James Ongige

Biography

James Ongige is a Kenyan filmmaker, musician, actor, and record producer. He is the founder of Lohkast, a multidisciplinary creative collective comprising Lohkast Pictures, Lohkast Records, and Lohkast Audio. Ongige was born on September 4, 2003, in Nairobi, Kenya, to Gladys Moraa, a businesswoman, and Willy Ongige, a musician. Raised Catholic, he grew up in Kangemi, Nairobi, and attended New Kihumbuini Primary School, Nduru Boys' High School, and later enrolled at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication to study film and pursue a career as a film director. Ongige began his music career under the stage name Quafff, releasing his debut single Outta 23 in 2019. In 2025, he made the decision to rebrand and begin performing under his birth name, embracing a more personal and authentic artistic identity. In 2021, he founded The Tragic Studio, a creative outfit focused on music and music video production, which he operated until 2025. That same year, on June 15, he dissolved the studio and launched Lohkast, a multidisciplinary creative collective. In 2024, while studying film, he made his directorial debut with the short horror film I Know Whatcha Did (2024). The following year, he wrote and directed The Holy Requiem (2025). The same year, he wrote and directed the mockumentary Behind the Behind the Scenes, which, along with the drama short Life’s a Blank Page and the documentaries Harambee: The Weight of Division and Weekend in Hell, was selected for the LIFT‑OFF Global Network Awards (2026). In 2026, he wrote and directed the psychological thriller short film No Exit (2026), followed by his feature film debut, Voice of State (2026), which won Best Director, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing at the 2026 KIMC Awards.