Some artists make songs, while others create experiences that linger long after the music stops. Proklaim belongs to the latter. Born Alexander Birungi Kiremire to Ugandan parents in Brighton, England, raised in Zambia, and now based in Namibia, his story is as global as his sound. He is not just a rapper or songwriter; he is a storyteller with a mission, using hip-hop as a vessel to spark thought, emotion, and connection across cultures.
His latest release, CREEPIN/FURTHER (2 IN 1), is daring and inventive, blending the raw essence of boom bap with the infectious pulse of Amapiano, layered with a powerful sample from the Shaka Zulu mini-series. It is music that feels alive, grounded in history yet forward-looking, deeply personal yet universally relatable.
What makes Proklaim stand out is not only his sound but his vision. He believes hip-hop is more than entertainment; it is a global language, a force that can shape culture and bridge worlds. With every track, he is not just adding to his catalog; he is carving out a legacy. We had the prerogative to interview proklaim to learn more about his personality and his music career in general. Check out the interview below.
Congratulations on the release of CREEPIN/FURTHER (2 IN 1). It’s a bold and inventive project. Let’s start with your own words: who is Proklaim at his core, beyond the titles of rapper, singer, and songwriter?
Proklaim born Alexander Birungi Kiremire(g sounds like a “j”) was born to Ugandan parents in Brighton England then raised in Zambia and later moved to Namibia.
He’s passionate about music and specifically hiphop that vibrates at a frequency that sparks the heart.
Your new single blends boom bap and Amapiano while weaving in a sample from the Shaka Zulu mini-series. That’s such a striking combination. What drew you to this fusion, and how did you know these worlds needed to collide in one track?
Across Southern Africa Shaka Zulus name is not unfamiliar and has for generations been synonymous with embodying pride leadership and warrior attributes.
The tv show over the years got aired and had a mythical status many years after its completion. I caught a snippet of it on my YouTube feed and was inspired to use that scene on a track and later once I had come across the incredible Amapiano beat I had heard and purchased online I knew immediately that the two would complement each if fused
Creativity often comes from a place of instinct. You’ve spoken about your process being spontaneous and free-flowing. Can you take us inside the studio session for CREEPIN/FURTHER (2 IN 1)? What was the energy like, and how did you know you had something special?
I had heard the beat for creeping online some weeks earlier and had bought it. The beat for “further” I bought the day before the session. I was ecstatic when I heard that beat in particular. I always typically write verses during vocal sessions and lay them down there. This was the case with both creeping and further. The hooks for both I just came up with in the studio in my mind as I listened to the beats. I often run with what the beat evokes in me and try put words to melodies. Those particular choruses came easily. I particularly resonated with the one on “further “.
You’re not just making songs; you’re shaping culture. How important is it for you that your music transcends geography and language, connecting listeners in Namibia, South Africa, the U.S., and beyond?
I genuinely believe that there is no greater medium more effective in shaping culture than “song” and I particularly feel like hiphop is still barely scratching the surface of the potential it holds to encapsulate such a broad spectrum of ideas and genuinely shape global consciousness.
In the age we live with information moving instantaneously and ubiquitous in its accessibility I believe we sit at a point in time that we can do with hiphop what has never been seen prior…I too believe its capacity to deliver poignant truths has been highly underutilized.
It is the global language and being heard globally is the natural objective I believe should stem from that
Hip-hop has always been about storytelling, resistance, and community. How does growing up and creating in Windhoek shape your perspective as a lyricist and your role in the global hip-hop conversation?
I was fortunate to grow up in a family that had a somewhat global perspective, with my dad being an educator his work allowed us to visit or live in a few places. Growing up in Zambia was where I encountered hip hop and immediately was enamored by its energy and the charisma of a lot of rap personalities paired with actual skill of a few.
It shaped how I viewed a lot even growing up in Africa ( also going to an international school)… I pulled from the various facets and also was early on influenced by the golden era greats…simultaneously I wanted to incorporate ideas unique to my perspective and over time it’s been a perfect outlet to share perspectives and express.
Your influences include Bob Marley, Wu-Tang Clan, and Biggie, icons who used music to challenge norms and inspire change. How do their legacies live in your work, and how are you carving out your own legacy in that lineage?
This is accurate. I thoroughly value the attributes that eras artists possessed and how they pushed the envelope at the time of where rap was skill wise …similarly I also love other genres of music and truly see all music the same regardless of genre …all are words conveyed in style of rhythm or cadence to a tempo or a type of percussion forming the bed…I have concluded it’s all basically energy expressed…and within there is a world of ideas that can be conveyed
Collaboration plays a big role in your journey, from Romi to working with Wojtek Majewski at Audio Art Namibia. What do you look for in collaborators, and how do they help expand your vision?
I always look to work with people that are talented and that I have or develop a rapport with. Wojtek Majewski has become a good friend over time and beyond that I truly believe he is excellent at what he does in addition to always striving to get better. I value that.
Hip-hop is evolving rapidly, with sounds like trap and amapiano shaping the current landscape. Where do you see yourself in this changing ecosystem, and how do you maintain authenticity while staying progressive?
My view is be adaptable and not for the purpose of merely trying to emulate various sounds but rather being able to be absolutely at home on whatever beat one encounters as an artist as well as to recognize that song sits everywhere within the realm of possibility and all one has to develop is the ability to pull it into the conscious dimension while doing so with a purpose
