James Ongige is a Kenyan filmmaker, rapper, singer, 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. Adopting the stage name Quafff during his secondary school years, Ongige actively engaged in rap battles and talent showcases, demonstrating his lyrical ability while competing against his peers. He officially began his music career in 2019 with the release of his debut single Outta 23. In 2025, he rebranded and began 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. Before venturing into film direction, Ongige was actively involved in theatre, performing in school drama festivals and local stage plays held in community social halls across Kangemi, Nairobi. While studying at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication, Ongige made his filmmaking debut in 2024 with the horror short film I Know Whatcha Did. In 2025, he wrote and directed the thriller-crime film The Holy Requiem. That same year, he produced, wrote, directed, and edited two additional projects — the drama short feature Life’s a Blank Page and the mockumentary Behind the Behind the Scenes, which went on to win Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director at the KIMC Film Awards 2025 — and he also produced the documentaries Harambee: The Weight of Division and Weekend in Hell.

Filmography