The Story of MAKOI

Growing up

Francisco's love affair with music began after his parents divorced and he moved in with his sister. It was a difficult time, but the house was always filled with sweet sounds. The radio was blasting 24/7, introducing him to a wide range of music. "My sister played The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, ABBA, Bob Marley, Gipsy Kings, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, and so many others from the Motown era. Music became my sanctuary – a way to cope with missing my dad."

Growing up in one of Luanda's poorest outskirts was tough. "Our home was on a hill. When it rained heavily, the water would flow right through the house, and we had to sleep on the table." But music was a driving force. At age 15, Francisco started his own hip hop group. Gaining traction as the cleanest rapper on the block, he earned his MC name Detergente. "In freestyle battles, when someone insulted my mom or tried to put me down, I would always answer back with positivity. I won without offending or swearing."

The cost of having their album produced would be $50, a sum that Francisco wasn't able to pay. He knew he had to learn about music production himself. He got his first desktop from his sister, but producing still posed many challenges. "The computer was so slow I had to turn it on at 7AM and wait four hours for it to start. The production software then took another two hours to load." This didn't stop Francisco from pursuing his dreams. Talent and perseverance would propel his career to great heights.

Breaking through

As gang violence increased, Francisco studied to be a priest. "There were many guitars in church, and I could play them all day long." Then, at 18, famous rapper OG Vuino discovered his beats and visited his neighbourhood. Impressed by Francisco's skills, he brought him into the industry, giving his music nationwide recognition. Within two years, Detergente had become a household name in the Angolan music scene, producing hit songs for many of the country's biggest stars.

Francisco has always been the type of person who brings people together. He started scouting young talent in his neighbourhood, bridging the gap between the ghetto and the inner city. "I produced their albums and pitched them to big labels. Many of them got signed." Today, most of the well-known artists in Angola between 30 and 40 were discovered by Francisco. One of them is his niece, Shelby Da Mata, who was nominated for a Kora Award – at the time the most prestigious music award in Africa.

That same year, Francisco worked with Titica, at a moment when homosexuality was not accepted in Angola. "I knew her talent deserved to be heard, no matter what others thought." He produced some of her biggest songs and helped her build a platform. Today, she is one of the most influential trans women in Africa, performing in Brazil, Portugal, and across the continent. She has 1.3 million Instagram followers and has won multiple awards.

Going international

After his accomplishments in Angola, Francisco aimed to conquer the world. When he left for Portugal in 2014, he only had $30 dollars in his pocket and even slept on the streets. But he found his footing while teaming up with emerging rapper Bispo, who is now a household name. Their song "NÓS2" gained over 26 million streams worldwide. Francisco became one of Portugal's top 5 producers and the first Angolan producer to receive a gold and platinum certification from Sony Music Portugal.

Francisco was eager to channel his international fame for the elevation of Angola's music industry. Upon his return, he noticed women there had no proper platform in hip hop. He produced an album for a female rapper called Eva Rap Diva and even co-wrote her politically charged lyrics. They won all the major categories at the Angola Hip Hop Awards, crowning her the Queen of Angolan rap music. Most recently, she has even been elected as a member of the Portuguese parliament.

Furthermore, Francisco joined hands with XYAMI – one of the largest supermarket chains in Angola – to create the talent project XYAMI Super Stars. And with his old friend, Angola's no. 1 rapper OG Vuino, he launched another competition called "Tribal Talents". They toured schools, looking for talent, and discovered and launched several artists who are now staples of Angolan pop culture, like Delcio Dolar, Lipsia, Edson dos Anjos, and Milson.

Reinventing himself

As a result of Francisco's commitment to Angolan culture, he was named a member of the Globos Academy of Angola, becoming the youngest person in his country to hold this position. Furthermore, he was nominated for Best African Producer and Most Influential Angolan Celebrity Abroad at the Rockstar Awards, giving him his well-earned recognition across the African continent – and beyond.

For Francisco, it has always been and always will be about much more than just the music. "I represent millions of young people in my country who have had their dreams stolen by a corrupt government. Through my music, I give my generation a voice. I want to carry my country's flag to the world's biggest stages, win everything possible, and open music schools in Angola for disadvantaged youth. My country is rich in talent but poor in opportunities."

Never one to sit still, Francisco has reinvented himself once again. Moving to the Netherlands, he is now embarking on another adventure under his new moniker MAKOI – meaning "protected by God, born to shine" in his hometown's dialect, Kimbundu. The mission: shedding light through music, making Angolan culture known, and bringing the spice and flavour of Angolan roots to the dance floors of Europe and the world.

MAKOI's incredible life story and stellar journey are a testament to the fact that with determination and passion, it's possible to transform pain into art, and art into change. From the ghetto's outskirts to global stages, he continues to embody what music at its best can be: a bridge, a medicine, and a weapon of hope.