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theSOS: Kenyan Gospel Reggae, Self-Made

theSOS is a Kenyan reggae and dancehall artist who writes, sings and produces his own music, and releases it through his own label, Skika Music. Best known for his breakout hit "Gift of Life", he has spent more than a decade making music that blends faith and rhythm. He's also the host of the Kenyan Creators channel on Orbit. Here's his story and where to listen.

Who is theSOS?

theSOS, born Moses Sospeter, is an artist from Kenya. He's a singer, songwriter and self-taught producer, which means the sound you hear on his records is built by him from the ground up.

Instead of waiting for a label to sign him, he started his own: Skika Music. Every theSOS release comes out on his own terms.

His sound: faith meets rhythm

theSOS moves between roots reggae, dancehall, gospel and Afrobeat fusion. The common thread is faith. His songs carry spiritual messages, but with a groove you can dance to.

He names two big influences: South African reggae legend Lucky Dube and gospel singer Rebecca Malope. You can hear both in his music: Lucky Dube's warm, conscious reggae and Rebecca Malope's uplifting gospel spirit.

His song titles switch between English and Swahili. Titles like "Yesu Anakupenda" (Jesus loves you) and "Binadamu" (human being) speak directly to listeners at home in Kenya and across East Africa.

"Gift of Life" and the songs that followed

theSOS broke through with "Gift of Life", the song he's still best known for. Since then he has kept releasing music that mixes worship with reggae and dancehall rhythms.

His releases on Orbit:

• "Yesu Come Through"
• "Yesu Anakupenda"
• "Binadamu"
• "You & Me"
• "Lord I Trust"
• "No Mother Like You"

Host of Orbit's Kenyan Creators channel

On Orbit, theSOS is more than an artist. He hosts the Kenyan Creators channel, an independent streaming channel run from Kenya that brings local artists and their music to listeners everywhere.

Every channel on Orbit is run by real people, a scene, a label or a community, not by an algorithm. theSOS's channel is a window into Kenya's music scene, curated by someone who's part of it.

Listen to theSOS on Orbit

Every play on Orbit pays the rights holder directly, the moment you press play. For an independent artist like theSOS, who runs his own label, that means the money goes straight back into his music.

Start here:

Or try a song with a message close to home:

Quick facts

• Artist name: theSOS
• Real name: Moses Sospeter
• From: Kenya
• Genres: reggae, dancehall, gospel, Afrobeat fusion
• Label: Skika Music (his own)
• Best known for: "Gift of Life"
• Influences: Lucky Dube, Rebecca Malope
• On Orbit: artist and host of the Kenyan Creators channel