Kiria has always shown passion and determination in promoting his music across the world.

For the Nairobi based Afro Fusion artist, turning his big music dreams into reality required more than just passion; it demanded the funding, mentorship, and strong networks he didn’t have.

Kiria spoke with the Josplay Rise Fund crew regarding how winning the Josplay Rise Fund 2 has impacted his career so far.

During our conversation, Kiria told our correspondent that his journey as an independent artist was defined by “high costs and hard compromises”. But Emerging first at the Josplay Rise Fund 2 paved the way for him to work with one of Nairobi’s most decorated film makers, Amin Verani.

Underpaid Gigs, Empty Pockets

Talking about the financial barriers which consistently kept his creative vision from reaching its full potential, Kiria said affording studio fees, collaborators payouts, music video production, was his greatest challenge.

How I Spent My Rise Fund Grant – Rheed1

His struggle hit harder when, after personally financing projects, he was sometimes underpaid or not paid at all.

“I occasionally dealt with being underpaid or not at all,” he said.

Yet even without the money to fund his music or hire a full crew, Kiria refused to give up. He treated every day as a fresh opportunity to push toward a breakthrough.

That moment arrived when he applied for Josplay Rise Fund Vol. 2 and entered the
competitive pool of the grant with over 300 other artists across Africa. Kiria emerged as the first-place winner among the top three, receiving a $500 prize.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Read similar stories from past Rise Fund Winners

The Josplay Rise Fund Lifted a Massive Weight Off My Shoulders – DonboyDML

As an independent artist who has always believed in himself, the grant finally gave him the runway to turn his dreams into reality without compromising his standards.

Amin Virani

Working with Amin Virani is more than just a line item on a budget; for an independent artist in Kenya, it’s a game-changer, and more.

Virani is one of Kenya’s most formidable audio-visual specialists and film producers. He has been described as the powerhouse behind major independent projects like the acclaimed feature film STRATA. Known in the industry for bringing high-end cinematic precision to low- budget reality, he represents the caliber of veteran direction that usually feels completely out of reach for self-funded talent.

That’s exactly why Kiria’s breakthrough matters so much.

Securing a spot in the Josplay Rise Fund has proven to help independent artists close the gap between raw hustle and elite execution.
Winning this grant opens the door to top-tier collaborators like Virani to give your work the polished, professional finish it deserves. It also turns distant dreams into real production value. Over time, this has proven that with the right backing, independent African artists don’t have to settle for less than extraordinary.

The Turning Point: Bringing ‘Adabu’ to Life

Kiria’s determination eventually paved the way for a crucial turning point; earning support through the Josplay Rise Fund. The grant provided the momentum his single ‘Adabu’ (Swahili for manners) needed, funding the complete production, direction, and editing of a music video that matched the song.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM ADABU ON JOSPLAY

It also included bringing on a local actress and creative ‘Sianoi Kimari’ who assisted him in creating a storyline behind the song.

Kiria’s story is a lesson for independent African artists: don’t rush, keep your team small, and recognize the real power of financial backing. The Rise Fund did more than cover basic cost for Kiria. It enabled him to pay his crew fairly, bring on industry talent like actress Sianoi Kimari, and secure prime locations like Nairobi’s Ubuntu Lodge for his music video.

More importantly, he resisted the urge to expand too quickly when he won the grant. By keeping his crew small, everyone stayed on the same page, travel was easy, and he avoided extra stress, delays, and wasted money.