After losing both
parents within a space of two months upon entering his teenage years, Eric
Onyango Omollo better known as Qritiqal, turned to music as a cathartic
expression of deep seated feelings no one should endure at such a young age.
Born in
1989 and raised in Mombasa Kenya, he ventured into music through school
festivals. He hung out with local artistes who mentored him through his
personal struggles, including the loss of one of his siblings, as he
passionately pursued music as both therapeutic and a career path.
After a
chance meeting with Gyptian at a local show, he was inspired to record original
material and debuted in 2010 as a sensational dance hall artiste with the
single “Weak Inside” – a nation-wide hit. The single won him the Best Video of
the Year 2010 at the Nzumari Awards and the Best Video of The Year Coast Music
Awards. In 2012, he dropped another hit single “Kupe” where he was featured by
Ogopa Deejayz Artist and Guru Col. Mustafa. Having also shared a stage with the
likes of Jaguar and Sauti Sol, he decided it was time for him to pause and
develop his own unique sound, later on meeting and collaborating with local
producer, Motif_On_The_Beat (Morris Kobia). Their collaboration produced
successful Dj Dubplates for local Djs, at a time when he also doubled as a
jingle maker for some advertisement agencies.
gives him a unique
tone and flow. This had him hand picked for the theme song of Kenya’s legendary
DJ Joe Mfalme. Still, success and the right attention seemed to elude him as he
kept doing pro-bono gigs while trying his best to cater for his younger brother
and only surviving family member. He eventually settled in Nairobi – the music
capital of Kenya, where he was discovered by Chocolate City Music Kenya, the
sister company to Chocolate City Music Nigeria; home to internationally known
acts like Ice Prince Zamani, Koker and MI Abaga. Get ready Africa, it’s about
to get Qritiqal.
Social Media
Instagram – Qritiqals
Twitter – Qritiqals
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