 What's up everybody? Welcome to SPM Buzz. My good name is Ms. Kithingi and right about now I'm hanging out with a star but before I introduce her make sure to subscribe to SPM Buzz. We are heading to 200k subscribers so make sure to leave that subscription okay. Thank you so much guys for subscribing and today I am hanging out with a star who has just released a new song and she's going to be telling us more about that but right here is Bananas Overdose. Hi girl. Hi, hi, hi. You look amazing. Thank you so much. So do you. Thank you, thank you girl. But let me ask you what do you have on your face? The art, nini, nini, does it have you know a meaning? Is it an inspo of something or is this you know just looking nice? Well it really started with Pinterest. Oh okay. So I saw a few arts on people's faces on Pinterest and I tried it and I went out with it and I felt amazing and I was like I think this should be my signature. Oh really? And I just went on yeah since last year. So you do that on a daily basis? Only when I'm going out. Yeah when I'm going out when when it's Bananas Overdose related. Yeah. Talk of branding I love that. Now I mean Bananas Overdose and I'm just asking myself why that name or why that name? That name. Good question. Alright so first of all I'm Ethiopian Somali. Yeah. But I lean towards my Somali side. Somali people love eating bananas. I don't know if you guys know that or not. Oh yeah yeah with pilau with everything. Exactly. Somali people like will die without bananas. Yeah. So I just loved eating bananas all my life and speaking of bananas guys. Oh you have one. Yeah I got banana shots for you guys. Trust the handbands. Can you see the small ones? There's one for you. Okay. Oh it's the sweet bananas. And you get one too. Alright. Very nice. I love this. It's a banana shot. Yeah well so now the story started with me loving to eat bananas as a kid. Yes. And I never saw anything wrong with it. I grew up in Saudi Arabia and I went to an old Saudi girl's school. I was like one out of three black girls, African girls in school and I used to love bananas so much. I used to tell my mom pack me a banana school. I don't want no sandwich. I don't want no juice. Just pack me bananas. Yeah my mom would pack me bananas in a sandwich in a juice box and I would enjoy my desserts which was the banana at school. And then girls in school started bullying me for eating a lot of bananas. Okay. And I was darker than Saudi girls you know. So they used to call me a monkey. They're like you're dark. You're eating a banana. Oh you must be a monkey. So they're bullying continued and continued to a level where they started making monkey noises. And I stopped eating bananas and I hated bananas. Yeah that's what it is. So now I hated bananas. I don't want to be associated with bananas growing up when I was like 18, 19. I realized that okay why do I hate bananas? It's because of the bullying when I actually do love bananas you know. So I started eating bananas and I started over eating bananas. Yeah. That's where bananas overdose came from. One day I thought I was gonna overdose because I had too many bananas. Yeah. It's a joke you know you can never overdose on bananas really. Yeah for sure. But I was like what if I overdose on bananas? I was like boom. I'm looking for a stage name anyways. That sounds great. And I went and I got a tattoo of a banana. Oh I mean it's totally an overdose for sure. Exactly. But now let me ask how did you get to the point of actually taking something that you were bullied for and making it your stage name. How did you go about that? Did you like you know look at videos on YouTube that were encouraging you. How did you get to that point? Well I would say I think I was in a space of my life where I was healing from a lot of trauma. So a lot of things were coming back to me. I was intentionally dealing with everything that I've gone through you know. And I've always had that mentality of never victimizing myself. I'm never a victim you know. So I was in a space where I was like I want to heal. So these things just kept on coming up again me. And when you're intentional about it actually just comes up even in your dreams you know. Yeah so it was just the space I was in I think. Beautiful space. Now growing up in Saudi Arabia like you've just mentioned I'm just trying to imagine how it was like at the time especially. How old were you? Is it like your entire childhood? How was it? What memories do you have of that though? A lot of bullying. A lot of it's not easy. Yeah it's not easy for women to live in that country and get being an African woman is even harder you know. So like all your life you feel like you're pressed. Yes. So coming out of that country gave me so much power. Yeah when I came out that's when I actually learned to myself. But I've always been a rebel. I've always been in trouble because I've always asked the questions that would get me in trouble you know. I was that type of kid that would get suspended from school because I'm asking religious questions. Yeah. Do you get me? Yes. Questions that you're not allowed to ask. Like why can't women lead a prayer? Yeah. Like why can't women go to funerals you know. So all these things you know but like at some point when I have gotten into too much trouble this is how I started doing music. I got into too much trouble. I was like okay Yasmin be normal. Yeah. Be quiet because every time you open your mouth you're in trouble. So I started writing. So that's how music came about really. And talking about religion because I saw that you know this is something you've had to fight with especially because you're a Muslim and there's a certain way that you're expected to behave. A certain way that you're expected to dress up. Do you consider yourself a rebel when it comes to that and how did you actually are you able I'm not sure if something it's something you still face still to date. How are you able to overcome that? Overcome what exactly? I mean the religious aspect of criticism. Yeah. I mean I really don't care. I really wake up every day and do me. I can't identify as a Muslim because yeah you know I was born a Muslim my family are Muslim and but I still do me because what is Islam? Any religion should be based on love and any religion that has love is love basically. I think my religion is love. I would say that you know. But yeah I don't really like to talk about religion. I'm always in trouble whenever I open my mouth. Yeah and like I'm always getting bullied cyber bullied by my people Somali people because of how I move and how I dress and how I talk and you know this is Haram this is Haram Haram Haram Haram. I'm like okay how about you call me Haram babe I'm Haram. Do you ever respond to their comments online? I do I do. I sometimes when I have time yeah on TikTok. I'm at war. Is there one comment that you just felt like come on you didn't have to say this? Let me tell you something about my people. So Somali people are extremely racist towards other Africans you get. So because usually my signature hair is those platinum locks. So I would get there's a comment that's repetitive on my TikTok which is you are not Somali you are Bantu. You are not Somali you must be Kenyan. Do not claim us because you look too African for us because of my hair. So I think that's a bit you know that's that's that's disgusting and I think that's something that should change you know my people are very closed-minded and they think they're above other Africans which is wrong. Do you get me there's a word that they use and I hate it so much the word translates into into nappy hair it's called jered I don't know if you've heard this before or not it's translates literally to nappy hair but they use it to describe other Africans and I don't like that. So I'm the one that's exposing them that's where they hate me so much. My page is about to be taken down my TikTok page is about to be taken down from the report. Oh my goodness I think I think I know something like Gurale Gurale is is that it's not Somali is that Burana? I don't know if that's right. Yeah I think it's used to describe like these other Africans or other just Kenyans I went to school with them so I know. So um now let's talk about because you know I mean being Somali we know I saw something that you it's things that you really fight for FGM and all that do you feel we are in a better space when it comes to FGM practices right now? I would say we when you say we are you talking about it's like the Somalis and the Kenyans because we have Kenyans what Somalis? Yes exactly. So I would speak for Somalis 98% of Somali women in Somalia until this day are getting cut. Oh really? Every 11 seconds as we speak there's a girl that's getting cut so we're not in a better space. No if we speak of Somalis no it's very sad yeah. Do you feel like it's just the culture that is so thick because do you because I feel like the information is out there really? It is like I don't know how to explain this really like it just gets me overwhelmed thinking about it. What I would say is it's it's culture it's definitely not religion it's culture and I think nowadays you would think it's men that do this to women. It started with men because the FGM originates from slavery days when the Khushedic people used to sell slaves to the Arabs they used to stitch women up so women would sell dealer because when a woman gets pregnant she can't work so they would literally stitch the women up so she won't get pregnant so she can work so the Arabs would buy them that's where it comes from that's where it comes from but then they carried it but nowadays it's not men that are doing it it's women and I don't even blame them because hurt people hurt people when you're cut you would want to cut your daughters too. It's really sad you know I'm an FGM survivor but my mom when she did it to me and my other siblings she didn't know anybody then after time she had my baby sister and she didn't do it to her because she's learned so I don't blame my mom for anything you know she was doing what she was thought thinking that this is good you know but yeah man I think it's a very sad thing and it's heartbreaking you know like taking away from a woman to take away from her power because you're as a woman you know so yeah. Do you ever feel like you really want to do something about that? Well I'm doing what I can which is using my talents you know I use my talent and I use my story and I'm very open online and I think that's very inspiring to a lot of girls a lot of FGM survivors came and spoke to me so I created a safe space for Somali women to come and share their stories with me and I get to share their stories through my music and my art and my platform so yeah that's all I can do right now um yeah all right sure now let's talk a little bit about your music you know you um I saw you on your profile on your profile there is East Africa meets at the world like in a nutshell that is you what does that mean? Well I would say I'm very diverse I'm Arab because I grew up in Saudi Arabia um I grew up around Americans as well in Saudi Arabia and then I'm Somali and I'm Ethiopian and I've been in Kenya in and out for a while so I feel like I do represent East Africa. Ah yeah I mean yeah that sounds good for sure now Kenyan entertainment industry rather the music industry how did you get to meet fancy fingers guys in case you didn't know Banana Zoverdose has a new song with fancy fingers and it's called Ego how did you get to meet fancy fingers? Yeah it all started with a DM so so I did a song with before Fancy I did a song with Fadili Tulia shout out Fadili that's called Iftahli one of my favorite songs so Fancy Fingers isn't that same album that my song is in with Fadili so that's how he heard my voice then he sent me a message on Instagram he said your vocals are divine please let me produce for you oh wow that's how it started I was like yes please anytime boom when are you when are you in Kenya next I'm like when in a few weeks boom I came I came for so fast and he sent me an invite went to so fast in the day after we went to the studio boom and I mean you see we don't really get to see much of fancy fingers because he's always more like behind the scenes you know just with his guitar and all that how is it working with him wow I am blessed I'm honored he's an he's a wonderful person he's very professional I was like wow okay this is some next level you know he's an amazing person honestly like he's an angel I call him an angel he really is because as I just don't know he's he's different yeah and I'm very grateful for him to you know put me on and give me this opportunity you know to put light on my talents I really appreciate him for that it's been a pleasure working for him with him and I really want to do more work with him yeah generally I want to do a whole album with him if he's up for it if you're up for it is that a lesson that you'd say you know I picked this from Fancy Fingers I picked you know what's hanging out with Fancy taught me that it's possible to come across African men who are balanced masculinity and femininity balanced so I used to think African men are not you know but being around that guy I was like wow this is amazing he's a wonderful person yeah big up big up big up to Fancy okay did you get to interact with the rest of the Saudi soul members and I've been around them but not really I haven't interacted with them like that but we've met I went to the rehearsal before they went to the US for their tour it was amazing yeah I mean assuming you've really consumed their music I mean Saudi soul what are your thoughts you know just for them deciding you know um let's take a break and pursue solo careers what are your thoughts as a natist I would say whatever feels natural for them you know I think they're all amazing individually they're amazing people artists their live performances everything I'm sure nothing will change those they would still be as amazing you know yeah and that's where the journey is taking them right now I'm happy and excited for them yeah um ego what was the inspiration behind that ego listen that whole song is about a personal experience of mine okay so now when I was in the studio with Fancy he's so professional this guy sits down and then he tells me listen I've heard you sing I've heard you rap I want you to sing okay he's like you're gonna sing right now and you're gonna tap into your soul and I want you to use your languages everything I want you to be yourself and be vulnerable I'm like okay then he starts playing guitar a bit and he just gives me the tone the power was off so we couldn't create any music so he was just playing guitar and he was just telling me how to you know just giving me an idea of how to sing when the power was back we got into the studio he looks at me he's like so what are we writing about I'm like what what me no I don't know like he caught me off guard and then I was like I'm not in a great space right now okay um I'm thinking sad thoughts he's like tell me more I'm like okay from an artist to another let me tell you I had this experience with this guy that I thought is going to be my future husband who turned me down he led me on then turned me down and told me I love you but I'm not in love with you he's like who and then he's like I think you should start writing wait wait not not now wait and then he's like tell me more I was like uh I don't think it's a heartbreak though I think he was an ego bruise okay he's like start writing now then we start look we just continued he wrote so he wrote from the perspective of that guy and I wrote from my it was very painful to write this because it was fresh oh yeah but uh yeah it was an honestly like yeah that was like this whole song is healing for me you know yeah I mean someone who hasn't really had this song could you please just give them a verse just a verse okay my heart isn't broken but my ego is bruised I know you love me but this has me confused I was ready to dive in your life but now I'm drowning in this bottle of booze oh hey I mean it's the divine vocals just like fancy fingers say guys you need to catch ego you need to catch this song I love that song so much guys you guys should check out the music video too yeah so um I mean let me ask is there someone that you look also looking forward to do a collab with especially here in Kenya or just in South Africa who who is that I would want to work I want to like to own work with Waka Denali oh yeah yeah I want to do a song with Waka Denali no lie 100% these guys are I don't know what they're saying I don't even speak so clearly but I'm like I'm fucking with this you can jump you guys I mean I feel like Waka Denali has this community that they have built those guys don't even advertise their music I actually I'm trying to even pin names to faces and I was on their Instagram like I don't know who's who yeah I mean I was car yeah they don't even advertise their music they just put out their music and in one week's time it's a million views I love that song I love their music the energy energy never lies yeah so Waka Denali Waka go on okay now let's talk about you know the entertainment industry especially here in Kenya because I feel like maybe you have transphased and just interacted with lots of other artists across do you feel the Kenyan market embraces music the way our African artists would want to or rather just the audience do you feel the audience in Kenya appreciate music the way artists would like to because there's been a conversation online going on just the other day and you know people have been saying that we don't appreciate quality do you share the same sentiments don't appreciate quality quality music I would what I would say I don't really know much you know because I haven't been here for a long but what I would say is comparing Kenya to Nigeria let's do that Nigerians listen to Nigerian music everywhere they listen to Nigerian music they watch Nigerian movies they watch Nigerian series they watch a war show in Nigeria everything Nigerian is Nigerian in Kenya yeah like you Kenyans don't appreciate Kenyans yeah that's what I see so I'm like if Kenyans would appreciate Kenyans because there's a lot of talent in this country it's insane it's mind blowing the reason why I love this country so much is because of how expressive everyone is creatively everyone is creative and everyone is expressive with the way they dress their hair nails and that it's a breath of fresh air and that's why I love this country I pursued my music career in this country because I was like you know what this is a place where I can actually do it because everybody's doing their thing yeah so I'm like Kenyans should just love on Kenyans more boom okay okay I I I kind of agree with that because I also feel like it's the structures because in Nigeria like a media station it's supposed to play like I don't know 90 something or 60 something percent of their music or their content so I feel like you know Kenya here the structure messes up as well anyways please tell us where can we find your music is there something else you do that we can consume other than music um I have merchandise um I'm expanding on my merchandise but for now I have bucket hats you could buy them through my link there's a link tree account on my bio on my instagram you can find me everywhere at bananas overdose uh bananas not banana a lot of people confuse banana overdose bananas so bananas overdose everywhere check my music out jam to a stream it share it with your aunties yeah and that's it yes and what I would say what I would leave people with okay is and this one my lady's out there I always talk about this I think it's very important to stand your ground it's very important to know who you are and it's very important to get your nut okay okay we didn't see that coming but thank you so much for coming to espm bananas overdose we thank you and congratulations on a new song and we are looking forward to even more and more thank you all right guys that was bananas overdose make sure to catch her new song with fancy fingers of south is all on youtube it's called ego make sure to also leave a comment on how you found out songs and thank you so much for watching buzz it's taz my good name is miss kithingy until next time keep her espm buzz