Stellah Mwadilo
In this interview, Stellah Mwadilo discusses “Tumaini,” her musical roots, the power of hope, and her journey of transforming personal experiences into meaningful, encouraging music.
1. “Tumaini” means “Hope” in Swahili, and the release carries a powerful message about resilience and continuing through difficult moments. What personal experiences inspired you to create this collection, and what does hope mean to you today?
“Tumaini” was inspired by different experiences in my life, including difficult moments and losses that have changed me deeply. Through these experiences, I learned that life does not always go the way we expect, but we can still choose to continue.
For me, hope means believing that difficult moments are not the end of the story. It gives me the strength to keep moving forward, even when the way ahead is not clear. With “Tumaini”, I want to share that message with other people who may also be going through difficult times: don’t give up.
2. Your music brings together African and East African musical influences with contemporary sounds. Which musical traditions, artists, or cultural experiences have influenced your artistic identity the most?
My musical identity is strongly influenced by my East African background and the music I grew up with. African rhythms, traditional percussion, gospel music, and the way African music brings people together have always been important to me.
At the same time, living in Germany has exposed me to many different musical styles and contemporary sounds. I enjoy bringing these influences together rather than limiting myself to only one style. My goal is to create music that feels connected to my roots while also sounding natural and modern.
3. “Tumaini” features songs performed in both German and Swahili. How does moving between these two languages influence the way you express emotions, stories, and different sides of your identity through music?
German and Swahili allow me to express different parts of myself. Swahili is a language that is very close to my cultural background, and it gives me a special emotional connection to certain stories and feelings.
German, on the other hand, has become an important part of my life in Germany. Writing and singing in German allows me to express experiences in a way that connects directly with the environment in which I live today.
For me, using both languages is a natural reflection of my journey. I don’t see them as separate worlds. They are both part of my story.
4. You describe “Tumaini” as a deeply personal release connected to your own journey. Was there a particular moment during the songwriting or recording process when you felt that you were turning a difficult experience into something positive?
Yes. There were moments when writing and recording the songs felt almost like looking back at difficult chapters of my life and giving them a new meaning.
One of the most important things for me was realizing that I could take experiences that had caused me pain and turn them into music that might encourage someone else. Instead of keeping those experiences only as memories, I could transform them into something creative and hopeful.
That was very meaningful to me because music became not only a way to express myself, but also a way to encourage others.
5. As an independent emerging artist based in Germany, you are now introducing your music to a wider audience. What have been the biggest challenges and most rewarding moments of building your career independently so far?
One of the biggest challenges is doing so many things independently. As an emerging artist, you are not only creating music. You also have to learn about releasing music, promotion, communication, social media, and how to reach listeners.
It can sometimes feel overwhelming because there are many things to learn at the same time. But it has also taught me to become more confident and persistent.
The most rewarding moments are when someone discovers my music and tells me that a song touched them or gave them encouragement. Knowing that something I created from my own experiences can reach another person is very special to me.
6. If someone discovers “Tumaini” during a difficult period in their life, what is the one feeling, thought, or message you hope they carry with them after listening to your music?
I hope they feel that they are not alone and that they should not give up.
Life can be difficult, and sometimes we may not immediately see a way forward. But I believe that difficult moments do not define the whole story of our lives.
If someone listens to “Tumaini” and finishes the EP with even a little more strength, encouragement, or hope than they had before, then the music has achieved something meaningful.
Tumaini means hope – and that is the message I want to leave with people: keep going, even when the journey is difficult.