide recognition. After that, people went back to explore our earlier songs like “Mapenzi ya Cinema”. “Aibu” helped us grow even more. Then “DND” came in as the icing on the cake because it made us more visible. Our breakthrough was a gradual rise, not a sudden jump. Every song played an important role.
What inspired the themes and messages in “DND”?
“DND” became a fan favourite because it introduced a new direction for us. We wanted to explore a different message and sound. The song was inspired by Taarab music but still remained modern and catchy. We wanted to prove that we could experiment with new ideas and still connect with our listeners. The production and the message carried a mix of emotion, culture, and confidence.
What emotions did you hope listeners would feel from “DND”?
We hoped listeners would feel free to explore new genres just as we did. “DND” made us realise that we can perform any sound we choose. We wanted people to feel the beauty of taking risks and discovering new artistic sides. We also wanted them to feel the strong emotion, expression, and confidence carried in the song.
What story were you telling in “Sway”?
“Sway” is a love song expressed through dance. We did not want to follow the usual idea of a love song, so we presented romance in a playful and rhythmic way. The song mixes emotion with movement, giving it a fresh feel and making it stand out from many other love songs. It allowed us to show love in a more vibrant and lively way.
How did you feel when you received the AFRIMA 2025 nomination?
We felt extremely excited because it was a nomination we had truly hoped for. When the news arrived, it felt like everything aligned perfectly.
Gloria Munga (left) and Maggie Akinyi, the duo that make up the musical group We are Nubia.
It was a proud and emotional moment to see that our music had reached international listeners. It proved that our art was crossing borders and touching hearts far beyond Kenya.
What does the nomination mean to you personally?
To us, the nomination means that people see our hard work. It shows that we have supporters both in Kenya and in other countries. It reminds us that our music has value and that people appreciate our creativity. The nomination encourages us to keep pushing, keep growing, and keep making music.
How do you make financial decisions as a young duo?
By doing a lot of research and talking to trusted people in the music industry. We seek advice from producers and artistes who have more experience. Our decisions about branding, production, and investment are guided by both research and wisdom. We believe in learning from those who have succeeded before us.
What do you think about money in the Kenyan music industry?
We believe that the music industry has a lot of money, but many artistes do not know where to find it. Once artistes understand how to earn from music, the money begins to find them. We learned this early, when we were still a group of five and got our first paid gig. That moment taught us that our art has real value.
How do you choose which stage to perform on?
We choose stages that match our sound and artistic identity. We prefer platforms that appreciate our style and energy. We also consider whether the stage can meet our rate card. Most events that book us understand our brand and give us a space that suits us well.
What future projects can fans expect?
We have an EP coming out, and “Sway” was the lead single for it. The EP is expected to drop in February. We also have an album coming out in June or July. We promise fans that exciting new music is coming, and we are working hard to deliver something special.
