Martin Mojaki, known as Jakis Kriist, is an artist from Thembisa with a passion for music.
He said he is a proud representative of Thembisa’s talent.
His first interest in the industry began at the age of 12 at church in 2013, as a keyboard player.
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In 2016 he pleaded with his brother, who was into hosting events at the time, to recruit him under 14-Events as a rap artist where he was inspired by local rap artists who were working with his brother at that time.
He later became a hip-hop producer and then switched to amapiano production.
After completing matric he took a gap year and chose to look for a job to fund his musical journey, but nothing went as expected.
In 2023 he decided to further his studies and enrolled in the electrical engineering field at TUT’s Emalahleni Campus.
He also got a chance to be featured as a headliner at the student’s Freshers Ball hosted by the institution’s SRC which reignited his musical passion.
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His family and close friends have been supportive of his journey, encouraging him to pursue his passion at all costs.
“Performing at local gigs and pubs, collaborating with talented artists, and receiving positive feedback from fans have been amazing milestones.
“The moment that solidified my passion was when I saw a crowd of students dancing along my set at the TUT Freshers Ball. It was a surreal feeling that made me realise the impact that music can have,” Mojaki said.
“Self-doubt is common in upcoming musicians, but the worst part is the financial struggles and the pressure to keep up with industry trends. I overcome these by focusing on my craft.”
Since the beginning of the year, he has dropped two extended play albums titled Mi16-project and The After Eat, both are available on all digital streaming platforms.
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He also recently announced that his upcoming single, linda ngan’yam, will be released soon.
“Comparing 2023 to 2024, I’ve improved in production quality and stage presence. I’ve also learned valuable lessons about the industry.
“To those in doubt, believe in yourself, pray for your dreams and always appreciate what you have before the Lord. Embrace your uniqueness and don’t give up. Your passion and dedication will shine through.”
