Wikipedia

Jason Dunford

Jason Edward Dunford, OGW, OLY (born 28 November 1986), also known as Samaki Mkuu, is a Kenyan Olympic swimmer, media personality, rapper and entrepreneur. During his swimming career he was predominantly a butterfly and freestyle sprinter winning gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, Universiade, All-Africa Games and African Championships, and reaching finals at the Olympics, World Championships and Short Course World Championships. He also held African, Universiade and Olympic records. He has worked as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, is a co-founder and adviser to software company, Safi and currently serves as the CEO of Baila Entertainment whilst performing as Samaki Mkuu, one half of the rap duo Romantico & Samaki Mkuu.

Jason Dunford
Dunford in 2017
Personal information
Full nameJason Edward Dunford
Nickname"Samaki Mkuu"
Nationality Kenya  United States
Born (1986-11-28) 28 November 1986 (age 37)
Nairobi, Kenya
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly, freestyle
ClubStanford, PASA, ADN Swim Project
College teamStanford University
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Kenya
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place Delhi 2010 50 m butterfly
All-Africa Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Algiers 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2007 Algiers 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2007 Algiers 200 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2011 Maputo 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2011 Maputo 100 m butterfly
Silver medal – second place 2007 Algiers 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2007 Algiers 100 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 2011 Maputo 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2011 Maputo 50 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 2011 Maputo 200 m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Algiers 100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Algiers 200 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Algiers 50 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Maputo 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Maputo 4×100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Maputo 4×200 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Maputo 4×100 m medley
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2009 Belgrade 100 m butterfly
Silver medal – second place 2009 Belgrade 50 m butterfly
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Belgrade 100 m freestyle
African Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Dakar 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2006 Dakar 50 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2008 Johannesburg 50 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 2008 Johannesburg 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2008 Johannesburg 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2010 Casablanca 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2010 Casablanca 100 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2012 Nairobi 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2012 Nairobi 50 m butterfly
Gold medal – first place 2012 Nairobi 100 m butterfly
Silver medal – second place 2006 Dakar 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2006 Dakar 200 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2006 Dakar 50 m butterfly
Silver medal – second place 2008 Johannesburg 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2008 Johannesburg 200 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2010 Casablanca 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2010 Casablanca 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2012 Nairobi 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2012 Nairobi 50 m backstroke
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Dakar 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Nairobi 200 m freestyle

Family life

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Jason is the son of Martin and Geraldine Dunford. Martin Dunford is the Chairman of the Tamarind Group, which owns the Carnivore Restaurant.[1] Geraldine is granddaughter to Abraham Block, the founder of Block Hotels, an African hospitality conglomerate that previously owned The Norfolk Hotel, Keekorock, Treetops, Nyali Beach Hotel and the New Stanley, among others. Martin was the vice-chairman of the Kenya Swimming Federation and the patron of the Nairobi Amateur Swimming Association (NASA).[2]

He has two brothers, Robert and David. His older brother, Robert, is a graduate of the London School of Economics and has several ultra-marathon swimming firsts to his name. His younger brother, David, was also an international swimmer and represented Kenya from 2005 to 2012.

On 28 June 2014, he married Lauren Dunford (nee Finzer) of Albany, California, daughter of William Finzer and Brigid McCaw.[3]

Career

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Early career

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Jason Dunford started swimming competitively in 1991, at the age of five and it was while at Kenton College, a primary school in Nairobi, under coach Andrew Nderu, that he began to establish himself as a top swimmer in age group for the region.[2] At 13, the talented swimmer moved to study on a scholarship at Marlborough College in the United Kingdom.[4]

Dunford competed in various races at the 2004 Short Course World Championships in Indianapolis, and 2005 World Championships in Montreal, but the young swimmer failed to advance past the heats.[5]

While at Marlborough College he met coach Peter O'Sullivan, himself a former Great Britain International Swimmer in the 400 m Individual medley. O'Sullivan had swum at the University of Georgia, and it was he who encouraged Jason to look to college in the US to develop his swimming career. In 2005, after finishing his A-Levels, Dunford moved to Stanford University in the United States where he earned a swimming scholarship. In 2009, he graduated with a BA in Human biology,[6] in 2012, he completed his MS in Earth Systems, and in 2016 he returned to the same campus, graduating with his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in June 2018.

In Shanghai he reached semi-finals in two events: 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres butterfly.[7] He missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games due to a conflict with preparations for his first NCAA Championships.[8]

The 2006 African Swimming Championships in Dakar, Senegal, marked a breakthrough moment for him as he became the first Kenyan ever to win a continental swimming medal with gold in the 100m butterfly on the first day of competition. He went on to finish the competition with two gold medals (100m butterfly and 50m backstroke), three silvers (50m butterfly, 100m and 200m freestyle) and one bronze (50m freestyle).[6] He also broke a number of national records. His younger brother David Dunford also performed well, winning two golds and one silver (100m backstroke, 200m backstroke and 50m backstroke).[9]

His success in 2006 earned him second place in the Kenyan Sportsman of the Year award, behind Alex Kipchirchir, one of Kenya's many world-class runners. His brother David Dunford was selected as the Most Promising Sportsman at the same awards.[10]

Dunford participated in several races at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. His best result was reaching a 100 m butterfly final, where he finished eighth. On his way to final, he clocked 51.85,[11] a new African record[12] to beat Commonwealth Games Champion, Ryan Pini of Papua New Guinea in a swim-off for the 8th spot in the final. He also became the first Kenyan swimmer to qualify for the Olympics, gaining qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China in the 100m butterfly as well as the 100m freestyle. On earlier occasions, some Kenyan swimmers have participated in the Olympics, but only on the IOC swimming wild card.[12]

At the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers Jason Dunford won three gold medals (50m, 100m and 200m butterfly), two silver (50m freestyle, 100m backstroke) and three bronze (50m backstroke, 100m and 200 m freestyle).[13] For his efforts at these games and the Melbourne World Championships, Dunford was awarded the Safaricom Kenyan Sportsman of the Year Award for 2007.[14]

2008/2009 – Olympics, World Championships and Universiade

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He participated the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships in Manchester in April 2008 and reached the 100m butterfly final, finishing 8th.[15]

At the 2008 Olympics he competed in two events. In the 100-metre freestyle heats, he finished 24th overall, missing the semi-finals. He did, however, set a new national record of 49.06.[16] In his main event, the 100-metre butterfly, he qualified for the semi-finals, posting a new Olympic record of 51.14, and simultaneously bettering his own African record. The previous Olympic record (51.25) was set by Michael Phelps at the 2004 Olympics.[17] Dunford's Olympic record did not last long; just a few minutes later Milorad Čavić of Serbia recorded 50.76, followed by two other swimmers (including Phelps) who beat Dunford's time.[18] He reached the final and finished fifth by swimming 51.47.[19]

In December 2008 at the African Swimming Championships in Johannesburg he won three gold and two silver medals.[20]

His first major competition in 2009 was the Summer Universiade in Belgrade, where he won the 100 meters butterfly race in a time of 51.29.[21] In the semi-finals he had swum a new Universiade record 50.85,[22] also beating the African record again.[23] At the 50 meters butterfly race he got silver behind Jernej Godec of Slovenia, but was fastest in the semi-finals, his time 23.09 being new Universiade record,[24] still in force after the final,[25] Dunford was also the bronze medalist over 100 metres freestyle in a time of 48.73.[22]

At the 2009 World Championships he finished sixth in the 50 m butterfly[26] and 100 m butterfly[27] races. In the 100 fly semi-finals he set a new African and Commonwealth record of 50.78.

2010 – Commonwealth Games

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Dunford continued his continental medal hunting at 2010 African Swimming Championships winning two gold medals in butterfly and two freestyle silver medals.

He competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi taking the 50 m butterfly gold medal. It was the first swimming medal for Kenya at the Commonwealth Games.[8]

In the presidential honors list for 2010, Jason Dunford was awarded an Order of the Grand Warrior [28] from President Mwai Kibaki for his services rendered to the nation. This awarded elevated him from a Head of State Commendation he had received two years prior.

2011 – World Championships and All Africa Games

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Dunford placed 4th in the 100m butterfly and 7th in the 50m butterfly at the Shanghai World Championships.[29]

Then at the All Africa Games in Maputo he won gold medals in the 50 and 100m butterfly, silvers in the 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 50m freestyle.[30]

2012 – Summer Olympics

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At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Dunford competed in the men's 100 m butterfly only, finishing in 12th place.[31] He was also Kenya's flag bearer.[32]

2014 – Commonwealth Games

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At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Dunford reached the final in the 50 and 100 m butterfly.[33] After representing Kenya for just shy of a decade, this was his final international competition.[33]

2014 - 2016

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After retiring from swimming, Jason worked for two companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area, GreenCitizen and Sunrun, working in sales, business development and project management roles.

2016 - 2018 – Stanford Graduate School of Business

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In 2016, Jason enrolled at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to pursue his MBA,[34] following earlier attainment of a BA in Human Biology and an MS in Earth Systems from Stanford University.[35]

During the course of his MBA, he co-founded Safi Analytics [36] with his wife Lauren and founded his own talk-show J-Talk Live.[37]

2018 - 2019 – the BBC and the emergence of Samaki Mkuu

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After graduation with his MBA in June 2018, Dunford joined the BBC as a bilingual, broadcast journalist working on a new Africa TV business team led by Africa business editor Larry Madowo,[38] where he reported and produced for the shows Smart Money,[39] Biashara Bomba,[40] Money Daily[41] and Mitikasi Leo.[42] In October, 2019 Jason left the BBC to pursue his music career full-time.[43]

Dunford began rapping in September 2018 after an invitation from Romantico to collaborate on the single Mbaya.[44] In writing his rap for the first verse, he discovered his stage name Samaki Mkuu, composing the line "Naogelea nitakuwa Samaki Mkuu".[45] The experience led to the formation of the duo Romantico & Samaki Mkuu, the creation of the new sound Gengetone, a merger of Genge and Reggaeton, that includes Swahili, Spanish and English lyrics.[46] The duo's second song, Baila Baila, was a collaboration with the King of Genge, Jua Cali and was released in April 2019.[47] Their third song, Chikicha, which launched in June 2019, was a collaboration with Munju Reh.[48] Their fourth release, Caro, came out in November 2019.[49] Samaki Mkuu then released his first single, a collaboration with his former colleague at the BBC, Peter Mwangangi and American folk singer, Sheeba Marie.[50] Romantico & Samaki Mkuu released One, their first album together on December 18, 2019, with 11 gengetone tracks featuring artists Phoebe Alice-Ritchie, Dinah Ndombi, Peter Mwangangi, Sheeba Marie and Munju Reh.[51]

2020 - The development of a music career

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Following the release of their first album,[52] Romantico & Samaki Mkuu followed up with the release of their gengetone dance track Tiki Tiki featuring Sergeant Nyakundi[53] Next came the release of Namba Yako featuring Zambian Afropop musician, Roberto.[54]

On April 1, 2020, Samaki Mkuu released his second album, Unified:Un Ultimo Ulimwengu, a collaboration with Jus of Jabali Afrika featuring guest artists Romantico, Yawezekana Strong, Achienge Guyo and Daktare Dan.[55]

Following that, Samaki Mkuu and Jabali Afrika released videos for several of the tracks on the album including Covid-19,[56] Aoko (Remix),[57] Bila Baba, a dedication to Dads, released on Father's Day, 2020[58] and Freedom, released on July 4, 2020.[59]

The music video for the track Mombasa was released on July 17, 2020 as a dedication to the city.[60] Mombasa appears as the 7th track on Jabali Afrika's 8th studio album, Khusaire, released on June 28, 2020, on which Samaki Mkuu is also featured on the tracks Free My Soul, The Music, Global Solidarity and Hope.[61]

In 2021, Dunford was part of a collaboration for the track Usiende Mbali [62] by Antonio Carmona of Ketama, Romantico & Samaki Mkuu, featuring Jabali Afrika and Sanaipei Tande.[63]

Dunford's first solo album as Samaki Mkuu, title Ocean Waters was released in 2021 [64]

References

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  1. ^ World Investment News, 18 June 1999: Interview with Mr. Martin Dunford
  2. ^ a b Daily Nation, 14 July 2007: ALL AFRICA GAMES: Dunford proves his mettle[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Commonwealth Games: Newly wed Dunford primed for title defence in Glasgow". sportsnewsarena.com. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  4. ^ Swimnews.com, 26 March 2007: A Tale Of Hope Out Of Africa Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Swimrankings.net profile – Season 2005
  6. ^ a b Stanford University: Jason Dunford Archived 15 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Swimrankings.net profile – Season 2006
  8. ^ a b The Stansard, 6 October 2010: Jason Dunford qualifies for 50m butterfly final
  9. ^ Stanford University: David Dunford Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ The Standard 23 February 2007 Kipchirchir, Jepkosgei named Soya winners[usurped] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 28 February 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ Melbourne 2007 Swimming results
  12. ^ a b The Standard, 13 July 2007: Dunford bags Kenya’s first gold in Algeria[usurped]
  13. ^ 2007 All-Africa Games Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ The Standard, 20 March 2008: Dunford, Jepkosgei Soya Winners[usurped]
  15. ^ 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships – Men's 100m butterfly final Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ 2008 Olympics 100 metres freestyle results Archived 15 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ 2008 Olympics, 100 metres butterfly results – Heat 7 Archived 17 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ 2008 Olympics, 100 metres butterfly – Heat 9 Archived 17 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ 2008 Olympics – 100m butterfly final results Archived 19 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ The Standard, 3 January 2009: Dunford, Ajulu impress as swimmers come of age[usurped]
  21. ^ 2009 Summer Universiade results service: Men's 100m Butterfly Finals Final A Archived 14 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ a b The 25th Universiade Belgrade 2009 Swimming Bulletin № 5 July 10, 2009
  23. ^ World University Games, Swimming: Jason Dunford Sets African Record, Rie Kaneto Claims Asian Mark, Incredible 50 Breast Semis Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Swimming World Magazine online; published 2009-07-09, retrieved 10 July 2009
  24. ^ The 25th Universiade Belgrade 2009, Swimming, Bulletin № 1, July 6, 2009
  25. ^ The 25th Universiade Belgrade 2009, Swimming, Bulletin № 2, July 7, 2009
  26. ^ Omega Timing: Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 50m butterfly final Archived 6 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Omega Timing: Swimming at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100m butterfly final[permanent dead link‍]
  28. ^ "Kenyan National Honours, who makes the Sports Category shortlist?". sportskenya.blogspot.com. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Jason Dunford misses out on a World Swimming medal".
  30. ^ [1][permanent dead link‍]
  31. ^ "Swimming at the 2012 London Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Butterfly Semi-Finals | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  32. ^ "Glasgow 2014 – Jason Edward Dunford Profile". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  33. ^ a b "Jason retires".
  34. ^ "Stanford MBA Class of 2018 Chose Careers Where They Could Make a Difference". Stanford Graduate School of Business. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Stanford GSB Admission Panel". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  36. ^ "Safi Analytics".
  37. ^ "J-Talk Live with Pauline Mutumwinka". www.google.com. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  38. ^ "Kenyan Swimmer Jason Dunford Joins BBC as Business Journalist". www.kenyans.co.ke. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  39. ^ "BBC World Service TV - Smart Money". BBC. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  40. ^ BBC News Swahili (20 November 2018), Biashara ya Mazoezi imetia fora kote barani Afrika. Je ni kuimarisha afya ama starehe?, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 14 April 2019
  41. ^ "BBC World Service TV - Money Daily". BBC. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  42. ^ "BBC MITIKASI LEO - YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  43. ^ "Journalist Who Quit BBC Job to Make Gengetone Hits - Kenyans.co.ke". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  44. ^ Canvas Media Productions (7 December 2018), Mbaya (Official Video) - Romantico Ft Samaki Mkuu (Jason Dunford), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 14 April 2019
  45. ^ "Must Watch: Retired Kenyan Swimmer Jason Dunford Drops 'Gengeton' Banger in Swahili". Nairobi Wire. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  46. ^ Mahugu, Jacqueline. "The fish turned rapper". The Standard. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  47. ^ JUACALI Feat. SAMAKI MKUU & ROMANTICO - BAILA BAILA (OFFICIAL 4K Video), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 18 November 2019
  48. ^ CHIKICHA - MUNJU REH x ROMANTICO & SAMAKI MKUU (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO), retrieved 18 November 2019[dead YouTube link]
  49. ^ Romantico & Samaki Mkuu (Jason Dunford) - Caro (Official Video) [SMS Skiza 7634953 to 811], archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 18 November 2019
  50. ^ Samaki Mkuu - Tabasamu (Official Video) feat. Peter Mwangangi & Sheeba Marie, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 17 December 2019
  51. ^ One on Spotify, retrieved 18 December 2019
  52. ^ OLYMPIC SWIMMER JASON DUNFORD AND ROMANTICO RELEASE FIRST ALBUM, retrieved 8 January 2020
  53. ^ .Romantico & Samaki Mkuu - Tiki Tiki feat. Sergeant Nyakundi (Official Video), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 19 January 2020
  54. ^ Romantico & Samaki Mkuu - Namba Yako (Official Video) feat. Roberto, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 5 March 2020
  55. ^ Unified on Spotify, retrieved 1 April 2020
  56. ^ Jus/Jabali Afrika - COVID-19 (Official Video) feat. Samaki Mkuu and Steve Gee, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 30 March 2020
  57. ^ JJabali Afrika - Aoko (Remix) (Official Video) feat. Romantico & Samaki Mkuu, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 9 May 2020
  58. ^ Romantico & Samaki Mkuu - Bila Baba (Official Video) feat. Jus/Jabali Afrika, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 21 June 2020
  59. ^ Jabali Afrika - Freedom (Official Video) feat. Romantico & Samaki Mkuu, Yawezekana Strong, Steve Gee, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 4 July 2020
  60. ^ Jabali Afrika - Mombasa feat. Samaki Mkuu (Official Music Video), archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 4 July 2020
  61. ^ Khusaire on Spotify, retrieved 28 June 2020
  62. ^ "Usiende Mbali". Youtube. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  63. ^ "El Safari De Carmona". La Vanguardia. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  64. ^ Ocean Waterss on Spotify, retrieved 3 January 2023
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Kenyan Sportsman of the Year
2007 		Succeeded by
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for   Kenya
2012 London 		Succeeded by
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