Spotlight
the kaleidoscopic lights flicker in the dark room as he takes center stage. Tim Nakhisa adjusts the sliders on the audio board so the sound is just right. He leans in to grab the mic. And that’s when all the love pours into the airwaves. Now the assistant music director at 88.1 The Burg, Timo, as he’s known around The Burg’s offices, or “Selecta Steppa” as he’s known on air, has been hosting the radio’s only reggae show since 2013.
In 2008, Timo and his family made the big move from Nairobi, Kenya to the U.S. Timo calls the move a necessary journey, as the opportunities were greater for him and his family in the States. “There were like, a million reasons, but the main one was to get an education,” Timo says.
“Reggae means a lot to me,” Timo says, “It influences how I think, how I encounter with other people. It has a sense of nourishment to the soul. It’s artificial, it’s scientifical, you find life in it. It’s a positive music. It’s spiritual to some sense.”
The Past A journey of 5,588 miles is a long one to make. But that’s the trip Timo made at the age of 13, when his family moved from Nairobi, Kenya to the States. In his younger years, Timo enjoyed his childhood growing up in Kenya. Reggae, in Timo’s family played a significant role in his youth by not only in developing his taste, but also his appreciation for music. Most of his reggae collection comes from his father, an enthusiast. Timo’s uncle, on the other hand, is a reggae addict. When he can, he enjoys critiquing Timo’s show. Even with its Jamaican origins, reggae is a strong cultural staple in Africa. “Reggae is big in Africa,” Timo says. “The connection between Africa, Reggae, and Jamaica is parallel.” When Jamaican artists perform in Africa, they are shown the same love as African artists who perform in Jamaica. “We see each other in a very brotherhood relationship,” Timo says.
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